MArini van smirren
builds experiences that
people remember
long after they've gone home.
She got her start in events doing sponsorship activations in Houston for Free Press Summer Festival the same time “Lucidity” by Tame Impala came out. She's since helped build an award winning festival from the ground up, installed a fully-constructed tennis court in the middle of an ADIDAS activation, and produced a variety of events to know that the run of show may be a suggestion but the budget is not.
She currently is the Director of Brand Experience at Brain Dead, where "a normal week" might mean a Disney & ADIDAS foosball tournament one month and a homegrown Fantasy Festival the next. She's worked with brands like Arc’teryx, Spotify, Marshall, and Pepsi, and has yet to meet a vendor contract she couldn't negotiate down or a deadline she couldn’t hit.
She's the person you want onsite when something goes wrong the night before doors open because she'll have already seen it coming, and she'll still be smiling even when she fixes it. She believes in giving her team room to shine, treats the CEO and the part-time runner with the same respect, and has never met a well-equipped toolbox she didn't love.
At the end of the day, she's just trying to get people in a room together and see what happens. Later she'll tell you it was chaos backstage, but you'll never know.
Event Management
Creative Concept Design
Planning, Operations & Production
Budget Management
Vendor Procurement
City Liaison Communication
Marketing/ Social Media
Sponsorship Management
Ticketing Management
Design and Fabrication
Run of Show Development
Contract Negotiation
Staffing & Crew Management
Stakeholder Relations
Risk Management & Safety Planning
Brand Partnership Development
Permitting & Compliance
Talent & Artist Relations
Site Design & Layout
Team Leadership & Development
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Marini on a handful of events over the last decade, and every single time I’m reminded not just how brilliant she is as a creator, but how perfectly suited she is for the work she’s dedicated her life to. Her instinctive understanding of what makes an event succeed, combined with her encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture and music, makes her an incredibly versatile creative and an invaluable asset to any production. She has a rare ability to turn great ideas into unforgettable experiences.”
Brandon C.
Communications Director
recommendations
“Marini was the first person from the corporate team to treat us like we were a part of the company and not just the kids at the store.”
Jacob F.
Retail Associate
“Marini was the glue that held Day for Night together – both spiritually, and managerially. She works tirelessly to find creative solutions to the never-ending stream of real-time issues that arise on such a complex live event.”
Kiffer K.
Creative Director
“Marini has the ability to multi-task efficiently while prioritizing and not losing sight of the big picture - essential when managing large, time-sensitive projects with many moving parts. She makes time to properly manage those that report to her with training and support. Marini also has a critical, artistic eye and pours herself wholeheartedly into projects she believes in.”
Gloria C.
Marketing Director
“I would ride at dawn if Marini asked me to.”
Zazil F.
Event PR & Marketing Specialist
“Marini is a talented, capable and highly organized individual. She has made numerous contributions to Day For Night with her amazing talent, creativity along with her strong organizational skills. She is very resourceful and dynamic, which served very well in her position as Festival General Manager.
I would highly recommend Marini for a manager/leadership position if you are seeking to add a first rate talent to your team!”
Marcus G.
Executive Producer