Meet Lora Ivanova of ScareLA in Downtown Los Angeles & Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lora Ivanova.

Lora is an entrepreneur, artist and speaker with a knack for transformative experiences. She built her first startup at age 14 and today is founder and Executive Producer of ScareLA, the first Halloween convention, and Co-founder and CMO of myLAB Box, the first nationwide at-home STD testing service in the U.S.

Prior to ScareLA and myLAB Box, Lora owned a boutique PR agency, Genie Effect, Publicity for Dreamers and Doers. She worked alongside creator Jon Braver and co-producer Neil Patrick Harris to launch the highly successful Los Angeles immersive show Haunted Play DELUSION. She also represented HAuNTcon, the longest running U.S. haunter’s convention, The Mill, an award-winning U.K. VFX company, Moore Ruble Yudell architects, Channel Factory and more. With a deep background in technology, her career includes spearheading strategic initiatives for some of the largest e-commerce brands, thought-leading brands and influencers such as Newegg.com, XO Group, The Knott and more.

Lora’s unique experience blending creative, technology and community has propelled some of her wildest ambitions to stellar success. Some of her past partnerships enlist Universal Studios, SyFy, Fox, Amazon, Walmart, Nissan. Her work has been featured in CNN, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Oxygen, VICE, A+, Thrillist, Wired Magazine, Inc. and more.

Sharing her experience to inform and inspire, she founded and curated TEDx Pacific Palisades in 2013 and is a partner in the philanthropic LA Chessboxing Club. She is a guest speaker at USC and has lead education initiatives for underprivileged youth in the LA area pulling a lot of power from her own childhood experiences.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road of an entrepreneur and a creative is never smooth and neither has been my own as a founder in now several businesses. We live in a complex world with a ton of pressure coming from internal and external sources. Pressure to come up original concepts, to succeed where others have failed, to create positive and meaningful experiences.

Having a company can really take a toll on you personally. You have to make many sacrifices. Sacrifice time, relationships and take a considerable financial risk which can really stretch you to the limit. In that process, you quickly find who your true friends are – those who are there to share the burden and co-create and those who just love the spotlight but ultimately are with you out of self-interest.

Over the last few years, I have learned that the most important thing is having the strength to persevere despite disappointments, difficulties, or exhaustion. And amidst all that to find the place within yourself that keeps you open and creating with love. I am immensely grateful for all challenges I have encountered because in the end they have brought together an amazing team and community of people I am so proud to be a part of.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with ScareLA – The Los Angeles Summer Halloween Convention – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
ScareLA™ premiered in 2013 as the first fan convention dedicated to Halloween. Situated in the entertainment capital of the world, it combines LA’s top talent and unique setting with a twist! The weekend-long Halloween teaser celebrates California’s scariest faire with attraction unveils, workshops, classes, industry panels, haunt tours, screenings and activities.

Today we are one of the fastest growing independent fan conventions in the US and have inspired a whole series of summer horror and Halloween themed events in LA, out of state and even internationally. We are bringing Halloween to the summer and are not holding back!

What sets ScareLA apart from other shows is our relentless passion for all things Halloween and community. We believe in coming together to share, inspire and play. Our content represents diversity, is inclusive of all ages and backgrounds and is designed with the fan experience at the heart of everything. Many shows program around big sponsors or focus on celebrities to draw attendees. Instead we focus on creating experiences for our fans. From toddlers to seniors, pros to enthusiasts, famous to fans, there is something for everyone at ScareLA.

Our content emphasizes experiences which are as immersive, interactive and meaningful as possible. We educate about traditions, showcase the most original and work to inspire the next generation of horror and haunt creators. This is the future of fan conventions and fans-to-fans, we are thrilled to be at the forefront of it!

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
There are many things I love about LA. It is one of the sunniest cities where people are not dwarfed by skyscrapers and can live in a big city while remaining connected to nature. We still have access to wildlife, green hills, the beach, snowboarding, all within a few minutes’ drive.

LA is also extremely diverse. We are one of the few cities in the US where I feel cultures and classes are all so interconnected. Anywhere you look there are people from different backgrounds, some tourists, some local and it really makes it an inspiring place to be. There is always so much to learn and see.

Angelenos are also dreamers. They think big, aim high and are perpetual optimists. Many have a creative side and they never feel like they need to define themselves with a single label.

All of these aspects we celebrate at ScareLA which I feel really embodies our city with all of its bizarre and unusual quirks.

What I like the least about LA is the time people spend alone in their cars and focusing on themselves. It alienates and makes them forgetful of the simplest things in life like the power of community, the importance of friends, the need to stay connected with family. We are trying to bring all these things to life at ScareLA by focusing on our greatest nightmares while celebrating differences together.

Pricing:

• General Admission tix are $35 (Sat Aug 5) and $30 (Sun Aug 6)
• Fear Freak tix are $55 (Sat Aug 5) and $50 (Sun Aug 6)
• Monster VIP tix $250 (Sat Aug 5) and $215 (Sun Aug 6)
• Saturday night summer Halloween party ($20 and up)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.scarela.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarelosangeles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScareLAcon/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/scarelosangeles
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/scarela-los-angeles-4?hrid=k6tTrNlQ8rJTwuEHw_omvQ

Image Credit:
Daniel Silwa photography
iHorror photography
ScrareLA photography

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.