Not a clubber

[archerships]

Originally published at craschworks. You can comment here or there.

I went to the Bicycle Day celebration at 1015 Folsom last night. It was much more of a club scene than I was expecting, and it really illustrated my fundamental introversion. The club was packed with people, and the music was so loud that the furniture visibly vibrated. Very difficult to have a conversation, even shouting. How do people connect in an environment like that? I suppose the protocol is you dance, and if you connect physically with someone on the dance floor, you retreat to somewhere quiet for more conversation. But I feel very self-conscious dancing, unless chemically enhanced. And the music was too loud for me to really enjoy it. And there were very few quiet places in the club–I eventually retreated to the smoker’s corral outside, and was able to strike up a conversation with a friend of a friend. I also suppose the experience is very different for a cute young girl, than it is for a non-photogenic, overweight, 35+ year old guy. Not my best environment overall. Those of you who enjoy clubs, what do you enjoy about it? Any tips for getting more from the experience?

Comments

[smjayman.livejournal.com]

Shit, bro, wish I could help, I always felt out of sorts in that scene as well. It probably works better if you are drunk/high and the person(s) you are attempting to hang with are also similarly inclined. Honestly I feel that my best aspect is talk, and in that scene talk doesn't really happen...

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's a business strategy? If customers can't talk, and they're self-conscious, what are they gonna do? Drink until they're not afraid to dance.

[evelynne.livejournal.com]

When I was a young girl, I went to clubs to dance with my girlfriends and look at the eye candy. It was nice if a guy struck up a conversation with me, but like you said, it's not the place for it. I have no idea why people go to clubs. Or loud bars. It annoys the crap out of me.

Honestly, the most social fun I've had anywhere is in my skate club in DC, and on the architecture walks (well, those were mostly retirees) and group hikes I've been on. People are super friendly and it's easy to strike up and continue a conversation, and the skating or hiking itself is enough of an excuse for a lull in the conversation (which is the purpose the music serves in bars, I'm told).

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm learning that most people don't go to clubs to talk much. They seem to get intrinsic enjoyment out of the dancing and music.

[pixiecup.livejournal.com]

i feel the same way. although, i bet if we were in the same club, it would be infinitely more fun. :)

[crasch.livejournal.com]

I agree. Going to a club with you would be infinitely more fun. :)

[kimatha.livejournal.com]

I never liked clubbing, not even when I was a cute young girl. I don't know that there's any way to learn to enjoy a noisy, crowded scene if it's not something you naturally enjoy. I tend to do the opposite: I refuse to go to bars and restaurants that I know are going to be noisy. I guess you could try earplugs and drinking to excess.

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I suspect that encouraging drinking to excess is the club's business model.

[ilwitchgrrl.livejournal.com]

I only ever liked going if I was going just to drink and dance with friends. I don't really enjoy small talk anyway (I much prefer having a real CONNECTED conversation) and I don't like making a physical connection with strangers. But I do love good music and dancing, even if I'm terrible at it, lol.