Nightlife comes up with new formats
Published: Wednesday, Oct 9th 2024, 10:20
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Singles parties, cuddle raves and silent discos: Swiss nightlife wants to defy the dying club scene with new formats. Young organizers in particular see this as an opportunity.
Techno combined with readings, fundraising campaigns or fluffy carpets. This is how organizers are trying to get young people interested in nightlife again. For many clubs, this is a matter of survival.
Because the exit is changing. In recent years, clubs have been forced to close down - in Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne and Geneva. Even former nightlife institutions have given up.
Less alcohol, new behavior
Industry experts cite various reasons for this: The younger generation is drinking less alcohol and staying at home more often. And since the pandemic, many are enjoying celebrating on a smaller scale.
Music tastes and dating behavior have also changed, thanks in part to Tiktok, Tinder, etc. And this in an environment where inflation and gentrification are driving up the cost of clubs.
This is taking its toll on nightlife: since 2018, per capita consumption in Zurich clubs has fallen by a third, according to a survey by the Zurich Bar and Club Commission. The proportion of guests under the age of 25 has fallen by more than a quarter.
Club fatigue puts pubs under pressure
"Clubs across Switzerland are noticing a concentration on Saturdays," says Alexander Bücheli, spokesman for the Swiss Bar and Club Commission, in an interview with the news agency AWP. The lack of income on Thursdays and Fridays is adding to the pressure.
The decline in alcohol consumption is also difficult to compensate for economically: "People usually only drink one or two mocktails per evening, not three or four."
The association is therefore calling for more government support and, associated with this, an update of the concept of culture. However, the industry itself is also called upon to rent rooms to corporate clients, for example, and to offer more formats for young audiences aged 16 and over.
DJs in the foreground
There is talk of a certain club fatigue in scene circles. "People no longer want to be turned away at the door," says someone who likes to go out himself and follows international nightlife trends. Instead, the DJs have moved more into the spotlight.
In the USA, France and the Netherlands, for example, parties are held in parks, on private roof terraces or even in bakeries. The club as a trendy meeting place is fading into the background. The venues now have to compete for the audience with their formats, which is particularly appealing to young players.
Well-being in the center
Niche rave formats such as those of the feminist DJ collective F96 are popular in this country. Here, women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people - so-called "flinta" - stand at the mixing desk and everyone present should feel comfortable. The events are often combined with readings, workshops or art exhibitions.
"I feel much more comfortable going out now than I used to," says collective member Elsa Wuchner. In addition to her work as a psychiatrist, the 29-year-old plays techno DJs and organizes events from time to time.
"Perhaps there always needs to be a time when club culture has to change," she says. As young people consume less in nightlife and are used to constant stimulation through social media, they may need more stimuli when they go out. "The question is: Is the concept of 'going out, paying, dancing' still interesting enough?"
This impression is also confirmed by other voices from the alternative scene: "It's no longer just about shooting people up," says a raver from Basel. Instead of the escapism of the 80s and 90s, today there is a need to connect. This requires content and a pleasant atmosphere.
Cut-throat competition expected
Luca Sulzer also pursues this goal with his label Nachtschicht. "We try to create a small, informal setting, an atmosphere like at a flat-share party," says the 26-year-old, who is a teacher alongside his hobby as a techno and house DJ.
He sees the emergence of new formats away from the traditional techno clubs as a normal development: "When a trend gets too big, new sub-scenes have always developed."
As a DJ, however, he is concerned about the dying club scene for personal reasons: it is becoming increasingly difficult for young DJs to find a platform to live out their passion. "There will probably be a cut-throat fight," he says.
"The party spirit is unbroken"
The industry is changing and old structures are crumbling. DJ Ray Douglas from Eastern Switzerland, who has been active in nightlife for 25 years, says: "The desire to party is unbroken, but the offer is lagging behind."
The old magic formula - 25 francs admission for one or two DJs - is passé. "Today, people want a bigger, more comprehensive experience."
For example, he organizes so-called silent disco parties with thousands of visitors as well as a popular trash pop series in a Zurich club. He is also constantly trying out new formats, such as a brunch rave.
Only one thing hasn't changed: "The main function of nightlife is to let go, regardless of the music genre and target group. You either want to party away from everyday life or forget it." And you can do that better with people and music than at home in front of a screen.
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