Being proactive on my litnay of rants about how there's nothing to do in Ottawa, I've been working closely with a friend of mine who has opened a new bar (really classy place) on Elgin Street, and is open to doing gay events.It always seems that clubs in Toronto and Montreal host porn stars, who put on a couple stage shows, do photos and autograph signings with the customers, and in general have some naughty fun. Well, if all goes according to plan, and things work out with travel sponsor, Ottawa might be playing host in late September to Chris Rockway and Reese Rideout from Randy Blue!
Here's the question to you my vigilant viewer. Would you attend? Would, say, $10 in cover be too much? Are Reese and Chris the right guys, or would someone else be better? What sort of show would you expect for your money? There's no stupid answers... just entertainment in the making!
3 comments:
Hey Tim,
I don't know.
Anytime I hear something described as a "classy place', I immediately think it isn't.... and then when they put in the potential for porn stars to show up as a way for some straight place to cater to the gay community, ummm...... well, I'm sure it'll work, but if some gay guy WANTS to go up to that part of Elgin for a night club, good luck!
It's hard enough walking home past that Coco Loco /Sin/ cop car-ridden St. Louis Ribs aggro-scene, full of 18 year old Lohan-esque chicky mamas and gronky fist-clenched gym thugs without either:---1. trying not to laugh at their clothes or :---2. feeling like you or someone near you is about about to get stabbed, again.
Maybe that Gladstone corner needs more guys on the street, smoking cigarettes and hitting on each other to lighten up the mood.
Question re: gay/straight bars and gay-fare. Why do all the guerilla gayfare events happen at unimaginative vanilla clubs that I heard are all owned by the same people?
Do they donate anything to Pride, or is my cover charge just helping with someone's bar tab or to help them pay for their straight promotions?
What kind of guerillas pay COVER CHARGE.??
Didn't Guerilla Gay-Fare start originally in Los Angeles as a political idea, or like most ideas waiting to be mercilessly gentrified, did it just turn into some way for a promotion company of bar owners to capitalize on it?
Yeah, it's popular, congrats - but to call it an underground event / guerilla event?
I say we all take over the Chateau Laurier or walk into the Elmdale tavern or, heaven forbid.... a gay bar.. make them remember when a gay bar actually supported and wooed its customers into the place.
Looks like we've all sold out.
Well, to be honest, this is a little off topic (Guerrilla Gay Bar), but the reason the bars all seem like they're owned by the same person is because 70% of the bars in Ottawa ARE owned by the same group - York Street Entertainment. They own virtually everything in the Market, and 1/4 of Elgin St too.
The bars aren't giving anything to us for selecting them. We're just, seriously, picking where we feel the party would be best... music, nice interior, friendly staff etc... While it's true the bars these days have found out we're coming, it's because it's hard to keep a secret when like 1,500 people are in on the Facebook messages... including a lot of the bar staff from around the city too.
We can't exactly ask them to sponsor Pride by giving us a slice of the door because that would mean telling them we're coming and making a special arrangement which amounts to selling out, something I'm not going to let happen. It's intended to be a surprise.
Guerrilla Gay Bar in Ottawa isn't as activisty as it is in LA or other cities. We're not marching to a bar demanding we get free drinks and cover. We're going to these establishments because they offer something different than what Edge or CPs is giving. We're there as a reminder that GLBT people do come to their bars, if they know it or not. We're they're to party, and as a reminder to other clients not to take the evening for granted.
That's why we went to Elgin St in November and packed NIXNE to the brim - at the corner of Elgin and Gladstone.
You raise an excellent question about the "gentrification" of GGB. We did try some events, if you'll remember, at less party-esq venues such as Honest Lawyer. They were, to be fair, attended by only 1/4 of the people that showed up at the party clubs like Heaven. Therein lies the question. Do we keep GGB on an activist label with only a handful of participants, or do we broaden the base and allow more people to party?
Let me tell you this though, to date we have never, ever been offered a kickback to bring a party to any venue. We have been asked if we would consider certain venues. Some have been chosen, others not.
ANYWAY, like I said, all this is sort of off topic. The porn star thing is an idea between a friend of mine who owns a new bar at Elgin and Sommerset area. I now it's straight, but I gave up faith a long time ago that Edge or CPs were ever going to do any fun events like bringing in special guests or have a foam party, or well, ANYTHING other than what the do EVERY Saturday night.
It's what happens when it's a seller's market and you never have to offer anything special because you know you've got the only game in town.
Would I pay to see these guys? Yes
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