Fan of the Geek
I recently got to chat with journalist, media manager and founder of Fangeek.com, Jacqueline Day. Jacqui, as many people call her gets to do what all of us fangirls dream of doing, by keeping us connected to all our favorite celebrities through Twitter, Facebook and at conventions like Dragon Con and Comic Con. (You can thank her for that by the way) Her clients include Nicholas Brendan(Buffy), Raphael Sbarge(Once Upon a Time), J. August Richards(Angel) and many more. Whats even better Jaqui is a fan just like us and knows what we want of our favorite t.v. characters and she makes it happen.
Name: Jacqueline Day
Occupation: Social media and personal appearances agent. I finally decided on “Fan Liaison” for my business cards.
Currently Living: Generally, out of a suitcase. Size varies, depending on the convention.
Website: FanGeek.com
Geek Sheek: Give us a little background of your profession and what it entails.
Jacqui-
By training, I'm a journalist – specifically, an editor.
In my other life, I've fallen into social media and personal appearances management, or, as I've decided: Fan Liaison. I work with artists to help reach their fan bases through social media and personal appearances. As popular and all-encompassing as social media is, it's just not for everyone. We all have that friend who either doesn't have the time to be online, or just doesn't get it. That's where I come in.
Geek Sheek: Explain how the website and the idea behind it came about.
Jacqui-
I wish I had a story full of noble inspiration, that perhaps came about after saving a bus load of orphans trapped on a bridge. However:
In 1998, I moved to Massachusetts.While looking for a full-time job, I decided that this whole“Internet” thing seemed like it was worth exploring, and decided to teach myself HTML. I wanted to create a website that people would visit and decided a memorial to my then-recently deceased goldfish probably wouldn't have a lot of traction. I looked around and there was one site focused on Nicholas Brendon (Xander, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”). So I launched a fan site for him, swearing to use my journalistic sensibilities to differentiate it. I promoted it on the Bronze (the official posting board for the show) and just learned everything else “on the job.”
A few months later, Nicholas and others found the site, liked it, contacted me and offered to provide me with accurate information. From there, our partnership grew. Today I handle all aspects of his social media and personal appearances.
Geek Sheek: I love the name you came up with for the site FanGeek. I’m a big fan of the word Geek and it becoming a word of female empowerment in the Nerd Community for us“fangirls”. I feel like the word Nerd is often associated with the male fans so I’m all about taking Geek to a whole new level. How did you come up with it?
Jacqui-
My friend Kristen Reidel, who now writes for “Nikita” (watch it!), used it a few times in conversations. We were working on some things together at the time and needed a name. I said I loved the word and we should use that,because it what we were: Fans, and Geeks. FanGeek and proud.
Geek Sheek: How did you go about explaining social media and its importance when connecting to fans?
Jacqui-
People really do seem to get the importance of social media. Where I come in is: I'm a fan. I bridge the gap between the artist and the fans because I know what fans are interested in and how to bring them the information, because I'm one of them. I like to think I don't talk down to them: I know they want to know where this person will be, where that interview is, and why they should watch this episode because that's all the information I'd want to know.
Geek Sheek: Who are some of the clients that you represent?
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| Nicholas Brendon with Jacqui |
There's Nicholas and his twin brother, Kelly Donovan, as well as:
Raphael Sbarge (Archie/Jiminy, “OnceUpon a Time”): We're working on some personal appearances, and I helped him start his Facebook and Twitter pages. I also work on social media for his nonprofit, Green Wish (http://greenwish.com).
J. August Richards (Gunn, “Angel”): We'll be launching some personal appearances for him this summer.
Miracle Laurie (Mellie/November,“Dollhouse”) and Stacey Scowley (Cindy Perrin, “Dollhouse”):I run their websites.
Kimberly Brooks (Ashley Williams, “MassEffect”) and I are working on ramping up her social media presence,and I'm taking over her website.
Geek Sheek: Unfortunately, I have never even been to any type of fan convention. Do you attend these events with your clients? What exactly goes on, any funny stories?
Jacqui-
I do attend them. Funny stories? I have a ton of them! I'm at them with Nicholas Brendon, after all.
What goes on? Fans get to come up and spend some time with actors they've admired for years. I've seen it many times, but I never tire of seeing the visible excitement on someone's face when they finally get to meet an actor I helped book for a convention. Knowing that I played even the tiniest role in helping to bring them to that point is quite joyous.
Geek Sheek: Do you have any events lined up in the coming months?
Jacqui-
Nicholas, Raphael and J. all have events scheduled through the end of the year. Check FanGeek.com for more info!
Geek Sheek: After reading somethings about you I found out that you are a Cancer survivor. What type of Cancer did you have and how has it affected you?
Jacqui-
I have breast cancer; I was diagnosed Dec. 27, 2010. I had weekly chemo sessions for four months; chemo every other week for another four months; and now I get two shots a month.
Cancer is interesting: Every diagnosis is different, and there's never going to be an end date. I'm a planner: To hear “until it's done” in regards to chemo forced me to completely reassess my way of thinking. It's cheesy and I feel like THAT cancer patient, but it's also taught me to really value time. Sometimes, tests and side effects and other cancer-related issues throw a huge wrench into things and force me to slow down and re-evaluate.
Geek Sheek: Do you support any Cancer foundations?
Jacqui-
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Stand Up 2 Cancer.
Geek Sheek: What are some things you Geek out over?
Jacqui-
I honestly do geek out over every person I'm fortunate enough to work with; I am a “Buffy,”“Angel,” Whedon and “Once Upon a Time” fan, for real. The fact that I get to collaborate with artists and help them reach out to their fanbases is still sometimes very surreal to me. I won't lie: I get to talk to Xander, Gunn and Kaidan. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.
I also get stupid fangirl over “Fringe.” I've been to a lot of events, but the only time I really fangirled out about a show was when I got to talk to Jasika Nicole at Emerald City Comic Con about “Fringe.”
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All photos used are property of Jacqueline Day, please do not reproduce
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