This was my experience attending a Heated Rivalry x Spotify event!
The other day, I was extremely fortunate to be invited to a Heated Rivalry event sponsored by Spotify. I know it’s normal to see influencers at these really cool events, and it often seems like you only get a quick glimpse of what actually goes on when they’re there. For my Bindery subscribers, I wanted to go more in depth about the overall experience I had at the event.
This was actually the first event I’ve been invited to that wasn’t specifically put on by a publisher. Never in my wildest dreams did I think Spotify would ever invite me to something, let alone know that I exist.
A fun fact about me is that I don’t technically live in NYC — I’m from Long Island. Because of this, I usually have to be selective about which events I decide to attend because my commute is around two hours each way. Obviously, I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet the icon and legend Rachel Reid.
The day of the event, I arrived at Penn Station and took my Uber (that Spotify paid for, ehhh) to the venue. When I got there, the line to get in was HUGE — like, REALLY long. They had mentioned that the event was going to be packed, but I didn’t realize HOW packed. I got in line and, while standing there, realized that I was probably waiting in the wrong area. They hadn’t mentioned that the event was also going to be open to the public, which, in hindsight, makes a lot of sense. A few moments later, I realized there was a separate line for invited influencers and press. I was able to kiki with other influencers while we waited to be let into the event space.
After checking in, I was handed my Spotify influencer/press lanyard and ushered into the experience. When I first walked in, the first thing I noticed was the Heated Rivalry-themed décor. Against the back wall was a locker room setup with two cubbies on display for our favorite hockey players, Shane and Ilya. The attention to detail was impeccable. They had jerseys, skates, and interactive items in the lockers, including a recipe for tuna melts and a phone-and-headphone combo that let you listen to the Heated Rivalry audiobook! Across the room, there was a station where you could order your own custom hockey jersey and baseball cap. You KNOW I was feral and needed those items in my grubby little hands IMMEDIATELY. I’ve already worn the hat at least five times, and the jersey is so comfortable to sleep in!
Roughly an hour in, we were ushered into a different room where we got to enjoy a Q&A with the one and only Rachel Reid! She told us what it’s been like since the show came out, how her life has changed, how Elton John personally asked for early screeners of the show, and gave us some information about what to expect from Unrivaled! (I have a video of this on my TikTok and Instagram if you’re interested in watching!) Rachel Reid is so personable and funny that I could listen to her talk for hours.
After the talk, we were ushered back into the main room, where we continued to mingle, drink, and eat. Rachel Reid surprised and gagged us all by coming out into the main area, and we were able to meet her and take photos! Honestly, I blacked out during our entire interaction. All I remember is that she said she liked my hat lol. I was wearing a different one btw.
After that, I took another Uber (that Spotify once again paid for, ehhhh) back to Penn Station, and then I went home!
Who else is excited for Unrivaled to be released next year?
