LATEST DEVELOPMENT
The Influencer Marketing Factory's exclusive survey of 1,000 U.S. social media users reveals 41% attended creator-led in-person events in 2025, with StubHub data showing 500% ticket sales increase as creators shift from digital-only engagement to experiential marketing through tours, pop-ups, and community activations amid growing digital fatigue.
INDUSTRY TALK
"Trend and scrolling fatigue combined with what we call digital captivity have led young people to relearn how to connect. Creating their own spaces, taking their online interests offline."
BY THE NUMBERS
Event attendance metrics include:
41% of respondents attending at least one creator event over past year
500% increase in creator event ticket sales in 2025 vs 2024 (StubHub)
46% of fans expressing genuine excitement about IRL creator experiences
Only 2% believing creator events are overhyped
$528.39B projected global creator economy value by 2030 (22.5% CAGR)
PRICING INSIGHTS
Monetization details include:
$10-$50 "sweet spot" ticket price for workshops and meetups
34% of fans comfortable paying $50+ for full live performances
40% lower cost compared to traditional live events
More than one in three respondents very likely to purchase at creator events
Free product sampling ranking among top attendance motivators
MARKET CONTEXT
Industry landscape includes:
LTK serving 40M monthly shoppers with $5B annual sales
ShopMy raising $77.5M from Shopify and Rent the Runway investors
89% of creators monetizing through brand partnerships vs 58% using affiliate links
Condé Nast launching competing Vette platform in 2026
TikTok Shop democratizing creator economy with algorithm-neutral discovery
EVENT EXAMPLES
Real-world activations include:
Salish Matter's skincare brand pop-up drawing 87,000 fans at American Dream Mall
Jake Paul exhibition boxing match at Atlanta State Farm Arena streaming on Netflix
Sidemen charity soccer match selling out 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium
14M+ YouTube viewers for Sidemen event combining live and digital audiences
Meet-and-greets ranking highest among desired event types
INDUSTRY DRIVERS
Shift catalysts include:
Digital fatigue and "digital captivity" driving desire for authentic connections
84% of event attendees forming new friendships at creator experiences
45% reporting strengthened sense of self from in-person interactions
Young people "relearning how to connect" through offline gatherings
Brands achieving higher engagement through experiential marketing
THE BOTTOM LINE
The creator economy's evolution toward hybrid online-offline models demonstrates that digital engagement alone no longer suffices, with fans craving authentic in-person connections that foster community building and provide creators with diversified revenue streams—proving that as the industry matures, success increasingly depends on translating digital influence into memorable real-world experiences that strengthen creator-fan relationships beyond the screen.