Meet Arielle Lana, a NYC-based event producer and DJ.
Ever wondered what it's like to work the night shift? In The Know by Yahoo's new series After Hours spotlights real people who've chosen not to work the traditional 9 to 5.
In this episode, Arielle Lana shares what it's like to work as an event producer and DJ.
Video Transcript
ARIELLE LANA: I think New York City has, like, the best party scene and the nightlife scene because we're really supportive of each other. I think that people assume that we're super competitive because New York City is supposed to be really cutthroat, but the dance-music scene, like, we all know we have our own privileges and disadvantages.
I think a lot of us are also, like, independent promoters or independent talent. People who throw their own parties are going to be DJing tonight with me because we, like, really want to support each other.
My name is Ariel, and I'm a music journalist, event producer, and DJ. Every day at like 9:30 to 5:30, I'm a music journalist. I'm a reporter at Resident Advisor. I would say my beat is talking about workers' rights, like sexual and gender discrimination or abuse stories-- yeah, like anything electronic-music news.
I'm throwing a party tonight. I'm DJing also. To put on an event, I have to look for the venue first and ask them what dates are available. I think of two headliners, like two of the biggest acts, and I see when they're free, like if they're free for a date. And I bring it to a venue or several venues and ask them, like, do you have these dates available? And if they do, then I can start getting the rest of the lineup. Then I look for a graphic designer, and I look for a photographer and a videographer, make sure they're available. And until the day of the event, usually everything comes out of my pocket until I make it back, hopefully.
How I started getting into parties, actually I'm, like, kind of a little bit Twitter famous, like in Bushwick. And I tweeted this thing where he said, man used to go to war, but now they DJ in Bushwick. And Bossa Nova Civic Club, where we're going to tonight, actually the owner, like, liked it so much that he put it on the Bossa Nova Civic Club page. And I DMed him. I said, can I throw a party? And he said yes.
And he's been really helpful. Like, I think everyone in the scene has been like, you have good taste. You're a woman of color. Let's do parties. And they've been-- they've helped me with everything just because they want to see me, like, continue going on.
I think being a nightlife worker, my family thinks that I just party, and they-- because of, like, a past with, like, substance abuse, they're always afraid that that's what I'm doing all the time, so I think that they are really worried about it. I think it has taken a lot of time and these parties and being profiled in "Forbes" for them to understand that I'm not just partying and that this is work and that this is what I want to do with my life.
I think balancing a boyfriend who does work 9:00 to 5:00 and who does have, like, an engineering career-- it's like I feel like sometimes I have to keep up and make sure that I'm successful because I don't want people to think that, you know, I'm just doing this because, like, I'm being irresponsible. So it's just, it is really hard, and it's hard to just be a woman who's, like, 4 foot 9 and who dresses like this and goes out at night and spend all my money on Ubers because I want to stay safe because I've been followed home a lot too.
And sometimes even in front of the venues, people are just like-- you know, I'm working, and then I'm, like, just trying to destress, smoke a cigarette, and someone's going to, like, sexually harass you. There's just so many different parts about why it's hard to work in nightlife. And, like, you really have to be passionate about it. It's like everyone who works in nightlife, I don't think people get how much they're actually going through just so that they can do this, and they're passionate about it, and they want this like city to thrive. And we have a lot of tourism money going into the city. Like, people should respect what we do.
The same thing that motivates me to put on the events is the same thing why I got into, like, music journalism is because I felt like there weren't many women of color doing it in general, like music journalism and putting on events. I really like to dig for people, for artists and everything. That's just been even before I was in music. That was, like, so important to me. And then I decided to be in the music industry because I felt like they needed to be put on more, and they wouldn't unless I was in it.
The inspiration for these parties is to make sure that people know that there are people who look like you who do this and, even though it's hard, that there's a space in the music industry and in nightlife for you to do what you want and to host your own events or DJ or be a producer. And even if it feels like there's so many of us, we could use more, and we'll support you, hopefully.
