Jenn Salvadori spends most of her time running The Glass House Concert Hall in Pomona, California, but she also gets to bring her love of records into the mix through the Record Safari pop-up record store at Coachella and other festivals and events. Coachella Record Safari is an extension of the Los Angeles brick-and-mortar shop started by Alex Rodriguez, Record Safari LA.

From the shop in Los Angeles to Coachella Record Safari and other festival pop-ups, Jenn helps take the digging experience outside the traditional record store walls and directly to music fans allowing them to discover something new, or to find that record they've been hunting for between sets. We caught up with Jenn to learn more about her path in the industry, and what it's like bringing a record store to the festival crowd.

When she's not working, Jenn is spending time with her dog. "My dog is the apple of my eyes". Aside from her pup she studies astrology and tarot, and hermetic arts pretty intensely. She also a roller dancer and used to teach dance. "I love to move my body and tickle my brain."

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

I mean, it’s music right? Who doesn’t want to work with music if music is something they deeply love? Music has saved me my entire life. I grew up on MTV. I used to sit in front of it and wait for Billy Idol videos to come on when I was six, so I could master his iconic lip curl.

Now I can only do it one way and it’s the opposite direction of how he does it. At six I didn’t understand the whole mirroring concept. It only seems fair to devote my days to the thing that rescued me time and time again. It’s a reciprocated energy exchange. Magic.

What is a day in the life like?

Chaotic Glorious. I’ll keep it to festival days since we’re talking vinyl. There’s never a dull moment. It’s constant motion. Everything is loud and colors are sharper than usual. You have to be exceptionally good with time management and multi-tasking. Luckily, I am.

There’s always going to be something that someone needs and I am there to make sure they get it, hopefully with a laugh squeezed in somewhere.

In your opinion what has been your favorite / the coolest thing you've worked on?

This is so hard. Prrrroooooobably Desert Trip. What some people might have referred to as “Oldchella”, the nerve! It was also one of the hardest things I’ve ever worked on logistically, but what an incredibly special event. Those artists all together in the desert in October of 2016. Just … magical.

I had my birthday during the week between the two show-weekends and we were working on site. The staff decorated our office trailer and sang to me at catering. It was so cute and wholesome. The whole tent started singing. It was a very special event. I hope we get to do something like that again.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

I don’t find any part of my job particularly “difficult”, as lame as that may sound. I’m built for this. The only thing I would say is that it can be very tiring and energetically demanding. But I catch up on that later. Recharging the batteries is key, and I am diligent about doing so.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

Take the job that seems small and make yourself seen. You don’t have to wear yourself down to the bone but show who you are.

Be persistent. Call back if you haven’t heard from someone. Employers are spread thin. Sometimes they can’t make the call but you’ll show up at just the right time when they need someone. Take the job that seems small and make yourself seen. You don’t have to wear yourself down to the bone but show who you are. Individuality gets noticed and it counts.

Are you a vinyl collector yourself? What drew you to it? If not, why the vinyl industry?

Yes, but for actual listening purposes not just to say I have the rarest first edition of <insert cool record of your choosing here>. I have about 2,000 records that surround me at home. I know that pales in comparison to many collectors out there, but I think it counts.

I’ve always been drawn to the ritual of records, the sound, the specificity of choosing the right one for the day and my mood. These are the reasons why I choose records. It’s not an investment strategy for me. It’s love.

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.

The colored vinyl thing. Oooof. Don't get me wrong, I love color. I find it alarming that we’re seeing the same discs dropped in twelve colors and using those colors as marketing tools to get the same consumer to buy the same noises just in a different color. For money. Oooofff. That also backs up pressing plants so smaller artists can’t get their sounds pressed. It’s unnerving.

But… I am overjoyed to see the analog life making another comeback. I’m here for it. Unplug. I’m here for it. Go to your local record stores. Ask questions. Make friends.

Who has been influential to you and your growth as a professional in this industry? 

I would be a clown if I didn’t mention Alex Rodriguez (a.k.a. Record Safari). As far as the business goes, I knew nothing until I met him. Records? Music? I had plenty of experience with, but not the crate digging, passionately obsessed world of vinyl collectors.

Also Jon Halperin, who brought me into the festival side of things. He was who was working with Alex when these festival stores opened. He brought me in and showed me the ropes. From there I could sink or swim. I’m an excellent swimmer.

Anything else you want to share? If not, tell us what you're listening to right now: 

Cardinals. This whole Irish invasion that’s been going on has me in a chokehold. Fontaines DC, Kneecap, CMAT, Cardinals, NewDad, Sprints, Gurriers… I’m obsessed.