those who get in, feel lifted…those who don’t, feel dismissed…
sure thing…who’s hot, who’s not…that everlasting game, ALL humans love and hate to play, while keep on playing it anyways…
end of all days and nights, door policy sux…but without it, no club would work…
back in bar 25 days, we had a door policy that was almost as famous for it’s strict but also undefined blurry rules as the berghain…
many many people hated it…sure, they’re were all people who got rejected after waiting ages in the line…but, nevertheless, that strict door policy took care of the fact, that none of those who afterhoured happily ever after together there, never found them harrassed in any form, discriminatedin any form, assaulted in any form or what not else could fuk up ur party qualitytime…and especially women could always feel safe to even have a nap inbetween consuming and clubbing full on, without ever getting touched…in many cases, u could find urself waking up in some corner, on some sofa and somebody else had even put a blanket over u…
aaaaah, i really miss those times, when a raves were an underground thing, dancing was a political statement and ment soooo much mure than just spending qualitytime together, unity was filling the air and connecting each 'n everyone with each other and THE moment…
but those days are over…now the whole thing is tik tokking mainstream consumerism and dj stardom uber alles…ewwwww…
but even now, vast majority just loves to be on the guestlist…
Of course not. And if its happens to the wrong people thats a pity and sad. But just to give an example, ive wittnessed the most obvious extreme, clearly costumed (like somebody told them “you have to be dressed like this to get in”) tourists with shiny new smartphones in their hands scrolling trought instagram or tiktok while waiting in line, chattering loud and talking about some stupid sh**, clearly visible that they fell in this category you dont want in a club and take space for real ravers.
Its a hard thing for the bouncers to decide. And to be clear again: iam against the fact that such decisions have to be made in the first place, back in the days it was not common cause there was no need for it. My guess is we all grown up in or experienced times where there was no need for a doorpolicy like in a f**ing disco (except of course when extremes occur like a group of full drunken aggressive people who somehow stumbled the rave or what ever) cause a rave was meant to be the opposite of all that stuff.
But its obvious that at some places there has to be a doorpolicy now. Its upon the quality of the club if the bouncers got an great eye for people and can judge them in an instant (also good bouncers watch the people in line not only when they are in front of them). Which of course never works perfect. As much iam against for the need of a doorpolicy i always felt that somehow especially the Berghain bouncers got a huge rate of good decisions. Other wise the club wouldnt work so good, old ravers would complain and their big base of homosexuals and regular guests would get frustrated.
Btw in the case of Berghain: they rejected Elon Musk so even if someone critisize them and may be right you also have to omit sometimes their decisions clearly make sense.
This topic brings me to a question hoping some of the locals or other members here can help me with: Where can I go in Berlin as a 50+ year-old lover of electronic music and sound systems, without the need for spandex, leather, piercings, a half-shaven head, or multiple tattoos? I embrace diversity, but this just isn’t me. My wife gifted me a weekend trip to experience the nightlife, as I used to club from the late 80s to my early 20s. I like small simple clubs, no need for flashy super modern clubs where iphones are dominating the sight. Sound and preferable Vinyl dj sets. Minimal, (Dub) techno ? Or is this not possible anymore? Lower the bar to Currywurst and a visit to Schneidersladen as main experience? Better to go to Frankfurt instead?
Funny (or stupid) idea:
At the entrance of the club you hold your phone up to a scanner and it goes through your music and your social media to see if you fit the criteria.
They would let me in everytime because of my vast detroit techno library.
Hahaha the video is hilarious but also has some good tips.
I’ve only tried Berghain twice and both times I got in, so I can understand it can seem elitist to some, but i’ve always seen it as the opposite of the superclub mentality, in that it doesn’t help being young and dressed up for one - like most of the rest of the world and blowing crazing money for the privilege. Drinks prices are dirt cheap too, like most of the rest of those clubs and bars around Berlin, but if Tresor is anything to go off, they’ve rising fast. I haven’t been in for a few years mind and i’ve heard it’s changed hands and maybe trying to attract a different crowd these days, so maybe that ship has already sailed.
My first time in Tresor was my best too, maybe my best night out in years for the musical experience as everything was perfect. I’ve been in a few times since and one turned out to be an afrobeats night of all things, believe it or not, so I then tried to get into KitKat without knowing too much about the club. The doorman wouldn’t let me in, but we had a good chat about the scene. That’s a great thing about Berlin in that have some of the best doormen anywhere, that are respectful.
Some new leads anyway.
Look, we’re never going to get the old warehouse scene back again they way it was and most of us that were there wouldn’t last an all-nighter anyway. Berlin for me is as close as it gets to living that again and feeling energised. Great sounding dark clubs that don’t fatigue you with an over-reliance on cheap bassbins and populated by often very cool people in them, although Tresor felt a bit too young last time I went there. I still enjoyed myself. Most people my age are in wine clubs and gave up clubbing in the 90s. Berlin doesn’t feel like there’s an age limit on having fun.
Instead of moaning about door policies, at least try to get in first. If you get in you’ll be buzzing and have a great night. Most people you talk to say the same thing. If you don’t get in, then maybe you wouldn’t enjoy yourself in there anyway and I think that’s why the door policies are different there than most of us are used to. I hate those clubs, so it’s nice to have alternative scenes for everybody. Just maybe in a different city
Depends on the dj’s but would highly recommend Sisyphus if you’re not after the hard techno…. It’s my favourite in town. Theres usually 2/3 room rooms. Chilled and relaxing staff and crowd. I’ve never felt old there, ups, im 50 as well
I personally didn’t have any problems to get in but to raise your chances I’d recommend going on Friday evening around midnight or before that when it’s not crowded yet, get a stamp, have a couple of beers, go back to your hotel/Airbnb and come back on Saturday when the party really kicks in.
Have fun!
Like it or not, if these clubs didn’t have door policies the way they do it would have been over for Berlin’s clubs a long time ago.
It’s hard to be inclusive when 75% of people trying to get into your club are cuntweasels.
If they didn’t have these policies you’d still be moaning, but you’d be moaning because you got turned away because the club was already full of instacunts taking photos of themselves, or bemoaning the clubs that shut down because of all the drugs/knives/fighting.
It’s funny/annoying/all of that, but if you’re angry about it, be angry at all the twats.
Techno was never really supposed to be for everyone, that’s what funky house was invented for, to give all the twats somewhere to go so they’d leave the rest of us alone. There’s a tipping point where underground and inclusive has to become elitist and exclusive, otherwise it’ll just end up full of cunts in Stone Island jackets selling cocaine to themselves and moaning about the lack of decent brandy behind the bar.
I remember the days when London had a really cool, open and super inclusive club culture. Most of them clubs are now either gone or subject to severe licencing restrictions.
I doubt I’d get in to Berghain, I doubt even more that I’d even waste my time trying, because I’m pretty sure I’d be one of the twats getting in the way of the people who actually belong there. Leave them alone and let them enjoy their fucking subculture in peace.
My best friend is 46. I brought him to a live event (Blawan played that night, not a club), and we enjoyed Berlin Atonal in Kraftwerk venue. Good event and it is decent. RSO is not bad. Proper line up with the same tier of Berghain DJ sometimes (they host Ben UFO and the likes).
I went to RSO by myself and it was a good night. Easier door check. Although I know the chance to get in with face control when you are alone is always higher.
