Really Busy People: Jen Lyon

by | Oct 21, 2015 | Coming Up, Culture, Events, Music, Out On The Town

One of the biggest compliments for me as a writer is when someone reads one of my “Really Busy People” columns and offers a suggestion of a great interview subject. This is how I found out about Jen Lyon, and after hearing about her career, I was disappointed in myself for not already being familiar. Her actions as a curator have helped Brooklyn become such a major destination for nightlife.

Based in Brooklyn, Jen Lyon is the founder of the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival. When not working on that, she runs MeanRed Productions, which generally produces 20 or so shows a month around the New York City area. As if that weren’t enough, she is one of the main promoters of the Brooklyn club Output. As noted without Q&A, Jen also manages an artist by the name of Jubilee.

Jen was able to find time to answer questions between tasks related to this year’s Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, which runs from November 5th through 8th around various Brooklyn venues; more festival information can be found at www.brooklynemf.com. Her responses were both concise and honest, acknowledging the life of a promoter to not be as glamorous as assumed, yet also showcasing someone who loves what they do. Further to her credit, she has no intentions of slowing down. Her answer to my “tools or apps” question is something that many readers ought to learn from.

"photo credit: AlexSolmssenPhoto "

“photo credit: AlexSolmssenPhoto “

What was your first job within the field of music promotion?

Jen Lyon: Guitar-stringer in a shop!

Was it your goal from childhood to become a promoter?

J: (Laughs) No, I wasn’t a masochist so early on.

Growing up, who or what was your first concert?

J: Siouxsie Sioux.

For you, what is the toughest part of being a promoter?

J: Being in music is a love story in its entirety. You fall in love with artists, songs, moments, and the myriad of brilliantly challenging individuals that inhabit the music world. Inevitably, you fall out of love or break up or get in fights and your heart breaks, but then you wake up the next morning and fall in love again.

What do you wish more people knew about the world of concert promotion?

J: Being relentless is an art form.

Do you view companies like Live Nation, AEG and Bowery Presents to be your competitors? Or do you ever work in conjunction with them?

J: My rule is to never compete, [just] do it all different.

Photo Oliver Clothezoff

Photo Oliver Clothezoff

How does this year’s Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival compare to last year?

J: Each year’s festival is like your kids or your pets, you can’t compare them, they’re just different.

When you’re promoting a festival like the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, for how long is your life entirely consumed by the festival?

J: It’s never not consumed by the festival!

Are there any tools or apps you especially rely on in order to stay on-point with preparing a multi-venue festival?

J: When I get stressed out, I just revert to phone calls only — no e-mails, no apps, no technology. I would stop all tech And use Morse Code if I could.

When things are at their most stressful, do you have a way of coping? Or a method of calming yourself down?

J: Shots of whiskey… it’s true. Also, I start hugging people a lot.

How many people are needed to make a large club show you’re promoting happen versus a festival like the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival?

J: I’m always happy when anyone shows up! 100 people or 10,000 people.

Photo Oliver Clothezoff

Photo Oliver Clothezoff

Once the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival is over with, what is your workload looking like? Is there another major event planned?

J: Mysteryland, more warehouse parties, more 808’s at Sugar Hill, more late nights at Output!

Did you ever thinking about pursuing management, A&R or another facet of entertainment?

J: I manage an artist named Jubilee!  I think about all the aspects of where  Entertainment meets business!  If I’m not in the middle of five or more deals, it’s not even worth waking up!

Do you see yourself promoting live events for the rest of your life?

J: Yes, yes. It’s such a good adventure, why stop?

When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your free time?

J: Wandering the globe!

Finally, Jen, any last words for the kids?

J: It’s Whiskey-O-Clock, all the time.

-by Darren Paltrowitz

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