Mistr Sets the Scene for an Fabulous VIP Experience at the Rochester Queer Arts Festival
Big news, VIPs: telehealth innovator Mistr is taking over the mezzanine at this year’s Rochester Queer Arts Festival as the official VIP Lounge Sponsor. This glass-railed perch overlooks the Atrium Stage, giving sponsors and invited special guests a front-row view of every dance step, drag reveal, and poetry line—without ever having to weave through the crowd. Slip past the velvet rope on October 11 and you’ll find plush sofas, cocktail tables perfect for mingling, discreet charging stations, and a bar stocked with complimentary refreshments all day long. It’s a retreat built for networking, refueling, and soaking up the festival’s creative energy at your own pace.
If you’re new to Mistr, picture a doctor’s visit streamlined for the digital age. Founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Tristan Schukraft, the gay-owned platform has become the country’s largest provider of free online access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and long-term HIV care. The process is refreshingly simple: fill out a confidential health questionnaire, complete a finger-prick lab kit shipped to your door, hop on a quick virtual consult, and receive medication delivered discreetly each month—usually with no out-of-pocket cost. No waiting rooms, no awkward pharmacy lines, and no complicated insurance hurdles.
Mistr keeps expanding the toolkit, too. The company now offers DoxyPEP, an antibiotic taken shortly after sexual contact that reduces the risk of bacterial STIs, and partners with national retailers to distribute free HIV-test kits in areas where access is scarce. Multilingual service options and a sister brand tailored to women and nonbinary users show that Mistr’s version of healthcare is as inclusive as the communities it serves. In short, they’re removing barriers between people and the preventive care they deserve—an ethos that resonates deeply with a festival built on visibility and inclusion.
So, what awaits inside the VIP Lounge besides bragging rights? Start with an ever-rotating selection of craft cocktails, local brews, and zero-proof elixirs poured by bartenders who know the difference between a casual sip and a celebratory toast. Add chef-selected bites that change with the hour—think finger foods friendly to every dietary preference—and you’ve got the city’s most comfortable pop-up living room. High-top tables make it easy to slide a business card across, while wide-angle sightlines let you follow the stage action without missing a beat. And because access is limited to sponsors and invited guests, the atmosphere stays relaxed enough for real conversation.
Entry is easy: secure a sponsorship, flash your VIP wristband, and step into festival-day luxury. Inside, you might bump elbows with community leaders plotting next year’s initiatives, local CEOs brainstorming their next partnership, or Mistr’s own leadership team eager to share how telehealth can transform public-health outcomes. Outside, three performance stages, a bustling art market, and a vendor zone—all underwritten in part by sponsor support—will pulse with thousands of attendees enjoying the festival at no cost.
For companies still on the fence, consider this your invitation to the inner circle. A sponsorship doesn’t just unlock plush seating and complimentary pours; it signals a commitment to equity—whether in healthcare, the arts, or both. And for returning sponsors, the VIP Lounge offers a refreshed layout designed for deeper connection: more seating clusters for impromptu meetings, quieter corners for quick calls, and those highly coveted balcony rails for uninterrupted stage views.
The countdown is on. Mark October 11 in bold, line up your best festival attire, and prepare to experience Rochester’s most colorful celebration from the best seat in the house. Thanks to Mistr, the VIP Lounge is more than a perk—it’s a statement that comfort, creativity, and community care belong side by side. Wristbands ready? We’ll see you upstairs.
