We’re all itching for the proper return of clubbing, right? Sure, some venues in Dubai are doing what they can in accordance with the local government’s Covid-19 precautionary measures. But we can’t wait to have a full-on freak out on the dancefloor again. Hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later in 2021. But hang on a second… do we want clubbing to return exactly to how it was before? Or is this a chance to make changes? What would make clubbing in Dubai better? We asked a selection of DJs, producers and promoters: “How would you like to see clubland reset locally?” They had plenty to say…
Milko Moustache
I’d like to see clubland reset locally with less restrictions in general. Too many fees and licensing procedures immensely impact promoters and venues. For example, the DJ/performer permits are very costly and this forces promoters to limit the number of performers for any given event. There’s no room for flexibility or last minute changes under the existing permit procedure. Sometimes promoters are even forced to change event dates due to pending approvals. It would be great to have group/long term licensing for an affordable fee and an opportunity for freelance artists to license themselves.
Club opening hours have always been the major issue across Dubai and the UAE. Longer operating hours will allow better planning, longer sets for each performer, extended peak times and higher revenues.
It would be great to see the introduction of an industry certified contract between venue management and promoters. A standard contract could settle financial arrangements once and forever, and would clearly define each side’s rights and responsibilities.
Also, it’s a bit tiring how all the major venues and events are made to host big international names. It’s a huge buffer for the growth of the local scene, which has a lot of potential and talent. Hopefully, the ‘new normal’ will see big clubbing events with mainly or only local acts.
DJ Rossi
I’d like to see clubland reset locally with a lot less of the ‘selfie’ poser culture and less sparkly pretentious events and people. Let’s get it back to basics. The main focus should be on the music and having the time of your life absorbed in the moment on that dancefloor. Clubbing is not about Insta and Snapchat filtered pictures! We need some raw events like back when it all started many moons ago, in my opinion.
Paul Mendez
I’d like to see local talent given more opportunities at Dubai’s bigger venues instead of the constant barrage of international artists who fly in every weekend and take all the headline sets. I really don’t believe this is sustainable long-term. It’s probably the reason for so many venues closing down after short periods of time in this city. Yet the same people keep doing the same thing over and over again, which makes no sense.
Due to Covid, the Dubai scene has changed drastically with large nightclubs and dayclubs now operating as lounges with very few artists flying in. More slots are being filled by residents and local talent so long may that continue when the scene is back to normal.
Jixo & Danz
It’s been a hard year on all within the music industry – club owners, festivals, promoters, DJs. We’d like to salute them all first and say, ‘Be strong and this too shall pass! We are all in this together…
If we could choose one thing to change locally – and globally – it would be a ban of camera phones and their use while people are dancing at venues. These days, everyone seems more preoccupied with taking pictures and videos to show what they are doing rather than enjoying the music and the experience of it all. And if we’ve learnt anything the past year, it’s that we should be more present and appreciate moments together.
Danny Kwang
We need some venues to focus on music and the customer experience. That’s normal outside Dubai. In Dubai, all venues are ultimately controlled by F&B and Finance. Take the power away from the Finance Department and put trust in actual Club Managers, not F&B Managers/Directors. As long as clubs are part of hotels, this will never change. There’s a place for venues of all shapes and sizes but while F&B is in control of budgets then no-one stands a chance to make it out here.
I would love to see clubland reset locally with one individual investing in a space – not necessarily glitzy or glamorous – simply devoted to music. With the focus on music, DJs and clubbers; forget bottles with sparklers in them. I want a 200-capacity basement, with a kicking sound system and the some of the best talent around. Hopefully, Covid will lead to more reasonable DJ fees for bigger DJs too.
Too many people have lost their jobs, money, livelihoods. Now is the time to work together, give value, showcase local talent and stop charging a million pounds for a beer.
Read: Hush is Your New Industry Night in Dubai
Paul Josef
I’d like to see promoters stop bargaining with local DJs to reduce their fee but pay 50 times more on international acts.
I wish clubs would invest a little bit more time on optimizing the sound rather than splashing cash on the glitz. Let the kick, base and the hi-hats do the job rather than expensive pyrotechnics and confetti. More for the ears and less for the eyes.
Lastly, I’d like to see clubland reset locally with clubs and promoters realizing there’s more than just mainstream talent out there. I wish they’d take a little bit more of a risk and book artists who might be a little less famous but are musical magicians in the booth.
Jon Besant
I’d like to see more support for local talent whilst budgets are vulnerable. Remember Chi? Well, myself, Mark Pickup, David Craig and Tim Derry were the headliners there. Let’s see more emphasis on the dancefloor, less VIP culture and less offers.
