Editor’s Note: Senem Selimi will host a special Spring Passion party this Friday 11 May at Tora Nisantaşı. More details can be found via the official event.
For those who have attended a Senem Selimi event, it’s safe to say the host supreme has left a lasting impression. Greeting all guests individually, her enthusiastic and bubbly personality immediately stands out, making one feel welcome and setting the tone for an evening of vibrant festivities. Having invested herself in party organization for the last several years, extending on her role as the moderator of one of the city’s most active Facebook groups, Senem has had plenty of time to perfect her craft and curate a memorable atmosphere in every event she takes on. With themes ranging from her wildly successful annual Halloween parties, to seasonal affairs like her Sophisticated September and Winter Nights parties, to the more free form such as Chit Chat Nights and her Red Carpet Party – each occasion brings with it a unique program at a worthwhile destination. Frequently featuring talented live performers, some of the city’s most popular DJs, an impressive prize pool for regularly appearing raffles, a carefully tailored guest list, and plenty of appropriate ambiance – it’s clear Senem Selimi events prominently stand out in Istanbul’s nightlife landscape.
Beyond her role as a party guru, Senem brings her passion and amicability to all her pursuits, ranging from building on her ever-growing network of Istanbul-based internationals and locals, her work in animal advocacy, her budding role as a social media influencer, to her time spent writing for a number of local publications. As Senem takes a new step forward into the world of acting and cinema, we thought we’d best hurry to catch up with her and document her meaningful work in event organization.
What brought you into event organizing?
I used to live a very business centered life, working in textiles for several years. The corporate life of nine to six eventually made me realize I wasn’t into that type of typical social life. During a period while I was unemployed, I participated in some nice organizations that included expats and internationals, many of who were involved in corporate. My friend told me about a website where I could reach other corporate people, network, and share my CV. I realized they were hosting events and people were allowed to organize their own, so I tried hosting one. My first event was a singles night – it was a lock and key concept, that you wouldn’t find in Turkey at the time. It was at a small bar in Taksim, no longer open, that could host around 70 people. I decorated with wooden doors and that sort of thing and as soon as we opened, more than 100 people showed up. It was a lot of fun. I was taking photos at the bar because we didn’t even have a professional photographer back then.
I realized then that I seriously enjoy doing events. In university and high school, I never enjoyed events like that. I wasn’t a party girl. I was always focused on sports and school. After this event, I realized this was my passion. So then, I decided to start another event. I founded the Istanbul Expats & Internationals Group on Facebook – and since then have gone on to moderate several others – and started to build my network from scratch using Facebook. I didn’t even have a photo album to start with. Even with journalists, I found them through Facebook. My strategy was to find the right people and have them lead me to other quality people. If your starting point is from the top, then the flow continues like that. I tracked down journalists and wrote them introducing myself. I basically used my corporate experience and incorporated it into this freelance business.
What followed after discovering your new passion?
Eventually, after working these two jobs at the same time, I left corporate life altogether. I realized that I am not a person who can work in corporate forever. I learned I like to lead my own business, meet people, and start projects from scratch on my own. I’ve loved it and enjoyed every part of it. What makes it so special is that you meet so many great people. These connections are so valuable. Whenever I need help with something, I can just look into my network.
After all this, I also wanted to do interviews and get involved in journalism. So aside from this, by chance I started writing for Milliyet and Daily Sabah. That passion was also great, but for time management reasons I had to leave it behind for a while. At the moment I’m just doing interviews for Maxi Haber, so I still get to keep the passion burning.
Also, now as a new pursuit, I started acting. My first film will be in cinemas, it’s Şahan Gökbahar’s Kayhan film. It was my first experience and I’m part of the main cast. So now my main goal is to continue as the ‘Party Guru’ that Klass Magazine nicknamed me as, and also try out being an actress.
Could you share just a bit more about the Facebook group you founded?
Sure, it started six years ago which is when I got into party organizing. I curate every member one by one. I believe in protecting my network and making sure everyone can be comfortable. From here, we host about one event per month. We also like to cooperate with other organizations like you at Yabangee. It’s important to work with other like-minded groups and future oriented groups. For almost six years, I’ve been working with the same people.
What distinguishes your event organization from other event organizations out there?
On the venue side, I place a lot of value in PR. I do press releases and make sure my event gets published in newspapers, well-known online publications and magazines that go into print like Klass. I also invite celebrities to my events to put more value in them. Then afterwards, I also do PR with these publications. Through this, a lot of people learn about the venue.
I also work with sponsors on a barter level, usually very well known companies within their field. So for example, special design jewelry in silver and gold, dentists, plastic surgery, aesthetic clinics, etc. They offer prizes for a lottery we have towards the end of the night and these prizes are usually worth well over 500 TL. I try to find my sponsors according to that. Everyone likes to win prizes and it gives them a challenge.
Plus, we try to bring in well known names for entertainment. 90% of the music at our events is foreign, with the rest being popular Turkish songs.
What would you say your target audience is?
People who are open-minded. Usually post-grads over the age of 25 who typically are working in white-collar jobs. Especially internationals, expats, and consulate workers living in Istanbul. Of course there is the qualified, white-collar Turkish crowd as well. Of course younger post-grads are also welcome and in general everyone is at least bilingual.
Could you tell us about the themes and how you choose them?
First, I pick the venue – usually on the European side. Based on the venue, I choose a concept that suits the space. For example, I brought the Godfather event theme to Istanbul at Rixos Pera. Underneath the hotel there was a really nice venue. I brought a live band and dance performers with this Godfather concept. People dressed up to the decade. I brought little presents for the guests. For ladies, hats of the era, and for men the more classic striped hats. I invited some guys from university with fake guns, jackets, and cigars to stand at the door. I did the theme twice actually and would like to do it again when I find a suitable venue. The names are always different. I have a professional designer in the States take care of the flyers and do my best to keep it different.
What are some of the challenges behind the scenes of event organization?
Well, of course, you carry a lot of responsibility on your back. People trust you and they trust you’ve chosen a good venue. When I choose a place, I don’t just check the look of the place. I check the prices and try to organize a special menu to protect my network. I make legally binding deals that ensure they’re not in a position to con anyone. I make sure the music and performers are quality and confirmed properly. I meet with the DJ to talk about what my crowd likes. Music keeps people enjoying the night and allows people to enjoy a relaxing environment to meet people, network, and create business opportunities.
Once you have people’s trust, you have to do your best to keep it.
Of course, there’s also stress. For every event, I have goosebumps. I believe that the goosebumps mean I still have my passion.
Do you have a favorite story from one of your events?
Of course! I have been organizing the biggest and best Halloween parties in Istanbul for six years now. I bring in big sponsors like Dream Turk, and bring makeup artists and hairdressers. One year, we were having a “Drag Me to Hell” theme at Hall in Taksim. It was a really nice crowd, around 900 people in a really old church. I had brought an opera artist to perform and it was a really big success. At some point, backstage, I was talking on the phone very energetically and totally didn’t see the staircase ahead of me. I fell down a set of nine stairs. I somehow flew, I don’t know how. Since I’m into sports, I think I managed to not hurt myself. I found myself lying on the floor telling the person I would have to call them back. It was a depo and it was so dark, nobody would have found me. I think I was being protected somehow and I continued like nothing happened. Even my hair was OK. [Laughter]. A miracle in a church on Halloween.
Any closing thoughts or word on future ambitions?
My priority is always the happiness of my friends. I have so many international and local friends, I don’t differentiate, and I love them all. I want to do my best to guide them to the right place. For example, if I see a restaurant or group trying to con someone, I use this viral network to confront them.
I’d love to do more concept events, like our Burlesque events which we’ve hosted in the past. I’d like to do a huge one, sort of like a festival. I want to continue being a Party Guru as long as my health permits, and also hope to continue to explore this new world of being an actress.
To keep up with Senem Selimi and her events, be sure and follow her official Facebook group, Istanbul Expats & Internationals, as well as keep up with her on Instagram.
All images courtesy of the interviewee.
