Iona works on Resident Advisor’s not-for-profit jobs and opportunities platform Doors Open, as well as managing their Community Partnerships to build out RA’s network across the globe. Iona has worked on these initiatives and been part of the RA team for almost three years.
Previously to RA, Iona was heavily involved with iconic London club space Dance Tunnel, where she made her way into the electronic music world as a DJ and industry pro.
Doors Open has recently been relaunched as a CIC (Community Interest Company), meaning that 100% of profits goes back into developing the next generation of artists and industry folk in the electronic music world.
Also featuring a new website and optimised functionalities and resources for learners, users and employers, the Doors Open platform is an essential tool in developing a healthy eco system for electronic music culture
How did you get your start in music?
My music industry journey begins in the basement venues of Dalston circa 2013.
I started working on the door at Birthdays (now The Divine) for a few months before moving to Dance Tunnel (now the Karaoke Hole) where I worked on the door until its closure in Summer 2016 with intermittent stints working artist liaison (AL) and on the bar. From there, I started doing more AL work alongside various event production roles at festivals which I found really engaging and gave me a good overview of what goes into producing and managing events.
I’ve since worked in event management, programming/curation, show advancing, review writing, sound engineering and teaching (along with many more roles outside music!) before landing at Resident Advisor in 2019 to work part time in the platform support team dealing with customer and promoter queries then moving into my current role in the community team.
Describe a day in your life as Doors Open & Community Partnerships Manager for RA
My job involves establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships with other music industry entities and not for profit organisations to shape RA’s programme of community initiatives and maximise their impact. I also project manage these initiatives from ideation, through planning stages, to event management and hosting during the live events (both IRL and online). I also manage all aspects of the Doors Open platform which involves website maintenance, account management for employers, new business development, and social media management, alongside running the Doors Open programme of events.
What’s your top tip for breaking into your industry and landing your dream job?
In my experience, working at music venues, nightclubs, record stores, and festivals all present good entry points to the music industry.
Everyone's path is different, but if you have to break into the music industry without a financial safety net or preexisting connections, you’ll likely take quite a roundabout path as you work out where you want to focus, so you might as well enjoy the process - try out as many different jobs as you can and do them all to the best of your ability, learning as much as possible along the way.
Talk to the people around you and ask about their roles, it’s a great way to get an idea of the bigger picture of what you’re working on, and you never know which conversations might spark an interest in you or lead to further opportunities.
Learning what roles are out there and what they entail will also help you to work out where you fit into the industry - on the Doors Open website we’re building an archive of interviews called ‘The Glossary,” exploring the different roles within music which you can browse here.
Having certain skills under your belt will put you in good stead with most music industry employers, such as: graphic design, content creation, digital marketing, copywriting, photography/videography, video/audio editing, project management and SPREADSHEETS. Working knowledge in areas like these are all attractive to employers, and are good examples of things you might end up doing even if they sit outside your core job description, so stay on the lookout for training opportunities or opportunities to pick up these skills learning on jobs.
You can also apply to come and be a part of a Doors Open: Unlocked event - they happen both in person and online and we also host the recorded workshops and talks on our YouTube channel.
Keep an eye on our Instagram for news on new Doors Open programmes and initiatives.
Tips for staying grounded on a tough day
Of course it’s a case of different strokes for different folks, but I think moving your body is a universally good way to relieve tension and change perspective. Going outside and stretching your legs and eyes can be a double win if you’re able to.
If I’m working from home, I turn up the speakers by my desk and sing along to my RnB playlist to relieve stress. I also recently learned that if you hum it stops you from (over)thinking, even briefly, which I’ve found calming at times.
There’s also an industry saying: “It’s PR not ER” and it is good to remember that no matter how tough it gets, lives aren’t generally hanging in the balance with most music industry jobs.
3 essential things you always carry with you in your bag
Neil’s Yard shea nut & rosehip lip balm, my phone and airpods. Super boring but I speak the truth, feel free to cut this one.
What are you listening to at the moment?
As I write this, I’m listening to Ill Logic’s 93-95 jungle mix on NTS, but the past couple of days I’ve been listening to Dead or Alive’s You Spin Me Round a lot since it randomly popped into my head - the original and various white label remixes, mashups, bootlegs and edits - trying to find the perfect version for the club but maybe it’s just the OG? Anyway, great tune.
