2026 Women Of Live: Darby Moeller

Darby Moeller
Sixthman | Senior Director of Business Development

SAIL-IENT BUSINESS | “If 2023 and 2024 were about the post-pandemic boom, 2025 felt like proof that what we’re building is durable.”

As senior director of specialized music and themed cruise and vacation producer Sixthman, Darby Moeller says the tailwinds continue strong for the company as demand continues for unique experiences.

Setting Sail
“We executed 25 events in 2025 and will scale to 28 in 2026, but what meant more to me than the number was the demand behind it. 68% of our sailings were full ships, first-year programs outpaced expectations, and returning events saw an average 59% guest return rate. That’s not just excitement around something new, that’s loyalty. It’s the same kind of deep connection we’ve seen for years with artists like 311 and Coheed and Cambria. When fans feel ownership of something, they come back.

“We stretched geographically and creatively, too. We executed our first Alaska sailing with Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive and our food and wine festival, Chefs Making Waves, which launched from Boston. We deepened partnerships with Hallmark Channel, leaned further into comedy with Nate Bargatze and Heather McMahan, and continued building music communities with hosts like Modest Mouse, The Revivalists, and Sublime.”

Women Weathering The Storm
“The state of women in live today is nuanced. There has been real progress, but it’s uneven. I often still find myself the only woman in conference rooms, but I’m much more comfortable taking up space than I was even five years ago. We’ve seen more women step into visible roles across agencies, production, and executive teams. At the ownership level, though, progress feels slower.
“Though I do want to acknowledge there has been meaningful change: Festivals with multiple female headliners aren’t automatically labeled as ‘female-led festivals’ or dismissed as pandering. They’re just festivals. That normalization matters. Inclusion can’t just be aesthetic. It has to show up in how we build, how we invest, and who is trusted to lead. That requires intention from everyone, across genders and across roles.”