The Glossary: Seva Granik | Creative Director & Co-founder, QNCC

Introducing: Seva Granik | Creative Director & Co-founder, QNCC.

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.

Seva 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’m the Creative Director of Queer Nightlife Community Center (QNCC) in Brooklyn, NY. Together with QNCC’s Executive Director Michael Falco, I manage the nonprofit and my job is essentially that of an arts administrator. 

While a lot of our day-to-day work centers on fundraising, scheduling, HR, facilities management and silly but fun things like social media and copywriting, some truly enjoyable bits do revolve around music, such as musical party and events bookings, curatorial work, and our Soundcloud page management.

Most of my day, like most people’s days out there, I'm sure, is spent glued to my email, having video calls, and communicating with our small but growing team. A bit of time is spent on listening to DJ sets and watching videos of performances, or trying to assess someone’s artistic output, but that part isn’t even work, really. 

Lots of conversations are often had about the kinds of programming that we are bringing—or should be bringing—to QNCC, and how that programming may reflect and benefit  our many concentric communities—not just our audiences but also our staff who are responsible for producing it. 

How did you get into your line of work?
I spent many years booking and producing musical events and dance parties here in town, and eventually I just created this position for myself by starting this nonprofit organization with Michael—something I’d been planning and working on for the past 10 years or so.

What skills are important in your job?
Good communication skills are extremely important in these kinds of jobs. It really helps to be able to create a good impression on artists, staff, agents, and vendors, and to establish and maintain good relationships and trust within the many industries you work with. In other words, communicate well and generously, be nice, and make a point to really listen to what other people are telling you about their needs. 

As far as music goes, a solid understanding of the local and international music scenes goes a long way, as does a good knowledge of the history and lineages of dance music subcultures. Know your history and you will have an easier time connecting the dots curatorially—and people will respect you for it, too. 

What have you found surprising about your role?
I am often surprised by the passion and dedication of many of the young nightlife workers and artists with whom we interact daily through our work. It has been deeply rewarding to watch young nightlife professionals and artists engage in this extremely difficult and stressful work and enjoy it immensely. 

If someone is excited to do what you do, what advice would you give them?
I would prepare that someone for a lifetime of not raking it in financially: these jobs aren’t about making money, they’re about pushing culture forward, and you will probably struggle financially unless you come from some sort of personal wealth.

Above all, just be nice and kind to EVERYBODY! Don’t pick and choose people to be nice to based on what they can give you. Be generous with your time, kindness, and warmth, and it will always come back to you, in work and personal life.

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

Explore jobs in electronic music on Doors Open here.