In an era where the intimacy of smaller shows plays a pivotal role in the music scene, understanding how to curate a vibe for smaller shows becomes essential for event organizers and music lovers. Nashville’s Night We Met nightclub, opening March 29, exemplifies this with its mix of global talent, eco-conscious efforts, and engaging experiences. Led by Austin Knight of Full Circle Presents and his parents as well as Deep Tropics co-owners Jim & Allison Knight, this initiative aims to revolutionize Nashville’s electronic music scene. It’s not just a venue but a step towards more sustainable and inclusive clubbing. It strives to be the USA’s greenest club with a zero-waste initiative and an emphasis on diverse DJ talent.
Night We Met seeks to elevate the nightclub scene beyond the usual, featuring artists like Kyle Watson and Ocula to provide top-notch music in the historic 12th & Porter Building. This move is set to inject fresh energy into Nashville, fostering a nightlife ecosystem that values music and community equally. Austin Knight’s vision is to nurture the dance music scene with consistent, quality programming, making each night an experience rather than just another event.
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The club, boasting a Void Acoustic Sound System and art installations like Venus by Nimrod Messeg, is geared to deliver unmatched auditory and visual experiences. This, along with a sustainable cocktail program and mood-focused lighting, highlight the club’s commitment to an environment that respects ecological principles and enhances guest experiences, setting a new standard for intimate show vibes.
We had a chance to catch up with Austin to pick his brain about how to get the maximal amount of vibe out of smaller concert spaces so that, whether you’re an artist hosting your shows or a promoter trying to make your spaces as unique as possible for your attendees, you can take something away from this massive stride forward for Nashville.
See more at their website – Nightwemetnashville.com
What are the initial questions you ask yourself when deciding on the vibe and aesthetic of a live music event?
I think Night We Met’s biggest key is that we look at each night as an experience rather than an event or show. We want people to join the club for our unique environment and music without seeing a typical “headlining” DJ. We are focused on bringing a modern & elevated nightclub to the Music City, and every decision we’ve made along the way is focused on upholding that aesthetic from the music programming, drink offerings, art & operation as a whole.
Where or in what do you invest the most time and money in an event to achieve the desired vibe of the night?
Art is a massive space component, and we have some really unique and standout pieces. The first is Venus, a work from Nimrod Messeg that is a wrought iron metal face that serves as the focal point behind our DJ booth in the Club Room. The second is a half-torso bronze amethyst sculpture by James Lomax, which will be highlighted behind our bar in the Vera Lounge.
Additionally, in the lounge, we have two custom banquettes that really warm up the room, along with custom bar stools and chairs that match our color palette. These fill out the space and make it comfortable for people to hang out in. In our club room, we also have 8 different pieces displayed in two separate art cut-ins, making it feel almost gallery-like.
From a time perspective, I’ve spent the last 5 years developing the house scene, working for Full Circle Presents, booking several international, national, regional & local artists in various rooms in Nashville, and building multiple branded parties to develop the dance music community here. This experience has allowed me to deliver high-level & consistent music programming at Night We Met that is going to bring something new and fresh to the city.
What are some small details you love to include that most partygoers never even notice?
With Void Acoustics, we’ll have one of the most high-end sound systems in the world. This was a huge focal point for us, but I think one nuance of having the Void Sound System will be clarity. This means that our crowd can spend a lot of time in the space without getting sound/hearing fatigue. Over time, people will realize how important this is to the overall experience.
Our lighting approach will be more “mood-focused” rather than creating massive chaotic moments throughout the night with crazy strobes and beams going in multiple directions. This will lead to a certain comfortability within the space, without those sensory overload moments that can be overwhelming.
When attending other smaller events and parties, what do you focus on first and judge/appreciate the most?
When you have a smaller space, like we do at Night We Met, I value having space to dance. Our crowd will have adequate room to spread out and control their experience throughout the night between the lounge and VIP sections.
I also really notice when there is a gradual escalation of energy throughout the night musically. Each set should flow into one another where you almost don’t even notice a new DJ has started.
Where do you look for inspiration when creating a vibe and aesthetic for a small, intimate live music event?
I try to absorb as much content and inspiration as possible from worldwide, even through my own research or social media. Since I cannot experience a certain club or festival in person, I watch a lot of sets on YouTube from different festivals and clubs, and I think I’ve gained a lot of perspective from them.
Going out and experiencing different environments in person is the best way to draw inspiration. Do Not Sit On The Furniture in Miami, Members in LA, and Mila in Miami are a few places that made a huge impact on me and helped influence the direction we went with Night We Met.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
