California expat Natalie Blacker is a busy lady having worked in business development for Swindle Magazine and running Ladies Lotto- a networking and support organization for professional women- but she made time to give us her confession for the week.
We love Natalie’s dedication to the Worship Worthy cause of uniting us girls to help each other in “dude world,” so we snagged some words of wisdom about Ladies Lotto, future projects, and the possibility of running away to Hungary.
Name and Age, please:
Natalie Blacker, 29
Marital status:
in a relationship
Where are you originally from?
So-So Cal
How long have you lived in New York?
6 years
What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
Downtown – West Village
What are your favorite memories of New York since living here?
Summertime. You cannot beat it. There’s an overwhelming energy and motivation to live life in the shared public experience. Living on the Bowery for years, walking out of my front door to see the new work on Jay Maisel’s bank building and riding my bike around town.
Give us a brief rundown of your past work experience.
PR for an art foundation, designers, musicians, artists, an indie publishing company (Girl Press), worked with non-profits, as an accessories buyer and even held a communications assistant position for Arianna Huffington. For the last 4 years worked with lifestyle media and brands. Some media includes SWINDLE, Anthem and Bust Magazines with numerous clients ranging from fashion to technology and everything in between.
Your job at Swindle Magazine, what were your responsibilities there?
Working on the business side of creative art/lifestyle magazines can be exhausting and rewarding at the same time. First thing, know the the brand and what it represents. It’s a constant grind when you’re representing any brand let alone a culturally influential media outlet. Let’s face it, the main goal here is to build awareness and make the magazine money so it can continue to grow on its own terms - creating and executing marketing strategies, project and event planning/production/management all within the perspective/branding. Building relationships, talking to as many brands/people as possible even if that means cold-calling, getting your foot in the door no matter what, pitching to clients, educating them on what the mag represents, its cultural coverage and how their brand can succeed in its goals by working with the publication. Maintaining a balance by taking care of the needs of the magazine along with the client’s requests/needs. Big thing is keeping your word and always follow through.
Did you attend business school in order to qualify for the position?
Nope. Finishing a Master’s in Media Studies at New School this May!
You’re also the founder of Ladies Lotto, can you explain the idea behind LL and how you came up with the idea?
Working with Anthem Magazine leant opportunity to many cultural outlets, parties, shows, openings, incredible people and resources. Although I worked with amazing women, it was a really dude centric perspective. Simultaneously I got into the idea of community and giving back by using these resources especially amongst the ladies making it happen in our culture. I came up with this idea to open up a nail salon/art gallery called Rosa Luxx where women could come, chill out, talk and create a supportive community in a cool environment. I didn’t have capital so it morphed into another concept. Passing a deli in the East Village I was inspired by a lottery advertisement. Like the lottery you gotta be in it to win it - just like you have to create and support your community as well as step up in life to achieve your goals. Shared the idea with some friends who were really into it but nothing happened for a year until I, out of frustration and boredom in dude world, sent out an email to 25 of the most amazing girls from various professions. It was a success, so I did it again the next month and it caught on fast. It was all really organic.
What kinds of things go on with Ladies Lotto and your meetings?
Ladies Lotto is constantly growing, inspiring and creating. There are positive influential and motivational factors with anything LL related. With a continuous flux of information and ideas floating about, LL the meetings are an extension of what is shared online – basically bringing it into the physical. Our meetings happen once a month in New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco. We usually meet over dinner and drinks, preferably at a place that’s owned or affiliated by a Ladies Lotto member, hearing from a guest speaker. Our goal has been to provide a multi-experience one that provides education, new contacts and ideas for inspiration.
I was at one of the LL meetings and am on the message board which is a useful tool. What does a girl have to do to be a part of LL?
To become a member of Ladies Lotto a girl has to submit an application which basically ensures that they are the kind of girl who would both benefit and contribute to LL.
You can get access to the online application by emailing one of the ladies who run a chapter or by emailing membership (at) ladieslotto (dot) com with your request.
Any major highlights of LL since you started it?
LL isn’t even 2 years old and we have over 600 women who are apart of this community. I think that’s a major highlight. Others include starting chapters in Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle since January ‘08 alone! The success of the individual women within Ladies Lotto especially those which have been a direct result of LL such as friends Farah Malik & Dana Arbib’s A Peace Treaty (APT). The overwhelming success of 31 Under 31: Young Women in Fine Art Photography – coverage in major publications like The NY Times as well as getting over 1000 people to come out to Bushwick to see work by incredible female photographers.
Sometimes you invite guest speakers to your meetings, can you highlight a couple and describe the reaction of the Ladies?
There are a lot of women to chose from… Amanda Fairey, Business/Operations Director for Studio No. 1/SWINDLE/Obey in LA - after asking us in the car to keep quiet, she announced her 2nd pregnancy to which everyone cheered and applauded. Kiki T, Astrosexolgist in NY– she literally sat down with each individual, broke down their astrological sign, who they should be getting busy with and why. Most were blown away by how right on she was! Emily Griffin, Music Supervisor/Programming at Microsoft in Seattle – getting face time with someone in her position is nearly impossible so the reaction to her was really positive. Sarah Cirkiel, Pitch Control PR – she was straight up with how she opened up PCPR, inspiring one of the ladies to quit her day job to start a production company.
The women who speak end up joining LL and subsequently LL members end up working with the speakers.
Us ladies can be catty at times! How do you avoid that kind of environment when you get so many ladies in one room?
Yes, that is true with some ladies and we prefer they stay away! Those who come to LL meetings understand the power of creating a network of women allied together for professional and personal support. Rather than dismissing the potential relationships and resources readily available they embrace it. Every single person contributes to the successful environment.
What’s the plan for Ladies Lotto and where do you see it going?
We are currently developing 2008 initiatives to bring together the amazing women of each of our chapters and unite the global LL family on an individual basis. We are also developing and implementing the means and mechanics to continue to take our united energies out into the world to do collective “good” work, as networking is just step one in what LL is here to do.
Can you tell us about any other things you’ve got on your horizon? (Work or life)
Besides moving forward with Ladies Lotto, creating my own media is my goal. I want to make a documentary about women in reggae and its subsequent influence on broader culture (i.e, spawning various musical genres from punky reggae to 2 tone to dnb and beyond). I’m also getting my Hungarian Passport and would like to stay at my family’s home in Hungary while researching this documentary.
Got any favorite clothing brands? Stores?
United Bamboo, Comme de Garcons, Marc Jacobs, Name Ribbon, Missoni, Blood is the New Black, YSL, La Perla, Anna Sui, Built by Wendy, Judi Rosen, See by Chloe, Top Shop, I need to stop.
Got a long term plan? (If yes, please describe.)
Part of going to grad school was to get a better understanding of media theory and learn how to make my own. I’m interested in creating media from experimental video, documentary and hell, maybe I’ll start my own magazine? Community and culture will always have a great importance and priority in my life. I think one can only plan so much, just go where life takes you.
Do you have much free time? And what do you do when you’re not working?
I work, a lot and I’m around large groups of people often so being in the presence of close friends in a more intimate setting is a relief. I’ve gotten more into Feng Shui lately and have subsequently been rearranging the things in my apartment. I hang out with my bf – together we have a small zoo - 2 dogs and 2 cats. I try to work out 3-5 times a week. Helps with stress and distraction. Love yoga at Jivamukti and walking with no destination.
How would you describe your personal style?
I spent years wearing stuff brands/people gave me (and keep on sending stuff over!). It’s “Ceci Cela” - little bit of this and that - a blend of vintage and ready to wear.
What’s your prized possession?
My mind.
Where do you like to shop? (Clothes, house wares, beauty, etc.)
I honestly don’t like to shop. It bores me and there’s too much emphasis on women to “consume.” I’d rather get gear from friends or brands I work with. But who doesn’t love a good vintage clothing shop that won’t bleed you dry? I buy food at Integral Yoga & the farmers market. Valley for my Brazilian wax. Fresh has incredible all natural ingredients and they don’t test on animals.
Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, and clubs?
I don’t go out much anymore! I’m too damn busy. So humm… L’enfant Terribles for an after work drink, I love Larry Lawrence for its lighting and subtleties. B-side has a good jukebox. I’d rather go to a house party than go to the club.
Please name your top 3 fave restaurants in NY and what your favorite
dish(es) is/are there.
Caravan of Dreams – Seitan Quesadilla
Souen – Planet Platter (thank you to Sara Rosen for turning me on to this place)
Veggie Dim Sum- Mock Pork Buns
Runner up: Dumont - Mac N Cheese hold the bacon.
What music have you been listening to lately?
A little bit of everything – from hip hop to cumbia to metal. Rock steady, ska, reggae are always on rotation. Studio One and Trojan Records! For my birthday this March a friend gave me an iPod shuffle with the best doowop, garage rock, and girl-groups. I love listening to recent releases but you can’t help going back to discover the roots of the present.
What’s your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
Filmmaking in the city. People are generally narcissistic and love to be filmed!
Do you plan on living in NY forever?
I’m always going to be tied to NYC and I plan on always keeping a place here. If another Republican steals the White House then it might time to leverage my Hungarian/EU passport for a while.
If you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper. If you drink, tell us
your cocktail/drink of choice.
Aleda cellulose papers. Champagne.
Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
This is hard. I could give you a long, long list – everyone in Ladies Lotto and involved with Worship Worthy! Ok… Lyndsay Siegel. She is one of 6 talent bookers for all of MTV programming. She integrates artists in all platforms for MTV, MTV2 and MTVU. Can you imagine!? She has an enormous influence on culture and finds time to get involved with Stoked Mentoring along with having a social life.
amazing, love all her ideas. she was very helpful w/ the information about art espicially in NYC. Also the LL group, I saw wanna join, it sounds so motivating, and fun, espicially since it includes pasionate females like Nathalie!
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Yah Natalie!!! XOXOXOXOX