quote:

Originally posted by tarrantella66 I guess that says it all about you... And you must be SMOKING HOT that you get "HIT ON SO OFTEN" by other men.

i don't know about him but i do get hit on and to be quite honest i don't like it.
if you attend a gay party other patrons automatically assume that you're gay also
i think it's common sense

quote:

Originally posted by The Highroller HOWEVER, before Demi, the last 3 or 4 times in a row I had been to Sonic, I was in a sea of shirtless men. That is not what I call a "diverse" crowd. That is what I call a gay crowd. I have been to more parties where the crowd has been predominantly gay than not. As a straight male, I do not want to go to gay parties. I want to go to parties where there are girls, and where I am not being hit on so often by other men. I am also tired of tribal/circuit DJs. I'm glad that all of the shirtless men and tribal/circuit music has been moved to another night. .

hmmm... I guess I was there on different nights than you, because gays have definitely been in the minority anytime I've been to sonic. Last time was thanksgiving and it was maybe 20% visibly gay.

I can understand how it could be uncomfortable to be immersed in a predominantly gay crowd, getting hit on constantly, especially if you don't want it.

quote:

Originally posted by van haaster hmmm... I guess I was there on different nights than you, because gays have definitely been in the minority anytime I've been to sonic.

Say wha? you mustve spent your night in the ladies washroom

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quote:

Originally posted by The Wiz Say wha? you mustve spent your night in the ladies washroom

sorry I had to

___________________
"My greatest gift 2 you is a dance floor, free from insecurity"

There are times we will remember, there are nights we won't forget.
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Your love shines through.

Now that the club has had the opportunity to post the press release sent out to the media earlier today, allow me to give you some insight as to what went down this past weekend.

First, I will point out that no one was more dissapointed by what took place on Friday night than the management of the club.

To keep things simple...the club had everything in order...we were unable to open our doors as we had a visit from the AGCO at 9:30 PM on Friday night. The reason for their visit, an anonymous envelope showed up in their offices on Friday morning with one of our posters (which was obviously ripped off of a pole somewhere as it had tape all over it) along with an anonymous note questioning how we were serving liquor if we are an after hours. As the press release stated, we are not pointing any fingers at anyone and will allow you to form your own opinions. Unforutately, the AGCO found reason to disallow the caterer supply the food and liquor to serve that night as they fined them for an infraction. The AGCO did have the power to prevent us from opening on Friday night completely, however they were very happy with how the club handled the situation and decided to let us open without liquor.

Once all of the liquor was cleared from the floor we were given the green light to open and notified everyone in line of the changes as soon as we knew what was going to happen.

As a gesture, the club is going to be handing out free passes to the December 9th event to the first 500 poeple showing up to the club this Friday, and will also accept any unredeemed Grand Opening comp tickets on December 9th.

quote:

Originally posted by tarrantella66 Very sad to see that nobody in management took the time to secure a license for an event where alcohol was to be served.

Very sad that you would make an assumption like this...so sad that I may as well turn around and assume that it was you that sent that letter to the AGCO...I mean come on really.

quote:

Originally posted by tarrantella66 Even sadder is the fact that the music (which is supposed to be what SONIC is all about) was at best, MEDIOCRE. Whoever buys talent needs to seriously reconsider his/her reasons for booking these 3 DJ's because they simply SUCKED (the last DJ who played was a bit better, but still...). Are these supposed to be the RESIDENTS on friday nights? DJ's shouldn't be booked because "they are local and we trying to support local TALENT": They should be booked because indeed they have talent.

I am the lucky guy that purchases all of the talent for Saturday nights at Sonic and all of the international guests for OPEN Friday's. Let me tell you, it is impossible to keep everyone happy. This past Saturday night (when I thought the music was as cutting edge and at its best) I had a regular customer come up and tell me that they enjoyed Friday night much better. While music is a very subjective topic...just curious what makes you decide if someone has talent or not...by all means, tell me somone sucks...but at least back it up...no where in your review about the music were you able to even explain why you thought the talent sucked. Was it the mixing? The programming? Was it the flow from each DJ to the next? At least give me something. Although I didn't hand pick the local talent, I did approve all of them. Did you stop to think that maybe based on all of the stress and drama created over what happened that everyone's mood may have been a bit off? I mean you mention STEREO in one of your posts...you seem to respect STEREO...well, one of the 3 DJ's has frequented STEREO as a guest DJ and has also played BLACK & BLUE...would that mean anything to you had you known that in advance? It was also the first night, and all 3 residents were scheduled to play 2 hours each...they ended up only playing an hour a twenty minutes each...kind of hard to do much in such a short period of time...not to mention it was the first time all 3 of them played together.

quote:

Originally posted by tarrantella66 Even sadder is the fact that the music (which is supposed to be what SONIC is all about) was at best, MEDIOCRE.

So answer me this...if we did a hip hop night on Friday's...would that make us less about music not? In my opinion it would...but that is just because I don't like hip hop...but just because a club has a night where I don't agree with the music do I decide to hate on it. A business has a right to survive in any way it sees fit. If you don't like Friday's, please continue to join us on Saturday's...the music has only been getting better every week...at least I think so.

quote:

Originally posted by tarrantella66 How about taking a chance and treating the gay crowd with more respect and in a less condescending way.

Please do tell more. We at Sonic welcome the gay crowd with OPEN arms both Friday's and Saturday nights.

quote:

Originally posted by tarrantella66 Treat ALL YOUR CUSTOMERS with respect.

Once again, please do tell more and let us know how we can improve upon our customer service...we want nothing but the best for our customers and would like to know how you or any other guests were disrespected.

Now, also curious, but did you have any suggestions? I hear lots of problems presented but no solutions. The club always has an open ear and listens to everything that our customers have to say.

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker To be honest - I liked Sonic's original format: Bring top quality DJs and throw a great party for EVERYBODY. The audience composition of the original Saturday night parties did not bother me, nor did I ever have a night ruined. The "Saturday night Sonic product offer" was very clear to everybody who went to the club.

Hey RJ, hope you are well. This will continue on...the only difference is that we will save the circuit music for Friday's. Nothing really has changed, accept we have added a night specifically dedicated to the gay market on Friday's. Saturday's will stay open to those of all walks of life.

awesome reply, carey.

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It seems the issue of gay patrons at Toronto clubs ends up being the topic of discussion everytime one of these threads gets started.

I thought I would add my two cents!

I think the ideal is that we have one scene, everyone welcome...and I think we are moving in that direction...but Sonic did have a problem...and they needed to address it, and we are not evolved to the point of being ready, completely, neither gay nor straight.

I am a regualr at the club. I have not missed many nights since the opening. I think I am safely planted in both communities...I attend with my boyfriend and a host of straight friends each week.

I think there have been MANY nights, mostly with the big name talent, that have been very well attended by the gay crowd. The club started to get a reputation...the straight boys did not come because there were no girls there for them and the girls did not come becasue all the boys were gay. I heard it over and over....

Interestingly...the same comments were made by some of my gay friends...I finally got one gay friend to come to Sonic over Pride weekend for Morales' Peep Show...when I asked him what he thought...he said "I did not like it, because I could not tell who was gay and I did not know who to hit on".

While I long for the day that Halycon describes, where "people" go for the talent, the music, the friends, we still have some way to go..on both sides.

As a businessman...if I were running Sonic, I would have made the same decision. The reality is that there are very few choices for gay men these days, they need another venue...and Sonic is filling the void.

I think they had some opening night problems...problems they should not have had...I also think they could do a lot better than some of the DJ choices they have made for "Open"...but the market will sort that out.

Whether some of us like it or not...the stereotypical gay crap we hate...like drag and gogo boys and shower shows, still has a following and a market...I would invite all of you who have moved on from this to join my friends and I on Saturday nights at Sonic...you won't catch me there on a Friday...

Oh and one last thing...Graham (The Highroller)...he IS smokin'hot!

Last edited by fairy godfather on Nov-30-2006 at 04:24

quote:

Originally posted by rabbitjoker - a Friday night party - friendly to gays (sexual preference oriented) I'm disappointed that Calderone (one of my favorite DJ's) plays on a Friday. The night isn't unfriendly to straight folk - but it isn't meant for them either. At least having the big DJ on a Saturday night makes it friendly for all. Try to have the big DJs on Saturdays - because I'll be at Sonic for many Saturdays to come.

Although the marketing of the Friday's is geared towards the gay market we are in no way suggesting that straight people stay away. Like Highroller mentioned, there have been nights where the dance floor has been a sea of gay shirtless men. If this doesn't bother you then there should be no reason from stopping you from seeing you favourite DJ.

You have known me long enough to know what I have been very successful and booking and promoting as a straight promoter and believe me...I have tons of straight friends coming on Friday night...both men and women.

quote:

Originally posted by The Wiz Say wha? you mustve spent your night in the ladies washroom

well you obviously haven't been to a gay party... or you would know that the ladies washroom is the nerve centre of the whole place!

quote:

Originally posted by Carey

great post

quote:

Originally posted by fairy godfather It seems the issue of gay patrons at Toronto clubs ends up being the topic of discussion everytime one of these threads gets started. I thought I would add my two cents! I think the ideal is that we have one scene, everyone welcome...and I think we are moving in that direction...but Sonic did have a problem...and they needed to address it, and we are not evolved to the point of being ready, completely, neither gay nor straight. I am a regualr at the club. I have not missed many nights since the opening. I think I am safely planted in both communities...I attend with my boyfriend and a host of straight friends each week. I think there have been MANY nights, mostly with the big name talent, that have been very well attended by the gay crowd. The club started to get a reputation...the straight boys did not come becasue there were no girls there for them and the girls did not come becasue all the boys were gay. I heard it over and over.... Interestingly...the same comments were made by some of my gay friends...I finally got one gay friend to come to Sonic over Pride weekend for Morales' Peep Show...when I asked him what he thought...he said "I did not like it, because I could not tell who was gay and I did not know who to hit on". While I long for the day that Halycon describes, where "people" go for the talent, the music, the friends, we still have some way to go..on both sides. As a businessman...if I were running Sonic, I would have made the same decision. The reality is that there are very few choices for gay men these days, they need another venue...and Sonic is filling the void. I think they had some opening night problems...problems they should not have had...I also think they could do a lot better than some of the DJ choices they have made for "Open"...but the market will sort that out. Whether some of us like it or not...the stereotypical gay crap we hate...like drag and gogo boys and shower shows, still has a following and a market...I would invite all of you who have moved on from this to join my friends and I on Saturday nights at Sonic...you won't catch me there on a Friday... Oh and one last thing...Graham (The Highroller)...he IS smokin'hot!

very well said daniel.

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Thanks Daniel & Sean.