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INTERVIEW: LAURIE MAHON
Interview introduction:
Good Loco is proud to introduce our interview series ’Shooting Stars’; a quick chat
with some of Sydney’s best visual arts creatives, who have been kind enough to
pass on some tips on where to start when looking to create some photo and video
magic.
Today we’re catching up with our very own Laurie Mahon, who is the co-director of
Good Loco. Laurie came up with the concept after a band shot a music video in his
Marrickville-based offices. Laurie also runs a slew of different businesses including
the likes of PBT, Bingo Loco and WhoCan. Laurie will walk us through his journey
setting up Good Loco, what the future may hold for the space and what separates
Good Loco from “a photo studio near me”.
Questions:
1. We’ve touched on a brief introduction, but could you please tell us a bit
more about what you do exactly across all your different ventures?
I have always tried to start businesses, from a young age of fourteen. From creating
music festivals to creating web based gaming services. Nothing really stuck until my
late twenties, and since then, it has been a wild ride. You have to fail, often many
times, until you are able to find that product or service that connects with customers.
So now, I have an amazing team around me working across my various businesses
whilst I still continue to create. My aim is to create businesses / services that
compliment my existing businesses. Good Loco came about from seeing a band use
the space for a film clip and my own need to create visual content for my own
marketing campaigns. It just made sense to do be able to create a photoshoot studio
near me to do this in house whilst offer an affordable and welcoming space for other
creatives.
2. Tell us more about the journey that led you to creating the Good Loco
space. After you had the initial idea, did the project morph into something
bigger and / or different than you initially planned?
To be honest, we definitely took on more than we initially thought. Not coming from a
videography and photography background, we had a lot to learn. It wasn’t about just
putting a big curved white wall up and calling it “a photo studio near me”, we had to
learn about all aspects and equipment. I do enjoy the process of learning about a
new industry / profession so the journey has been a positive one but not without its
migraines.
In many ways, it has become bigger than we originally planned. Initially it was a
professional photography studio for our own content and a cheap alternative for our
own clients, but it is slowly becoming a community of creatives which is so much
more exciting.
4. What are some of the key takeaways you’ve learned since launching the
project?
I’ve learnt that I really don’t like Cane Furniture. I think that’s the main one.
5. Now, for the most important question! When are you guys going to be
throwing some launch parties, and what can people expect at these events?
Once COVID restrictions ease, we’ll finalise the aesthetics of the space and on the
eve of launching live music events, we will be throwing a huge bash to celebrate
Good Loco.
6. What has been your favourite project to come through the space so far?
I really enjoy the head banging, semi-professional rock group called FANGZ. They
really impress all potential furniture buyers which is what I ultimately want out of the
space as we are about to launch our new business called ‘Our Furniture Sucks’.
7. There’s a photo studio near me that claims to be “the best professional
photography studios near me” but didn’t provide much info to validate this.
What is it that you think would make a claim like “the best professional
photography studios near me” justified?
Yes, there’s also a photoshoot studio near me that makes similar claims without
much info beyond that (maybe the photoshoot studio near me is the same one!).
I think it really comes down to the needs of the individual, but overall, I would say it’s
about quality service, gear, flexibility, affordability, but also the general vibe where
people can keep themselves entertained and relaxed.
We definitely have that in place with a lot of the recreational facilities featured, such
as a pool table, ping pong table, video games, a sweet Sonos system to blast tunes
on, board games and a constant fridge full of beers. That’s what I think makes us
one of the best professional photography studios near me!