Hidden Gems: Meet Sarah Slaughter of Slaughter Creative

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Slaughter.

Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
I’ve been organizing events and the “good times logistics’ for as long as I can remember. Growing up in San Diego, I had a classic Southern California adolescence. Loitering on the beach, skateboarding, following punk bands and throwing parties wherever and whenever I could. As I got older and “matured,” the gatherings followed suit. Whether it was birthday or holiday celebrations, dinner parties, or even travel itineraries, the goal was always getting people together to have a good time. 

I entered the workforce at a pretty young age and often had administrative or office jobs where I was sometimes tasked with planning company functions and travel. But they were few and far between, and it never really occurred to me that I could make a career out of organizing events. I was still always planning fun times for friends and family and eventually decided to go back to school in hopes of finding a more “traditional” career path and strengthening the skills I had already developed. After working full-time for many years in administrative positions, I was ready for change and committed to going to college. I chose an interior design school to not only feed my creativity but to learn a more specified trade so I could hopefully get an actual job. I remember at one point in an early career course, event coordinating came up as a potential use of the degree. Even though I knew I probably didn’t need a degree to work on events, it still gave me a little spark of comfort that it was going to be OK if I did end up choosing a different path from my classmates. I tucked it away and continued on my degree. While finishing school, I started doing some freelance design work as well as planning some corporate events and weddings. The weddings gave me a chance to explore a little more of a creative side in events, which I immediately took to, but still really only saw as more of a part-time gig and hobby. 

After graduating with a BFA in interior design I continued to focus on this new career path, but as she so often does, life had much different plans for me. Way too much to tell there, but like many I found myself drifting further and further away from my design degree career. I returned to the exploration of roles within industries that not only personally interested me but also celebrated creativity. I had some decent jobs, countless learning experiences and forged some amazing relationships. But it wasn’t until after a failed music industry job, where, after working for a well-known but extremely difficult personality, I knew I was overworking for other people full-time. I had been treated poorly, was burned out, and just wanted to be happy and hopefully creative. Once I made that decision and let go of some fears, I felt an immediate shift and asked for what I wanted. Soon after, I landed a freelance production position that not only evolved into an opportunity to plan events but in a niche yet familiar intersection of art, music, and skateboarding. After becoming the event director for LA’s massive graffiti & street art exhibit, Beyond the Streets, I found myself producing up to four events a week. I had finally landed in a place that felt like home. It was this role that allowed me to not only focus on just events but finally gave me the confidence that I was not only capable of making a living from events, but I was also able to use my personal life experiences and relationships to really connect with and succeed in my work. 

From that opportunity on, things moved very quickly. Each project and relationship led to the next- and as my portfolio grew, my network followed. Within a few years, I rebranded my design and event business as Slaughter Creative. Over the next few years, I worked on projects I never could have dreamed of. From producing art shows and events for global brands like Vans & Obey; to producing and tour managing an exhibit for the Beastie Boys. I built music and food festivals, mega raves, celebrity dinners, and after-parties. Each project, a new adventure. Even with these dream opportunities coming my way, it still took time for me to really accept that I had not only found it but that it was not going away. Up until this point in my life, I honestly didn’t think it was possible to love work so much. 

Alright, 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?
Absolutely not. Much about my life or career has been a bit of a rough road. But it has been exciting and kept me on my toes. The struggles have been consistent; running a business is a constant stream of screwing-up and lessons. Even basic business fundamentals take time and practice. I’m sure I’ve struggled with many of the same things that most people do in any business. Some I have worked through; others are a work in progress. I used to struggle with knowing my own worth. I think that is something that often plagues creative entrepreneurs. Talking about money takes time, practice, and confidence. Unfortunately, there will also be people that try to take advantage of you and your time. I do try to remind myself that my fees are a reflection of my experience, not someone’s budget. Accepting that not everyone can or will hire you is in itself a struggle. I’ve learned some hard lessons around hiring and working with friends, another tale as old as time. Being an event producer in a global pandemic was certainly a struggle, and like many others, I had to pivot into other things to thrive. Being a ghost producer can be another challenge, but it also comes with the territory. That is producing for a client or agency, but without getting any credit for your work. For me, it is more about not getting referrals and less about clout. There are always going to be struggles, but they are also how we evolve. 

My job performance is measured by my ability to solve problems. Without them, I simply would not grow. As I conquer one, two more appear; it’s the nature of the beast. Being a strong producer is how you handle the emergencies and lead your team. Combined with my natural curiosity for human connection, I’ve been able to build secure and lasting relationships with my vendors and team; without either, I am literally nothing. With my life’s frequent curveballs, I was basically forced to become flexible. I firmly believe that the challenges I’ve faced personally have helped me become a strong producer. On a personal level there have been family triumphs and tragedies and the ups and downs that come with relationships. Throughout it all, I have been blessed with devoted parents, loving family members, and enduring friendships. Their unwavering support has given me the confidence and drive to continue to push myself and my business forward. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Slaughter Creative. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Slaughter Creative is a full-service, experiential, event production & creative agency based in Los Angeles, with teams and resources in New York and Miami. We’ve produced everything from small, intimate celebrations to large-scale festivals. Aside from producing events, we also help bring creative concepts and activations to life for global brands and agencies. 

I have always had a personal interest in the arts space, where I have been fortunate to have some amazing opportunities to work with both artists and brands I admire. Producing art exhibitions and gallery programming, with an emphasis on ephemera, is one of my specialties. This personal joy helped inspire the recent launch of a creative agency division of Slaughter Creative, which is now providing client services within design, strategy, and activation. With a focus on clients in the visual arts, we offer a range of services, with the primary goal of allowing our clients to focus on their passion for creating art and giving my team of knowledgeable agents the opportunity to help turn their passion into a flourishing business. 

Some of my proudest production moments in the exhibition space are Beyond the Streets LA, Beastie Boys: Live & Direct, Three Decades of Girl (Skateboards) Retrospective, and FOOLS LA & NY by VANS with Porous Walker & Todd Francis. May 2024 will bring Curb Alert, an exhibition with LA-based artists Pat Riot & Randall Harrington. 

Aside from my creative agency launch, I’ve been incredibly busy producing events post-pandemic. Although I am extremely proud of all the projects I have worked on, some more recent career highlights include a festival series, Mama’s Night Market. Since May 2022, I’ve produced four large festivals for Mama’s, each transporting you into the heart of diverse food, culture, and music – creating the ultimate international experience and LA’s first 21+ night market. Working with sponsors like Honda, Converse, and Anheuser Busch, these events continue to receive phenomenal community feedback and press and have become a staple in the colorful but competitive LA event space. Another big post-pandemic accomplishment was accepting a department head role on the esteemed production team of Insomniac Events, where I worked on over twenty of some of the largest electronic music festivals and events throughout the US. Learning festival production at that scale was an incredible learning experience. 

It’s been an extremely busy few years, for which I am immensely grateful. I am proud of all the work I have done and the things that I have accomplished. Perhaps my greatest source of pride is in my ability to assemble a team, see a project through to its conclusion, and develop lasting and rewarding relationships with exceptional people and organizations. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Fishing with my dad and catching my first is up there… 

Contact Info:

• Website: slaughtercreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slaughtercreative/

Image Credits
Sarah Slaughter
Beyond the Streets
Alex Papke
Kinsey Pro
Morgan Rindengan