MANY people, in their thinking, associate nightclubs nearly exclusively with young night owls. But new types of nightclubs are changing this stereotypical thinking. Numerous nightclubs for partygoers of all ages are opening their doors in Europe and the United States, aimed at making the nightlife scene eminently more accessible.
A lot of individuals are of the opinion that a person has to make a choice between partying and getting a good night's sleep. But Annie Macmanus doesn't think so. The Irish DJ, known as Annie Mac, recently announced her plans to host a night out at the club for those who want to be in bed before midnight.
"Before Midnight ... is a very simple idea. Ad sometimes I think the simplest ones are the best ones," she said in a video posted on Instagram. "Everything about it is the same as a typical nightclub, except for the time it starts and the time it ends."
While most nightclubs close their doors in the early morning, Before Midnight will welcome partygoers between 7pm and midnight. This will accommodate music lovers who don't want to wait all night to see their favourite DJ perform.
"You should be able to access DJs at an earlier time in the same way that we can access bands and other music artists. And you should be able to get a good night's sleep at the end of it," Annie Macmanus says in her announcement.
While the DJ explains that the Before Midnight initiative is aimed at "Cinderellas," it could also allow older people to be better integrated into the nightlife scene.
Contrary to popular belief, Gen Zers and millennials aren't the only ones who go to nightclubs. Many nightclub customers are middle-aged Gen Xers or even baby boomers. More than 3.7 million Britons over the age of 45 attend rave parties every week, according to a study cited by DJ Mag.
Clubbing as a family activity?
Recent years have seen the appearance of many club nights for older clubbers. This is the case of the "Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet" events. These London parties were launched in 2010 by Nikki Spencer, after she was refused entry to a bar in Soho when she was in her 40s.
They are mainly aimed at 40- and 50-somethings, although anyone over 18 is welcome.
The Posh Club has a different policy. You can't join if you are under 60, except as a companion or volunteer. Every week, about a hundred retired people meet to participate in these tea dances. On the program: tea and canapés, of course, but most importantly retro music to sway to.
Annie Bowden and her brother Simon Casson had the idea of founding the Posh Club to cater to seniors, who like their mothers, sometimes feel lonely. Seniors of all ages participate, including Irene Sinclair, a 109-year-old British woman.
In the United States, some clubs cater to a much younger audience. Every month, hordes of children come to CirKiz parties to get down in a family atmosphere. It all started with an idea of Jesse Sprague and Jenny Song.
The couple, regulars at nightclubs, wanted to introduce their sons, Aiden and Jalen, to the world of nightlife in an age-appropriate environment. So they decided to organise kid-friendly daytime parties at some of New York's most popular clubs.
The average age of these events' participants? Eight years old. Proof that fun really has no age. – ETX Daily Up, April 6, 2022