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Jay FC
Art Director , Graphic Designer , Magazine Editor
236,225 views| 117  Posts

Do Hong Kong clubs care about music?

I mean really care... Is the music really important to the clubs in Hong Kong, or is it like everything else, just another label? Many of the larger clubs have a fairly broad approach to selecting "international" Djs to play to their "elite" memberships or guest lists. On the rare occasion that someone interesting does come into town to play, its more often at a club that will not allow normal people in to listen to them. It's all about velvet ropes, dress codes, table bookings and getting a snap on the society pages.. The music? Oh yeah, whatever...

There are of course notable exceptions like Yumla and, more recently CLIQ has been doing some interesting nights that are genuinely different and genuinely open to the public (that's the normal people)... And there's the promoters who continue to put on their more underground nights despite a constant struggle to find venues that will host them... Respect to all of them.

Music is not supposed to separate people, its supposed to bring them together.. That may sound cliche (actually it definitely does) but its also true... In this town its becoming a badge. Its not even about hearing a Dj play - it's more about making the cut and getting into the event...

For me this is such a HUGE topic that I don't even know how to begin saying all the things on my mind.. This is just touching the surface (not very eloquently either)... But I believe it's worth thinking about and I believe that it doesn't have to be like this.

There are too many 'private' sponsored events, there are too many dress codes, there are too many bouncers, there are too many velvet ropes, too many wannabes, too many posers, too many accountants, too many sheep...

AND NOT ENOUGH MUSIC.

 

almost 16 years ago 0 likes  10 comments  0 shares
Photo 39462
I love this last paragraph: "There are too many 'private' sponsored events, there are too many dress codes, there are too many bouncers, there are too many velvet ropes, too many wannabes, too many posers, too many accountants, too many sheep... AND NOT ENOUGH MUSIC." And I happen to agree 100% x
almost 16 years ago
Mariejost 26 dsc00460
I guess I'm just old school (and by this I mean really old school, before the term "old school" was even invented). I was always about the music, and I never went to clubs except to hear live music. Back in the early 80s, I was living in a small southern town in the US, and there wasn't a club scene (too small for that). When I wanted to hear eclectic music and to dance, I would host a party at my apartment for my closest friends. Nothing choreographed, programmed, or for show--just good music, good food, good libations and a place to dance to the music, if that was your thing. I hosted some great parties in my tiny apartment based on the feedback I got from my friends. By the end of the night everybody was in the kitchen or on the back stoop talking about the most esoteric things they would have never talked about under any other circumstances. We all became philosophers and deep thinkers for a night (at least that is what we all thought while "under the influence"). I miss those days, but the times have changed, my friends and I have changed (we are talking 25 years ago) and the world has changed. It is really strange to be nostalgic for those days--at the time they were just ordinary days and nights. Looking back from the vantage point of 25 years, they now look really rare and special. I hope everyone on AnD takes advantage of their youth to create as many indelible memories of that magical time in your life. You're only young like that once, so go for it while you can. Be a leader, not a follower. Create what you want to have in your life. Write your own rules and play your own game.
almost 16 years ago
Img1473666196092
house music.
almost 16 years ago
Photo 33427
Hong Kong is too small a population centre to support alternative culture / music as a business model. The majority of people don't care. Ergo cool bars, cool galleries and world class live venues are in sad abundance. What is a bank-able business model (as proven by the types of events you listed above) revolves around the superficial, and HK people love new phones, new shoes, new handbags, new bars, velvet ropes, VVVVIP rooms, overpriced bottle service and the air of exclusivity - even if the actual product is a pile of worthless crap offering nothing more than different logo.
almost 16 years ago
Missyellow
totally agree!!
almost 16 years ago
Photo 33427
typo alert! Does the phrase "sad abundance" actually make sense?! hahaha, there's a lack of 'em, is what I meant.
almost 16 years ago
Jayfc 5d jayfc
you had me with that one I admit... was also hoping for a positive word, a ray of sunshine perhaps, an answer... but what you said is the sad reality I suppose, always has been... but I guess the places I enjoy most are the ones that always let me (and anyone else) in anyways... ; )
almost 16 years ago
Photo 33427
Places can exist here, just not on every street corner a la NYC / Berlin / London etc... All is not lost --- it's just friggin' difficult to find!
almost 16 years ago
Photo 54026
respect.
almost 16 years ago

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Hong Kong
Gender
male
Member Since
January 21, 2008