We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mariah Vegas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mariah below.

Alright, Mariah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Truthfully, I think about getting a “regular” job every day… My neurodivergent mind craves the structure and routine of a 9-5. But there’s an indescribable feeling of knowing I built my job from scratch using my own vision, creative skills, and interests. Getting paid to do what I love and doing projects I never even dreamed of beats the predictability and monotony of a corporate job any day.

Entrepreneurship isn’t for the weak, especially as a solopreneur, because I have to play every role. I’m my own CEO, strategist, social media manager, and sometimes therapist to my own ideas and ambitions. Without traditional coworkers or a boss to guide me, I’m learning to create my own structure. The competitive nature of the cannabis industry and music scene has been a roller coaster to say the least, so I’ve had to become more strategic—streamlining processes, setting firm boundaries, and always keeping my ultimate vision in sight: curating dope experiences and designs that help bring people together, using intention, creativity, and education.

If I’m considering getting a regular job, I treat my business like a regular job and work overtime on the projects I’m most excited about. I have to remind myself to prioritize self-care and routinely make time for my own life, now knowing that my best ideas and creativity come from loving and taking care of myself.

Mariah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Mariah “the Organizer” Vegas! I’m a graphic designer, marketing assistant, event planner & organizer, primarily working with small businesses and creatives in the cannabis and music industries. I provide graphic design, event planning, and a variety of marketing services for new and growing businesses, artists, and creatives.

Many know me for events I’ve planned, hosted, or promoted, or for designing flyers, cover art, logos or custom graphics. I also help with social media, marketing strategy and digital marketing services, like email newsletters. My goal working with clients is to help fill gaps in their time and skills to help build their brand or connect them with new customers/clients. I collaborate with businesses to curate events that highlight their brand while also providing a fun experience for consumers to bring new business and customers together.

I started in this industry as an assistant to DJ LOW & Gold Culture Entertainment, working events and weddings, helping with tech, marketing, and organization. I really liked my job, but until legalization, I really didn’t like going out much unless it was for work. Most events were alcohol-focused or extrovert-friendly. The cannabis industry has felt like home to me in a way that has allowed me to be myself in a more authentic way.

My clients, vendors, partners, and attendees come from so many backgrounds with diverse goals and interests, but what we all have in common is the need for genuine connection and community. I love being able to bring people together to provide and explore plant medicine as an alternative to the traditional “party scene”.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

In person events, networking, and being present in spaces I want to be in! Showing up, supporting others, and shaking hands makes a huge difference in the industries I work in. Online, I’ve found that being consistent and supporting other businesses has a domino effect. The more you show genuine support for others, the more likely people will be to show up and support you. Collaborating on content and finding new ways to interact with my audience, like polls, has helped a lot too.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Getting paid to do something I’ve always loved has been incredibly validating, and it’s indirectly healing a younger part of myself that suppressed my creativity. I always wanted to be a creative as a kid. I was always drawing, writing songs and poems, playing instruments, taking photos, and finding new ways to create. I gave that up in early adulthood when society taught me that art was a hobby, not a “job”. I was lucky enough to find an opportunity to get back into it and I never want to give up that part of myself again.

Something a lot of people don’t know about me is I am in school for Psychology and presented behavioral research about body language and relationship confidence at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Conference. I’ve found ways to incorporate my education into marketing by using my knowledge of behavioral observations and data analysis to help predict consumer behavior. This comes in handy for things like creating content and analyzing which content drives the most engagement, or what posts lead to more ticket sales. There’s a lot of thought and strategy put into my work and that’s what (I believe) sets me apart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/mariahtheorganizer
• Instagram: @mariahtheorganizer @mariah.thedesigner
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569374308362

Image Credits

Cannababe MN
Walaloo Photography
DJ LOW
Ja Harlin EP Cover
Ronny the Photo Guy
Frosted Lakes
Red Light House