DIVER
SITY.

To better address an issue that has always been relevant yet consistently overlooked, we analyzed our bookings from early 2022 and arrived at a conclusion that - while perhaps not truly surprising - was nonetheless alarming. An analysis of the past year’s bookings revealed that a mere 16.3% of the external artists we booked were not cisgender men. Gender - whether cisgender or otherwise - had never been a criterion for booking decisions. Yet, by taking that stance, we were making things a bit too easy for ourselves. It is all too simple to avoid confronting a societal issue when the vast majority - nearly 93% - appears to be unaffected. Clearly, we failed to place sufficient emphasis on actively demanding diversity, and consequently, on fostering it within the scene. Simply having no issue with diversity isn't enough - not when you run a club. Clubs are vital hubs where diverse personalities, genders, faiths, and backgrounds converge - if not there, then where? We can no longer simply "take what is offered," even though we have always aspired to provide equal opportunities for everyone. We have certainly fallen short of that goal. For the majority, it is easy to step forward and claim opportunities, simply because they align with prevailing social norms. Because they don't ruffle feathers. Because that is simply the status quo. Yet, there are others who, as a numerical minority, continue to feel misunderstood and - all too often - face discrimination. We cannot expect these individuals to vocally demand platforms when their gender diversity is met with grumbling and hostility in society at large - and that is the best-case scenario. Simply adding a "diverse" option alongside "Ms." and "Mr." on a contact form isn't enough; diversity requires more than just paving the way bureaucratically - it must be actively lived, fostered, and listened to. And without a doubt, this needs to happen primarily within clubs. Clubs stand for cosmopolitanism, equality, and political and social education; they raise awareness of issues that often go overlooked and are by no means merely places for partying, getting high, and getting drunk. We therefore have a clear mandate to create the necessary spaces for this.

Our stated goal for 2022 was to significantly increase the proportion of externally booked artists who are not cisgender men - ideally aiming for a 50/50 split. This was certainly no easy task; for years, or even decades, the DJ scene was a male-dominated domain, with FLINTA* artists representing the exception rather than the rule. While times have changed and more FLINTA* artists are becoming active as DJs, agency rosters remained largely dominated by cisgender men. This latter point presents a challenge that cannot be resolved overnight, no matter how good the concepts are. You simply cannot increase the share of FLINTA* artists just because you want to. What is possible, however, is to create low-barrier opportunities and shift our focus. We paid particular attention to the latter, enabling us to raise the proportion of externally booked FLINTA* artists to 47.0%; by the following year, the ratio was nearly balanced.

In 2024, we failed to fully meet our target. The primary reason for this was an increase in collaborations where - admittedly - we did not pay sufficient attention to ensuring that externally organized programs were planned with diversity in mind. We have learned from this, and in the future, we will only enter into partnerships where the commitment to diversity matches our own.

Making mistakes is okay. Failing to learn from them is not.