GET TO KNOW: Lauren Stamper
I think probably kindness is my number one attribute in a human being. I’ll put it before any of the things like courage, or bravery, or generosity, or anything else …. Kindness – that simple word. To be kind – it covers everything, to my mind. If you’re kind that’s it (Roald Dahl)
Welcome back to Work Wednesday; this quote really shines light on Lauren Stamper, Private Idaho’s Sydney manager. She consistently brings kindness and good intentions daily but make no mistake, Loz is one of the most driven and focused managers on the team. She will not rest until the work she quarterbacks is done, with a smile on her face, a gentle iron fist velvet glove and with warmth and passion. Loz is a giver in every way and loves nothing more than a good laugh (usually with Loz there’s a gif that we send each other or a diffuser from instagram). She brings so much musical knowledge coming from her music TV production background, our mutual worlds crossed paths over 8 years ago at The Voice and Private Idaho Management has been fortunate to have all her producer experience. In addition, Loz works with Mandy across both Guy & Human Nature touring and is so respected by their band and production teams. As an author and literary major, Loz also is a great support across Jules Sebastian and other developing projects we have in works. Kindness, intelligence and as Stevie Nick’s put’s it: “graciousness”.
Your graciousness is what carries you. It isn’t how old you are, how beautiful you are, or how short your skirt is. What it is, is what comes out of your heart. If you are gracious, you have won the game (Stevie Nicks)
Lauren has worked in music and entertainment across her entire career. She studied Music Composition and English Literature in both Australia and the USA, and spent her twenties living in the States touring and working alongside some incredible American musicians where she learned the ropes of the music industry. Working extensively in TV production back home in Australia, she first met Jennifer on ‘The Voice’ set in 2012 where she worked as a Casting Producer, Music Producer and Creative Producer. “A lot went on in those years – it was a tough show to pioneer. But I vividly remember certain conversations with Jen. I love that about life – some relationships are just meant to be,” Lauren says.
She first met Guy and Jules through a mutual friend – also in the music business – in 2018, and instantly connected to their good hearts and genuine family values. She joined the team shortly after and hit the ground running. As Guy and Jules Sebastian’s day-to-day manager, Lauren is on the ground with both of them. Her role covers artist scheduling, artist relations, tour management, content creation and client liaising, but she is also across all clients creative, long-term planning and concept development alongside the team, and with Jennifer at the helm. When Human Nature are in Australia, Lauren looks after the band’s day-to-day requirements and is also part of their larger team that focuses on the U.S. market. Of her work, Lauren marvels “Sometimes I pinch myself that I get to be a part of this incredible team – playing a part in building something much bigger than myself”
Lauren comes from a long line of musicians: her grandmother studied at The Julliard School and was one of the rst females to play piano in New York’s big bands, both her father and husband are professional musicians and she also studied piano. As a working mother of two, Lauren loves that the heartbeat of the company is making good music, and looking after our families. “At home, we love to turn up the music and have a dance party at any chance we can!” Lauren enthuses, adding that her favourite thing to do in life is hang out with her husband and two young children, Goldie and Jed.
QUICK QUIZ:
Biggest advice for those looking to break into the industry?
Be willing to start anywhere, doing anything. You are not above doing any task! Still to this day I’m more than happy to do the coffee run one minute while the next minute I am discussing album titles or PR problems or giving my opinion on a new song.
Be kind to everyone you come across.
Keep your motives pure.
Keep loving music.
People are more important than anything else.
Is there anything that someone told you when you were younger that still sticks with you today?
There is always going to be someone better at the job than you, more qualified, prettier… all of it. But no one is YOU.
I have only ever found myself in roles because of the relationships I have built by just being me and trying to be the best version of myself I can be – and working very hard always. In moments when I get insecure about my skills, I try to still my mind, find myself again, reset, and get on with it.
In one word sum up touring ?
Adrenaline
In one word sum up management ?
Everything
How do you cope with the crazy hours and unusual demands ?
First and foremost I have an extraordinary husband who supports me and our kids to no end. I also have a mother who drops everything to help with the kids, and very supportive friends who are always there for me. I certainly need a village to be able to do this job with children.
It also helps me to just take one day at a time, and as a day to day manager to make sure I have the week pretty much advanced as best as I can, and then hone in on the next day in great detail, and then everything comes after that. It’s a constant juggle – if I need to be with the kids in the afternoon, or work on the weekend, I’ll finish up my work after bedtime. Some weeks I am home more and can somehow manage the school drop-offs and pick-ups, and some weeks I don’t get home before bedtime – it’s give and take always. There is no such thing as work life balance.
All in all, it really comes down to the fact I have a great supportive work team full of parents and caring people, and we all want it to work for each other. None of us claim to be perfect, and we take that pressure off ourselves. We give everything we possibly can every day, and as long as the job gets done, we all make it work – our team is a village of its own and we hold each other up amidst the ebs and flows of this constantly moving beast. Some days we cope, and some days we don’t!! As long as we keep laughing, we are golden.
What’s the best backstage area you have had to set up ?
Even though I have been on tours in some capacity my whole life, I haven’t really set up that many backstage areas. In our twenties, my husband and I used to tour with an artist in the USA and those were super fun days: me and my bestie setting up the merch table! Honestly, it was not glamourous at all, but those were some of the best years of my life. There we were – two best friends setting up and selling merch in every venue in every US state, while our husbands were making great music together on stage. And ZERO mother guilt for not being home with the kids (if only I appreciated this then!) SO. MUCH. FUN.
Best show you’ve been to?
I have been to a thousand shows, but one of my fondest is Coldplay Mylo Xyloto tour, 2012 in Sydney. That night has never left me. Also, I didn’t know it at the time but I was also pregnant with our first child, Goldie… so she was with us too.
