Making It in the Music Industry

Join Manningham Council and Music Victoria for a deep dive on all things making it in the music industry with a panel featuring Caitlin Reilly (Founder & Director, In Cahoots), Ella Thompson (Musician) and Juliette Lalli (Live Music Curator & Artist Manager).

Learn more about booking and pitching for gigs, building an audience, setting yourself up as a working musician and more.

The workshop will also be an opportunity for Manningham musicians and music workers to network and learn more about the upcoming opportunities in the area.

Learn more about our speakers below.

Caitlin Reilly (Founder & Director, In Cahoots)

Caitlin is the Founder & Director of In Cahoots, a studio specialising in marketing for Australias independent music and arts communities. She plans and delivers campaigns across social media, paid advertising, content, and email underpinned by branding frameworks that give creative projects clarity, consistency, and longevity.Her work spans grassroots initiatives through to large-scale projects, with partnerships including Northcote Theatre, Untitled Group, When Pigs Fly Festival, and OK Motels. By pairing structured brand strategy with hands-on campaign delivery, Caitlin helps independent projects achieve results in the moment while building sustainable presence for the future.She is also undertaking an MBA at Melbourne Business School, where her fieldwork explores organisational strategy, leadership, and cultural economics applying business frameworks to the lived realities of the independent arts sector.

Ella Thompson (Musician)

Ella Thompson is a musician & songwriter whose music traverses the landscape of classic & contemporary soul. Ella's lyrics explore themes of belonging, both to the microscopic & the universal. She invites listeners to contemplate the vast expanse of human emotion and the interconnectedness of all things. Ella grew up listening & learning from Australian soul Icon Renee Geyer Since then she has toured with the likes of Mark Ronson and supported artists such as Jalen Ngonda, Lee Fields, Thee Sacred Souls & Angel Olsen. The last 18 months has brought a prolific hot streak of releases, with 2023's breakout Domino, and follow-up long-player Ripple on the Wing out on Hope Street Recordings.

Ella's collaborators are at the forefront of Naarm's soulful DIY nest, featuring members of Surprise Chef & Karate Boogaloo alongside other local soul luminaries. The live show is a hypnotic, hard-hitting presentation of Ellas voice propelled by a oh-so tasteful rhythm section and blazing horns - delivering a unique sweet & spooky soulful experience.Originally from Warrandyte, Ella is now based in Naarm (Melbourne).

Ripple on the Wing is a soulful masterpiece RRRAustralias Queen of Sweet Soul Miss Goldie (PBS)One of the most creative individuals Ive heard in a very long time Lee FieldsA true find a sound that could live in any of the last five decades Ones to Watch UK

Juliette Lalli (Live Music Curator & Artist Manager)

Juliette is a Live Music Curator, Creative Producer, Artist Manager and Booking Agent with over 10 years experience producing and programming live music events, curating festivals, booking venues and supporting artists to build creative and fulfilling experiences for their communities. She has worked with Sampa The Great, Julia Jacklin and Yothu Yindi and with iconic international indie artists such as Bahamadia, W.I.T.C.H and MJ Lenderman as curator for Brunswick Music Festival and Grampians Music Festival. Juliette currently works for Blossom Rot Records, is a lecturer in the Live Music Business program at Industri Education and has her own booking agency, Shows by Jet where she represents EGGY, Quality Used Cars, Jess Ribeiro and Bad Bangs.

Venue: Warrandyte RSL

113 Brackenbury St, Warrandyte VIC 3113

Time: 6-8pm

Date: September 30 2025

Access information:

For detailed, up-to-date information on Warrandyte RSL accessibility, contact them directly by phone at(03) 9844 3567

For all other access enquiries please email [email protected] or call 9840 9444