We had the good fortune of connecting with Claire Friday and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claire, how do you define success?
I believe Success is found in the daily decisions that you make to continue down the career path you’ve carved, and in the small strides you make to improve your personal life. As I’ve seen from experience in my career and through daily life choices that I’ve made, you don’t need to achieve massive milestones to be successful. It comes from a place of contentment in knowing that you are doing what you can with what you’ve been given on a daily basis to make the most out of life. Especially during the times that we’re currently in it is important to appreciate the success found in each day that you live; that may come in the form of meaningful relationships, provision, and just staying the course. You have to celebrate moving in inches instead of miles both personally and professionally. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started out as a stage manager in opera and theater. My background was rooted heavily in performing arts and technical theater studies in college. When I lived in Los Angeles for ten years, I experienced working in the live television world and performing arts at the same time. Both worlds are vastly different, but the expectations are similar. It was the combination of those two specific genres of live entertainment that paved the way for me to work in event production and produce corporate events. What was so essential when I was starting out in my career was experiencing many different avenues of work and trying multiple things. I also owned and operated an artist management firm in Los Angeles, and also worked a little bit in advertising and marketing. I believe that sometimes you have to go through various outlets to find the path that works for you. For me, it ended up being producing. I used to work with a producer in Los Angeles in my 20s, and he told me that the years you spend in the initial stages of your career are some of the most impactful because of the relationships you make, the lessons you learn, and how you understand your work ethic as a professional. He was right. I found that everything I learned early on and the various experiences I went through paved the way for me to produce some very large projects and events. When I moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, I was ready to dive in, start my own business, and dream big. Being multifaceted in other creative areas such as writing and directing also paid off for me because of my ability to see the storytelling element in the production world. That piece is so important. If you can help tell a good story through events and guest experiences, you completely enhance the narrative and produce impactful messages. I learned all of this by repetition and experiencing a wide variety of situations where I had to be adaptable. By working with different people on a regular basis, you understand how to adapt your communication styles to serve the general team and ultimately lead you to a shared, successful goal. I want the world to know that I’ve been able to create my career, and I’ve never allowed anyone to pigeon hole me in a specific area. I’ve built up contacts, experiences, and a lengthy resume because I’ve never been afraid of putting myself out there, trying many things, and embracing many different ways to use my talents. The sky really is the limit! I hope that I can inspire others on a daily basis by sharing my journey, and encourage them to look at many ways to use their own talents to further their life’s work and purpose.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many great places to go in Las Vegas! One of the many qualities about this city that pulled me in were the endless experiences you can have; and take it from someone who makes a living at creating experiences, Vegas does not disappoint. I’m a huge foodie, and I love to go out. I think some of the best experiences you can have are at restaurants. Who doesn’t love to break bread together? Something I love about living in Las Vegas is that the food options are endless, and the city offers some of the best. Some of my favorite places to eat aren’t even on the strip! I’m a big fan of my friends Gio and Naomi Mauro who own Monzú Italian Oven and Bar. If you want authentic Sicilian food, you have to check it out. On top of that, I can never say no to their bread because it is literally the best I’ve ever eaten, AND it’s healthy. It’s made from naturally leavened dough matured over five days. It’s the first thing I order when I walk in the door. Their craft cocktail program and Italian wine list is pretty incredible, too. If you’re in the mood for a nightcap or cocktail with a view, I highly suggest Skybar at The Waldorf Astoria. It’s one of my guilty pleasures and a place that I will always take my friends who are visiting from out of town. One of the best views of the strip in my opinion, with a very Vegas feel. It’s worth a night of dress up. I also love The M Resort and Casino. It’s close to where I live, and their pool is a great place to hang out on those triple digit days in the summer. If you’re an outdoors person like me, you should check out Red Rock Canyon. There are some great trails and landscapes. It’s pretty stunning.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my family – my mother, father, and sisters. They are the ones who encourage me on a daily basis, and continuously demonstrate unconditional love.

Website: https://www.clairefriday.com/
Instagram: @clairefriday
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-friday-492885a/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clairef315/
Youtube: TEDx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ug_EPRmbmw

Image Credits
Jose Perez Briana Moore TEDx Bellarmine University

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.