Q&A: Ten Minutes with a Neighborhood Curator on Building Local Event Networks
A compact interview with a neighborhood curator who scaled from 2 to 15 weekly micro‑events in 12 months — practical questions and scripts included.
Q&A: Ten Minutes with a Neighborhood Curator on Building Local Event Networks
Hook: We asked Lina Ortiz, a neighborhood curator, to pull back the curtain on day‑to‑day tactics for building a local event ecosystem. Her responses are concise and operational.
Why micro‑events?
Lina: “They’re lower cost to run and easier to keep consistent. People show up when there’s a predictable promise.”
How do you find partners?
Lina: “Start with existing customer relationships: bakers, bike shops, and salon owners. Offer a shared promotion and a small revenue split. Programs like the Community Curator pilot show how subsidized slots reduce risk: Community Curator Program."
What’s your favorite format?
Lina: “The Pocket Workshop — a 45 minute how‑to where attendees take something home. It feels intimate and creates a tangible memory.”
How do you handle ticketing and fraud?
Lina: “We keep ticketing simple: RSVP with name and phone, QR check‑in. For domain and listing hygiene, we use a single subdomain and follow IDN best practices when needed (IDN Best Practices).”
One tactical script for hosts
At the 40 minute mark: “If you loved tonight, our membership gives you early access to signups at every show and a 10% discount on partner drops — join at the back table.”
How do you avoid burnout?
Lina: “We rotate hosts and use microbreaks between slots. Research on microbreaks convinced me to build breaks into the schedule: Microbreaks Improve Productivity. That simple change reduced mistakes and improved guest interaction.”
Final advice
Lina: “Start small, document everything, and be kind to your volunteers. The rest scales once your repeatability is proven.”