28: Creating Gen Z FOMO in experiential marketing: Insights from Museum of Illusions Chief Marketing Officer Andy Levey

28: Creating Gen Z FOMO in experiential marketing: Insights from Museum of Illusions Chief Marketing Officer Andy Levey

Author: Alan B. Hart December 3, 2025 Duration: 42:25

Chief marketing officer (CMO) Andy Levey pulls back the curtain on experiential marketing at the Museum of Illusions (MOI) across the worldrevealing the clever strategies that keep audiences coming back long after opening day. With more than 20 years of marketing experience across entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle, Andy's unconventional career path is as intriguing as the illusions he now promotes.  

By building strong relationships with local groups and businesses, MOI positions itself as an important part of every community it launches in. One benefit of making those connections is they extend MOI's reach to audiences who might otherwise be outside the museum's marketing budget or traditional targets. Andy and his team focus especially on engaging Gen Z by designing video-first and shareable experiences, inspiring user-generated content, and partnering with social media influencers to spark excitement and create a powerful FOMO (fear of missing out) that drives repeat visits, online sharing and lasting brand loyalty. 

 

In this episode, you'll learn: 

How using influencers, user-generated content and a video-first strategy can help brands authentically connect with Gen Z and drive meaningful engagement  

The importance of building a strong local market presence for earning trust, collaborating more effectively, and standing out as a valued community contributor 

How smarter data collection can power more effective marketing decisions and foster influential relationships   

 

Key highlights: 

[00:00] Introduction  

[01:35] From banking to the circus 

[07:45] What is the Museum of Illusions? 

[10:55] Strategies to reach Gen Z 

[13:25] Andy's approach to experiential marketing 

[15:30] "Establishing the base" 

[17:45] The data collection strategy  

[19:30] Maintaining energy after the opening 

[21:05] Brand collaborations  

[26:50] An experience that defines you: Living abroad and beginning in a startup 

[30:40] Advice to your younger self: Find your voice earlier  

[31:45] A topic marketers need to learn more about: AI implementation  

[33:20] A topic marketers need to learn more about: Gen Z internet culture  

[36:00] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers today: Entertain and deliver  

 

Resources mentioned:   

 

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Hosted by Alan B. Hart, Marketing Beyond moves past the buzzwords and surface-level tactics to explore the real strategic decisions shaping modern business. Each episode features a candid, in-depth conversation with a chief marketing officer or a founder who has fundamentally changed how a brand connects with its audience. These aren't just success stories; Alan guides his guests into discussing the pivotal failures, the unexpected pivots, and the nuanced challenges that rarely make the keynote stage. You'll hear firsthand how leaders navigate the convergence of creativity, data, and technology in a rapidly shifting landscape. This podcast provides a rare, unfiltered look at the thinking behind major campaigns and business transformations, offering practical wisdom rather than just theory. For anyone curious about the human judgment and long-term vision required to build lasting brands, these discussions cut straight to the core. Listening feels like being a fly on the wall for a masterclass in strategic marketing, where the focus is always on what comes next.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 41

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