About Hideaway Marketing

I'm Denise Leslie, and I've spent more than three decades working in marketing, communications, publishing, and the arts. Along the way, I've discovered that I enjoy bringing people together, sharing stories, and helping creative ideas find their audience.

My career began in live entertainment, promoting everything from major concerts and Broadway tours to festivals, sporting events, and community celebrations. I've worked with performing arts centers, nonprofits, universities, tourism organizations, and small businesses, developing marketing strategies, building audiences, and telling stories that connect people with the things they care about.

After years working in Indiana and Austin, Texas, I moved to Southwest Colorado, where I've continued working with creative organizations and businesses throughout the region. Today, through Hideaway Marketing, I provide marketing, public relations, writing, and event development services, bringing practical experience, creative thinking, and a personal approach to every project.

A Few Creative Projects of My Own

Somewhere along the way, my professional work and personal creative interests became wonderfully intertwined.

I publish Arts Perspective, an independent arts publication that shares the stories of artists, musicians, writers, makers, and other creative people throughout the Four Corners region. I purchased the magazine in 2010, and today it continues online and in print, giving me the opportunity to meet remarkable people and share the stories behind their work.

Music has always been a big part of my life, too. Through Hideaway Ukulele Studio, I teach and bring people together to make music, something I've enjoyed doing for many years. I also founded Rocky Mountain UkeFest and the Durango Ukulele Club, both born from a simple belief: music is better together.

And then there are Hideaway House Concerts, where I help bring touring musicians and small audiences together for intimate performances. There's something special about experiencing live music in a room where everyone is there simply to listen and enjoy the moment.

These projects may seem a little different from traditional marketing work, but to me, they're all connected.

The Common Thread

Whether I'm developing a marketing campaign for an arts organization, writing about a local artist, helping bring a musician to an audience, or teaching someone their first ukulele chord, I enjoy making connections.

I believe good marketing begins with listening, understanding what makes someone or something special, and finding a thoughtful way to share that story. Not every organization needs a big campaign or an elaborate strategy. Sometimes, it just needs someone who understands the work, knows the community, and can help get the word out.

That's what I bring to Hideaway Marketing: years of experience, a genuine love for the arts, and a practical, personal approach to helping people and organizations do what they do best.

And yes, there's usually a ukulele somewhere nearby.