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How The LA Raver Turned TikTok Fame into a $100K Newsletter Business
Why Danielle Tudahl Chose beehiiv to Build Her Rave Empire
Kanishka Kumawat & Linda Hwang
November 6th, 2024
The hustle and bustle of Los Angeles (LA) are not confined to the beats of the relentless traffic or the swoosh of the winds.
In the City of Angels, the music literally never stops.
In this concrete jungle, creativity through music, also known as raves, aren’t just events—they’re spiritual awakenings with a heavy bass line.
You may be thinking Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) or Tomorrowland are the only raves happening in the world.
That’s a negative.
LA has some of the best events when it comes to raves, and we’re not just talking about abandoned warehouses in the Arts District or secret desert gatherings that would make Mad Max jealous.
LA’s rave scene is as diverse as its population.
But how do we find those unique events that not many know about?
Let’s face it: it’s down to who you know.
You’re in luck.
After reading this article, you’ll know who to follow for the deets.
Let’s meet the brains behind LA’s finest parties and see how she grew her community!
Table of Contents
TikTok to Inbox Comes the Birth of The LA Raver
Meet Danielle “Dani” Tudahl, the mastermind behind The LA Raver, a thriving newsletter business that's taking Southern California's party scene by storm.
What began as casual TikTok video recommendations for weekend raves, has blossomed into a comprehensive weekly guide for all the hottest events in SoCal.
Imagine neon lights, pulsating beats, and a community hungry for the next big party.
In the midst of it all, Dani found herself at a crossroads, with her TikTok followers constantly asking, "Where should we go this weekend?"
Little did she know, this simple question would kickstart a venture that has transformed her life and the entire SoCal rave community.
Fast forward to today, and Dani has orchestrated a symphony of success with The LA Raver. What started as a way to help her TikTok fam find the hottest parties has grown into a full-fledged business, complete with events, sponsorships, and a rapidly expanding media empire.
beehiiv Buzz Choice Platform
Danielle chose beehiiv as her newsletter platform because of its “professional appearance, ease of use, and popularity among other newsletters she followed.” Setting up her newsletter took only a couple of hours, and she's been a loyal user ever since.
In May 2023, armed with a passion for electronic music and a keen eye for the hottest events, Danielle launched The LA Raver, a newsletter designed to be the ultimate guide to the region's most electrifying parties.
“When I first started, I put 10 events in there,” reminisced Tudahl.
She was thrilled to see a thousand subscribers in less than a week, which motivated her to evolve her simple list of recommendations into a community staple.
Ravers no longer had to sift through endless event listings or rely on word-of-mouth. With The LA Raver, the best parties were just a click away.
Danielle continued, “You need to know someone in the scene who will tell you about [rave] websites. There are thousands of raves. For someone newer to the scene, you’re not going to know which ones you think are going to be fun.”
The LA Raver assists beginners and experienced ravers, stated Dani, "I'll star the more beginner-friendly ones. Now, I keep the list to 40 events."
From 0 to 1000 (Subscribers) in 60 Seconds
Danielle's journey from casual TikToker to newsletter mogul is nothing short of impressive.
As we heard, her newsletter quickly gained 1,000 subscribers, and within a year and a half, that number grew to 16,000 through word-of-mouth and social media promotion.
“I had maybe 20,000 followers on TikTok. I was posting little videos, “Here’s what I’m gonna go this weekend,” or “Here are my recommendations for raves.” I could only imagine how The LA Raver was gonna grow,” recalled Dani.
As the subscriber count increased, so did the opportunities.
Danielle found herself at the center of a growing ecosystem and has turned The LA Raver into a full-fledged business model. She has cleverly woven multiple revenue streams into her neon-tinged tapestry, and her newsletter now serves as her full-time job, paying better than her previous corporate gig.
“I started getting more opportunities in every other aspect of my life. It was mind-blowing! I started getting opportunities to start throwing events in real life.”
Raving About Revenue
As we mentioned, what started as a side project has become Danielle's full-time job.
In the past three months, The LA Raver has generated nearly $100,000 in revenue. "Crazy money! I'm literally setting up getting an accountant,” chuckled Dani.
This income comes from various sources, including event ticket sales, affiliate codes, newsletter ads, and sponsored content that began trickling in as The LA Raver's influence grew. “When people go to the event, there are signs on the wall. I have QR codes there. If you want to find more raves, subscribe [to newsletter]. All my staff are wearing t-shirts with the newsletter QR code on the back.”
Event ticket sales became her bread and butter.
“The events started increasing in attendance. Most of them have been around 1,000 people. People started seeing The LA Raver at the events,” said Danielle, looking back to the growth of The LA Raver.
Danielle continues, “They Googled [The LA Raver] and saw it was a newsletter. That has been just a really easy way to grow the newsletter, and honestly, it has just been a natural incline. I haven’t had to do much to grow the newsletter; it’s all happening just from the community. It’s been great!”
Why Trust Me
Linda Hwang has extensive experience in B2B marketing and previously worked at a renowned international facilities management company. There, she played a crucial role in creating effective content and social media marketing plans. Now, Linda is a marketing consultant who helps small businesses create compelling brand stories.
Danielle hasn't abandoned her social media roots.
She posts on TikTok 5-6 times daily and has grown an Instagram following of 40,000 for The LA Raver. These platforms work in tandem with the newsletter, creating a multi-faceted marketing approach.
"It's like a dream," Danielle muses. "Every event is not just a party; it's a chance to grow our community. People see the newsletter logo, they scan the code, and boom – we've got another subscriber."
The popularity and success of The LA Raver have helped Danielle build confidence in branching out into events.
“I threw an event. I brought in 40K of revenue just from this newsletter. Now, I can sell ads; if you want your event in the newsletter, I can charge XYZ.”
Danielle has found a great synergy between social media and leveraging those platforms to promote her newsletter.
“I have almost 40,000 followers on Instagram that helps promote the newsletter. I add social media links to the bottom of the newsletter. I’ll post on Reddit or Facebook, too [if I have time]. In the past two months, I’ve been experimenting with running Facebook ads.”
Sleep Is for the Weak
Running The LA Raver is no small feat.
Danielle often works until 6 AM on weekends for events, but the newsletter provides structure to her weekdays. This routine gives her an edge over competitors who might sleep in after late nights.
“I have staff that works on the newsletter; they work 9 to 5. I keep to a normal schedule during the week, and I get to post on my social media platforms.”
beehiiv doesn’t just help her streamline her templates. One of her favorite beehiiv features is the premium newsletter function.
“I love how easy it is to monetize and try different monetizing strategies,” mentioned Danielle. “Premium newsletter is like a side income. It’s a good way to connect with people who love The LA Raver. They are willing to pay extra for discount codes and other personalized information.”
We had to ask Danielle for advice from aspiring influencers.
Her tip?
Not to put all their eggs in one social media basket.
Danielle emphasizes the importance of bringing the audience to a platform they control, like a newsletter, where monetization is easier and more stable.
“For influencers, if they have a million followers and make zero dollars, they often ask me “How are you making money? I don’t get it.” I tell them my income is not through TikTok. Find a platform where monetization is on your side.”
She continued, "TikTok could vanish tomorrow, but my newsletter? That's mine. That's my direct line to my community.”
Looking to the Future in The LA Raver 2.0
As The LA Raver continues to grow, Danielle has big plans.
She's hiring staff to help with operations and marketing and aims to transform The LA Raver into a multi-faceted media company.
"I'm hiring writers, looking into expanded event coverage, and streamlining our operations," she explains.
Danielle continued, “Right now, if a festival wants to get involved with my newsletter, and they ask for me to come and cover it, it’s hard to go away for three days to the festival. In 2025, I plan to streamline everything, so I don’t have to run around like a crazy person trying to plan these events.”
“Also, growing different monetization and just different avenues of offering value in that regard with my newsletter,” ended Danielle.
Drop the Mic: Final Thoughts
Danielle's The LA Raver is a testament to the power of newsletters in building a sustainable business from an engaged social media following.
By leveraging beehiiv's user-friendly platform and consistently delivering value to her subscribers, she's created a thriving enterprise that goes beyond the digital realm and into real-life events.
"Sometimes I can't believe this is my life," Danielle admits with a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration in her eyes. "But then I think about all the connections we've made, all the incredible nights we've created. And I know this is exactly where I'm meant to be."
So, are you ready to step up to the decks and spin some content magic?
Don't let your ideas sit on the sidelines like wallflowers at a party. It's time to grab the mic, step into the spotlight, and let your voice be heard.
Hit that sign-up button and start your free trial today.
Trust us, this is one party you don't want to miss. After all, the early bird gets the glow sticks!
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