Supporting what we’ve got
Smith says it he thinks it is important for the LGBT community to continue to support the businesses that have supported them.
“There is something to say for those folks who have lived through the battles of gay bars even existing and keeping them open, providing a safe haven for people to come,” he says. “We need to continue to support those businesses before they fade away.”
He adds, “There is a need for gay bars. It is important to be able to come home for a little bit.”
Despite his aversion to Carolinas gay clubs and bars, Garrett at least admits that having them available is good for the community. “I think it is good we have a place to go and be ourselves, whether you are more straight acting or a flaming queen. You can go to a gay bar and not have to deal with the judgment and people staring at you and the crap you get from people.”
Bambi Weavil, publisher of the Wilmington, N.C.-based online LGBT publication OutImpact.com, also thinks community support of family -owned businesses is important.
“It is important to support the gay establishments,” she says. “I think it can be a give and take both ways [frequenting gay and non-gay clubs and bars], but it is important to support gay establishments or they are definitely going to go under.”
Keeping it fresh
If gay bar owners want to keep their cash flow moving in a positive direction, they’ll have to keep surprising their customers with fresh and new ideas.
Takeover’s Mauney says the freshness of his events and venues means people stay interested and return to future events. “I think people come to Takeover because of the different venues we go to,” he says. “We keep changing it up. One venue might be dressy, another more casual. We try to venture into new places that maybe people haven t been to yet. I think it keeps it fresh.”
Mauney adds that welcoming fresh ideas and staying current with the trends can be half the battle. “Unfortunately, the ‘build it and they will come’ scenario doesn’t work anymore,” he says. “You have to have a gimmick to get people in. Keeping it fresh and offering different perspectives will make people want to come back.”
Smith agrees that keeping it fresh can draw in more business. “Your core clientele will always stay your core clientele, he says. But trying new things to shake it up a little bit can help.”
He says small things like a new coat of paint and other occasional improvements can sometimes mean everything.
“There’s that old saying, ‘You have to spend money to make money,'” Smith says. “Right now the economy is tough. What can you do? Think outside of the box.”
Weavil says that diversity can make all the difference. “The more diverse the club, the better,” Weavil says. “That is the best plan for all sorts of clubs, gay or straight or however they label themselves.”
Diversity, at least, is something the Carolinas can claim to have. Several female-oriented bars and clubs, like Steel Blue in Durham, Hartigans in Charlotte and Time Out Saloon in Greensboro, offer a place for lesbians and other women who love women. Charlotte is home to Sidelines, the only gay sports bar between D.C. and Atlanta. In Greensboro, LGBT clientele can chill at The Q, an after-work dive, pre-club dive. Club Myxx, in Charlotte, caters to a primarily African-American crowd. In Columbia, community members can choose from the grungy Art Bar, the strip joint PT’s 1109 or drag palace Cabaret.
Please don’t stop the music
I don t know if anyone can quite say what the future might hold for gay nightlife. Arguments that the era of the gay bar is coming to an end are met with the stark reality that we still live in a time and place where queer folks aren’t always accepted in mainstream society.
With the exception of a few progressive bars here and there, it seems the majority of Carolinas towns and cities still have a need for nightlife establishments where LGBT people can be open and where they can freely express themselves without fear.
Smith says he sees the future of gay nightlife in friendly competition and cooperation.
“Healthy competition can be beneficial,” he says. “Even pro-football teams scrimmage against each other because it makes them stronger. We’ve got a great community, but it is so scattered right now.”
Smith, who claims no official home bar for his Roxy C. Moorecox performances, says he ll continue to support all his favorite gay establishments across the Carolinas.
“I’m so grateful I get to perform in all these different venues,” he says. “I get to see everything.”
Bars are like churches, Smith says. Everyone has their own little denomination they’re Methodist or they’re Baptist or Catholic. At the end of the day and despite their differences, they’re all Christian, he says. Like all those churches, every little bar has its own flare and charm and no one can deny how fun it can be to mix it up and head out to place you haven t visited for a while.
Is the time of the gay bar coming to an end? I don t think so. Perhaps, 40 years after Stonewall, they’re just in a mid-life crisis, of sorts. Give them all a few years and there s no telling what we’ll see. Until then, just keep the music, drinks, hot boys and girls and nighttime fun flowing.
Q-Notes wants you…
…as a nightlife reporter
Q-Notes is looking for several nightlife reporters around the Carolinas. These freelance writers would be responsible for taking photos and reporting on events at LGBT-oriented nightclubs, bars and other establishments. Ideal candidates are regular bar-goers or staff who can work on a deadline and can devote at least a few hours each month to writing short, entertaining pieces for publication in our print issues and online. And, the best part of all: Freelance contributors get paid!
For more information, email editor@q-notes.com.
“If gay bar owners want to keep their cash flow moving in a positive direction, they ll have to keep surprising their customers with fresh and new ideas.”
I have to agree with this and I feel that if the gay bar owners would keep surprising us with new and exciting ideas and shows, then maybe more of us out frequent the bars. I can also relate to Matt and his experience with clubs. I didn’t go to my first club until I was 19, which was 5 years ago for me as well. I’m not a club goer myself and never have been. It gets pretty boring at times.
I have gone to the Woodshed and the G&G Club and have a good time but it can get repetitive at times.
This was a great article.
I’m a 44 yr old that’s boogied around the block a time or two. There is just not the decadant club scene, gay or straight, CLT or NYC like there was in the 80’s-90’s. As far as bars go, I don’t think that for us gay being comfortable in a “straight” or “mixed” venue is such a bad thing. My favorite hang out here is Thomas St. Tavern…it’s like Cheers meets the Star Wars Cantina. That said, we should support business that supports us. Bar owners should keep it “fresh” and in this scary time affordable. One point not made by the young’ins is that gay men “hook up” in the modern world of cyber space. That sexual energy that used to be as palable as the poppers on the dance floor is gone from the bar scene. My gay bar wish list would include a great after work “happy hour” spot, more places with nibbles so you don’t become a slopy drunk and OH PLEASE a Sun afternoon Tea dance with great music that makes you want to shake your groove thang.
Charlotte needs to have all the gay bars in one area and you should be able to walk to all the bars. They bars should be close to uptown. We need Non Smoking clubs.