Crypto Beach: Come one, Come all
Our office is located smack dab in the middle of one of the hottest crypto communities. From blockchain companies like SpankChain and BlockDaemon to Blockchain Beach events, EOS wallet launch parties, and great local publications and podcasts, LA’s kind of got it all for some good old-fashion crypto talk. But beyond it being just a room full of people, the LA crypto community is built by strong, collaborative forces and when these forces come together, it feels like you are taking part in a movement. A movement that fills the crypto/blockchain space with opportunities for education, and open-conversations that continue to empower young entrepreneurs, students, and more to join the discussion and take part in the budding industry.
Coming into this space fairly recently (my journey into crypto started in January), I knew the only way I was going to learn and grow quickly was to attend local events and meetups and absorb as much information as I possibly could. But what sets blockchain events apart from any other event I had ever attended while working in PR previously is how welcoming and warm people are in the LA crypto and blockchain meetup community. Whether I’m chatting with a CEO of a major blockchain company or an enthusiast who is there to learn more, it seems as though everyone attends these meetups for similar reasons — to learn and connect with each other.
As I started going to more and more events, I realized I was one of very few people who work on the marketing/PR side in the space. Chatting with new faces and hearing about their involvement, I also started to realize that while most people were interested in my day-to-day life and how I ended up at Melrose PR, they were even more fascinated by Melrose PR’s journey into the blockchain space.
So for all of you followers out there who are interested, here’s the abridged story about how Melrose PR went down the crypto rabbit hole.
About seven years ago, Melrose PR was formed by our CEO, Kelley Weaver, as a lifestyle/hospitality PR firm working with restaurants, accessories, and giftables. Through the Los Angeles grapevine, about two years ago, a locally-based blockchain platform called Gem called to inquire about PR services. After digging a bit deeper, attending a few events and learning as much as she could, Kelley realized this was a unique opportunity to be one of the first PR firms that specialized in this space. From the moment Gem became our first blockchain client, Melrose PR transitioned from restaurants and lifestyle to working solely with blockchain companies.
With so much buzz out there about blockchain being an inclusive industry, banking the unbanked and connecting the world with this greater technology, I have to admit, there is a sense of “we’re all in this together” in Los Angeles. I don’t mean to be cheesy, but attending local blockchain and crypto events is “electric.” You can go in knowing not one person and leave with 10 new connections who are willing to go out of their way to help you in some capacity.
And if you tend to be shy, know that the LA community is here to help. Whether you’re being introduced to someone new who can help get your project off the ground or you’re being asked to speak and attend panels, meetups and more, Crypto Beach is a welcoming group of enthusiasts who understand that the only way for this technology to continue to grow and succeed, the community must come first.
