Comments on: Q & A: 88′s David Fogel on their Techno/Electronic Dance Events

By: graham

graham — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:43:53 +0000

hey queen....
sorry you feel that way.
if you knew us you would realize that we like to get freaky just as much as you do. the decision to market the event as a secret location was to help get people excited about coming out t a location that had not been used for EDM before - not to hide the fact that people have sex at the crucible.

we host 2 monthly parties at bebar and we are very straight forward about it being a gay bar. so its not like we are ashamed of using venues that cater to alternate life styles. before you assume you know who we are, you might want to try and get to know us first.... our crowd is from all walks of life - and is far from normal, as you described us.

come check out a party of ours sometime and i'll buy you a drink so we can continue this conversation.

btw, the word "off" has two f's in it.

By: Deyv

Deyv — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:36:26 +0000

To Pissed off Queen. I think we all understand what you're saying, but for 99% of the people that attended the event it was a 'virgin' venue and as promoted had never been used by said community before. Nobody claimed it as a 'dirty little secret' and if you think the 'gay club' history is not synonymous with the underground electronic music history then we need to get together and chat. The reality is that they're both "underground" and that = fringe in both lifestyle and geographic location. I think the bigger point is that those that run the crucible, were pleased with the event and all the new people that were introduced to their venue. Keep pushing.

By: Pissed of Queen

Pissed of Queen — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:42:27 +0000

I have to be honest: I was kind of frustrated when I saw the Crucible being marketed as a secret location. I've been a patron there on the regular and I'm upset that these people decided to hide the fact that the Crucible is an alternative lifestyle club in its promotions. It's not a dirty little secret, it's how a huge chunk of the population chooses to live its life. It wasn't a virgin venue. It wasn't some unpopulated wasteland. That language is like when white people move into the ghetto and call themselves "pioneers". The people who went there helped collectively make it and it's pretty patronizing to have some johnny-come-lately's show up and the promote it as a secret to a crowd of norms that might be scared off because god forbid some people fucked in there. It's especially frustrating because there's a whole history of gay clubs having been pushed out to the absolute fringes of the city because that's the only place we were allowed to go. If you're using our space, you need to honor that history.

By: Deyv

Deyv — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:58:29 +0000

Hey Gerardo.
FWIW, every act that 88 has brought through has been stoked with DC - and happy with the venue. The sound at Muse has gotten progressively better. Finally, each artist that 88 has worked with has asked to come back next time they are state side. So, while you're certainly entitled to your opinion about decor and your impression of the venue - your assumptions about the talent and their conclusions are thankfully, incredibly wrong.

By: Dan Amitai

Dan Amitai — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:55:40 +0000

Great article!

By: graham

graham — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:50:46 +0000

gerardo - i totally understand your complaints, but i'd suggest coming and checking out muse again....
we've upgraded the sound and now that our boys from elm are hosting the 2nd floor its a pretty dope thursday night.
what do you have to lose? its free and we have open bar from 10-11

the past month or so ha been CRUCIAL.

By: Sexy Fitsum

Sexy Fitsum — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:50:11 +0000

Big up 88.
Nice playing catch up, CP.
:)

By: Pocca

Pocca — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:04:21 +0000

The FORWARD festival was great. Already looking 'forward' to next year.
I really enjoyed Jeremy Ellis's set. Incredible talent. Also, the Meltdown bbq at Space 88 with the graffiti work by Kamil was a great way to end the festival. Check out a time-lapse of Kamil's work from the bbq here: http://www.eightyeightdc.com/88culture/?p=121

By: curm

curm — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:20:33 +0000

I like reggaeton Gerardo. So what if it's playing on the next floor unless the sounds on each floor are blurring into each other.

By: Murple

Murple — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:04:25 +0000

Yeah, Muse is kind of a douchey club, but with 88 running one floor and ELM now running the other, it's probably worth checking out. Clear out the bad music and customers and it's just a big room, bring in some good DJs and put word out to cool people, and the venue might become something more than it is at other times. I swore I'd never go to Muse again after an inauguration party there, but with the new lineup, I'll give it another try or two.