Many have said either all good or all bad about this place… here’s my $ 0.02 Here Goes…… Location…. Location is always the most important thing for any place to make money! And the honest truth behind 98% of the world’s club owners is to MAKE or Launder money! The location of Privilege may kill it or Improve the area… I’m hoping it will improve the area… Only time will really tell! For this type of club I honestly would have chosen another location…. But for some reason I too have a fondness for that particular space… Over the recent years the highest point was prob. KGB. Décor & Layout…. Not much was re-designed size or blueprint-wise… I can see why so many people complained about it being too crowded…. With the Scale of talent they’ve brought so far it’s not a hard place to pack. It’s a rather small venue even with upstairs included… This is a double edge sword… which means the place will either be packed or a ghost-town. The dance floor is basically the same with more sound & lights.. the so called VIP area should have been done better (IMO).. Both bars are about the same size.. Upstairs was not open and I was not going to bother anyone just to see it (I doubt that much has changed). At Least the DJ booth is Finally in a GOOD spot… However I would suggest elevated monitors… Sound & Lights…. I think DJ’s will like the simple but effective DJ booth… The “now†club standard equipment was there < 2 Tech 1200’s and 2 CDJ-1000’s on aDJM-600 > The booth is definitely the best seat in the house it gives a good view of the entire room.. and the Vane one’s can even watch themselves in the Mirror ;oP The mirrored wall comes in handy making the room look bigger and full when people standing on the wall.. It also helps with the light too which are not bad…. For a small room it’s actually quite effective… However I would have installed a better fixture & control board (even if it meant fewer lights) and perhaps placement other than just the main floor & booth… The Light Jockey was’ O.K. but then not many have impressed me since The Girl the old 320 (sorry dear I forgot your name.. was it Michelle?) > Nice beefy EAW main room system.. The way the room is designed Bass resonates easily… the surrounding fillers were adequate.. as I walk to the back I see a Nice Rack! (No not a girl) but the Crest Pro Line Amp Rack (approx. 6-9 amps from the 4000 & 6000 series) and a few accessories (DSP enhancers, and crossovers) also finally in the right place. Interaction with Staff…. I actually showed up later than normal.... There was Not much of a crowd, to my surprise (and I’m sure it was unfortunately their surprise too). “Door Girl†was pretty cool not sure if she was genuinely nice or trying to cope with a slow night… Don’t think I know her but she easily let me & 3 others in.. (2 girls – 2 guys) past the velvet rope (but we were on John’s list, not the general clubs). Went inside and felt comfortable with the audio levels and vibe of the staff… they did look a little hungry for business.. so there was NO wait at all for a drink.. However they should cut the prices by 2-bucks (or team up with a liqueur vender for a monthly or weekly “all-night†special). Security was cool, I didn’t feel like I was a suspect (even though I do look suspect in some people’s eyes). I even was able to get into the DJ booth.. without too much of an ordeal…. About the DJ: John, cordial as usual, happily shook my hand and said Hi… we chatted a moment after another mix and I left him to continue his work… He was meticulously tweaking the sound to perfection all night long! (as he usually does)… He played a great set of familiar and forgotten Classic Techno & Techno House… late in the night he took a detour through South America with a few Hard Latin House & Techno Beats (Think early Tribal with a Techno Bounce).. then he returned with more bangin’ Techno. By 4 am it was a hand full of people in different corners.. and DJ who could not figure out what went wrong… I felt bad for John.. it’s hard to play SOBE on a Friday night after thanksgiving… Esp. playing Techno! But he as a true Pro would do.. still played his ASS of… therefore I danced like a FOOL most of the night. Final Thoughts….. I can’t complain about too much except the drink$. But at least it was a REAL DRINK… Not a Bad L.I.T. (Long Island Tea)… The bartender was pretty hot and made a mean Tea.. ( Saleen, I suggest you hit this girl up if you ever go to this club). The club is rather small for the image they are portraying.. (side note: However lately smaller venues and Ultra lounges are the “new†thing… and seem to work in most areas. If Privilege can prevail it will be because they stayed true finding a niche and working it. Nowadays there’s not much room for multiple Mega Clubs… Watch the effect Nocturnal will have on the scene if the open right and stick to a good format for just one month) . But if they stick to Techno and Tech House.. they may do well. I recommend one format for Fri. and another for Sat. & have a classic night… (no I’m not jockin’ Saleen.. but a Classic night is a NO BRAINER!, plus I’ve spent over 18 years DJ-ing and still tend to play the greatest instead of just the latest!) Black Friday… is hard unless you’re Wall-Mart (or some other generic retail store)… Putting The Acqua-Man on a Friday was weird to begin with…. I actually spoke to the owner who seems like an intelligent man… we exchanged cards and I await his move. Exit Stage Left!
JustSayAgency Conference in Las Vegas Dec 11-13 2003
Istanbul, Turkey 2003
B~ & Lenny 1999
