Sign in

The Immersive Experience Institute

@immersiveexperience.org
764 followers 37 following 128 posts

Hosts of The Next Stage Immersive Summit & Co-Creators of The Immersive Invitationals. Bringing together the performing arts, gaming, and XR immersive communities since 2020.

PostsRepliesMedia
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 25/09/2026
NYC Immersive Industry Mixer: October 13, 7-10pm, Dead Letter No. 9 in Brooklyn. $10. 21+. Tickets on sale now: www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-immers...
eventbrite.com
NYC Immersive Industry Fall Mixer
Come meet & mingle with the movers and shakers of the immersive world as we toast one of our favorite venues one last time!
031
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Michael Andersen @mjandersen.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Went to attend the showcase of an immersive hackathon last week, and wrote up some thoughts on the event. Also mentioned: Lost Horizon Night Market, Boxaroo's Four Doors, Night Mind's Candy Bowl, and the narrative hackathon I participated in almost 15 years ago.
mjandersen.substack.com
Reflections on an Immersive Hackathon
Impressions on the New York Immersive Invitational, and the broader immersive hackathon landscape
0124
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 24/08/2026
Thank you to all who participated in the New York Immersive Invitational this past weekend! Extra special thanks to Culture Lab LIC for hosting us all weekend long. A huge round of applause to all of our hardworking staff and volunteers, as well as our fabulously talented docents.
100
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 07/07/2026
Join us on July 28th for our first Next Stage Salon in Brooklyn. The topic: Finding Your Audience. Join the peer-to-peer discussion lead by those who have cracked the code to marketing immersive work in the modern era. The amazing Dead Letter No. 9. will be open exclusively for us that night.
eventbrite.com
Next Stage Salon: Finding Your Audience
The Immersive Experience Institute presents an evening long event exploring the issues around marketing immersive art & entertainment.
022
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 10/06/2026
Our summer series Understanding The Immersive Audience launches today Come along as @kathrynyu.com dives into some of the latest research on the audience for immersive experiences, including a fresh study of immersive enthusiasts, how the classic Conversion Funnel maps to immersive... 1/2
immersiveexperience.org
Understanding the Immersive Audience (2026) — The Immersive Experience Institute
173
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Noah J. Nelson, Immersonaut Prime @noahjnelson.com · 27/05/2026
Going to be on an Instagram Live in just a few minutes talking Miami Immersive Summit. www.instagram.com/juggerknot_t...
instagram.com
Instagram
Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
002
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 02/05/2026
Due to incredible demand The L.A. Immersive Invitational has added an 8:15pm show on Sunday May 3rd! The teams are devising their pieces RIGHT NOW. www.eventbrite.com/e/los-angele...
eventbrite.com
Los Angeles Immersive Invitational
Journey through four immersive pieces created by LA's top immersive storytellers, challenged to innovate in 48 hours.
033
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 08/04/2026
It’s Back! Faster & More Intense! The 2026 Los Angeles Immersive Invitational is less than a month away! Journey through four immersive pieces created by LA's top immersive storytellers, challenged to innovate in 48 hours. Co-presented with After Hours Theatre Company on May 3rd.
eventbrite.com
Los Angeles Immersive Invitational
Journey through four immersive pieces created by LA's top immersive storytellers, challenged to innovate in 48 hours.
132
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 02/03/2026
We're kicking off our NYC programming with a Meetup in Brooklyn on 3/17. Come connect with other professionals in New York's immersive & experiential performing arts, marketing, XR, nightlife, and location based entertainment fields. www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-immers...
eventbrite.com
NYC Immersive Industry Meetup
Connect with other producers, performers, and experience designers across the breadth of immersive arts & entertainment.
042
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 07/02/2026
Monday’s event is now SOLD OUT. The wait list is active and there will be NO SALES AT THE DOOR. We are at capacity. It isn’t happening. Attendee arrival info and survey has gone out via email.
011
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 29/01/2026
Kicking Off The Immersive Experience Institute's Spotlight Series Yannick Trapman-O'Brien (Undersigned, The Telelibrary) joins us for a unique format that puts him in conversation with some of the most dynamic figures in the LA immersive scene.
eventbrite.com
Spotlight Series: Yannick Trapman-O'Brien
Join us for a dynamic conversation between the artist behind Undersigned & The Telelibrary and LA's immersive luminaries.
122
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 05/01/2026
Lisa Spira of @roomescapeartist.bsky.social has released their annual US Escape Room Industry Report. roomescapeartist.com/2025/12/29/u...
roomescapeartist.com
US Escape Room Industry Report – December 2025 - Room Escape Artist
Room Escape Artist and Morty present the 2025 Industry report, a data-driven look at the escape room industry.
012
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 15/12/2025
We have a handful of tickets left for tonight's Salon on "Immersive @ Play" at the Pasadena Playhouse and there will be NO SALES AT THE DOOR. Ticket sales END AT 6PM. Doors at 6:30. $35 and comes with two complimentary drinks (beer, wine, soda).
everythingimmersive.com
The Next Stage Immersive Salon: Immersive @ Play
A standalone edition of The Next Stage Summit's signature event: expanded and upgraded!
112
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 01/12/2025
Spinning out of The Next Stage Immersive Summit: an ongoing series of stand alone salons. This month the theme is “Immersive @ Play” and we’ve got guests from The 20-Sided Tavern, Hasbro, and more to help us kick things off. Two very special editions in LA & Pasadena. Learn more at the link!
immersiveexperience.org
The Next Stage Salon Series Kicks Off This December — The Immersive Experience Institute
Our Signature Salons are the most memorable part of The Next Stage Immersive Summit , a place where real peer-to-peer connections are forged in the immersive & experiential arts. Now, we’re excit...
053
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 10/10/2025
The latest edition of our LinkedIn Newsletter is live with some not-great-news, Bob, out of Denver along with a fresh report from Immersive Arts UK, a LARP exploring a new financial model, and experiential building its own stage at Advertising Week in NYC. www.linkedin.com/pulse/good-b...
linkedin.com
The Good, The Bad, and The Experiential: The Next Stage of Immersive
And we’re back tapping into the conversations shaping the professional world of immersive and experiential art & entertainment..
042
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
For more insights into the immersive art and entertainment industry, download this free report from the Gensler Research Institute and the The Immersive Experience Institute: www.gensler.com/gri/immersiv...
gensler.com
Evolving Immersive: The 2025 Immersive Entertainment & Culture Industry Report
Explore the most comprehensive evaluation of the state of Immersive Experience available today, published in partnership by Gensler and the Immersive Experience Institute.
031
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
Thus making it easy for consumers to identify the "wish" being fulfilled and what the experience is going to be like.
131
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
So an immersive experience like Bridge Command can use the phrase "Ever wanted to fly a starship?" on their posters in the London tube while Phantom Peak entices customers with the tagline "step into a real life video game."
Poster image advertising the immersive experience Phantom Peak displaying several of the characters, an illustration of the town, and the tag line "Step into a real life video game" Photograph of a poster on the London tube advertising the immersive experience Bridge Command, showing a person in a uniform sitting at a console of a spaceship with the tag line "Ever Wanted to Fly A Starship?"
121
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
When I was taking classes from former Imagineers Joe Garlington and Larry Gertz, we often discussed the concept of "wish fulfillment": what is the promise you're making to your guests and how are you going to deliver on that promise?
131
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
And some survey respondents also mentioned their projects being audience-driven or described an experience which was happening “all around you.”
111
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
Some practitioners said they use phrases like “your chance to be the hero” and “be part of the story,” while other focused on the appeals of immersion itself with phrases like “it’s a movie you can walk around inside of.”
121
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
However, our survey respondents cautioned against using the word in isolation, without additional details. Additional specifics are needed, as just saying a project is “immersive” is too vague on its own.
101
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
Prospective audience members in the know will have their interest piqued when they see these phrases being used in marketing for immersive projects.
101
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
Why? The terms "immersive," "immersive experience," and "immersive theatre" — while being open to interpretation — remain effective because they are familiar to the intended audience.
101
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
Even if you believe the term "immersive" to be overused, the most common response from immersive art and entertainment professionals was that the word continues to be useful in marketing materials, with caveats.
111
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 08/04/2025
In our survey of #immersive practitioners, we asked what “What words have you found to be *most* effective in marketing your work?” and “What words have you found to be *least* effective in marketing your work?” Link: www.gensler.com/gri/immersiv...
Cover of Evolving Immersive: The 2025 Immersive Entertainment & Culture Industry Report
172
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 08/08/2025
Immersive Experience Institute co-founder Noah Nelson (@noahjnelson.com) was recently on USA TODAY’s The Excerpt podcast, talking about the rise of immersive entertainment. Available now wherever you get your podcasts from and also on their YouTube channel! youtu.be/SBCZN5-Ecmc
youtu.be
Escape rooms to theme parks: immersive entertainment is booming | The Excerpt
YouTube video by USA TODAY
092
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kevin Parnell @kidspy.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
#NextStage25 is so inspiring and it’s only the first day. Phenomenal insights into all aspects of immersive experience design, production, operation. And so many awesome sounding experiences I’d love to see one day!
041
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
markcmarino.bsky.social @markcmarino.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
Escape rooming in a box at Hatch Escapes in #NextStage25 @immersiveexperience.org @noproscenium.com
031
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kelly Sue DeConnick @kellysue.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
See you there?
3475
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
C̵̡̡͇͍̦͕͓̮͉͆̿̿̾͌̐a̸̡̨̟͖̱̮͖̤͎͕̫̼̲̟͐̓̔̈́͐̃̇̏̚͠͝m̴̡̙͉͖̙̹̭̯̘̟͙̟̣͙̮̺̳̗̱̐̑̔͋̌̒̈́͒̿̄̉̋̃̔̑̊͐̇̑̓̕͠͠͝ͅê̷͇̽̈́̿̉͋́̂̑̋̈́̏̈̋̃͂̃͒̀̔͌̓͋͘ơ̶̢̺̪͆̋́̈́̓͆͒͗̒͂͑͌̀̀́̏̚͝ͅ ̶̨̺̹̲̘͍͖͔̣̐̔́͐̆̈́̈̐̀̽͂Ẃ̸̨̛̆̐̇̈́́́͑̽̎̀̏̏̇͋̋̑͂̕̚͝o̷̥̲̝͚̪̹̻̣̝͌͐̐̇͌̆̀̂̈́̐̂̌̈́́͆͠͝͝ǫ̴̧̡̡̛̘̘̣͇̻̮̩̙͕̦̠̩̻͓̞̖͓̟̱̓͗̐̽͌̿̍̇͋͗́̑̔̀̊̈́̒͊͠͠͠ͅd̷̨̜͚̳̠͓̖̰͔̳͎̙̩̟̪͚̜͗́͌̔̎͊͛͛̌̑̉̾̇̑̽̀̾̌̄̐͑͋͆͜͝͝͝ @cameowood.com · 31/07/2025
Excited to be speaking at #NextStage25 — the best Immersive conference around! Pasadena, CA August 1-3 - I’ll be on a panel talking about Location Based Experiences, and how they work in immersive with my #CultureHouseImmersive crew! #NextStage25 www.immersiveexperience.org/the-next-sta...
A woman is next to a droid, with the text “I’m attending the next stage Aug 1-3 Pasadena, Ca immersiveexperience.org
1284
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kevin Parnell @kidspy.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
First time in LA and having a blast checking out the local immersive experience & escape room scene! Here all weekend for #NextStage25.
051
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Jedidjah Julia Noomen @jedidjah.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
In LA for The Next Stage @immersiveexperience.org. Two years ago I attended the first edition on a scholarship, which propelled my work and introduced me to so many amazing other people in the immersive realm. Glad to be back and hopefully pay it forward - plase come say hi if you’re here too!
1114
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 25/07/2025
In ONE WEEK, we'll be gathering 70+ leaders in the immersive entertainment industry at the Next Stage Immersive Summit. Folks from Disney, Gensler, Meow Wolf, Netflix, Niantic Spatial, Secret Cinema, Wasteland Weekend, and more. 2- and 3-Day badges on sale now:
Graphic of companies including Albany Park Theater Project, Cosm, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Disney Live Entertainment, Gensler, Little Cinema, Mighty Coconut, Meow Wolf, Netflix, Niantic Spatial, Phantom Peak, PHI, Secret Cinema, Third Rail Projects, and Wasteland Weekend
0234
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 24/07/2025
INTENSIVE badge holders: Make sure you turn in your workshop preference surveys by 5pm Pacific today (July 24)!
020
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 21/07/2025
A brand new issue of our LinkedIn newsletter just went out! Sign up here: www.linkedin.com/newsletters/...
linkedin.com
The Next Stage of Immersive | LinkedIn
Discover the latest insights and events from The Immersive Experience Institute
011
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 20/07/2025
Institute co-founders Noah Nelson and Kathryn Yu are quoted in this article about the best rides at Disneyland and why they are still delighting guests decades later: www.theguardian.com/film/2025/ju... @noahjnelson.com @kathrynyu.com
theguardian.com
Disneyland at 70: artists on the park’s five best rides – and why they still captivate
The California theme park is busier than ever. We asked artists, designers and historians to weigh in on the attractions that stand the test of time
073
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 17/07/2025
👀 Wondering just what the schedule looks like for The Next Stage Immersive Summit? Well… wonder no more! Dates and times for sessions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are now available on our site! 👀 www.immersiveexperience.org/the-next-sta...
immersiveexperience.org
The Next Stage Immersive Summit — August 1-3, 2025 — Pasadena, CA — The Immersive Experience Institute
121
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 17/07/2025
Happy 70th birthday, Disneyland! Anybody else always take a photo of this plaque when entering? "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy"
A photograph of a plaque that reads:

Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy
0102
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
C̵̡̡͇͍̦͕͓̮͉͆̿̿̾͌̐a̸̡̨̟͖̱̮͖̤͎͕̫̼̲̟͐̓̔̈́͐̃̇̏̚͠͝m̴̡̙͉͖̙̹̭̯̘̟͙̟̣͙̮̺̳̗̱̐̑̔͋̌̒̈́͒̿̄̉̋̃̔̑̊͐̇̑̓̕͠͠͝ͅê̷͇̽̈́̿̉͋́̂̑̋̈́̏̈̋̃͂̃͒̀̔͌̓͋͘ơ̶̢̺̪͆̋́̈́̓͆͒͗̒͂͑͌̀̀́̏̚͝ͅ ̶̨̺̹̲̘͍͖͔̣̐̔́͐̆̈́̈̐̀̽͂Ẃ̸̨̛̆̐̇̈́́́͑̽̎̀̏̏̇͋̋̑͂̕̚͝o̷̥̲̝͚̪̹̻̣̝͌͐̐̇͌̆̀̂̈́̐̂̌̈́́͆͠͝͝ǫ̴̧̡̡̛̘̘̣͇̻̮̩̙͕̦̠̩̻͓̞̖͓̟̱̓͗̐̽͌̿̍̇͋͗́̑̔̀̊̈́̒͊͠͠͠ͅd̷̨̜͚̳̠͓̖̰͔̳͎̙̩̟̪͚̜͗́͌̔̎͊͛͛̌̑̉̾̇̑̽̀̾̌̄̐͑͋͆͜͝͝͝ @cameowood.com · 16/07/2025
Excited to announce that I'm joining a panel at #NextStage2025 discussing How LBE Narrative Immersive + Its Creators Become the Center of the Media Flywheel (and the hard work it takes to get there) with @mikhaeltaragarver.bsky.social and some other folks from #CultureHouseImmersive !
immersiveexperience.org
Intensive Sessions 2025 — The Immersive Experience Institute
182
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 12/07/2025
Just added to the Next Stage Immersive Summit: a session with Stephen Smith of Meow Wolf and Mike Stein of Niantic Spatial to talk about the newly announced collab between the two companies! It's happening August 1-3 in Pasadena & badges are on sale now: www.immersiveexperience.org/the-next-sta...
1102
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Ferryman Collective @ferrymanvr.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Two of our co-founders will be Host Team members at The Next Stage, Aug 1–3 in Pasadena! We’ll talk immersive VR theatre, help with intros, and share tips. New to Next Stage? Come find us—you’ll have friends in no time. Details: www.immersiveexperience.org/the-next-sta... #NextStage25
0113
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 02/07/2025
Jay and Alexis will be on the main stage to discuss the ground-breaking new cinematic experience, The Matrix in Shared Reality. Badges on sale now: www.immersiveexperience.org
immersiveexperience.org
The Immersive Experience Institute
041
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 02/07/2025
We've added Alexis Scalice, VP of Business Development & Entertainment at Cosm, and Jay Rinsky, Founder & Creative Director of Little Cinema, to the Next Stage Immersive Summit lineup!
Photograph of Alexis Scalice of Cosm, with text around it that reads:
The Next Stage 2025
Aug 1-3
Pasadena, CA
immersiveexperience.org Photograph of Jay Rinsky of Little Cinema, with text around it that reads:
The Next Stage 2025
Aug 1-3
Pasadena, CA
immersiveexperience.org
131
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 27/06/2025
They will join speakers from Disney Live Entertainment, Meow Wolf, PHI, Third Rail Projects, Albany Theater Project, Mighty Coconut, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Wasteland Weekend, Secret City Studio, Phantom Peak, and more TBA. Hope to see you there!
immersiveexperience.org
The Next Stage Immersive Summit — August 1-3, 2025 — Pasadena, CA — The Immersive Experience Institute
002
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 27/06/2025
Just announced: Mallory Gracenin (John Wick Experience, The Burnt City, Sleep No More) & Jack Aldisert (The Manikins) will join the speaker lineup at the 2025 Next Stage Immersive Summit taking place August 1-3 in Pasadena, CA. 2- and 3-Day badges are on sale now.
Headshot with the caption 
Mallory Gracenin
Performer/Immersive ArtistHeadshot with the caption 
Jack Aldisert
Deadweight Theatre
142
The Immersive Experience Institute @immersiveexperience.org · 26/06/2025
www.linkedin.com/pulse/discov... The Immersive Experience Institute now has a LinkedIn newsletter! Follow the link to subscribe.
linkedin.com
Discover The Next Stage of Immersive Weekly
Welcome to The Next Stage, bringing you what’s shaping the professional world of immersive and experiential art & entertainment, courtesy of The Immersive Experience Institute. In this first edition o...
000
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
April Soetarman @aprilsoetarman.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
I’m excited to be speaking at the (now rescheduled) Next Stage Immersive Summit, Aug 1-3, 2025 in Pasadena, CA! 🌟 I'll be on a panel with other independent creators on how to create meaningful audience experiences. 👋 immersiveexperience.org/the-next-stage-2025 @immersiveexperience.org #NextStage25
An Asian woman with dark curly hair, with text that reads "I'm Speaking, The Next Stage, August 1-3, 2025 Pasadena, CA, ImmersiveExperience.org"
0103
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
TC Conway @impossibleworks.com · 17/06/2025
Who’s coming to Next Stage 2025? www.immersiveexperience.org/the-next-sta...
immersiveexperience.org
The Next Stage Immersive Summit — August 1-3, 2025 — Pasadena, CA — The Immersive Experience Institute
041
Reposted by The Immersive Experience Institute
Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 13/05/2025
Badges on sale NOW! Join us. August 1-3, 2025 in Pasadena. www.immersiveexperience.org/the-next-sta...
immersiveexperience.org
The Next Stage 2025 — The Immersive Experience Institute
052