We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jeni Bliatout. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jeni below.
Jeni, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
When my partner and I launched our first fundraiser, Social Sessions, the reasons were simple: 1) find a way to give back and 2) make it fun. We didn’t really have a mission other than to raise as much money as possible that one time. Little did we know that three years later, Social Sessions would evolve into a full-fledged 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporation. Our mission is now clear: cultivate a community of givers, uniting people through a shared love for music and empowering them to make the world a better place. Not everyone is in a financial position to help others, whether through donating or volunteering. We all have bills we need to pay, and sometimes, helping others isn’t a priority when we need to help ourselves. But when a large community comes together, each contributing a small amount, the collective impact is significant. We provide that opportunity to give back. In very simple terms, when you purchase a ticket to one of our events, not only do you get to experience amazing music with a community, but you get to give back to improve the lives of others. I always emphasize that I may not have thousands of dollars to give, but I do have the time to bring people together to raise it for those who really need it—like the many families we have helped who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Jeni, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I like to think of myself as your average, everyday woman. I’m a single mom. A full-time professional. And I operate Social Sessions on the side. But every now and then I’m reminded that I—like most of my friends and colleagues—am accomplished and not so ordinary. In addition to raising two amazing kids (one who is almost an adult) and doing well as a professional, I, with the partnership of a co-founder, created and operate Social Sessions. It’s 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 while operating as a 501c3. 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.
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.
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, Jason Bentley, Andy Caldwell, Anton Tumas, Mary Droppinz, Donald Glaude, Thee-O, Shay De Castro, Lubelski, Tara Brooks, and many more highly accomplished and respected DJs/producers.
The journey here has 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.
Over the last several years, 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.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Because almost everyone loves a love story…
In 2001, I moved to Orange County, where Brian, the Co-founder of Social Sessions, had spent almost his entire life. Frequenting the same local house music events, our paths must have crossed several times, but it wasn’t until 2019 that serendipity brought us together. Over the next several months, as we got to know each other, we discovered that we had been in the same place at the same time on numerous occasions, with the stars finally aligning at a Halloween party in October 2019.
After exchanging phone numbers, I invited Brian to a Kaskade concert in Los Angeles’ Grand Park. To my surprise, he not only said yes but also Venmo’ed me for both event tickets. I was immediately swept off my feet. In the following months, Brian shared with me his heartwarming Christmas tradition: every year, he curated a small local house music toy drive for children at Mercy House, an organization aiding homeless families in achieving and maintaining housing stability in Southern California.
When the pandemic struck, our connection deepened. We decided to have a music livestream showcasing local DJs to raise funds for MusiCares and abused children, acknowledging the immense struggles both communities faced during the pandemic. The result? We successfully raised over $1,000, and from that moment, the rest became history. Our journey, sparked by a chance meeting and fueled by shared passions, blossomed into the incredible partnership that is Social Sessions.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One lesson I’m currently unlearning is the rigid adherence to proper English and grammar. I remember someone pointing out that being able to speak in different ways is crucial, meaning professionally, socially, and even with slang or different dialects. It didn’t fully register until I stepped into the music industry, where a lot of people use slang. For example, they use words like bro, heater, banger, lit, etc. And when I try, I feel completely odd and a bit out of sync, missing that connection with others. It’s honestly pretty amusing, and I can’t help but chuckle at feeling like a total nerd. But, it’s a skill I’m learning to let loose in – embracing a more informal and slang-filled dialogue. So, here’s to breaking free from linguistic norms and connecting through the shared language of the music industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.socialsessions.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialsessi0ns/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-En-kqV8BSXbsfdaSz85A
Image Credits
Killed with Kindness Imagine LA