danceshake01 Posted November 1 Report Share Posted November 1 http://www.amny.com/media/acrobat/2007-10/23136028.pdfTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2007 Today’s clubslack lusterof years past LOCAL QUOTE:‘NIGHTLIFE IS A COMMODITY NOW.’ — Sydney Masters, clubgoer since 1985By Justin Rocket Silvermanjsilverman@am-ny.comLong gone are the dayswhen clubs such as Studio54, Palladium and Limelightwere institutions thatcaptured the essence of theirtime and defined New YorkCity nightlife. The era of thebig dance clubs that haduniversal appeal is fading,replaced by predominatelysmaller venues targetingspecific groups of clientele.There is a sense that moneyhas won out over creativity;rules about dancing,smoking and security camerashave trumped personalfreedom; and that the nightnow belongs to a starchedcollarcrowd that prefersdropping $400 on a bottle ofvodka over supporting anythingweird or edgy.“There are a lot of reasonswhy the days of Studio 54and other great clubs of the’70s are not here anymore,â€said DavidRabin, the owner ofLotus and presidentof the New YorkNightlife Association,a tradegroup. “For onething, crowdshave become much moreself-separating. When I firststarted gong out in the late’70s and early ’80s, everyonewas under the sameroof. Straight, gay, black,white, male, female — itwas awesome.â€Opinions vary on whyclubland has lost its diversity.Cost is certainly a factor.Gone are the days wheneverybody paid $5 to getinto Nell’s on 14th Street(now called The Plumm).There was no bottle service,or other ways to buy yourselfinto the legendary clubArea, a massive space completewith a swimmingpool, skateboard ramp andtank stocked with livesharks. If you impressed thedoorman with your style,you got in. Otherwise,you’d be standing outsideall night.One venue from theheydays of clubbingthat hasn’t lost itspopularity is WebsterHall, which is in theprocess of being landmarkedby the city.But most other mega-clubsare instead being replacedby smaller lounges.“In the ’80s and ’90s,there was big group of peoplewho helped each otherand made it interesting,â€said Sydney Masters, a clubbersince 1985. “Those samepeople have since learned tomake a business of it, and alot have opened smallerclubs. Nightlife is a commoditynow.â€Yet even the most wellfinancednightclubs werethrown a curve ball in Septemberwhen high-end burlesqueoperator Ivan Kanewas denied, by unanimousvote, his request for approvalof a liquor license bythe local community board.Kane’s investors includedDavid Bowie and Sting, andthe defeat could have a coolingeffect on investment industry-wide.While such communityvotes used to be routinely ignoredby the State LiquorAuthority, within the pastyear they inexplicably beganto be the determiningfactor of whether a new clubis allowed to sell booze. Theshift to more communityinput is somethingthat has the potentialto deter nightclubowners fromopening larger venuesin New York City, industryheads say.“Our establishmentswere never designedsimply to serve the1.2 million residents ofManhattan,†said RobertBookman, chief counsel forthe nightlife association,who explained that with 65million admissions annually,more people come to thecity for its clubs than theydo for every Broadwayshow and professionalsporting event combined.“We can’t expect entrepreneursto put millionsinto new places in NewYork if it is a popularity contestwith people living ablock away,†he said.A different kind of party in NYC■ Studio 54, 1986■ Paradise Garage, 1987■ The Sound Factory 27th ST, 1995■ Tunnel, 1996■ Limelight (original), 1996■ Twilo, 2001■ CBGB, 2006■ Avalon, 2006■ Club Deep, 2006■ Spirit, 2006— Victoria McLaughlinClosing time■ Michael Musto,longtime nightlife/gossip writer:Every trend has a counter trend.Nightlife itself is a response to oppression.The more you push it down, themore it bounces back. I’m predicting amajor explosion of great nightlife,though it might not be until 2013. Sostick around!■ Murray Hill,downtown entertainer:The city is out of control, and nightlife isbecoming a hobby for the upper-class.As an entertainer, I like to perform to allClubs were more diverse in the’70s and ’80s, says DavidRabin, president of the NewYork Nightlife Association.More city regulations and expensive bottle service are among the reasons clubs’ originality has faded. (Photos: Dennis W. Ho)What do you think of nightlife in the city?Today’s clubslack lusterof years past.com NY■Video■ PhotosEditor: Ryan Chatelain (ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com)kinds of people, and that’s what makesthis city great. I will always provide myfans and the city with middle-classentertainment.■ Justin Carter,music director at the club APT:As long as there are new people cominginto the city, trying to fill voids wherethey exist, there is going to be goodnightlife in New York. Depending on thelaw and the economic constraints, interestingthings can either thrive openly orgo underground. People are alwaysgoing to figure out a way to go out andhave fun here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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