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How has the circuit changed Montreal's gay nightlife?
by MATTHEW HAYS
The profound effect Montreal's circuit empire has had on the city is undeniable. Led by the Bad Boy Club Montreal (BBCM)--whose string of parties that include the Black and Blue, Red Party and the upcoming Wild and Wet--the events have permanently placed our burg on the pink party map.
"Definitely, we feel the positive forces in the clubs," says Pierre Viens, owner and manager of the three-year-old popular gay club Unity. "Whenever there's a special weekend, like the Black and Blue, we pack the club."
But Viens also says there's been an occasional downside. Clubgoers tend to be drawn to big events, he says, and since the circuit offers up something new and different, sometimes the night of the main party can hurt his numbers.
"The main problem, though, for club owners is that people simply don't go out as much." More of a worry for bars and clubs is the fact that people don't debauch as much as they used to and that gay men often use the Internet to meet each other, rather than clubs or bars.
BBCM ringmaster Vezina dismisses the idea that there's any competition between the circuit and clubs. "We compete with other circuit parties, certainly, because we want our light shows and DJs to be the best," he says. "But in terms of clubs, no. People don't expect the same things from clubs and circuit parties. They're like apples and oranges."
That's Mister DJ to you
But both Viens and Vezina concede clubs have evolved in one crucial way, in large part due to the circuit scene. "DJs have really improved," says Vezina. "Clubs can't get away with a bad music night anymore. Basically, they have had to really improve their playlists and bring in better people."
"People expect us to really come up with good music, the DJs must have something special," says Viens.
Viens reports that while welcoming circuit queens into Unity, it's been very important for him not to limit his club's appeal. "It's crucial not to limit yourself to circuit boys. If you try to appeal and please only those kinds of people, you're in trouble. You have to be broader than that. You have to remember that not everyone likes the circuit, and they want to go out too."
Variety is the spice
The variety of nights has given Viens some freedom as well. "Saturday night crowds are often very specific in what they want to hear. On Fridays, our student night, our DJs can experiment a bit more, especially with techno. That wouldn't work with a less adventurous crowd."
Does Viens worry that special-event parties and the circuit will mean that people save their money at those events and skimp during regular club weeks?
"No, not really," he responds. "That, I think, is more of a worry in the straight club scene. They've been particularly hard hit by the afterhours clubs too. But the gay scene is quite different. Gay men like their clubbing."
For any shift the circuit may have caused in consumer habits, however, Viens says he and other gay club owners can only be thankful to the BBCM and the circuit.
"Let's face it, Montreal has always been a great tourist destination. But the city is now really known among gays. We can thank the circuit for a great deal of that. The circuit and the Canadian dollar."$
The BBCM's Wild and Wet has its 1Oth anniversary edition on May 19-20
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