Inside Audio Spice's Experimental Approach to Community Events

When audio producer Vivien Schütz moved from Germany to New York City, she was searching for her people. After meeting producer Max Wasserman at On Air Fest, they decided to build a space for audio makers that felt nothing like traditional networking — and Audio Spice was born. Three years later, Audio Spice has grown into one of New York City's most beloved audio communities, hosting free, sound-focused gatherings for creatives across the city. Their magic lies in their variety, as no two events are the same. They've played audio trivia, smashed piñatas filled with creative prompts, danced in the dark, hosted community skill shares, and so much more. And they've done it all on a zero-dollar budget. In this episode, JT sits down with Vivien and her co-organizer Laura Rojas Aponte to hear what it takes to build a creative community from scratch. They get into how they secure venues, navigate unpredictable attendance, and figure out what sustainability looks like for a volunteer-run collective. Relevant links: Learn more about Audio Spice here: https://www.instagram.com/audio_spice/⁠  Follow JT on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠