We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeni Bliatout and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeni, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When my partner and I decided to do our first fundraiser, Social Sessions, the reasons were simple: 1) find a way to give back and 2) make it fun. We never imagined that we would turn Social Sessions into a full fledged 501c3 nonprofit charitable corporation 3 years later. When we decided to transform Social Sessions into a 501c3 nonprofit charitable corporation, our primary goal was to build trust with potential partners, artists, and agents. We recognized that nonprofit status not only mandates transparency but also establishes a commitment to ethical practices and a mission-driven approach. This commitment to transparency, coupled with our focus on making a positive impact, distinguishes us from other promoters in the industry. The credibility associated with being a 501c3 enhances our reputation and positions us as a trustworthy entity. By prioritizing trust, we aim to maximize our fundraising efforts, ensuring substantial funds are raised for charitable causes.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Social Sessions is a charitable organization raising funds to enhance the quality of life for children, young adults, and families through the transformative power of music – encompassing all genres of house and techno. To the best of our knowledge, there is no one in California, or perhaps even in the entire US, within our industry doing exactly what we do. Our focus is on promoting electronic music events solely to raise funds for our community, driven solely by the motive to help others. We take pride in not having any profit motive, and our genuine excitement stems from bringing people together with the common goal of giving back for a charitable cause.

Our objective is to cultivate a community of givers, uniting people through a shared love for music and empowering them to contribute to making the world a better place. While still in the early years of our organization, we’ve witnessed tremendous growth with the small number of music events we’ve curated, evident in our roster of accomplished and world-renowned individuals. These artists trust us to deliver successful events for a good cause, often donating sets instead of requesting their normal fees – all to support children and families facing poverty and homelessness. Our roster includes Jimpster, Anton Tumas, Jason Bentley, Andy Caldwell, Mary Droppinz, Donald Glaude, Thee-O, Shay De Castro, Lubelski, Tara Brooks, and many more highly accomplished and respected DJs/producers.

The journey here demanded significant time and energy. The success we’ve achieved, and our remarkable roster, is atypical for event promoters with only five curated events. I leveraged my professional background in inside sales and strategy to know whom to contact, what to say, and how to maintain ethical and genuine connections, fostering a strong sense of trust with strangers willing to collaborate.

As a single mom with a full-time professional career alongside operating Social Sessions, I invested many hours each week to ensure the success of every event, striving to raise as much money as possible. The driving force behind my commitment was the idea of bringing people together to help others, fueled by the knowledge that the funds and toys raised would bring joy to children’s faces, motivating me to do what was necessary to continue building our nonprofit.

I’ve learned and want the world to know that there are far more charitable people than selfish ones – individuals eager to help you make a positive impact. Each event leaves me genuinely happy to meet the people who contribute to event curation and those who join us on the dancefloor – all united as givers.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My itinerary would certainly involve exploring the best in house and techno music, craft cocktails, speakeasies, and beautiful beaches. We’d dedicate a day to biking to the beach, basking in the Southern California sun while grooving to our favorite house music tracks. En route to the beach, our first pitstop would be Toast Kitchen and Bakery for a delectable brunch and cocktail. Perhaps, we’d treat ourselves to their Ube French Toast as an appetizer, savor the Pork Belly Bowl, and pair it with a delightful champagne flight. Afterward, we’d burn off those calories with about a 3-mile bike ride to the beach.

Alternatively, we might indulge ourselves at Breakfast Republic, Eat Chow, Plums, or Haute Cakes – all my go-to brunch spots within a short ride to the beach, each offering delicious adult beverages alongside their mouthwatering dishes.

For the best in house and techno, we would check with Resident Advisor for event listings as well as check in with our favorite event promoters in the industry like Take It Outside, Subtract, Deep House Brunch, Operation Revolt, Incognito, House Heads, Space Yacht, Framework, and many more! We’d follow wherever our friends are hosting events – whether at a local bar like Pattern Bar, the Long Beach Pier, or an underground warehouse where the location remains a mystery until hours before.

As for the best places to savor delicious craft cocktails, Ruin Bar tops the list, a tiny spot renowned for its wild décor, featuring a cable car as your seat. Then there’s Pie Society, a speakeasy tucked away in the back of a pizza joint, offering a unique experience. Don’t miss out on Social, where they whip up the best Gunslinger and Coffees for Closers. Each spot promises an unforgettable blend of music, libations, and coastal beauty.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shoutout to my kids, who have, in many ways, inspired and motivated me to become who I am today. Of course, I must also mention my wonderful mother, who literally shaped me into the person I am today by modeling what it means to be a strong, smart, and loving woman. Last but certainly not least, the true visionary behind Social Sessions and its co-founder deserves recognition, for Social Sessions would not exist if it weren’t for him.

Website: www.socialsessions.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialsessi0ns/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-En-kqV8BSXbsfdaSz85A

Image Credits
Killed with Kindness and Imagine LA

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