The Glossary: Lauren Murada | Regional Manager for North America, Resident Advisor

Introducing: Lauren Murada | Regional Manager for North America, Resident Advisor

RA and Doors Open are partnering with New York's Queer Nightlife Community Center (QNCC) to host RA25 UNLOCKED: Expanding Careers in Nightlife with QNCC, a free, one-day programme focused on developing sustainable careers in nightlife.

Taking place at the East New York venue on October 15th, the event will feature workshops covering sound engineering, lighting design and event production, alongside discussions on career pathways, event safety and harm reduction.

The programme is aimed at local nightlife workers and community members from East New York and Brownsville looking to expand their skills and improve financial stability. Applications will prioritise groups including FLINTA individuals, LGBTQIA+ community members, disabled workers, lower-income applicants and residents of East New York and Brownsville.

Lauren is next up in this special Glossary series introducing the speakers at our upcoming New York community event and exploring their careers in nightlife.

What is your role in music, and what does your day-to-day look like?
I am Resident Advisor’s Regional Manager for North America. I manage our freelancers (aka City Managers) in the Global Content Network across Canada, the US and Mexico. Their job is to add events to their city page, select parties for RA Picks, add local DJs and artists to the site and send us news tips or music releases coming out of their community. 

On a day-to-day basis I’m communicating with them, digging into North American data, organising community events and editing copy for the site. There’s a lot going on but I see my role as helping local scenes grow. 

How did you get into your line of work?
I went to college for journalism and worked as a newspaper journalist for seven years. Working in clubland was something I didn’t know was on the cards for me. When I moved to New York from Sydney in 2014, I struggled to find a writing gig so I approached someone I knew at Good Room. I enquired about a bartending job but came out with a marketing role. 

From there I got to know the ins-and-outs of the NYC club scene as well as different promoters, DJs and clubbers from across the country. I think that’s what qualified me for my current role, understanding different scenes across North America and knowing the people who make cool shit happen. I ended up working at Good Room for nine years before starting my current role at RA two and a half years ago.

What skills are important in your job?

1. A genuine passion for the local dance music community.

2. The gift of the gab (aka being able to talk to anyone about anything).

3. A curiosity to learn about new scenes and genres. I don’t love every genre of music that I hear but I get excited to see people amplify their sound and community.

If someone is excited to do what you do, what advice would you give them?
Make real connections with people you meet at the club. Having a large network of people from dance floors around the world helps me understand their scene’s needs and how RA can help.

What have you found surprising about your role?
Seeing how much the North American club scene continues to grow. Every year I think, ‘we can’t possibly get anymore clubs or parties in NYC’ and yet every year, more pop up. Over the past few years I’ve also seen a lot more clubs and parties in Philadelphia, San Francisco, DC, Boston and Atlanta. I love to see this because it gives everybody, dancers and DJs alike, space to find what they love and express themselves. 

What are your top 3 tips for someone who wants to work in the music industry in general?

1. Be kind to everyone you meet. You never know who will end up where. That door person could end up being the booker or manager of a club someday and if you took the time to get to know them, they might think of you when a job comes up.

2. Take care of yourself. Working in a club can often be physically and emotionally demanding. Make sure you get enough sleep and drink plenty of water.

3. Always share your skills and knowledge, never gatekeep. 

Read more about RA25 UNLOCKED: Expanding Careers in Nightlife with QNCC and apply here.

Explore jobs in electronic music on Doors Open here.