Scenestar

"The Scenestar Dozen" is where we feature fascinating culture cultivators. Meet Sharyn Goldyn who oversees booking for School Night at Bardot in Hollywood – 

What is the best and worst thing about your profession?

I love being able to book artists before they blow up and I love standing in the back of the venue and watching the crowd fall in love with whoever is on stage. A lot of people say the music industry or Los Angeles is full of “fakes" but I feel a real sense of community at School Night. The crowd is always full of a good mix of musicians, fans and industry and there’s nothing pretentious about it: everyone is just excited to see a new band.

The worst part is my inbox never sleeps.

What is something you didn’t know about Los Angeles that you recently found out or realized?

It’s a $25 Lyft ride from Silver Lake to Culver City.

Where is your favorite place to eat in LA and why?

Ostrich Farm in Echo Park. The food is really good and locally sourced and the ambient lighting is always in your favor.

What was the last good book you read that you would recommend?

I think everyone should read Hunger by Roxane Gay, it will rip you apart. She’s one of the most important writers of this generation (and if you’re a lazy reader, at least follow her on Twitter for her amazing clapbacks at trolls). I’m mostly only reading women writers these days.

Have you ever seen a work of art that stopped you in your tracks?

There’s an absolutely beautiful marble statue called "Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss" of an angel embracing a woman from behind and they are almost kissing. I saw it at the Louvre this summer and had to look up the story behind it immediately. It’s inspired by the Greek/Roman myth that the goddess Venus was jealous of a mortal named Psyche’s beauty, so she sent Cupid down to earth to shoot her with an arrow so that Psyche would fall in love with an ugly monster. Instead, Cupid accidentally shot himself with the arrow and fell in love with her (Psyche) instead.

What is the most remarkable movie you’ve ever seen?

Can I pick a TV show? I watch TV way more than movies and I think The Leftovers was an absolutely phenomenal show. TV writing is so good these days certain shows feel like reading a book. The writing, the acting, the theology. Every episode felt like an entire movie. 

Name your pop-culture guilty pleasure.

Grey’s Anatomy. I can’t believe I’m still watching it.

What is the most underrated album you’ve heard?

Who do you think is the best rockstar who ever lived?

What is the scariest thing you’ve ever experienced?

Trump being elected.

Where is one place that someone can visit in LA for free that is a must-experience?

Not to self-advertise but School Night is a really rad free event to bring a friend who is new to town or visiting because the music is always good and the vibes are always good. I also love the Self Realization Center in the Palisades, which is really beautiful and tranquil. Oh, and any bookstore: The Last Bookstore, Stories, Book Show, Skylight, and so on.

What is the weirdest thing about LA?

That nobody walks anywhere.

Sharyn Goldyn oversees booking for School Night, a tastemaker live-music series in Hollywood which was started by KCRW DJ Chris Douridas and Matt Goldman 8 years ago. School Night is every Monday at Bardot, it's free with RSVP!