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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

#171

Post by Scoundreller »

WXLCKNO wrote: post #97
PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"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.

since it's not a thing anymore, can you share which city?

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

#172

Post by tern »

kristopolous wrote: post #162
kodapoda wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This might be true for very few very selective clubs like Berghain, certainly not true for all Berlin clubs. In the case of Berghain, it obviously doesn't suffer from losing customers—your comment confirms this point.

Right. It's a form of segregation. A place whose roots are in Bohemian, black, gay and trans clubs with specific focus on welcoming outcasts should be explicitly inclusive. Traveling to Asia, South America and Europe to meet with electronic artists I've never had any interest in attempting to go to the segregated clubs of Berlin. I find it offensive. There's plenty of ones that don't discriminate.

Here just to share that I think "segregated" night clubs are essential for creating a publicly accessible and safe + positive vibe club experience.

Your other options are (a) let anyone in and you get a**** and total dilution of cultural values (quick death of the institution) or (b) it's a private party and you're not invited.

For accessible and good, you can stay on your toes and find new, smaller clubs and scenes that haven't had time to die yet, but that's its own exclusiveness: if you don't know, you don't know.

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

#173

Post by ungamedplayer »

kodapoda wrote: post #152
shiroiuma wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>This might be true for very few very selective clubs like Berghain, certainly not true for all Berlin clubs. Perhaps, but it seems that those "selective" clubs have given a bad reputation to all clubs.

Berlin clubs are a scene, it's highly recommended to do prep work before going out. Personally, I would love for these clubs to be more accessible, but understand that Berghain has a very specific reputation that it works hard to maintain. It's an exclusive techno club considered by many to be the best in the world.

Prep work.. like the years of study practice pays off .

What kind of prep is required to go out to drink and fund someone else's business?

I will never be going as I am too old and too busy for the "scene" so please explain it to me in laymen terminology.

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

#174

Post by twixfel »

explaininjs wrote: post #161
projectazorian wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Welcome to the “underground” scene, where middle school level behavior is still regarded as the height of sophistication. Almost like actual adults who still sport non-drug-addled brains should run away as quickly as possible.

It is, in a sense, the opposite end of the "autism spectrum". An innate deep understanding of social cues and general empathy.

The German "underground" scene is just completely backwards and childish. They're so forward thinking and advanced that they've wrapped right around having experienced some sort of integer overflow and started caring deeply about how other people (strangers) dress all over again. Like being back at school. The "scene" is a joke.

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

#175

Post by thesaintlives »

projectazorian wrote: post #140
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…

It’s all just status. You can wear whatever you want and if you’ve got clout with the staff, or if you’re with someone else who is high status, you’ll get in. Otherwise it’s a coin flip unless you’re clearly intoxicated, belligerent, etc. Same as it ever was. You just didn’t recognize it because you were younger and in clubland youth is the only status currency that’s zero effort to acquire.

As simple as that. You know someone you will get in. You don't and it's random. End. No thanks.

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

#176

Post by pdntspa »

jliptzin wrote: post #124
danielfoster wrote: post #10

I’m not sure what sort of decline the article is referring to. There’s not a single reference to revenues or guest count for any club in Berlin, nor mention of any specific club in danger of closing due to lack of patronage. These clubs were great while the city was struggling, but now that it’s not, I can see why people don’t wish to tolerate the negative externalities associated with them. Hopefully most clubs can…

Yea, 3 hour lines, and then they obnoxiously don’t let you in anyway, for no obvious reason. Not shedding any tears here.

The most likely reason is that you give off tourist vibes. My Berliner friend told me as such when I came to visit, we hit up some thrift shops so I could get some local threads and 'blend in'

In fact, when I got in one club a very cute german girl tried to talk to me on the dancefloor. But I didn't speak any German and she got angry, shouting "aaauuggh!! tourists!!!"

Also, for the clubs that forbid alcohol (hard drugs only!), they will refuse you if you are caught drinking in line or are visibly drunk.

Also, I was told to keep my mouth shut as they will sometimes refuse you if you speak English

At least this is how it was about 13 years ago. My friend was a self-described and un-ironic "hipster", who kept his finger on the pulse of the local underground, and of course he lived in Kreuzberg

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

#178

Post by kristopolous »

tern wrote: post #172
kristopolous wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right. It's a form of segregation. A place whose roots are in Bohemian, black, gay and trans clubs with specific focus on welcoming outcasts should be explicitly inclusive. Traveling to Asia, South America and Europe to meet with electronic artists I've never had any interest in attempting to go to the segregated clubs of Berlin. I find it offensive. There's plenty of ones that don't discriminate.

Here just to share that I think "segregated" night clubs are essential for creating a publicly accessible and safe + positive vibe club experience. Your other options are (a) let anyone in and you get a**** and total dilution of cultural values (quick death of the institution) or (b) it's a private party and you're not invited. For accessible and good, you can stay on your toes and find new, smaller clubs and scenes…

Counterpoint: Hacker News, CDMX EBM scene, goth scene, LA underground art scene, SF renegade rave scene, Latin bars, gay clubs like the EndUp, which have been open and welcoming since 1971, gay black scene, free software movement, gay Asian scene in any city, bear bars, salsa clubs, martial arts clubs, drag bars, anime scene, furry scene, hiking groups, Trekkies, adventurer clubs, punk scene, bicycle riders groups, astronomy groups, ball room dancing groups, central american danza cultural groups, alcoholics anonymous... Even prestigious universities have countless open proseminars where you can just walk in off the street to a graduate symposium. I've gone to many, you really just walk in the door.

I'd argue the majority of cliques and scenes are extremely accepting and people self filter. Having a discriminating door guy is just being an asshole.

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

#179

Post by twixfel »

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.

Opera houses in general aren't elitist or selective at all. You can turn up looking like shit no problem, I certainly have. They're just happy that people have come along to enjoy the music. So actually these places are many times more elitist and closed minded than your average opera house. Cringe.

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

#180

Post by tern »

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…

The edge of rave culture in Berlin is moving more toward ambient music and healing / spirituality. I think this is because freedom is no longer so political in the West. Moving your body the way you want to and being accepted for who you are is mainstream, and kids who've grown up with that are now looking for deeper sources of meaning.
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