SOUP launch Thursday Initiative for new promoters in Manchester - Apply now!

Nestled in Stevenson Square in Manchester's Northern Quarter, SOUP has been a vital cog in the city’s nightlife space for over 14 years. Continually throwing parties that add to the rich clubbing legacy of the city, and developing an alumnus that boats local legends like Anz, Jon K, Tom Boogizm and Finn; SOUP is integral to the Mancunian clubbing scene.

Building on such heritage, SOUP have recently announced they are joining forces with Absolut to seek out the next generation of promoters in Manchester. They are on the lookout for three new promoters who will work with them to fill three of their formidable Thursday night slots.

Participants will be provided the opportunity to grow their skills and experience in the industry and to make an impact on the already illustrious musical landscape of the city. To find out more, we caught up with Romy Greenstein from SOUP to chat all about the incentive.

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to find out how to apply!

Could you explain to us a bit about the Thursday initiative?

"The Thursday initiative is a collaboration with Absolut to try and get this new generation of young promoters at university, who are looking for an opportunity to put a night on - in a climate where higher fees are going up in price and it's quite a lot harder to get your foot through the door in comparison to how it was pre-Covid especially. 

"We just wanted to open that door because we've had some great experiences in the last couple of years with newer university promoters who come and do our Thursday nights and we've gone on to form good relationships and get regular parties going. So we wanted to see if we could find something like that again in the future."

Why is it important for SOUP for these to be local Manchester promoters and want to be a part of the Manchester scene?

"Soup itself is very DIY, very independent. We’ve always been inspired by local promoters, the promoters we have even on the weekend are local, they're resident DJs.

"I don't want to be disrespectful, but there are a lot of large promoters that only put on very big DJs that make lots of money. They don't book newer DJs, those who need that chance and the opportunity to get a platform. 

"Keeping things local and giving those opportunities creates a sense of community, a sense of belonging, and in an industry that sometimes can have a sense of gatekeeping, and potentially might not always be friendly towards new people, we just kind of want to make a space where people feel comfortable, and where they can grow with people who know the scene too."

How will you guys be working with these promoters to help them grow? Help them through that journey? 

"We're going to like to help them every step of the way and use all our experience.

"We'll help them with promotion; how to engage with booking agencies; different aspects of the night like ticket pricing, lighting, preparation, posters, and artwork; and also with networking, using what we already have established, and putting them in contact with certain people; just all the things that go into a night."

What would you say to any promoters thinking about applying and are there nights or promoters you're particularly looking for?

"I would just encourage you to apply. 

"Don't worry about feeling like, oh, I might not have a well-established idea or I've not been doing this long and I have nothing to provide. You've got nothing to lose. This is a great opportunity. It could open doors. So you should go for it.

"I'd particularly love to see more women and non-binary people apply too. There's a real shortage of gender minorities in promotion. It's a very male-dominated industry, especially with promoters, so I would love to see some more women and non-binary people."

Applications for SOUP’s Thursday Night Initiative are open until the 20th of November, so get applying by heading to the link below and get your foot in the door of Manchesters nightlife!

Apply for SOUP’s Thursday Night Initiative here

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.

Header image credit: Soup Manchester on Facebook