Berlin Nightclubs: Unraveling The Fascinating World Of Dress Code Culture And Reserved Rights Of Admission
From Lola Susturain to El Planteo
Berlin is a cosmopolitan mecca, and its dance clubs are an integral part of the city's cultural capital. They are surrounded by a sacred aura.
The truth is that in no other part of the world are there clubs like Berlin, and what happens there does not happen anywhere else.
That no one takes pictures, that you can watch a gangster in action, that you can stand in line for four hours, that "security" can stop you if you're not pretty goth: a lot of people say this, and most of it is true.
Although, of course, the story is just a simplified, abbreviated fragment of reality and the endless array of possibilities that open up when you walk through the doors of Berghain, Trésor, KitKat, Sisyphus, RSO, and many more (or not). more. Sites that are currently more organizations than clubs. So much so that they have their own regulatory body that makes political, economic and social decisions about Berlin's rave scene.
The issue of access and dress itself contains a number of contradictions . Something that would be very problematic in a country like Argentina, where entry fees based on clothing would definitely have class implications. But in Germany it is cultivated and celebrated.
Why is there something so discriminatory and arbitrary at first glance, so contrary to the values that are preached today, not just tolerated, but glorified? How can you be an integral part of the youthful folklore of one of the most modern and progressive cities? Is there anything positive? Finally, how can we guarantee ourselves access to clubs?
some context
Berlin is a city of poles and contrasts , with very clear identities and certain contrasts between East and West, winter and summer, day and night. We'll stick to that last dichotomy: Berlin is a (very) green city by day, which you can discover on the bike, with the family, outdoors, at club fairs, and an eco-conscious vegetarian paradise. By night, its status as counterculture capital makes itself felt. The music is loud, the clubs are dirty, the drugs and sex are open and don't shock anyone.
All of this seems to coexist without too much tension, because Berlin is a city of individual liberties . Your company is based on a social contract that respects others, absolute trust and non-interference in the lives of others. As long as all three are met, balance is maintained.
And although more people live on the streets than in some other cities in Europe, and although it seems the absolute capital of hedonism, the crime rate here is very low, children from an early age walk the streets alone and with themselves- trust. one 'a' The neighbor is one of the pillars of everyday life.
It may be difficult for those of us who live in other societies to understand that the rules of freedom are, paradoxically, strict . And while no one outside the site has to do this beforehand, knowing them (and following them closely) is crucial to having a good experience. This carries over to what happens in clubs.
For example, taking drugs on the dance floor is considered disqualifying and not in a good way. But getting 5 people into the bathroom to eat something and staying there for fifteen minutes while people wait outside, or taking a golden shower in a darkened room, was allowed and even expected. Confused, right?
all in all
There is one piece of advice that applies to all babes: don't go where you don't know where you're going.
Each club has its own dress code, and in many cases it changes depending on the theme of the evening. There are more rigorous (Berghain and Kitkat) and looser (Trésor, Renate, Sisyphus), but it's worth seeing if everyone has a themed party, eg: weird, fetish, and queer logos are relatively common.
Clothing information for each individual night out is often not available on social media, but it is there and it can be found . However, there are some general rules of etiquette and they have nothing to do with appearance: don't look like you're in big company, don't use your phone too much, let alone take pictures, and don't talk. Or a lot (especially if it's in foreign languages), don't spend money and don't show excessive zeal.
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Berghain is the one who popularized this dynamic and has some tighter access rights as goalkeeper Sven Marquardt is such a cult figure that he even has his own documentary. Individuals like Britney Spears and Elon Musk will stay away from Berghain. No other entertainment hall in the world comes close to it in legends. Needless to say, there are no mirrors or clocks inside.
Berghain was born as a gay club - when it was called Ostgut at the end of the last millennium - and something of that imprint still hangs around, although all dissenters are more likely to join than normal-looking men and women.
Yes, it's not much to wear black, and being German helps too: it's become something of a game for tourists to dress up and follow all instructions exactly to see who's getting in. And this is one of the rare subjects where there is a consensus when we talk about it: the goal is to allow the people here to have music, dance, and experience and avoid it at all costs. Those who want to register say they've been there. This makes appearance very important, but excessive effort is the cause of recovery. So: dark yes, fetish yes, comfortable too. In a suit, excessively dressed or in strict accordance with the style guide - no.
Inside the club, something similar to what Joaquin describes: we understand why there is so much noise around the entrance. The atmosphere is very elegant, and there is a place to dance, lie back and listen. The DJ platform is at the height of the audience and one-sided: the dance floor has the main character, with the best sound system in the world, the famous Funktion One, and with the most famous DJs in the techno world. So the dance floor just needs a little maintenance. Once inside, you will inevitably think: yes, all the legends are true, this is the best club in the world.
"When I went to Tower Two, I stood in line for three hours and got there. And there was plenty of room inside. I don't know if it's enough for everyone, but it's also true that they don't need to. I got in at 04:30, and it was Ben Klock is playing and I could see him from a meter away, stand in front of the speakers and have my place to dance perfectly," says Bao.
And sometimes, with so much history, mythology, mysticism and gossip, we lose sight of something essential: these clubs are in much more demand than they can handle . There is not enough space for the number of people who want to come every weekend of the year. The more legends, the more people and the less space. The most ruthless guard.
Once this columnist was standing at the door of the Two Towers when there were less than ten people in front of him: we all passed by, not even the Goths. If you were there once and didn't get in, in the end you'll never know if your clothes were wrong, if you didn't like the tone, if the guard got up in a bad mood, or if it was just a bad time for speeding. passage. "Yes, there are a lot of legends here, some based on reality and some not, but I think that's part of the fun," Poe concluded.
El Planteo's photo
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