ILLIANA THOMAS
ABOUT
Multi-faceted entertainment and marketing professional, known for performing ‘behind the scenes’ miracles through effectively strategizing with talent, brands, labels, managers, and venues to develop talent through touring and digital platforms.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Creative Strategy &
Talent Relations/Development
Tour Management
Production
Digital Marketing
Event Curation
EXPERIENCE
March 2018 - Present
Creative Strategist & Artist Relations | The Nucleus Creative Agency
Elevating artists, creatives, and brands, through innovative strategy, creative consulting, and management.
Serve as the lead Creative Strategist and Talent Manager.
Foster the career journey of established and emerging artists, underrepresented creatives, and brands. Key areas of focus include artist relations and operations, platform elevation, combined with innovative strategy, creative consulting, and management.
Lead the planning and implementation of artist music campaigns, including global release schedules, promotions, social media plans, press, marketing, and touring.
Serve as event curator, producing and executing events, in addition to multifaceted projects for clients across a variety of genres. Ensure timely and quality delivery of all contracted event deliverables.
Establish strategy for artists in relation to single and album rollouts, inclusive of digital media content/social media strategy, live activations, marketing, brand partnerships, merchandise development.
Build presentations for client meetings, including template design, copy creation, developing visuals, and formatting final presentation and imagery.
Facilitate relationship building for artists with partners to accelerate their careers, including booking agents,
publishers, publicists, distribution, labels.
Main point of contact for key clients, overseeing client communication and expectations during the campaign production and execution process.
Proactively offer solutions and experiential opportunities (i.e. live events and strategic partnerships) for brands by developing a deep understanding of client’s culture, processes, and business to serve them effectively.
Partner with freelance creatives for the development of assets including music/lyric videos, photoshoots, social
media strategy, brand assessment and revamp.
Develop revenue generating initiatives to engage fans, including curated merchandise capsules for albums, virtual/live performances, and members only platform strategies (i.e. Patreon).
January 2020 - Present
Line Producer | House Independent Productions
A creative production company that works in film, commercial, live performances, events and more.
Primary responsibilities include overseeing daily production, coordinating equipment rentals, hiring production team, managing budgeting and financial resource allocation (including forecasting), scheduling shoot dates and location scouting, securing proper filming permits, releases, and paperwork, ensuring compliance with regulations and codes of practice, sourcing equipment and suppliers, tracking post-production deadlines, and ensuring filming is done safely, creatively, and on time.
Oversee wrap/winding down of productions, ensuring timely communication with Post-Production Supervisor.
Manage budgeting and salary for Editors, Composers, Sound Designers, and visual effects (VFX).
Facilitate last-minute scheduling changes and ensure cross-functional communication, with a focus on inspiring the team to excel around a shared vision for success. Serve as a liaison between crew and Producers.
Communicate with 1st Assistant Director (AD) and Unit Production Manager.
Create deliverables schedule, guide delivery of completed components to guarantors, unions, producers, and sales agents, in addition to tracking and meeting distribution needs.
Project Highlights: Tiana Major 9/Kelly Clarkson Show and TM9/Afropunk performance
August 2018 - December 2021
Day-to-Day Manager | Cherry Rose Dance, LLC.
Managed partnerships and logistics for Creative Director, Choreographer, & Performance Coach - Tanisha Scott
Managed brand partnerships, live event productions, and digital marketing for Creative Director, Tanisha Scott, while facilitating bookings alongside agents.
Ensured alignment of necessary elements, including website revamp and branding to execute creative vision.
Facilitated production needs for clients (Cardi B, HER, Adidas, Lil Nas X, Tiana Major 9, and Da Baby).
Handled casting for production projects (i.e. HER - MTV Africa)
Managed logistics for incoming inquiries regarding brand partnerships, ensuring they were carried out in an effective and efficient manner.
August 2018 - Present
Production Coordinator | House Independent Productions
A creative production company that works in film, commercial, live performances, events and more.
Provided production, creative, and administrative support for client performances including Cardi B, H.E.R., Tiana Major9, and Juice Wrld for special events including American Music Awards, GRAMMYs, and Coachella.
Report directly to Creative Director and Creative Producer, scheduling appointments, meetings, and travel
(domestic and international)
Ensure effective and efficient execution of rehearsals and performances, serving as a liaison between the creative team and musicians/dancers by booking rehearsal spaces, arranging travel, facilitating equipment rentals, distributing schedules/call times to cast, organizing catering for shoots, and fielding inquiries via phone and email.
Supervise production assistants and provided daily tasks to ensure they were effectively utilized.
Oversee all glam needs, including booking hair and makeup teams, and ensured mood boards were created and distributed in a timely manner.
Confidentially compile pertinent information to prepare treatments, budgets, track billing, and ad hoc reports, as necessary.
Manage a 40+ person crew for award shows including: American Music Awards (Cardi B - 2018), GRAMMY Awards (Cardi B - 2019), BET Awards (Cardi B - 2019). Managed logistics for 4 performances for the BET Awards 2019 - Cardi B, Da Baby, Lil Nas X, and H.E.R..
July 2019 - March 2020
Assistant Tour Manager | Washpoppin Touring
Touring Entity for Cardi B
Managed logistics for the tour’s B party consisting of 10 dancers, along with dancer wardrobe, hair, and makeup departments.
Recorded and tracked dancer payroll hours, submitting to lead tour manager and dancer agents at the end of each tour leg.
Liaison between Cardi B’s creative director and dancer glam squad, ensuring wardrobe for dancers is in sync and approved by the team prior to each show.
Assisted tour management team with travel, production, hospitality, and overall movement of touring party as needed.
Oversaw all lobby calls, glam schedules, soundcheck and stage times for B party.
Ensured hospitality needs are met per show, along with aftershow meals.
February 2018 - Present
Freelance Tour Manager | Imani Creative Productions
Tour management for various artists
Tour manager for artists including Ro James, BJ The Chicago Kid, Kodie Shane, Gene Noble, and Rome Castille, and the Ladies Night Out Tour (NeNe Leakes, B. Simone, Loni Love, Adele Givens, Sherri Shepherd, and Kim Whitley).
Managed a staff of 20 including artists, DJ, band, bus driver, and merchandise personnel during the 15-city R&B Tour featuring BJ The Chicago Kid & Ro James.
Facilitated the advance with venues, ensuring all elements of the show were discussed and agreed upon prior to arrival, in addition to overall accommodations for headline artist, Kodie Shane, as well as 7 additional supporting acts and their teams across Shane’s 32-city international “Young Heartthrob Tour.”
Coordinate and oversee calendar maintenance, itineraries, accounting, advancing, travel arrangements, promotional activities, industry showcases wages, per diems, sound, lighting, backline, production, stage management and tour rehearsals, while acquiring and settling all on-the-road expenses.
Negotiate fees (offers, ground transportation, hotels, and meal buyouts) on behalf of the artists for each show, saving management up to 20% per tour, along with invoicing/billing and allocating payments among tour crew members.
Manage tour budgets upwards of $150,000.00, allocating funds to line items relating to priority for tour. Compile and manage reports including tour budgets, petty cash distribution, merchandise sales, and reconcile show costs, all while ensuring each tour runs on schedule and on budget.
Oversee promotional activities, including. TV, radio, and press interviews at venue and additional locations.
Leverage strong network to hire backline techs for all shows and supervised setup operations (rehearsals, sound, lighting, video).
Facilitate all radio and VIP meet and greets.
Manage production and inventory of all tour merchandise, from design to quantity and size count.
January 2018 - March 2018
Project Coordinator | Jessie J Touring, MDDN
Touring Entity and Management Company for Recording Artist, Jessie J
Coordinated day-to-day creative needs and logistics on behalf of clients for live shows, appearances, and participation on the Changsha-based television show “The Singer,” including event planning in LA; coordinating interviews in China while the show was filming; in addition to handling weekly travel to China from LA.
Served as a creative liaison, providing support in enhancing and implementing the vision for the artist’s live show, including but not limited to styling, arrangement of set, and band configuration.
Assisted with planning and implementation of artist music campaigns, including global release schedules, promo, social media plans, press, marketing and touring.
Main point of contact for all third parties (i.e. record labels, publishers, agents, lawyers, business managers), filtering information as needed to Artist Manager.
Ensured efficient daily communication and information flow with artist, maintaining confidentiality and discretion.
International calendar maintenance across multiple time zones, including promo schedules, sorting visas, travel accommodations and itineraries, in addition to advancing shows and liaising with travel and booking agents.
Scheduled a high volume of calls and meetings between multiple parties across different time zones.
Responsible for developing, strategizing, and managing content for client’s online properties, resulting in increased brand awareness.
Assisted in creating marketing plans, ensuring they were executed accordingly by artist, label, and promoters.
June 2015 - January 2018
Lead Assistant and Tour Marketing Liaison – Urban Touring | ICM Partners
Talent and literary agency w/ clients in film, TV, music, publishing, branded entertainment, and new media
Provided support to a touring agent who helped develop the urban division at ICM, representing a global roster of A-list hip-hop/R&B artists.
Responsible for establishing and maintaining day-to-day relationships with artist managers, brands, label
representatives, and top-tier concert promoters.
Managed tour marketing efforts for clients including announce/presale/on sale schedules, ticketing links, artwork
approval process, press requests, and ticket holds.
Facilitated offers/contracting processes, advancing shows, client financial inquiries, and travel logistics.
Partnered with the team to facilitate booking 650+ worldwide concerts annually.
Implemented strategies to build notoriety of emerging artists through early-stage involvement.
June 2014 - June 2015
Executive Assistant to Global Vice President of Digital | Saban Brands
Brand management firm, acquiring and developing properties in the entertainment and lifestyle sectors
Maintained the desk of the Head of Global Digital for a fast-growing brand management firm charged with an iconic IP roster, including Power Rangers, Paul Frank, Mambo Australia, and Popples.
Collaborated with the team, working across mobile, web, games, & apps, short-form video, social media, audience development, and digital consumer products, focusing on marketing and engagement.
Managed tour marketing efforts for clients including announce/presale/on sale schedules, ticketing links, artwork
approval process, press requests, and ticket holds.
Handled updates to the Julius Jr. website, utilizing WordPress, including adding weekly games and special sweepstakes for fans, tracking analytics through YouTube CRM, in addition to disputing unauthorized usage of
Power Rangers and Julius Jr. videos on YouTube platform.
Developed social media strategy for Digimon. Handled community management for Digimon on Twitter and Facebook and Julius Jr. on Facebook.
Liaison for all creative assets from the creative department to the digital department
Managed social and YouTube accounts for several brands (i.e. Digimon - Twitter and Facebook; Power Rangers – YouTube; Paul Frank - website and digital - Facebook) at a time.
Updated content management systems across multiple brand and editorial calendars.
June 2012 - June 2014
Client Trust Accountant – Touring Division | Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
The world’s leading full-service entertainment, media and sports agency
Managed the process for distributing funds to the agency’s clients.
Worked with business management teams to ensure clients were paid out correctly and timely. Collaborated with agents to investigate client fund inquiries made by client management.
Generated release statements and commission invoices for client business management, managing confidential client information (i.e. bank account numbers, earnings, and commission totals).
EDUCATION
August 2010 - May 2012
Elizabeth City State University
Master of Science, Mathematics
Elizabeth City, NC
August 2006 - May 2010
Elizabeth City State University
Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Elizabeth City, NC
"If you follow your heart, if you listen to your gut, and if you extend your hand to help another, not for any agenda, but for the sake of humanity, you are going to find the truth."
– Erin Brockovich, environmental activist
