Beyond Booking, in collaboration with Paragon, The Bunker and The Lot Radio, presents the inaugural Beyond the Dancefloor, a free public convening exploring sustainability, power, and accountability in New York City nightlife.

Taking place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 12–6 PM at Paragon in Brooklyn, the event brings together artists, cultural workers, legal advocates, and industry leaders for a series of conversations addressing the structural realities shaping nightlife and cultural production today.

The program features three panels:

Transparency & Power in Nightlife Economics

This panel examines financial transparency, labor equity, and the economic structures that shape nightlife ecosystems. Speakers will explore how artists, venues, and promoters navigate compensation, sustainability, and access within an evolving cultural landscape. Panelists: Michelle Erfer (Beyond Booking), Alyce Currier (Lychee), John Barclay (Paragon, BNCC) Moderated by Kourtney Woodward (Rose Kourts)

Autonomy vs. Access: Structuring Cultural Work

Focusing on the balance between independence and institutional support, this discussion addresses how cultural workers build sustainable careers while maintaining artistic and organizational autonomy. Panelists will reflect on governance, funding, and pathways for equitable participation in cultural production. Panelists: Bryan Kasenic (Beyond Booking), Michael Falco-Felderman (QNCC), Rafaela P. Varela (Brooklyn Legal Services) Moderated by Ash Casselman (Beyond Booking)

Beyond the Call-Out: Conflict, Harm & Resolution in Nightlife

This panel explores approaches to accountability, mediation, and restorative practices within nightlife and creative communities. Participants will discuss strategies for addressing harm while fostering resilience, trust, and collective responsibility. Panelists: Andy Izenson (Diana Adams Law & Mediation), Cedric Antonio (Saint Panic) Moderated by Kourtney Woodward (Rose Kourts)

Designed as an accessible public forum, Beyond the Dancefloor invites artists, organizers, and audiences to engage in collective reflection and knowledge-sharing across disciplines and communities. The convening creates space for critical dialogue around labor equity, governance, funding, and accountability, contributing to the long-term sustainability of New York City’s cultural ecosystem.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Free with RSVP. Seating is limited.