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Stephen Ceplenski
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Issue 51
Risky Business
In a Circuit world filled with talk, now is the time to see who has what it takes to walk the walk. Evolution – not revolution – is what will eventually transform the night. Ric Sena, Jeffrey Sanker and Mark Baker are rock-solid proof that slow and steady wins the race. Much more than party promoters, these event producers have placed their bets on doing things correctly, rather than relying on the past for easy answers and the mistakes that inevitably follow. The results are proving to be spectacular, and noiZe is excited to see change in the air. At the end of the day, you have to deliver events with integrity – and do it with the “Essential Elements of a Party.” (See http://www.noiZemag.com for the article.)
We don’t typically call out events and promoters in our Publisher’s Note, as we proudly support all the events that take place around the world equally. But just as when a DJ becomes a standout superstar, some of our favorite event producers become rock stars in their own right. Ric Sena is leading the pack, as he celebrates ten years of Alegria parties in New York. These events have grown into an established brand, with global recognition and dance floors packed with the hottest party crowd in the world every time. The best music-makers on the scene, along with stellar production with innovative lighting, decorations and props, make each event a wonderland of sights and sounds. You go to Alegria knowing that you will have a great time, no matter what holiday weekend it is or who is spinning, because Alegria always delivers.
More often, how the DJ spins does matter, of course. And what could be more forward-thinking than going way outside the Circuit box and hiring The Freemasons to headline the famous White Party in Palm Springs? Jeffrey Sanker bucked the tide and helped all of us get down with one of the hottest duos on the planet. Boys wanna dance – and dance they did, in a wild frenzy to the incantations of The Freemasons. To top it off, Moto Blanco and Wayne G rocked the outdoor T-dance with grooves to spare. Deep House and tribal still ruled the after-parties, but the day events had a sound as fresh as the desert breezes blowing around the dance floors.
When something you’ve built from the ground up and nurtured dies in the party world, it’s rare and risky to try to rebuild it. But that’s exactly what Mark Baker is doing with Wonderland/Orlando during GayDays® Orlando this year. Now that the courts have found Johnny Chisholm and his media partners guilty of fraud and deception, OneMightyWeekend is now dead and buried. And Mark Baker is back with a vengeance to pick up the pieces and bump the entire weekend up a notch. Wonderland/Orlando has much of the same vibe as its predecessor, but is now at Universal locations instead of Disney, and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that. There will, of course, be pool parties, all-night dance events, and the famous Arabian Nights parties to keep everyone dancing. And you thought Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was crazy!
In the end, those who have stepped up to the plate and taken risks have proven that it is good for business, and partygoers couldn’t be happier. Looking down upon a record-breaking crowd at White Party T-Dance from the ferris wheel, it was clear that risk sometimes equals reward (which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to play as safely as possible). Kudos to the evolution of the Circuit, and stay tuned for more!
In This Issue:
Alegria at 10: The story of how a Gay Pride event in 2000 grew into the most successful party franchise in the world starts and ends with impresario Ric Sena, who used his Brazilian theatrical sense to transform New York’s late-night scene.
City Spotlight: Madrid’s Pride attracts visitors from all over Europe and points beyond. Matt Bell takes you inside Spain’s happening capital city, where nightlife begins late and ends long after the sun rises.
Life Ball: Have a ball in the grand, traditional Viennese style. Mix in a Circuit party. Add a huge amount of spectacle, celebrities and pageant. What you’ll get is the most elegant, sophisticated and opulent AIDS fund-raising all-night dance party on the planet.
Three-ways: Our intrepid editor-in-chief, Steve Weinstein, has done his research on how bringing another man into bed can save your relationship from the male equivalent of lesbian bed death.
DJ Spotlight: Chus + Ceballos. This Spanish DJ duo is bringing a Latin flavor to dance floors from Palm Springs to Ibiza. As Circuit parties expand their DJ lists to include mainstream DJs, C + C have become international gay faves.
