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Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

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Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#91

Post by Blahah »

cedws wrote: post #58
deng wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, Berghain does it pretty well. Usually the bouncers walk the line and already tell people when they definitely will not get in. This avoids a lot of drama at the door, and people don't have to wait needlessly and can still comfortably go someplace else. Berghain is one of the most famous clubs in the world. It has and cultivates an underground image, which is why people want to go there in the first place. Y…

Berghain has created the problem of being a tourist magnet for itself by being exclusive. As someone who loves techno, I'd much rather everybody gets to join in and enjoy themselves instead of just those who meet the bar. As long as you establish rules, like no photos/videos. You can't "convert" people who don't get the experience. >You don't need a "uniform", Everybody says you need to wear black. Even the tourists…

Just wearing black is not gonna get you into Berghain. The main criterion is unashamed indivual expression. If you are trying to get in by wearing a uniform you're not gonna have a good time (either in the queue or the club). I've only ever been in outfits that were colourful, and weird, and me.

Beyond the outfit you are also most likely to get in if you are clearly bringing your personal uniqueness and energy to the place rather than expecting an experience, and if you show respect for the culture, everyone else present, and that you are able to handle something out of the ordinary.

Are you gonna have a good time in there and not ruin anyone else's time? You'll get in.

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#92

Post by sneak »

demarq wrote: post #16
coldtea wrote: post #13

The ones that arbitrarily didn't let people get in when they were in their peak? Fuck them!

In the article even when they are struggling they still don’t let people in. Not sure what they want exactly.

There is a very specific experience that Berghain sells and it is destroyed by allowing people deeply unfamiliar with the techno scene into the party. It’s not the kind of club that most people know or have experience with.

If they let in everyone who wants to go, it would stop being the thing that it is (which is why it is valuable and sought after). People don’t go there only for the building and sound system (though both are top notch). It’s the experience enabled by the specific people who are there (and, perhaps more importantly, who are not).

Many people check in all of their clothing at coat check. You can have gay or straight sex in most parts of the club. I’ve been involved in BDSM scenes in different parts of the venue. Nobody leers, nobody harasses you. There aren’t generally people wasted drunk, there are no fights.

If it were not a microcosm containing the specific scene it exists to support, and they just let in the general public indiscriminately, it would be no different than drinking in the park. Anyone can buy a world class soundsystem and book fancy techno DJs. Not anyone can recreate Berghain.

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#93

Post by vinckr »

nikanj wrote: post #52

They have been successful in building a reputation for rejecting people after a multi-hour lineup, and for parties only starting well after midnight. Honestly I’m surprised how that business model has been so effective this far, I guess people do love the feeling of exclusivity from making the cut

You ever been to a club in Berlin? Its not about exclusivity at all. I get that it might look like that from the outside or with a more american cultural background. At most places you dont have to wait long - provided you dont come at the peak hour when everyone else shows up. Plan smart and you wait almost not all all, and there is plenty of parties starting/going at all times of the day; so you dont have to wait until late as well...

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#94

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

makeitshine wrote: post #24
RamblingCTO wrote: post #2

You also have tik tok ravers. A generation which built their own culture in isolation in the pandemic now flooding the dance floors not knowing anything about techno culture. For me it's a big part of not wanting to go anywhere anymore. Before, your outfit didn't matter, phones, photos and videos were discouraged. Nowadays these kids dress to impress and point there phones everywhere. They consume the techno culture…

For many older people it died in the 90s. When people stopped dancing and treated the DJ like it was a concert I felt it had changed into something else. I watch some of the old VHS I took and people are crowding the speakers and the floor is alive, while nowadays so much of what I see is people all facing a DJ lit up by a spotlight and just standing their bobbing their head.

"it wasn't better back then, you were just younger" - unknown internet pundit

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#95

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

vinckr wrote: post #87
squillion wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. The truth is that those clubs are more elitist than the opera house.

Not true. Only the most famous ones are that selective and the opera is still many times more expensive - plus you actually need a certain dresscode at the opera.

Not in Santa Fe :)

And on the weekends when the divas are not singing, you can see Khruangbin ...

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#96

Post by lemax »

cedws wrote: post #43

I realise Berghain et al are trying to protect themselves from the riff raff, but enforcing a stupid "techno uniform" and turning away half their potential customers for arbitrary reasons probably doesn't help their business. I went to Berlin earlier this year and didn't even try to get into Berghain because I don't want to waste time queuing only to be turned away. In London we have some excellent clubs that don't c…

You do not need to wear a uniform to get into Berghain. The bouncers, above all, are looking for interesting people who they believe will add something to the mix rather than just go there to consume and gawk. There really is not much to conform to, other than some contextual awareness of the fact that you're going to a techno venue and there is a certain culture behind that, e.g. flashy logos or ostentatious clothing is generally frowned upon, and you should be dressed comfortably enough to actually rave. Most importantly, I think, you need to give off a vibe of freedom and non judgement, the things going on in Berghain are not for everyone. Elon didn't get in, and frankly it would probably be a buzzkill if he did.

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#97

Post by WXLCKNO »

PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #94
makeitshine wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For many older people it died in the 90s. When people stopped dancing and treated the DJ like it was a concert I felt it had changed into something else. I watch some of the old VHS I took and people are crowding the speakers and the floor is alive, while nowadays so much of what I see is people all facing a DJ lit up by a spotlight and just standing their bobbing their head.

"it wasn't better back then, you were just younger" - unknown internet pundit

In my city for a national holiday we used to have an absolute massive unrestricted party everywhere uptown.

You'd wake up in a tree somewhere and everyone was friendly as hell. Volunteers would pick up afterwards.

Then a new mayor came in and ruined it all, locked it down, limited the area and basically killed the spirit of it.

I was younger sure but it was so much better. Applies to lots of things that get ruined.

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#98

Post by tomcam »

zappb wrote: post #75
FFP999 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'll never be over--it's just Berlin will no longer be the capital of it. Actually would not be terribly surprised if the party moves to San Francisco next.

Detroit techno scene rises up again! Or the Chicago house scene.

Or cholo house in Anaheim

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#99

Post by ben_w »

joaonmatos wrote: post #60
makeitshine wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For many older people it died in the 90s. When people stopped dancing and treated the DJ like it was a concert I felt it had changed into something else. I watch some of the old VHS I took and people are crowding the speakers and the floor is alive, while nowadays so much of what I see is people all facing a DJ lit up by a spotlight and just standing their bobbing their head.

I see a lot of issues with phones as many people say, but you go to KitKat on your average night and you see plenty of people dancing.

I've never been to KitKat, though I've been past it a few times. Given the reputation, I'd be surprised if they ever allowed cameras or devices with them.

Re: Berlin's famed nightclubs, losing customers, face an uncertain future

#100

Post by renewiltord »

red_admiral wrote: post #20
fab1an wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Phones and photography are banned in many Berlin clubs - they either lock your phone away at the entrance or put a sticker on the camera. That's why you barely see any footage from inside Berghain anywhere...

I think most people who go there would consider that a feature, not a bug.

It is, and that's what it's intended as. Some shows in the US do it too. e.g. Lane 8's This Never Happened shows in Oakland. But the most recent version of that had a lot of people complaining that there were lots of phone camera usage, so the sticker thing might not work in some venues.
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