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 earning media attention seem like a piece of cake.
Damien is Vice Chair of Bad Dog Theatre Company, and a committee member for the Comedy Album of the Year category at the Juno Awards. Damien is a member of CARAS, CMAOntario, TAPA, and the Canadian Academy.
She is the editor of Parton and Pearl, a Canadian publication focused on comedy, country music, and the strong connection between the two. For five years 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.
She has taught publicity workshops for Comedy Bar Pro, Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival, Why Not Theatre’s RISER Project, Toronto Fringe and more.
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).