Written by: Autumn Stone
I used to spend hours on my phone scrolling through pictures of content creators at festivals, experiencing every emotion from fascination to raw, unfiltered jealousy. I couldn’t believe that there were people going to festivals, being sent free festival fits, and sometimes even being paid just for doing what they love. Then I stumbled upon creators like Britta and Maggie, who inspired me to dress, live, and show up in my full authenticity—both on and off the dance floor.
Jealousy Into Motivation
I was absolutely captivated watching people live out this dream that had been floating around my head for months. So instead of wallowing in pointless jealousy, I used those creators as my motivation, inspiration, and reminder that this dream of mine was actually possible. It dawned on me that I, too, had the capacity to bring this goal to life. It would just take a little (okay, maybe more than a little) work—and I was ready to put in the effort. I spent close to nine months building my online presence as an EDM content creator before I was able to reap a single benefit. Now, I am by no means a large-scale influencer, but I’ve been able to access so many incredible opportunities as a result of building my personal brand—including:
- Free festival fits in exchange for promo
- Affiliate codes to earn money on referrals
- Free entry to events and shows
- A growing network of amazing humans I might’ve never met without Instagram
I get a lot of questions about how to become a brand ambassador, affiliate, or content creator for rave brands. So today, I’m sharing a few of my biggest tips for landing your first brand deal and starting your journey as a content creator in the EDM world.
Start Scared
Make peace with the fact that you’ll never feel ready. “Ready” is a lie that keeps you perpetually frozen. It’s completely normal to feel intimidated as you step into a new space. Fear is a good thing—it means you’re trying something new. The first time you hit record on that flow video or do a tour of your rave-wear closet, you’ll probably feel a little uneasy—and that’s okay. You just have to start. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent staring at reels when I first started creating content, absolutely obsessing over making them just right. I’d tweak and edit until I was hardly excited about the content anymore. I became so obsessed with making the “right” content, the trendy content, the in content—that I lost sight of why I was doing this in the first place: because I wanted to promote awesome rave brands and connect with more members of this kickass community.
There’s a difference between being intentional with your content and being obsessive. That was a tough one for me to learn.
Find Your Focus
If you want to create content for a big flow-star brand, start posting videos of yourself flowing in aesthetic spaces. If you’re into festival fashion, throw together outfits that showcase your personal style and capture them in good lighting with a high-quality camera or phone. If your goal is to collaborate with a harm-reduction foundation, educate yourself on Narcan and create short, informative clips for your community.
Don’t wait until your content feels perfect—people actually resonate more with content that feels real. And real isn’t perfect.
Pitch Yourself with Purpose
Another key skill: get comfortable pitching yourself. A huge mistake I made early on was using a copy-and-paste pitch, sending the same message to multiple brands. It was generic, impersonal, and ineffective. Why would a brand send you free products to promote if you haven’t even taken the time to learn about them?
Once I realized that, I changed my approach—and my success rate tripled.
Now, when I reach out to a brand, I start by sharing what I genuinely love about them. Then, I highlight how I could add value as an affiliate, ambassador, or creator. Keep your first message short and warm: introduce yourself, express genuine interest, and ask if there’s a good place to submit your portfolio or media kit.
Get Clear on Your Vision
Contrary to popular belief, this market isn’t as saturated as it looks. Yes, there are thousands of EDM creators—but there are also thousands of small businesses, brands, artists, nonprofits, and venues in need of promotion. That’s where you come in. The key? Get crystal clear on your vision.
Ask yourself: “What type of content will I enjoy creating long-term?”
If you don’t genuinely enjoy what you’re promoting, you won’t have the motivation to stick with it. Plus, it’s inauthentic to promote something you don’t love. Authenticity is what makes your content stand out.
Build a Simple Portfolio
Your portfolio doesn’t need to be fancy to get the job done. In fact, mine have always been pretty simple. A portfolio (or a ‘media kit’) can look like:
- A website featuring your content
- A Linktree page with links to your work
- A Canva graphic (I recommend YouTube for learning Canva since it’s free, quick, and offers tons of insight on mastering the platform)
If you’re brand new, start with a few photos or videos that showcase your originality and the style of content that you’d like to create for brands. If you’ve been creating for a while, include metrics like:
- How many accounts you’ve reached in the last 30 days
- Your top-performing piece of contnt
- Any brands you’ve promoted before
- Any paid/unpaid advertisement campaigns that you’ve been a part of
These details show that you’re not just asking for free stuff/payment for your posts—you’re proving your value.
Show them you know ball. 🎯
Stay True to You
Have you ever scrolled past an ad that was clearly sponsored? Salesy voice. Forced testimonial. The same “I’m obsessed!” line you’ve heard a hundred times.
Now think about the opposite—content that’s so raw, real, and relatable that it stops you mid-scroll. The kind of post that makes you smile and hit “share to group chat.”
That’s the difference. People don’t respond to being sold to. They respond to genuine people sharing genuine experiences. Whether it’s a vlog from Electric Forest or a Lunautics accessory haul, people love seeing real excitement from real people.
Believe it or not, my top-performing posts have almost always been the ones I made spontaneously.
People love when you’re you.
The brands that I love most are the ones that people are talking about, not being they want to convert sales (although that is an obvious perk), but because they are genuinely eager to share about a product, experience, or event! This type of energy generates an upward spiral where a brand becomes more than just a brand. It becomes a community.
So that about sums it up!
I could write pages upon pages about my journey as an EDM content creator, but I hope these tips give you some insight and inspiration.
Over the past few years, I’ve received complimentary tickets to shows and festivals, rave accessories, full outfits, and invitations to exclusive EDM events—all in exchange for my “silly little reels.” So, if you’ve been scrolling through videos of creators and wishing you could do what they do; I have amazing news.
If I can do it, you absolutely can. Start today. 😊
Can’t wait to see what you’ll create first!