Let’s Get Physical

Major props.

Ya know that moment you peer around a party? And overcome by a surreal yet real scenario, you utter or think something along the lines of, “what in the world?!”

There’s no shortage of reasons as to why. Something just suddenly struck a chord. Perhaps you heard tried and true music in a fresh way. Or did a dance move you hadn’t realized was in you. Might be a curious stranger in direct view giving you butterflies in anticipation of something new. It could be anything and everything a space contains. Yet where a party is held, its architecture, design and decor is something we too oft ignore or express less gratitude for- no matter if it’s a bore, something to abhor or something more.

Dr. Suess’ “Oh The Places You’ll Go” didn’t prepare us for the places we’d trek to twirl. Party playgrounds and fantastical fabrications that run the full gamut and then some. Running the tune of mundane to well…looney tunes.

From hidden portals burrowed in back alleys to a warehouse with a view in Timbuktu. Or arrived at via a maze thru corn to a barn brimming with beats. An abandoned bunker, a spot near abandoned train tracks, a fast food joint, a house- perhaps even your own. Boats, places where you had to cross a moat. Rooftops with views. Perhaps there’s been a party at a zoo or two. I even went to a rave at a water park in the 90s- though no rides were involved whatsoever.

And then there’s clubs which come in so many semblances of shape and form. From 80s throwbacks with walls of glass brick to minimalist chic. Upscale discotheques and dystopian industrial wonderlands. From a hole in the wall to the grandest of them all.

No matter what the aesthetic, it’s no surprise that the dancefloor is high on my list of considerations. While the construction and materials are crucial, so is its footprint relative to the floorplan. Size matters as it relates to allocation of square footage at a club. Tiny dancefloor to floorplan ratios tend to be more conducive to socializing. And those occupying every nook and cranny serve a sole purpose of shaking your ass. But all shapes and sizes have purpose, and I appreciate both ends of the spectrum from where I sit and twirl.

Silver Clouds by Andy Warhol and Billy Klüver

And that’s just the venue. Let’s delve into what people do with them. The talented visionaries and workers who dream up, build and dismantle them deserve major accolades. They’re far too often under-appreciated and celebrated in today’s DJ obsessed culture.

They elevate spaces more than a bit more. Morphing places and warping your perceptions by building beguiling sights and scenes previously unseen. Taking venues you’ve been to a gazillion times to another level. Or a simple yet clever twist to what already exists. Major or seemingly minor, fabricating a world onto its own is anything but easy. And an exceptionally tough undertaking to execute once and even tougher consistently.

So major props to all the people instrumental in bringing lofty or simple ideas to life. There’s an abundance of creativity, know-how, materials, labor, grit and time to factor in. And then there’s the looming reality of costs. A huge barrier for any promoter wanting to step it up a notch, two or a gazillion. And that doesn’t just go for design, just finding a location can be tough, let alone finding one that fits within a budget.

It’s no shocker that our surroundings impact every iota of our experience. The comfortability vs anxiousness, how we move, interact with others and most importantly- dance. I’ve been extra attuned to how spaces impact me recently, especially with the exciting wave of new clubs and parties popping off. Focusing more intently on how design impacts our behaviors, psyche, actions and interactions. Just think about how you feel in an organic and warm environment versus a fancy schmancy posh place. Rigid spaces can lend to uptight feels while kooky bonkers places can lean towards more irreverence and joie de vie. Of course that doesn’t have to be the case depending on the music and what the crowd is giving.

We all have our likes and dislikes. And in this era when everyone’s a critic and Insta “expert.”- emphasis on the X. But whether you like a spot or not, consider expressing gratitude for the efforts, time and risk people take to build clubs and parties. More positivity focused on the good features rather tearing it apart- especially if you’re not lifting a finger to erect something better. And if you hate a party or club so much that you drag it on social media, maybe just don’t go back. It’s really that easy. Go somewhere else or stay home. That perfect vision of your dreams is yours and yours alone- unless of course, you build it. Because at the end of the day and night- the fact that anything exists is a gift.