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Ethnography Assignment – Nightclub-goers NYC & Boston

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Ethnography Assignment – Nightclub-goers NYC & Boston

Background and History

Movie theatres, bars, sports events, live performances, and nightclubs are just some of the countless things that the contemporary metropolis has to offer to its people as a getaway from the stresses of modern capitalist life. The industry’s roots can be dated back to times even before the medieval ages. According to BBC, the Coliseum, one of the first comparable forms of entertainment providing venues to those of which exist today, opened its doors to the Roman public in 80AD[1]. However, what was shown in the Coliseum for the amusement of the public was quite different from what we would typically see in a Broadway spectacle for example. Romans would go see the killings of “literally thousands of people whom they saw as criminals, as well as professional fighters and animals”[2] – not the typical thing we 21st century people would go watch on a Sunday afternoon.

Going back to the present, and switching the focus to night rather than day, a sub-industry within the one of entertainment, is the nightlife business. Within the nightlife business are countless forms of venues that are open at night for, again, the entertainment of the public. In this category, the specific thing that sparks my interest the most is the nightclub establishment, due to its sub-cultural offerings/consequence.

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The individuals who typically go to a nightclub are not the same as the average Joes who seek casual entertainment at night at theatres, cinemas, bars, and things of that nature; they are a differentiated crowd. The average Joe does not go ‘clubbing’ on a regular basis, they maybe go once in a blue moon to celebrate some special occasion, but not on a regular weekly basis like the typical club-goers. From my previous knowledge on this matter, and from some of the insight gained during my investigation and observations, I can safely say that nightclub-goers can be characterized as a subculture. Additionally, what chiefly characterizes a subculture, as put by Professor Kramer[3], is “the existence of distinct insiders and outsiders.” For that reason I have validly chosen this particularly distinct group of young adults to observe and analyze in my investigation – more specifically Nightclub-goers in the cities of Boston and New York City.

 

Literature Review

Nightclub-goers in Boston and NYC are on average between 19-30 years old. Boston nightclubs tend to have a younger crowd of club-goers due to the fact that Boston is one of the biggest, if not the biggest college hub of the country. That way the majority of the clubs’ clientele tends to be made up of youngsters pursuing an education. Additionally, this can only mean that some of these young adults (those of which are underage) will end up resorting to the usage of fake IDs to be able to get into the establishments – a quite common practice. On the other hand, clubs in NYC house a little bit of an older crowd to some extent. There still are many young persons of age, naturally also some underage, but generally they tend to be a bit older on average than the ones in Boston. Due to that fact, the use of fake IDs in clubs in NYC also is much lower than of that in Boston.

Also, the club-goers from Boston tend to be predominantly foreigners. And according to one of the managers of Pasha Entertainment, the vast majority of them are of Hispanic/Latino origin. That is why the DJs in Boston tend to play quite a lot of Reggaeton in the clubs. In NYC, on the other hand, there isn’t a majority when it comes to their nationalities. However, there is no doubt that there are many more Americans in the nightclubs of NYC that there are in those of Boston.

A couple of terms worth defining for this exploration are: first and foremost, bottle service. Bottle service involves the practice of booking a table at the club, usually with a group of friends, and then having a private waitress bring the bottles they ordered and serve them their drinks. The name is quite self-explanatory; however, many tend to overlook a couple of factors when it comes to bottle service at the club. The first thing is that there is a minimum amount of money you or your party has to spend in order to be able to have the table. In other words, one must agree to meet the minimum spending requirement, decided by the club’s management of course, if they would like to buy the table. Table minimums in Boston clubs such as Icon, Venu or Bijou are usually $700[4] (excluding tip & tax) for a good dance floor table located in the main room. On the other hand, minimums in NYC clubs for good tables usually range from $2000 and up[5]. The other overlooked fact is that there is a huge markup for bottle prices in the club. To give an example, at Icon, one of Pasha Entertainment’s newly renovated clubs located in Boston’s theatre district, a 750ml bottle of Dom Perignon Luminous (vintage champagne) is going for $700 excluding tip & tax. With tip & tax it would amount to a price of $889. That means a markup of more than 390% since they typically retail for $179.99[6] in supermarkets and liquor stores.

 

Research Assumptions

I am approaching this investigation with a couple of underlying assumptions about this subculture. First of all, I believe that clubbers do not engage in VIP bottle service every night due to its expensiveness. As I said previously, bottles for sale at tables in the clubs have an absurdly marked up price. That is why I believe that individuals will only undergo the practice of booking tables with bottle service once in a while to celebrate some special occasion. My second assumption is that fake IDs are used in abundance, especially in Boston. Not only that, but I believe that those who use such fake documentation don’t have much fear of getting caught by the police. If so, why would they even bother having one in the first place? Another belief of mine about this subculture is the fact that the nightclub establishment is a place where many fights and confusions occur. With many inebriated youngsters, all put together in a confined space, something must go wrong once in a while. What I have come to find out is that all clubs in Boston close at 2:00am every night. This can only mean that when the clubs close there will be a multitude of drunken underage college students out and about in the streets of Boston at 2:00am. This is a recipe for disaster.

 

Questions and Methods

To find out most of this information I am planning on conducting interviews with club-goers from both Boston and NYC to get a glimpse of what they have to say about the subculture that they themselves are a part of. If I get the chance, also conduct an interview with a club manager or bouncer. Not only that, but I also plan on going into a couple of clubs to get a firsthand observation of what goes on within the natural habitat of this species known as clubbers. As a private equity activist investor, my father has somewhat of an involvement with the nightclub industry of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Luckily he knows a couple of club owners/managers in NYC and one in Boston. With that being said I will get in touch with them and politely ask for permission, since I am a minor, to enter their establishments only to conduct my observations. I will explain to them the goal of my investigation and hopefully they will allow me in.

 

Observations and Findings

I interviewed three people who frequented clubs in New York City and Boston Clubs. Two were forthcoming with their identity however, one, declined and preferred to remain anonymous. One of the interviewees, Arturo Garcia, is 18 years old. He hails from Montreal Mexico and is a freshman in one of the local universities in the area[7]. He enjoys clubbing immensely and goes out clubbing with friends at night. They arrive at the club at around 12 midnight and leave at exactly 2pm. They frequent three clubs a lot: Venu – which features a mix of Hispanics and Americans. He also frequents Bijou Club and Icon, which he says features a lot of Hispanics. These clubs feature laws that prohibit under-age drinking, a law which Arturo believes is appropriate. He however believes the age is capped unreasonably high. In his culture, he recalls being taught how to drink responsibly. In contrast however, Arturo procured the use of fake ID from Columbia to access the clubs. They do sometimes order bottle services: although he claims it’s expensive so they use tyranny of numbers to split the costs affordably. They drink tequila, vodka and champagne which come to $50 per night. He is single and goes out with a goal to meet with the opposite sex or socialize. He however believes a lot of people clubbing are Hispanic or Brazilian in origin. The issues of fights are common in clubs according to him: mainly due to misunderstanding and mostly outside the club. In comparison, he is of the opinion that clubbing in Mexico allows much time compared to US.

The interview on the anonymous interviewee had some similarities in terms of time of arrival, ordering bottle service and venues in Boston. He believes lots of college students have fake college IDs and that it inevitable even though it’s is illegal. He orders similar drinks as Arturo for bottle service and pays approximately $500 – $600 dollars. Bottled services gives them th convenience of a table to sit at, proximity to the lasciviously dressed dancers and regular drinks provided by the waitress. Brazil night clubs, he reiterates, close at 6am, which he believes is better than the 2am closing time in Boston but he also believes the service in Boston is much better than in Brazil. His main purpose in the club is to socialize, however, it can get messy when friends fight or fights erupt generally in the club.

The third interview, Bruno Pachinko, is 22 years old from Rio de Janeiro, and a senior at one of the Universities in New York City[8]. He frequents clubs such as Marquee. He feels underage drinking laws are appropriate, however, since most club goers are mostly internationals – who come from jurisdictions that cap the drinking age at 18 – they feel they have the right to access drinks when they arrive in the US. He also orders bottle services – specifically Vodka and Champagne. The more they are, the more they can split the costs and the more they drink. He is also single and his main reason to go clubbing is to socialize and listen to music. He however mentions that fights in the club are frequent[9]. In comparing bottle service in US and Rio, he believes it to be expensive in the former than the latter. However, he notes that the experience in US is better than in the latter.

These observations concur with my own in the clubs. I had a chance to visit all four clubs and take into account a number of things. The clubs are normally packed full by 11.30pm and getting access by this time is almost impossible. The bouncers are also quite strict with admission at this time. Anyone acting unruly for being denied access to the club is dealt with expediently and whisked off the premises. Within the club, revelers here all seem to be motivated to attract the opposite. Each gender dresses in a ways to attract the opposite sex. The kind of dressing can also offer a distinction on ethnic basis. The Mexicans for instance embrace the fashion that fuses their culture with American urban culture. The women also adopt fashion that fuses their inherent culture with the modern styles. It would seem, fusing inherent culture with modern culture is fashionable and also a good way to attract the opposite sex. There is a lot of aggression in the club scene. Men especially are very protective of their girlfriends or the girls they just met and paired with. A simple brawl in the dance floor can turn nasty quick. During my time Icon, two groups of VIPs had a disagreement. One group ordered bottled service and enjoyed teasing the waitress. The other however took things a notch higher by mistreating the waitress. The other group intervened before the bouncers saw what was turning into a toxic recipe for disaster. Both groups were evicted off premises before the fights got nasty. The situation however escalated outside the club. I also witnessed a similar case of club fight just when Marquee was closing. The clubs make a lot of money per night. Speaking with one of the managers, he mentioned that most club goers are international students. They spend a lot of money on bottled services: in fact, he remarks at how they spend obscene amounts of cash every night. Vodka Champagne and Tequila are the most ordered drinks in these clubs. Club Patrons reiterate that a single person can spend as much as the value of a vehicle.

 

Analysis

All the interviewees go to the clubs in Boston and New York City with their friends. They mostly arrive at midnight and leave by 2pm. They all believe the clubbing experience is better when they order bottled services: however, they are also weary of the prices and therefore use tyranny of numbers to their advantage. The two from Boston frequent the three clubs in the area: Venu, Bijou and Icon. These clubs have mixed subculture such as contemporary Americans, Hispanics and Mexicans. In New York, the Marquee club is the most frequented. The bottle services in these clubs are better, in their opinions, than in their native countries. These clubs also experience heavy use of fake IDs and a lot of fights that can get messy.

 

Larger Implications

Night life in Boston and New York is dominated by mostly young people from other countries. These youth enjoy drinking ages capped at 18 years: they therefore procure fake ID to have access to these night clubs. Most of these clubs are making a lot of money through the concept of bottled services to the clients. These clients spend obscene amounts of cash and seem to be particularly loyal to one or two clubs: where they spend the most of their cash on a weekly basis. There is also the alarming issue that fights are likely to break out in any clubs and can get messy.

 

Patterns

The general pattern that emerges is that they engage in clubbing at night, with or without the use of fake ID depending on age. They prefer to engage in other activities such as evening meals before arriving in the club at 12am and leaving by 2am. They prefer to order bottle service when their numbers are more than 8 members at the table. They are all single and go out to socialize with the opposite sex and with friends: and fights inevitable break out in the club and mostly around closing time.

 

 

 

Reflection

These groups that mostly frequent clubs are international students from various colleges in proximity to the clubs. They enjoy freedom of time spent in night clubs in their native countries and lower priced bottled services. However, they all admit the service in the US is better even though it is expensive. They freedom they enjoy of drinking at age 18, that is capped at age 21 in the US, is one of the main reasons why they acquire fake ID to access the night club scene. In terms of motive, their main motivation to go clubbing is to meet and ‘hook up’ with the opposite sex or socialize with friends. These club scenes are also frequented by Mexicans, Brazilians, Hispanics and American students from local colleges.

 

Ethnographic Comparison/Significance

Two of the interviewee is from Brazil and one from Mexico. They have linked some of their friends to their native subcultures for instance, in the interview with Arturo Garcia; he mentions that he and his friends, Mexicans, like their tequila a lot. This fact, on top of the knowledge that they are international students in college and that most of the clubs they venture into embody ethnic distinctions; can therefore be used as credible assumption that most, if not all of their friends, share the same subculture.  The Mexican subculture is composed of individuals who are introduced to alcohol at a young age. In contrast, the Brazilian subculture does not give much of the same. In the interview, Bruno’s parents are not surprised that he is possession of a fake ID. The two interviewees from the Brazilian subculture also show little restraint in term of spending compared to the lad from Mexico.

 

 

References

Anonymous, interview by Name. Nightclub-goers New York City and Boston (April 27, 2016).

Duneier, Mitchell, and Ovie Carter. SideWalk. California: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001.

Garcia, Arturo, interview by Name. NightClub Goers New York City and Boston (April 27, 2016).

Hopkins, Keith. “The Colosseum: Emblem of Rome.” BBC, March 22, 2011: 1-5.

Markson, Sharri. “HEATHER CALLS FOR ENVIRO-FRIENDLY CELL USERS.” New York Post, 2007: 1-2.

Massachusets State . “Frequenlty Asked Questions.” ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES CONTROL COMMISSION. n.d. http://www.mass.gov/abcc/pdf/faqfinal_2013.pdf (accessed April 27, 2016).

Pachinko, Bruno, interview by Name. Nightclub-goers New York City and Boston (April 27, 2016).

Tablelist Inc. Icon Table Service. n.d. https://www.tablelist.com/venues/icon/table-service (accessed April 28, 2016).

Wine Searcher. Where to Buy Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne, France. 2016. http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-74863-0001-dom-perignon-brut-champagne-france (accessed April 27, 2016).

 

[1]Keith Hopkins, “BBC – History – The Coliseum: Emblem Of Rome”, Bbc.Co.Uk, last modified March 27, 2011, accessed April 27, 2016, http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/colosseum_01.shtml.

[2] Ibid.

[3]Mitchell Duneier and Carter Ovie, SideWalk, (California: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001)

[4]Tablelist Inc., “Icon Table Service”, Tablelist, accessed April 28, 2016, https://www.tablelist.com/venues/icon/table-service.

[5] Sharri Markson, “Heather Calls For Enviro-Friendly Cell Users,” New York Post, 2007: 1-2

[6]Wine Searcher, “Where To Buy Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne, France”, Wine Searcher, last modified 2016, accessed April 27, 2016, http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-74863-0001-dom-perignon-brut-champagne-france.

[7] Arturo Garcia, interview by Name, NightClub Goers New York City and Boston April 27, 2016.

[8] Bruno Pachinko, interview by Name. Nightclub-goers New York City and Boston April 27, 2016.

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