Art and real estate?

My fabulous female friends Lisa Marie T and DJ Natty Boom, rocked out the Hounshell Real Estate office on 14th street. Lisa Marie and created a portrait on the spot( that I almost ruined by suggesting the sweater be colored fuschia! So gay!). Natty Boom rocked out the decks, spinning her brand of grundgy rock/dance music. I have never partied so hard in a cubicle!

All the cutesters were out. Marvins  superstar manager Sheldon served in his classic (guy from hitchhikers guide) meets Afro-Punk look. Wearing Italian shoes, Black slim pants ala Mick Jagger, fitted Button down, a classic wine colored Cravat, Woody Allen frames, a leather(esque?) trench, all topped off with his fabulous forward sloping Mohawk. J'adore!

The other fashion story of the night belongs to thingstring.com. Created by artist/ magician David London ( sounds famous right), thingstring is style-next up. Wanna make your American Apparel sweat shirt hit the edge? Take a spool of  contrasting colored thread unwind and randomly place it anywhere you like. Shocking! Im not joking. Its a conversation piece for the age of randomness. I have never laughed more than the time I first encountered the trend on Ayo ( Co owner of  Gallery on Hst.) I walked up to him and said "Let me get this" , yanked it off  as he yelled " No, that is my string!" I was down with his eccentricity but a pet string was pyschtacular. He remedied this quickly by unspooling some thread he had in his pocket and thus annointed me into the thingstring circle. That incident was at least a year ago. Meeting the creator of thingstring was like finding out there was a toothfairy ( only less bloody).

The Look of the Night

Belongs to none other than Dj Selina. She is the most fabulous woman I know ( Sorry Yall). On this night in particular she used her unique sense of proportion and color scheming to create a one woman art show. Flat eighties boots, led up to thick knit leggings, underneath a chalk white pencil skirt w/ Day-Glo pink piping, belted with a thin plastic hot pink piece, paired with a purple and black asymmetrical boat collared long sleeve tee, accented by a zipper across her breast plate, layered over a Day-Glo green tank, all accessorized by her turquoise earmuffs which she wrapped around her wrist! I hate her! 

There were many looks to be seen but only one winner. 

The Party was a blast. I always have fun with my gurls. I love you all!

Its not just a fucking party!

This is my first post and, it was supposed to be a manifesto,but this post is far more important! I have made a career out of partying. Bon vivant, liver of the good life,  citizen of the leisure society, etc. partying has taken up most of my young life. It was not until now that I realized just how important a party can be.

Last winter, my fledgling DJ career began.  A friend asked me to come and play music for the early part of his , now defunct, weekly hip-hop party catering to the young black all boy crowd. Although I hadn't a clue about mixing , he trusted my taste, and I figured it was a safe way to learn.A few months into the gig, I lamented to a fellow DJ and housemate how hard it was.  The promoters were flaky. There was never a consistent crowd. Bar management and staff were moody  and the drifters (who made up most of the business) were oblivious that they were crashing a party. Nobody seemed to care about what the poor DJ was going through, trapped in the middle.

Lesson# 1: A party is complicated!

To paraphrase my knowledgeable comrade replied " A party means allot. The party-goers are there to relieve stress. Bars are trying to sell liquor and keep there space. Promoters are in it for all sorts of reasons. A party is a fucking big deal!" I went in that week with a mission. I was performing a service and it was a duty to make the atmosphere live! I tried not to be annoyed by requests,but take them as learning tools. Building up my collection to go with what I heard asked for most. Playing songs that made the most people happy. It was a shaman like position, not a vulnerable one as I believed.

Over the next year I experienced many highs and lows. Many due to promoters.

Lesson#2: Promoters are flaky.

I have been linked to over a dozen promoters.  Foolishly I allowed myself to be tied to events that were underpromoted, overexaggerrated, but mostly plain dumb. Business is about assurity, and DJing would have to take a backseat to this reality. Loving something does not mean you have to suffer for it. 

I got a backbone eventually. 

Lesson#3: The space is the key.

Late in 2008 there was a murder near one of the venues I spun at regularly.Washington DC Hub -- (Gay Washington DC?) Towleroad, blog with ...

It sent shock waves through my little community. I got calls from friends all over the country asking if I know the victim. I did not, but had seen him out at local bars. The soap opera that followed enlisted a cast of community activists, church leadership, city councilman, and the venue. The bar itself was only implicated due to proximity. Apparently/allegedly the gentleman was on his way to the venue at the time. Vilification ensued as the daggers flew. It was a shameful/learning/pitiful/beautiful experience. 

Lesson#4: Safety is a premium

So here it is a year later and I am still learning to Party. Learning the constant negotiation of public safety and carnal desires. Getting to know what I once thought was just a fun hobby, has transformed me.  Responsibility is a muthafucker!