Creative Systems Partner | AI Product Builder
Maybe it was the "love" in Lovable that made me think of wedding bands the second I saw the challenge. The music, not the rings. 😂
I played a few weddings as a musician in Los Angeles, and I've been a music director and bandleader from time to time. I never ran several event bands at once - that’s really a whole thing. The people who do usually have an assistant, because the job may include most of the logistics: gigs coming in from managers, coordinators and websites, venue and load-in details for everyone, rehearsal space, new music when a client requests a song outside the standard set, travel, and finding a substitute when a regular player is booked.
Honestly, that would have been too much bandwidth for me, though being the key player in a couple of bands of different genres is a lot of fun. Leading one’s own bands can be one of the annoying consequences of just wanting to play music you like at a professional level.
The client-facing side (website, availability, booking, payment) is already well covered. The hidden work after the booking is the painful part, so I built for that.
For the challenge, I created a bandleader named Mia Smith. She runs three premium event bands: Jazz, Afro-Cuban/Salsa and Soul/R&B. Each band has first-call musicians, but musicians take gigs when they come up. When a first-call player is out, Mia moves to her substitute list, waits for answers and tracks which chairs are filled. Substitutes and special requests also need charts and recordings. Then everyone needs the venue, call time, dress code, parking and load-in notes.
That's GigReady. It answers one question: what happens after the event is booked but before the band is ready to play?
Mia sees which gigs are staffed, who has confirmed and which positions still need attention. If a first-call player is unavailable, she goes straight to a substitute for that instrument. Once every chair is covered, she locks the lineup. GigReady builds the Call Sheet with what the musicians need and sends it to the band.
What surprised me was my own reaction to the first working version. I'm not gigging or managing musicians right now, and I still felt immediate relief. The gig was all in one place: who answered, which chair was open, and the logistics message already written.
That's when I knew GigReady was a real tool. It could have changed what kind of gigs I was willing to take.
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I don't recall ever playing a gig without a setlist, and I know how tedious they can be to put together. Some gigs are casual, but others require much more precise timing — especially when you need to fit a specific number of songs into a set, account for breaks or make sure the entire show stays within its allotted time.
I originally built the Setlist Time Calculator with musicians in mind, but it’s useful for any performer who needs to organize and time a set.
Instead of adding up song lengths manually, you enter each song or performance segment and the calculator keeps track of the running time for you. You can adjust the order, build the complete set and see how the timing changes as you work.
Once the setlist is finished, it can be saved and exported as a PDF in just a few clicks, making it easy to send copies to bandmates, performers, crew or anyone else who needs the final running order.
It’s a simple tool built around a very familiar production problem: making setlist planning faster, clearer and a lot less tedious.
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I build a lot of things to solve a problem I have first. The offer usually comes after, almost as a by-product — if I have this problem, maybe others do too. Body of Knowledge followed the same pattern.
It evolved out of several other offers I'd already built, and it started because I wanted to be interviewed. I find casually talking about my work helpful because I reach for the things in the back of the cabinet of my mind. The interview itself isn't something I run — Claude conducted it, one question at a time, following whatever thread flows instead of working down a fixed script. I designed how that whole process works.
I knew from the start I wanted the output to be a mindmap because I find this type of visual layout super helpful. A written version seemed worth including too, for anyone who might get more out of reading it, so that's part of the deliverable as well.
From there it was mostly solving smaller problems one at a time. Audio intake needed guardrails: a time range so people aren't guessing how long to talk, permission for the first take to be the only take, and a concrete first line for each prompt so nobody has to sit there trying to figure out where to start. The interview needed to skip the kind of questions that assume someone's expertise has already been noticed by a room, because a lot of real expertise never gets that kind of audience. And the review step needed a clear line between "this needs one more question" and "this needs to be reopened entirely."
Before I offered any of this to someone else, I ran myself through it. Twice so far, and I'll probably do it again. The first time, I dug into what musicians call "the pocket" — how a group locks into a shared feel together. The second time was about production, and that's the map you're looking at here. Running it twice, on two completely different pieces of my own experience, is the clearest way I know to show this actually works.
I have the MVP up and available, but the interview version is still being built — coming soon!
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Create something meaningful. 🌎
US-Based Brand Identity Designer with 15+ Years Experience
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US-Based Brand Identity Designer with 15+ Years Experience
Worked on a fun mascot project recently. What are your thoughts??
Check out the case study... (https://contra.com/p/qZmBlYqq-lendama-brand-identity-development)
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Branding is a feeling....its not just the logo. It's everything you see, hear, and read.
Everything you see here communicates a feeling of high-quality service, luxury, and a sense that not only will these guys will keep your property pristine, but will go above and beyond.
This is exactly the task I was assigned to help Gattuso with, originally called "Lawn & Order". They wanted to land bigger clients, nicer neighborhoods, add all-season service packages, and break into the commercial space as well. Their name was holding them back. It didn't communicate the right feeling.
We workshoped dozens of names and landed on the owner's family name...so they can build trust and recognition in the their local market by putting their name on the line.
We then developed an elegant wordmark, brandmark, language, and a brand system that solidifies client expectation and elevates them as a serious and trusted partner.
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Let's work together!
E-commerce & Local Business Websites | SEO Built In
8-yr-old me discovered castles and palaces through TV docs. Now, adult me is building new ways to explore them.
I built The Castle Hunting Atlas, a 3D globe that transforms historical exploration into an interactive, spatial experience.
Each node represents a real location, allowing you to orbit, discover, and step into architecture, memory, and heritage across the world.
Built 100% in Omma.
🔗 https://omma.build/p/castle-hunting-3d-globe-e60qj0
X: https://x.com/VanceLaRoy/status/2039732713301622784
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4tuHIrX
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I want to say something to everyone laid off or sitting in a job application black hole right now. It's not your skills. It's the room.
I spent years being told "You're not cultural fit." I submitted hundreds of applications. I had to figure out — alone — how to price my skills, find clients, and build something real with no safety net.
I packaged everything I learned into "The Freelance Pivot Kit." A workbook that takes you from laid off to first invoice.
6 sections. Real prompts. Real framework. Instant download.
If you know someone who needs this please share it. $39. Built from real experience, not theory.
https://vancelaroy.gumroad.com/l/pivotkit
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Every brand has a message. My job is making sure the store delivers it before the customer even clicks Add to Cart. Latest build → The G Shop (https://gardnerglobal-2.myshopify.com/). 🖤
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IRYS is an AI-powered styling platform designed to help people discover their personal style and build confidence through what they wear.
Built using Figma Make, Figma Weave, Figma Design, Supabase, and Vercel, IRYS combines Style DNA, closet management, and personalized recommendations into a single experience.
For this project, I wanted to explore how Figma's ecosystem could take an idea from concept to a live product from design system and AI-generated imagery to development and deployment.
Live project: IRYSstyle.com (https://www.irysstyle.com)
#ConfigMakeathon #Figma
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Brand Strategist & Marketing PM
Brand Strategist & Marketing PM
![Cover image for [Café & Bakery Visual Branding Series] Café & Bakery Visual ...](https://media.contra.com/image/upload/q_auto:good,w_800/ygxchi6ftfxj8j5x2alg.avif)
[Café & Bakery Visual Branding Series]
Café & Bakery Visual Branding: Turning “Nice Places” into Recognizable Brands
I’ve had the chance to work with three independent cafés and bakeries to shape how they show up visually — not just on social media, but at the counter where people order and decide what to try.
Each space had its own personality: a wine-friendly café, a cozy bakery, and a local neighborhood spot. My role was to translate that feeling into tangible visuals — photos, menus, posters, signage — so that customers could feel the brand the moment they walked in, even before taking the first sip or bite.
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![Cover image for [Airbnb: 2 Listings] Designing Stays That Guests Actually Wa...](https://media.contra.com/image/upload/q_auto:good,w_800/tx4zjnvefqxuziypilkd.avif)
[Airbnb: 2 Listings]
Designing Stays That Guests Actually Want to Rebook
Before working with big brands, I learned a lot about “experience design” by hosting.
I launched and managed two Airbnb listings from scratch — and treated them like tiny, living brands.
I handled everything from interior styling and photography to listing copy, pricing, and social media promotion. The goal was simple: make each stay feel so considered and warm that guests would both leave a great review and tell their friends. Over time, both listings reached Superhost status and maintained an average occupancy of over 90% per month.
It was a small operation, but it taught me something I still use every day:
details matter, and hospitality is one of the strongest forms of branding.
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![Cover image for [adidas: Instagram + Activations] adidas Korea: Turning Offl...](https://media.contra.com/image/upload/q_auto:good,w_800/uxhe9tlnfrnxu83sedym.avif)
[adidas: Instagram + Activations]
adidas Korea: Turning Offline Energy into Social Stories
For the past few seasons, I’ve been leading social for two adidas Korea Instagram channels — one for performance, one for Originals. My sweet spot is where brand, content, and operations meet: translating global assets and live events into local stories that actually resonate with people in Korea.
From marathons and product launches to private community events, I plan how each moment will live online before it happens offline. That means one-take interviews, story formats that fans love to tap through, and wrap-up content that keeps the buzz going long after the event is over.
This work has been about more than just posting:
it’s about building a system that keeps a global brand human, local, and consistent over time.
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![Cover image for [Christmas House: Character Brand Seasonal Pop-up] Christmas...](https://media.contra.com/image/upload/q_auto:good,w_800/pt3phtr2xvhfvwaukgp5.avif)
[Christmas House: Character Brand Seasonal Pop-up]
Christmas House: From First Product Line to Full Seasonal Experience
“Christmas House” was a seasonal pop-up built to launch a production company’s first-ever global character product line. Instead of just placing products on shelves, we turned the space into a cozy, story-driven house that made people want to linger, browse, and collect.
I led the campaign end-to-end as PM — from concept and customer flow to merchandising and staffing. The activation not only achieved strong daily sales and steady visitor numbers, but also generated enough buzz to secure a sequel proposal for “Christmas House 2.”
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Plumbing, Heating and Air-Conditioning Contractors
HVAC System Upgrade — Residential Comfort Project
Project Concept | HVAC Installation & Upgrade
A representative HVAC upgrade focused on improving home comfort, system efficiency, and reliable year-round performance.
The Project
Designed a complete HVAC upgrade for a residential property experiencing inconsistent temperatures, high energy usage, and an aging heating and cooling system.
Scope
HVAC system replacement and installation
Central air conditioning
High-efficiency heating system
New thermostat and controls
Ductwork inspection and improvements
System testing and performance checks
Preventive maintenance recommendations
The Approach
The goal was to create a properly sized, efficient system that delivers consistent temperatures throughout the home while improving reliability and reducing unnecessary energy use.
Result
A modern HVAC solution designed around comfort, efficiency, and long-term reliability—with a cleaner installation and easier system control for the homeowner.
Services: HVAC Installation · Air Conditioning · Heating · System Upgrades · Maintenance
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Furnace Replacement & HVAC Upgrade
Completed a full furnace replacement, transforming an outdated and deteriorated heating system into a clean, professionally installed modern furnace setup.
The project included removal of the existing furnace, installation of the new heating equipment, updated ductwork connections, sealed transitions, electrical/control connections, and proper system integration. The finished installation provides a cleaner equipment layout, improved reliability, and a more professional overall setup.
Before & After: Complete replacement and upgrade from the original aging furnace to the newly installed system.
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Upgraded High-Efficiency Condensing Boiler
Completed a professional upgrade to a high-efficiency condensing boiler system, replacing outdated equipment with a modern, energy-efficient heating solution. The installation included new copper piping, boiler connections, system controls, circulator/manifold piping, expansion tank, and integration with the existing hot-water system.
The system was carefully piped and organized for reliable operation, improved energy efficiency, easier maintenance, and long-term performance. The finished installation provides the property with a cleaner, more efficient, and modernized heating system.
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New A/C Install
This brand new 16 seer condenser with matching air handler is up and running, ready to keep our customer cool and comfortable all summer long.
If your home isn’t ready for the warmer weather, now’s the time to upgrade your system! Reliable comfort, improved energy efficiency, and peace of mind — all just a phone call away.
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UI/UX Designer | Product Designer | Graphic Designer
UI/UX Designer | Product Designer | Graphic Designer
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