We’re excited to introduce you to the Lavender Lounge, an Atlanta-based DJ collective. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brett Ellis, Ryan Camon, Patrick Aderibigbe below.
Lavender Lounge, thank you so much for joining us. You all are such positive people, and it’s something we really admire. We want to start by asking you: where do you all think your optimism comes from?
Although we are relatively new to the DJing and Event Planning scene, we have always had high hopes to occupy a space in Atlanta that does not exist. This gives us confidence that there are other people like us, with the same desire for unique, social events. Events where it is easy and safe to be yourself.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask more, tell our readers about yourselves?
Lavender Lounge is a social safe haven, where queer people of color can be their authentic selves. Recently, many of our go-to places in Atlanta have closed. Even in our queer spaces, we have experienced a divide (i.e. status, money, looks, etc.). We create spaces where everyone can connect and enjoy the community, through genuine social interactions.
Our parties do not have sections. Our events are inclusive and community-driven. Our music is a curated mix of new hits, throwbacks, and underground artists that you never hear in the club. We created our business to add to the diversity of Atlanta’s queer social scene, filling the void with experiences that appeal to people with varied interests.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey and how they can best improve on these?
Our three most important qualities are having a clear point of view, taking customer service seriously, and leaning into our creativity. These three qualities have been instrumental in curating memorable experiences where people can be carefree.
The three of us have our own different music tastes and styles of DJing. However, we are each able to collaborate, while still staying true to our own vibes. With every event we host, our goal is to stay true to our point of view and the music that moves us.
Regarding customer service, we each have full-time jobs where this is a necessary skill. We apply that practice to our business. Being timely, communicating effectively, and accommodating our clients needs are essential to our business.
Lastly, our creativity comes from each of us having a wide variety of interests; we pride ourselves on finding unique ways to bring these interests together. There will always be an element of fun, creativity, and intentionality with all Lavender Lounge events.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
We have gotten more comfortable performing in front crowds of different sizes. We have made efforts to being more interactive with the crowd and keeping them captivated. It has been a learning experience to multi-task while DJing, but it has pushed us to be more confident.
Over the last year, we have each learned a lot about running a business. From invoicing, to scheduling, to working with automation, we have pushed ourselves and learned new skills. Developing these skills have actually helped us in our full-time careers as well.
The last year has been amazing for building our clientele. We have had many repeat clients and continue to get requests from new people all the time. Most of our clients have come about through word of mouth, so we know the support for us is real.
Contact Info:
- Website: lavenderlounge.live
- Instagram:@lavenderloungelive
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lavenderloungelive
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/lavenderloungelive
Image Credits
@thekeilanscott, @carolmonteirophotos, @iamjadeforest
