On "day jobs" and "gay jobs," liberating your body and spirit on the MTA, and the lingering high from Mayor Mamdani's inauguration.

In conversation with Sarose, Event & Experiential Producer and Owner of The People's Producer LLC

Sarose is playfully known as “The Gayor” (@thegayor). The Queens-born and raised event and experiential producer found her calling while at a women’s liberal arts college, when organizing events quickly overshadowed her interest in pre-med. She has over a decade of experience producing across industries. She is also the co-founder of Dave’s Lesbian Bar, which will be the only lesbian bar in Queens, since the tragic shutdown of the Bum Bum Bar in 2018, slated to open at the end of this year. Dave’s will serve as a mutual aid hub by day and live music venue by night. They’re constantly hosting events, keep in the loop on their instagram.

📊 On “day jobs” and “gay jobs.”

I joke that my “day job” is working as a producer for capitalism (think: agencies, big brands, private clients) and my “gay job” is producing within the queer community (think: grassroots organizations, nightlife, performers + creatives). I rarely share publicly about my day job, but it greatly influences the community work that I do. I proudly seek out opportunities to leverage the networks, knowledge and resources I’ve amassed in my professional work NYC and abroad to advance queer spaces, causes and culture. Similarly, you won’t usually find me dropping names of clients that I work with you, but you can always find me dropping names of queer creatives and businesses, bringing them into the fold of every side of the high end productions I am a part of.

🍻 On creating not just another gay bar

Daves is not just another gay bar. When I listen to others talk about the dwindling number spaces for queer women and the trans community, I know that is largely due to our beloved watering holes are not being created to meet the needs of what we seek out in IRL connections today. The team behind this project will continue to focus on building this space around welcoming an intergenerational, anti-racist, care-driven crowd and an ethos centered around both self-expression and mutual respect. Sure, folks can enjoy drinks and lose themselves in a late night sweaty dance floor moment, but Dave's is importantly a place where alcohol and dark lit rooms can come secondary to all of the other reasons someone would decide to spend time in a "safe space", why do the only spaces we label as such bars? Together with every person who walk through our doors, we will strive to sustain and support a community that drives queer joy, public service and a legacy of resistance.

🏀 On the wholesomeness of the girl aquarium

As a lifelong, wildly enthusiastic supporter of the WNBA (go Liberty!) and women's sports, I know that the media boom and cultural shift we are seeing in the US did not just appear out of thin air, but I am SO here for the rest of the world to get on board.

This market has been overlooked and undervalued for so long that it's a huge opportunity for global brands and local businesses to redefine what it means to intentionally associate yourself with sports.

There is a genuine feeling of belonging, a trend of activism, a commitment to inclusion, and an endearing wholesomeness in these spaces, and that is not going anywhere. Now it's time for brands to follow in their lead. The same style of campaigns and pathways to collaboration that work for men's leagues will not yield the same results with women's leagues, and that is a very special thing. I can't wait to be inspired by the breadth of creativity and opportunity this will create across industries.

🏠 On hyper-local partnerships

We hosted an event inspired by The Longest Table organization, where our neighbors joined us for a block-long potluck. Nearly 200 people of all ages and backgrounds joined us for Sunday supper, where there was also an open mic, a tablescape competition, games, and more surprises. I didn’t have a big budget, I didn’t have a massive team, there was no brand sponsoring us... but these are the kinds of collaborations that will always keep me going. I learn more about myself as a producer, I get to teach others about doing this work, and I have the chance to build hyperlocal partnerships and stretch my creative muscles in a way I don’t always get to in a corporate setting.

⛴️ On how to liberate your body and spirit on the MTA

I'm a regular on the ferry! I won't shut up about it. I will go out of my way, twelve months a year, to include the ferry in my commute, use it as a catalyst to explore a neighborhood, or visit a local business off one of the routes. Practically, it's a no-brainer system of public transport for living in this city made up of islands, and it can be crucial to waterfront communities where neglected pockets lack other modes of transportation. Energetically, there is something about being out on the water, the sensory experience of taking in the city this way, that has the power to liberate my body and my spirit in a way I'm always grateful for.

🗽 On the lingering high from watching Mayor Mamdani’s Inauguration

On New Years Day, I had the privilege of being invited to the inauguration of NYC's 111th (112th?) Mayor and the great fortune of being seated in the front row beside my partner and friends. I've lived in New York my entire life and have never been to Times Square for the ball drop, but I joked that this was my ball drop. I made friends with smiling strangers. I danced in place to keep warm. I didn't use the bathroom for many hours.

Though feelings of hope in this new era for myself and my neighbors have come in waves since June's primary victory, the reality of what this really meant didn't quite sink in until I was able to share in this moment with those around me. You could not ignore the vibrations of positivity and the almost collective deep breaths of relief as we sat and listened to songs and speeches, each verse and each word chosen deliberately for this exact, beautiful moment. I am not sure if I have previously experienced being simultaneously so present and so out of body. I think I might still be high from this day.