April LucaPhoto: Courtesy of Gold Sky Productions
How she got her start: "My background was formed in hospitality and nightlife, opening New York and LA’s most sought-after spots," Luca recalls. "It was a world where details mattered, and everything was covered in Page Six. That career gave me a guest-centered approach to VIP events and services. What we now call 'immersive and experiential' is really just a wider adoption of the in-the-moment, vibes-heavy thrill of an authentic party."
Luca quickly branched out and began producing more events. Her secret? "Applying the same ethos and skill set I’d always used to surprise and delight partygoers," she says.
What innovation means to her: "Innovation means continuing to look ahead in all industries and defining trends—and then threading them into my career and client needs," she says. "An event is a dynamic, spontaneous community built on spectacle. So for us, as creators who are hungry ourselves to feel the edge of art and celebration, it is a simple turning outward of our own passions and sharing them with our clients and iconic brands." 
Gold Sky Productions has been producing Variety's Power of Women event for half a decade. Both Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton (pictured) were honored at the 2022 event. See more: Variety's Power of Women 2022 Celebrated 'Empowered Women Empowering Others'Photo: Scott Clark
What sets her work apart: Gold Sky Productions is a women-owned and women-led creative team, which Luca says "operates outside of the confines of a traditional agency hierarchy without the cost overhead that gets passed onto the client. This means that with our diverse backgrounds in fashion, festivals, venue reps, hospitality/nightlife, and experiential, we can deliver full-spectrum services and creative delight for our maverick clientele."
Luca adds that her approach to design, production, and event execution places the highest importance on each guest's personal experience—calling it "big agency support with the concierge service you deserve." "We are known for our ability to build and execute guest-driven events that tell enchanting, captivating brand stories," she says. "We never paint by numbers; our agency model gives us a freedom—and mission—to create envelope-pushing, bespoke events for our clients." 
Luca and her team produced Essence festival's inaugural film festival, which allowed Black creators to showcase their talent in front of industry stakeholders and the community.Photo: Courtesy of Gold Sky Productions
How she stays inspired: "Keeping a curious mind and learning from everywhere and everyone, always."
Career highlights: Ironically, Luca's most memorable event was one she didn't actually attend. "I produced—and then missed—my own baby shower because I was busy delivering my daughter three weeks early! I FaceTimed into the party with a healthy baby girl in my arms, and I think it really tied a bow on the whole event," she remembers.
Broadly speaking, though, Luca sees her entire career as one big highlight. "I work with visionary clients and brands. Gold Sky is entrusted to realize their stories by building spaces that evoke emotion and build memories and brand connections with all guests," she says, adding that some project highlights include Variety’s annual Power of Women event (which her team has worked on for half a decade), Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers premiere, and the Essence Film Festival at the Essence Festival of Culture.
Her favorite thing about the event industry: "The industry is the eye of a storm of art, commerce, and community—it is constant creation," she says. 
Gold Sky Productions worked with Hulu on an immersive pop-up for Nine Perfect Strangers that brought a greenery-filled retreat to the middle of a busy shopping mall. See more: 14 Wellness-Focused Event Ideas From Hulu's 'Nine Perfect Strangers' ActivationPhoto: Carly Otness
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