Conversations with Izzy Rivera

Today we’d like to introduce you to Izzy Rivera.

Hi Izzy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Where do I even start? My friends call me Izzy, and I’m the CEO and founder of Weird N Wired Creatives. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally starting to take off. It’s essentially an event and talent agency—at the core, it’s about building community and giving artists a real platform. I host events, produce shows, book talent, and create opportunities for local underground artists—whether you’re a musician, artist, or designer—and I also support local food vendors who might be too busy or unsure how to market themselves. I help connect them to the community, build exposure, and grow their audience.

I love what I do. I love using my marketing skills, promoting experience, and artistic eye to create flyers and bring a show to life from start to finish—but more on that and my mission later.

I’m originally from Hamburg, Germany, and I got into the nightlife scene as a teenager—both exploring it and working in it (you guessed it—promoting parties by handing out flyers, old school). Fast forward, and I found myself in NYC before moving to LA. You could say I’m multicultural. Learning how to be street-smart not only toughened me up and gave me thick skin but also helped me navigate life and find my purpose through art and music. Even though I’m not a musician, I’ve always felt deeply connected to creative expression. Creating playlists and hosting parties became a hobby, but my real passion was always being behind the scenes—creating, curating, and connecting.

I always knew I wanted to drift away from a corporate job and work independently, even though I have a background in journalism. I think I found my real purpose, passion, and mission in 2025—when my world fell apart but also came together, as crazy as that sounds. For a while, I felt completely lost.

Then, on St. Patrick’s Day, everything shifted. A friend invited me to a show at the Whisky a Go Go—it was my first time there—and I saw a local rock band play. That night changed everything. It felt like stepping into a piece of history, but also into something new—a rising underground scene trying to revive LA. That’s how I fell into this local music scene—and the rest is history.

A mix of punk, rock ’n’ roll, metal, emo, rap—artists from everywhere, all chasing the same dream. These shows often happen at places like the Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, The Rainbow, Troubadour, and On the Rox—venues with legendary pasts that are now fighting to stay alive.

Being part of that scene, combined with my background in nightlife and promoting, pushed me to finally go all in on Weird N Wired Creatives. One band I met even asked me to manage them—book shows, handle marketing—which I was already doing in different ways.

And then one day, I saw a post on Instagram from the Whisky a Go Go looking for a booking agent, so I applied. I didn’t get it—but honestly, that rejection pushed me harder to build something of my own. I stopped procrastinating. I’d been talking about throwing events for years, so I started studying other booking agents, going to shows, and learning what works and what doesn’t. It’s all trial and error, and I’m still learning every day.

At my core, I’ve always been someone who connects people. I’ve literally introduced friends who ended up getting married. I’m like a matchmaker—but for creatives and the community.

Living in Hollywood made me realize what’s missing: connection. The link between art, music, and people isn’t what it used to be. My passion, as well as my mission, is to rebuild that—to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and part of something raw and real.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not even close—and honestly, that’s the beauty of it. Every day is a chance to start again and figure it out.

When I moved from Hamburg to NYC at 18, I had no plan. I just knew I couldn’t be stuck in a cubicle working a 9–5—and trust me, I’ve done that too. I paid my dues. I’ve had moments where I was broke, jobless, and just trying to survive. I worked in nightlife and hospitality, had multiple jobs, went to college, did internships—I did whatever it took to make ends meet.

NYC toughened me up. It taught me resilience—and how to believe in myself when everything around me fell apart.
In 2018, I made another big move to LA with no job, no apartment—just a vision. I know it sounds cliché, and in some ways it is, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I came to Hollywood to create something meaningful, and now, years later, things are finally starting to align.

The biggest lesson—and struggle—is learning to be patient with yourself. You’re going to fail, you’re going to mess up—but that’s how you grow. Not everyone will support you or understand your vision, and you can’t take that personally.
You just have to stay locked in. Treat it like a business. Keep going—especially when it’s hard.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Weird N Wired Creatives is really an umbrella for both the creative and operational side of the industry. I handle everything—booking talent, producing shows, designing flyers, finding venues, scouting artists, and pitching ideas.

But at the core of it all, it’s about valuing the artist and giving back to the community.
This isn’t about getting rich quickly—it’s about giving raw, emerging talent a real platform. It’s about bringing life back into venues that once held legends and making them feel alive again.

What sets me apart? I don’t really like to compare myself to others—but I do take what I do seriously. I lead with intention. I don’t treat this like a cash grab—I treat it like a community. I’m strategic, organized, and I try to be fair. Most of the time, I barely break even when I host shows and throw events, but seeing everyone have a good time and being able to pay the artists without forcing them to buy tickets first with their own money is worth more than anything.

I’m currently a one-woman operation, which is intense. I wear many hats, and yeah—it gets overwhelming. But it’s worth it.
I think what people know me for is the vibe. My events feel like a chosen family. It’s not just a show—it’s a space where people connect, where the energy feels real, and where everyone belongs.
And honestly, that’s what I’m most proud of.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t necessarily believe in luck per se—I do believe everything happens for a reason, more like being in the right place at the right time. I’m also a firm believer in energy, the universe, past-life connections, karmic interactions, and manifestation.

I think the mind is incredibly powerful—it can create just as much as it can destroy, so you have to choose wisely.
I’ve struggled a lot with addiction and self-sabotaging patterns in my life, and I’ve often been tested not to fall back into old patterns—especially more recently. Choosing a different path has been challenging, but it’s also been incredibly fulfilling and fruitful.

So if anything, I don’t see it as luck. I see it as awareness, timing, and the choices you make when you’re faced with turning points—because at the end of the day, we always have a choice to either better or worsen our situation. For example, when I haven’t felt my best, a lot can go wrong—and it has—so I try not to overthink, but I do plan things as much as I can, down to the details. I prepare for the worst, try not to have too many expectations, and just go with the flow. As mentioned, everything is a learning experience and trial and error.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weird.n.wired

Image Credits
Erik Stamps