Hanging IRL with your online friends

by Cat Ku, Patreon product marketing manager
All photos by The Lounge Booth

In my three years as a product marketer at Patreon, I've talked to hundreds of creators. Their art and businesses all look very different, but they always say they couldn't do what they do without their community of fans. I got to see the power of one of those communities live last week, when Shannon Beveridge partnered with Patreon to host a live show for her members in LA. The event was unlike anything I had experienced before, and it left me feeling inspired and reflective about the power of niche communities, especially in the digital age.

The way the events team partnered with Shannon to host a live show of her podcast, Exes and O's was an immersive experience. While I’m used to attending podcast live shows in theaters and other public spaces, this one was at a private residence in LA which made the event feel intimate right off the bat. Add to that the VIP happy hour, a photobooth modeled after Shannon's iconic bedroom set, an actual tattoo station, Shannon-inspired cocktails, and even Rebecca Black as the DJ – the whole setup was designed to make you feel like you were hanging out in Shannon’s backyard with some of your closest friends.

Her fans were energized. Around 120 people showed up, with some fans flying in from as far as Mexico, Ireland, and France. They left not just with memories, but with new friends (and some even a new tattoo). One thing I kept hearing from attendees was, "I've never been to an event like this before." This wasn’t just about meeting a creator; it was about being part of something bigger—connecting with a community that feels like home.

It was eye-opening to see how the closeness created in online communities can translate into real-world connections. People who had only met in chats, comments, or DMs talked, laughed and vibed in such a lovely, intimate, and serendipitous way. There was a great mingling of people from different parts of her journey—those who found her on Tumblr, others who discovered her through TikTok—and it was clear that her community is as diverse as it is dedicated.

In the day-to-day of understanding creators' needs and building features and products, sometimes you can get caught up in the details. But being able to zoom out and see the impact of our work on a community like Shannon’s is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about certain features I’m working on; it’s about how they all fit together and help creators do what they’re meant to do: create. It was a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do, and it has inspired me to think about how we can continue to support and celebrate these vibrant, diverse communities in new and meaningful ways.

Fan of Shannon? Want to join the exes and o's community? Check out her podcast, chats, community and exclusive content on her Patreon.