Last August, I announced Let Them Cook with my friend Kyle (aka Kadiliman). After 5 months, we've already made 6 events, got almost 80 DJs on our talent pool, and booked 13 of them for our main events. In terms of numbers and vibes, we did not expect what we're able to achieve in such a short amount of time.
I wanna take this time to look back on all four events, reflect on highlights and learnings, just like what I joke immediately after an event is done. "Okay, what went well? What went wrong? What can we improve on?"
Note: These are my opinions and thoughts, and does not necessarily mean it is also Kyle's. We discuss and make decisions about Let Them Cook together.
Objectives Met
On our bio, we'll always say that we let new DJs (or possibly bedroom DJs) have their first gig, and experienced DJs experiment (like trying a different genre they usually don't play. If they are also a producer, try out songs or remixes they've made but haven't really put out yet.) We're really surprised to know that we're able to check those boxes immediately.
We've had four DJs tell us that our event was their first gig (not "one of their first gigs", but their ACTUAL first gig), and one tell us that they were excited because the music they're planning to play isn't usually the ones they play because they usually get booked to play more pop songs (some not even remixes).
We legit mention this in our pre or post-prod calls and just be in awe over the fact. I hope that we're able to continue being a safe space for everyone to just cook.
Vibes and diversity of genres
The vibes were more than great during "Food Poisoning" (a Let Them Cook x Lasunan fusion) and "Just Jam" (our open deck event last November). It's in these two events I really felt like people are starting to pay attention to LTC.
I think that more people attended Just Jam compared to any of our previous events at the time, even though the crowd was pretty much just the DJs who signed up and their friends. Something about the event felt intimate and special. On our collab with Lasunan, I personally don’t think that we pulled in a lot of people, but it was super interesting to see that more people were focused on the DJ booth during the latter half of the day. During Kyle’s closing set everybody was just cheering and dancing.
Another thing that has been really interesting for me to witness was how diverse the genres of music are being played in our events. It’s great for me to see because it is how we wanted LTC to sound. We’re all about encouraging DJs to play whatever songs they want, so it just makes sense that our events doesn’t have one sound, and that attendees should NOT expect to only hear one genre of electronic music.
Our Fowl Play event at Ugly Duck featured house, hip-hop, ambient, hyperpop, and an open-format set. Our Food Poisoning event featured UK Garage, house, techno, indie R&B, Latin house, pop edits, hyperpop, and budots. Our Just Jam event just strongly showed that diversity too with around 10 DJs cooking.
Where my head is at
2024 has been fun with each event going crazier than the previous one, but there are things I have in mind that could even make LTC bigger. I hope that we’re able to do all of these, but also, no pressure!
The special sauce
First off, I think that we still need something that sets us apart from the other parties / raves. From the looks of it, a difference among the some I’m aware of is the genre of electronic music being played. One is focused on house, one on techno, etc. For LTC, it could be our diverse roster of genres for each event (making each edition not sound like the others), but that could be hard in terms of building an audience. Most likely, not everyone is as open as we are in listening to different genres of electronic music, and that’s okay! And so I look at other things I’ve experienced in the few events that I’ve been to.
Two notable events that I’ve been to have something special about them that makes them stand out. One is a queer rave that provides a safe space for LGBT+ people like me, and the other one is a convergence of music and visual art. I think that looking beyond the music is what can probably set us apart, and without looking any further, the concept of food is pretty much right there for us to take.
Incorporating food more to our events just makes so much sense because it is such a universal connection amongst people. Personally, I don’t know yet how we’re going to pull it off, but the idea of having food merchants and/or a potluck table has been on my mind. Food shouldn’t stop at our costumes, wordplays, visuals, etc., it should actually be seen in our events as well!
…the business side of things…
For some transparency, the money used in making our events usually come from our partners. This was the case for “Fowl Play” at Ugly Duck and “Food Poisoning” with Lasunan. Majority of the money we get go to paying talent fees, while the rest go to allowances (to cover food and transportation) for the team. To be honest, it doesn’t cover other costs that we’ve already made to start build LTC (ex. our huge logo sintra board, and our Pro Soundcloud account), but we’re super grateful for this kind of support already.
One of the things that I have in mind that we have to actually work on this year is to start generating more revenue. This way, we can continue to build on LTC like pay for the renewal of our Soundcloud Pro, and even make our own events more independently. To do this, I’m personally thinking of doing two things: merch and ticketed events. I’m hoping that the profits of the merch selling can help in making our first ticketed event, which may start the cycle for our future events as well. I hope that once we introduce ticketed events, we’ve already found our special sauce to make it even more valuable to our supporters.
Another idea that has been on my mind is to have a “tip box” on our events. Our events are usually free or a part of another event, but any financial support for LTC would be great too. We’ll probably do this soon (even online), but if you’re eager to send in support, head over to the “Wanna support?” section below.
Going delulu
We’ve only been through a humble few months for LTC, but our events just keep on getting crazier every time. With what I’ve already mentioned in the previous parts, we’re also being really ambitious.
On top of independently-made events, we also want to be part of events that we’ve been a fan of for a while. One of our goals (and this is legit written on an internal doc) is to be a part of events like Hola, Escolta!, Fete De La Musique, and Purveyr Fair (the area of the fair with food merchants had great vibes even though it was hot, so I imagined having our own lil stage there.) We want to be a part of the programming of such events, or have our own pocket stage in a bigger music festival or event. If you’re an event organizer and would like to have LTC be part of it, do let us know (more info below!)
Speaking of being a part of an event, I personally want to be back at Lasunan. I just feel like our level of chaos are just so aligned, that our Food Poisoning with them made so much sense. I wouldn’t be surprised if we do it again. I mean… some of the DJs from our collab (including me) will be playing on their next event this February 16, so a relationship has been cooking after our event with them.
Wanna support?
If what you’ve seen from us or what you’re hearing sounds great and you’d like to help out in whatever form, do let us know! These are the ways I think you can help out, but you’re pretty much not limited to:
Share your time and skills (ex. photography, videography, social media, production assistance, etc. etc. etc.) by being a part of our adhoc team that we can reach out to!
Side Note: Personally, it’s better to just let us know what you wanna do / offer so that we can just tap you whenever we see something fit for you.
Donate to LTC so we can be more independent in making our events!
We’ll send in payment information when you reach out.
Have LTC as part of your event’s programming, or let us do an event at your venue!
Right now, I think we’re more likely to say yes if the offer is like our previous events wherein budgets will be covered by your event or venue.
We are also more than open to help you look for DJs for your event / venue without the whole LTC-kind of production. The goal of LTC is to give DJs a gig, so if you need help that way, we’ll be more than happy to help you.
I might write another post about this certain topic in the near future, but you don’t have to wait for that if ever you want to help out. Just simply send us what you have in mind via Instagram DMs (@lettehemcook.ph) or email (letthemcook.ph@gmail.com)!
Thank yous
For an event series that just started last August, the trajectory of Let Them Cook has been awesome and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of a lot of people. Let me take this time to give some shout outs / thank yous to everyone who have been a part of our journey.
First off, to Kyle, for being my other half. I legit don’t know where LTC will be without you. Sounds like things are about to get crazier from here, and I just know we’ll reach greater heights because I have you.
To Comuna, Ugly Duck, and Mono, for having us do our little event in their space. It’s an honor to have our event in your spaces.
To Lasunan, for having our chefs play for their event, and for just being aligned with our vision.
To all the DJs that signed up on our form and the DJs that have played on any of our events, for blessing our ears with your personal taste in music.
To Isha, Ian, and Whenzy, for capturing these special moments in our lives.
To Manila Community Radio, for letting us share a taste of our events through the station. Personally, it fulfills my lowkey dream of being a show producer for Apple Music Radio, so it means a lot.
To everyone who attended any of our events, especially the regulars, for showing up for the DJs and LTC in general. I hope we’ve given you a great time.
To basically everyone who has played a role in our journey, no matter how big or small, for helping us build our little space in what I highly think is the next generation of the nightlife scene. That is how big I see the possibilities are for Let Them Cook, and that is also how grateful I am to you.
Epilogue: A recap of our January 2025
I wrote the outline for this post during the last weeks of 2024, intending to post what you've read before the year ended. January 2025 has already ended, with its last weeks giving us a crazier taste of what's possible for LTC.
Just Jam 2, our open-deck event, where it felt even more like a house party compared to the first edition. The week after, we did a collab event with Club Euphoria for their club night at Hoesik (Euphoria Fridays). In those two events, there were a lot of happenings.
LTC alum, arigoggles, has been a witness of our growth (she’s been to all events as of writing) to the point that it made sense to have her as part of our team.
Our selected DJ for the Club Euphoria collab, Ko BB, had our event as his first gig (and first club gig). During the collab event, he got booked for the next week as well. Kyle, Ari, and I went to that gig and it gave graduation vibes, and I personally felt like a proud dad.
Speaking of our collab event with Club Euphoria, we had a B4B (yes, 4 DJs B2B2B2B-ing) and I was able to DJ inside Hoesik’s kitchen (a dream Kyle and I had of doing probably since the beginning), on top of food-themed drag performances.
I am still in awe with what happened in those two events, but I want to take this time to highlight the Club Euphoria collab. I personally felt so supported, which I did not expect because these are people who I personally have not met / became close with. It just baffles my mind how a group of people can just understand what we want to do and what it means to us, without even that close of a relationship yet.
They were the ones who pitched the B4B,the DJ set in the kitchen, and the food-themed drag performances, as a way to really make an impact when introducing LTC to their crowd. They did about 90-95% of the work, while LTC just put up an open call for DJs and forwarded the list of interested DJs to them (selecting Ko BB was agreed upon by both parties). We legit just showed up with our lil chef outfits (…is that us in drag, technically?), and were surprised to see the Club Euphoria team with aprons on as well. We even got financial support from them after the event, which is so significant knowing the expenses we’ve already made, ON TOP of covering talent fees.
I know that we are worthy of support, but I did not expect it to come from a group that is just new to my radar (especially us to them). To be shown that amount of support from them? Crazy. I just hope that while it felt like we did not do a lot, we were able to bring value to them. Feedback was that the team was super happy with everything, and I am still in denial / choosing not to believe that for IDK reason.
Another batch of thank EUs…
To Edgy who invited us on the spot when she joined our 2025 Planning back in December (and to think she was just invited to the planning last minute, lmao.) This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for that invite that came out of nowhere.
To Earvin, the founder of Club Euphoria, for letting us cook. Real talk: I wrote your name as someone who I wanted to invite for LTC to DJ in because you joined the same DJ workshop that Kyle and I took. Who would’ve thought this is how we’d work together?!
To everyone at Club Euphoria and Hoesik (the queens, the team, the management), we really felt loved and supported. We are truly grateful.
While writing this epilogue, it has really just been me trying to process what has happened. I feel like I’m discounting the amount of support everyone has given us, and it makes me feel weird because I truly am grateful.
Personally, there are thoughts, questions, and realizations I have that I did not include on this post, which magnified my emotions about the whole Club Eu collab, but I wouldn’t want to include it because it makes the ending of this post be on a sour note.
I guess I’ll end with this: I’m super thankful for the support everyone has given us. With our ambitious asses getting ready for the rest of 2025 (and by the looks of it, the next months are about to get even crazier), we’re gonna need even more support, and I hope we don’t disappoint.
"We will dance to our own song, and whirl around.
All you children gather around. We will dance together."
- "All You Children" by Jamie xx feat. The Avalanches
Anyways, that’s about it for this post. If you think this was interesting, consider collecting this post! It can help fund this event too!
Or if you want to just get the latest blog posts from me, consider subscribing! You’ll get an email every time I put out a new post (and I rarely do so, so it’s not spammy, lol).
