A Night in the Life of: Katie Longmyer

Katie Longmyer is an event producer known for knowing everyone -- in fact, her nickname is actually “Queen Bee." One part of MeanRed Productions, the ladies who put together events at The Yard in Brooklyn, she’s a “marketing and branding person” by training but her pseudonym-cum-job description also showcases her abilities as a party promoter, talent manager and of course, a maven of the nightlife scene.

So how did the "Queen Bee" moniker come about? Does Lil Kim know about this?
I’ve gotten that nickname twice: once while promoting in DC and then again up here in New York -- I look after everybody, making sure everyone is okay, holding them down connecting them, managing them, bringing them resources. Whenever everyone's in the same room and they see it all happening they say "you're doing something for everybody, you’re the Queen Bee.”

What does it mean to be a party promoter?
It's about being tapped into a community of people -- DJs, visual artists, photographers, anything. Promoting is a platform to get that out there to the community. Like if you come to me with a record to put out, I have the resources to put you in the club and tell everyone else that it's coming so they can all celebrate with you.

I would like to think that [at my events] I know about half the room, even if its 300-500 people. I keep up with what's going on with them, or try to. Letting people know what's hot and what's new, bringing it to a larger audience -- that's what being a party promoter is all about.

So how did Good Peoples come about?
It was a side job when I was working at Warner Brothers records doing branding a marketing. I was in nightclubs all the time, hosting tables for a couple of people, and I would look around and say “Wow, everyone I know is doing something creative, why aren't we all coming together and doing something that's 10 times bigger than just this?"

So I merged the bottle service hostess thing with a larger platform and threw a really large party. It was kind of amazing to see all the elements come together and make such a big impact, so I worked over the next couple of years on developing that and expanding that. Now I'm kind of a resource for all those people to come together.

So you’re a connector and an informer, but what kind of services does Good Peoples provide?
When larger companies or people are looking to hold an event, we provide visual artists or DJs, bringing in a certain kind of music or event space. We’re kind of like a one-stop shop for throwing an event. The name kind of sells itself; you know, you're getting quality, a guaranteed good experience, good music; good people!

I love being surrounded by creative people. The weirder and more creative you are, the better. My strength is being organized, so it just happens naturally, like, ‘Oh you're doing this really cool thing and you're an artist but you don't really know how to translate that [for larger audiences], well then let's partner up and make it happen!’

What brought you into the club scene?
Music. I played the cello my whole life -- I went to school on a cello scholarship and then I realized I like the back end more than the front end [of performance]. I would be in a nightclub see a bunch of things happen and say to myself, ‘I really want to be the person who makes the DJ play, not be the DJ.’

Why is that?
For me there was more power in that -- everyone wants to be fairly successful and known for what they do. I want to be known as the person who makes things happen. It's really fulfilling to see someone with a pet project, and then helping him or her bring that idea, their baby, to fruition.

So for all the kids that share your dream, how does one become a successful promoter?
By being really organized and meticulous. Saying in touch with people and talking to them about everything is the biggest piece of advice i give to up and comers.

I learned in kind of an apprenticeship: I went to the promoters for Buzz and Fever -- a huge, huge party in DC -- and harassed them until they made me their intern. I told them, 'I will organize your CD collections, I will go on errands and I will deliver your flyers.' A total flyer bitch, I would go out every night of the week and put flyers on cars.

So you worked in marketing for Warner Brothers Records for seven years, how did you end up a full-time partner in MeanRed?
Eventually my part-time work in Good Peoples sort of merged with my marketing job and I was doing bigger and bigger parties -- I did three different events with Jen [Lyon, the MeanRed founder] and each one was amazingly successful and fun. Our skill sets and the communities we know really complimented each other, like yin and yang, and so I found myself taking more and more days off to work at The Yard. Eventually I decided that the place I could make the most impact with the music community was on my own, so I left Warner Brothers last August with the blessings of my boss.

What artists are you excited about, either from your own company or just in general?
I manage a vocalist called Maggie Horn who's doing really amazing things right now -- she recently did a track with Ninjasonik, and she has a project with Sammy Bananas (from Fool's Gold) called Telephone. They do T-Pain covers and all of these Hot 97 songs, but covered with a sort of an electro vibe (they just finished a track of "Pop Champagne," and they recently released "Turn my Swag On"). Also, I’m managing and developing a photographer called Texas. She was a nightlife photographer for me but really has an amazing eye for portraiture -- she's able to get people's guard down really well in clubs.

Also I love DJ Million Dollar Mano. He's from Chicago and spins for Hollywood Holt was with MIA for a while. He’s really blowing up, I just think he's so talented -- I've booked him as many times as possible when he comes to town.

What’s up and coming from you guys for the summer?
Well, at Summerstage we have Boyz Noize upcoming, and Drop the Lime will open -- we love them and are excited to see their show. There’s also Hits!, a Thursday night at the Annex (we moved from Santos Party House). It’s kind of my pet project, it's way for me to get everyone together from downtown into a room. There will be lots of cute little downtown gay boys and girls, and a a crew called Cunt Mafia. Nicky Digital is a host. And also Worship Worthy, a platform for artists to get up and perform a track -- it's really my tribute to my love affair with clubs.

There's stage diving, crazy outfits, drag queens, makeup, things happening, it's exactly what I want.