Damien Nelson – Press Agent
A self-described “Future Publicist” in her Grade 8 yearbook, Damien Nelson knew from an early age she was meant to help artists find their spotlight. Now a seasoned arts and entertainment publicist with 15 years experience, Damien launched Want & Able Arts Consulting to help comedians, musicians, collectives and not-for-profit arts organizations gain the type of recognition and exposure their work deserves.
Starting her career at FLIP Publicity, over ten fabulous years Damien went from publicity intern to Senior Publicity Manager while working on a variety of exciting projects including Prism Prize, and Kent Monkman’s Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience. Her big picture approach to PR attracted media attention for NXNE, Empire Comedy Live, MNFSTO10, Red Bull Sound Select, and The Second City.
In 2018 Damien launched Want & Able, offering a robust roster of PR and consulting services for her creative clients. A proactive arts promoter known for being cooler than a cucumber (seriously, a 911 operator said she was the calmest person they’ve ever talked to), Damien’s razor-sharp instincts and accessible communication style make promoting your event a transparent and straightforward process. From press releases to large-scale campaigns, Damien’s ability to pinpoint a powerful story makes getting media attention seem like a piece of cake.
Damien is a committee member for the Comedy Album of the Year category at the Juno Awards, and Board Member of Bad Dog Theatre Company. She is the editor of Parton and Pearl, a Canadian publication focused on comedy, country music, and the strong connection between the two. Damien was a Producer of the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, where she lead communications, programming, and professional development events, and was the primary liaison to the artistic community.
Damien is a member of CARAS, CMAOntario, TAPA, and the Canadian Academy, and is a monthly contributor to Toronto Fringe, Toronto Palestine Film Festival, and the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival.
When she’s not in the office or at a show, you can find Damien watching her way through the Classic Hollywood category on Criterion Channel while knitting a scarf (the only thing she knows how to knit).
Kailee Shearing – Publicist
You know those “behind the scenes” people that keep things running smoothly- so smoothly that you don’t even know they’re there? That’s Kailee.
A publicist since 2022, Kailee brings 15+ years of arts administration, digital marketing, and entertainment production experience (plus a boatload of relentless enthusiasm) to Want & Able.
Starting her career at Toronto’s North by Northeast (NXNE) Festival – and where she first met Damien while an undergrad at UofT – Kailee’s career in entertainment includes a near-decade-long tenure at NXNE, plus multiple live event and TV/film production credits, including the Much Music Video Awards, The Marilyn Denis Show, Your Morning, and CTV News; events such as Nuit Blanche, Canadian Music Week, HeavyTO, and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair; and venues like Budweiser Stage, Burl’s Creek, Danforth Music Hall, El Mocambo, the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, and Casino Rama Entertainment Centre, where she (literally) shined the spotlight on the likes of Diana Ross, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Jann Arden, Boyz II Men and many more. She’s also worked on touring shows for acts like Elton John, The Who, Lizzo, Drake, and more.
When an injury forced her to sideline her production career, Kailee transitioned into digital marketing, building a multi-faceted skillset that makes her a promising publicist, including a strong understanding of marketing strategy, digital tactics, and brand messaging. She enjoyed several Content and Marketing Director roles in San Francisco- and LA-based marketing agencies before coming to Want & Able.
Kailee’s a SEMRush certified Content Marketer, Hootsuite Certified Social Media Marketer, UX Writer, AWAI Certified Direct-Response Copywriting Specialist, and Google Certified Digital Marketing Professional.
More importantly, she loves “helping cool stuff get known, because the world deserves to know about it”. Forever a fan of the outsider, underdog, and unsung hero, Kailee’s always thinking up new angles and approaches to connect clients with the outlets and audiences that need them.
When she’s not working, you’ll find Kailee writing, buried in a book, trying way too hard to meditate, or hanging out with something four-legged.