Meet Gia Hughes of Hotel Cafe in Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gia Hughes.

Gia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always been a music fan, but I actually never initially set out to work in the music industry. I went to school in San Francisco to study English literature and found myself writing for any outlet I could after graduation. But like many college graduates, I moved home. Fortunately, I saw a post on Facebook for a suburban arts outlet called Proxart looking for writers. I quickly messaged them saying I had to write for them. That ultimately progressed into becoming the editor-in-chief, and I was writing about artists, interviewing bands, and photographing concerts. We began hosting local shows, which then evolved into hosting SXSW showcases in Austin.

This period of my life was extremely instrumental in my development as a professional, and the people involved are some of my closest friends to this day. Through everything we did, I ended up booking all talent and coordinating the shows we put on. It was fun to be involved in the behind-the-scenes elements of show production when I was always going to concerts. I was just winging it.

I eventually worked for another music outlet and would freelance in event production around Los Angeles, where I connected with a woman who introduced me to the wonderful people at Hotel Café where I’ve since worked as their production manager. They took a chance on me nearly eight years ago, and working there has allowed me to grow exponentially as a music professional. I’ve loved being a part of so many artist’s careers.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While “smooth” is not a word I would use to describe any job in the music industry, getting to where I am now has been filled with plenty of hard work, plenty of learning and dedication, and plenty of fun. Getting to see and be involved in certain special shows with artists big and small is a huge perk to any struggle I might endure. It all passes.

However, some struggles have included understanding changes in the needs of show production between 2012 and 2020, a hugely transitional time in music technology. When I began, every band was mixed on an analog desk. Now that would be impossible.

Another hurdle is navigating working in a male-dominated industry and profession as a woman. While it sometimes has been difficult to garner the respect of other male professionals, I always approach my work from a place of self-respect. No matter what, you must continue to have a solid work ethic and to keep doing your best regardless of what others might think. I’ve been dismissed more times than I can count. I’ve been told it’s “cute” when I try to tell someone no. I’ve been glanced over when someone shakes my hand. But at the end of the day, the buck stops with me. I can take those moments as lessons for all involved.

With that being said, there has been a ton of recent conversation and action about female inclusion in the production side of music—whether in a venue, on the road, or in a studio. More often than not these days, male peers treat me as an equal or give me credit where credit is due. And more and more, women are hiring, promoting and mentoring women to help lift each other up. We all can work to the best of our abilities when we can just trust that we’re all going to be professional, no matter who we are, what we look like, what our age is, how we identify, how we vote, or who we love.

Please tell us about Hotel Cafe.
I am the production manager at Hotel Café, a music venue in Hollywood. We are known as being a community for artists, musicians and industry professionals, providing a space for everyone to enjoy and explore music. But it’s not your ordinary venue—it’s a culture. You’ll find the best musicians in this city hanging in our alley any night of the week. It’s a place to discover music, and to socialize with your peers and heroes. We are also known for breaking artists. Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting the first Los Angeles or early shows of many artists who have gone on to global success, like Adele, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, The Lumineers and so many others. It’s so gratifying watching artists we’ve booked early on find such success and fame. This magic and culture is one reason why artists continue to come back, even after they’ve reached the top. It’s something I’m proud to be a part of.

My primary responsibility is show and venue production. I coordinate every single show that comes through, which includes anything from discussing input lists to guest lists to ticket sales to marketing, and so much more. To break it down, we have up to ten separate artists per night split between our two stages. I always say my mind is an Excel spreadsheet because it operates in all the behind-the-scenes data necessary to make a show happen.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in a small desert town just outside of Los Angeles, so I spent every day exploring the outdoors, using my imagination, hiking around, climbing trees, and learning about plants and animals. To this day, I’m the friend who can tell you what type of plant or rock that is—it seems like really obscure knowledge to most people. I think back on this time fondly, knowing my roots are tied to nature even though I now live and work in the heart of Los Angeles.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/giahughes
• Twitter: twitter.com/giannahughes

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