getting in & getting the girl: an underground guide to nyc's most exclusive nightclubs
TRANSCRIPT
An Underground Guide to NYC’s Most Exclusive Nightclubs
GETTING IN & GETTING THE GIRL
We are the founders of Captivix: an online video dating company.
In addition to running our company, we are currently starting our own NYC nightclub, and we’ve spent the last 8 years club hopping, learning the rules & the norms because we love meeting people (and dancing).
Our dating company evolved from the same simple idea: it’s better to
meet and talk to people live.
WHO WE ARE
• Be social. Doormen want guys who will interact with the girls. Girls want guys who are outgoing.
• Talk to people who are waiting in line, talk to the bathroom attendant, talk to the bartenders. It will pay off.
• Be Positive. Negative energy pervades the clubbing scene: anger, antagonism, frustration. Be the exception; you will be noticed and appreciated.
• Bring a lot of energy. People will want to be around you, which means clubs will want you, which means girls will want you.
• If all else fails, just smile. A good smile goes a very, very long way.
GETTING IN & GETTING THE GIRL LESSON #1: ADD VALUE
• Don’t be somebody you’re not; girls and doormen are always looking out for people who overplay their hand.
• If you’re confident (and, by the way, be confident), make sure every part of your eye contact and body language reflects this confidence.
• If you’re going to tell the doorman you’re on some list, make sure you actually know that person.
• If you’re confident enough to approach a girl, maintain that confidence when you talk to her.
• At the end of the day, it’s better to be honest & straightforward. If you pretend to be someone you’re not, they will notice.
GETTING IN & GETTING THE GIRL LESSON #2: BE CONGRUENT
• Money can buy you club entrance and can buy you girls. But that will become your value added and you’ll be expected to bring it to the table every time.
• Tip a bouncer for letting you in, and next time he’ll expect a bribe for entrance.
• Pay for a table at a club, and the doorman will let you in again only when you’re paying for another table.
• Buy a girl and her friends drinks all night, and they will expect the same treatment the next time they’re out with you.
• Or, you can add value in different ways (see slide #1). • Decide what game you want to play: monetary vs. social.
GETTING IN & GETTING THE GIRL LESSON #3: MONETARY VS. SOCIAL
• You’ll hear this one over and over again, but only because it’s tried & true: Have an abundance mentality.
• In order to get it, you need to be willing to lose it. • Don’t take rejection personally. • Know that you can have an amazing night without that
particular girl or that particular club. • If you are truly not attached to the outcome, your demeanor
will reflect that status and value...and everyone will want you.
GETTING IN & GETTING THE GIRL LESSON #4: ABUNDANCE MENTALITY
• Don’t make a big deal out of anything. • It’s just a club approach. • It’s just a girl. • At worst, you’ll have a good story about rejection. • And with that…
FINALLY: JUST HAVE FUN
Let’s take a look at some of our favorite nightclubs; places filled with stories of
inebriation, debauchery, and, of course...rejection.
WE INTRODUCE OUR FAVES...
The night’s perfect Warm-Up!
GANSEVOORT MEATPACKING ROOFTOP
Door Difficulty
Moderate
The line Can be quite long on a summer Saturday night. Get there early if you have a large group.
How to get in Have a good ratio. The more girls, the better.
What else to know
The rooftop is open every night and always draws tourists. On weekdays, you’ll find groups of professionals who want to take it up a notch after happy hour. On weekends, more people come with the intention of sticking around for the night.
HOW TO GET IN
Crowd Generally filled with tourists, novice clubgoers, and pick-up artists who are looking to pick up tourists and novice clubgoers.
What to drink Mango shots! Most of the bartenders will make them for you. Strong but taste like juice!
Best features 1. Outdoor pool (not open generally) 2. A retracting rooftop and veranda. 3. Consistent Top-40 music. 4. Even for veteran New Yorkers, a
stunning view.
Our favorite time / nights to go
We love it as a pre-game / meeting point before heading out to the nearby clubs.
THE CLUB
Models & Bottles
AVENUE
Door Difficulty
Difficult
The line There is a line, but it turns into a mob as the night goes on.
How to get in It’s an extremely small club, so keep your group small. Bring tall, hot girls, or be prepared to pay up for a table / bar minimum.
What else to know
The doorman is one of the toughest in the city; be confident, but patient. He rewards people who handle the situation well -- don’t lose your cool. Doesn’t work out? Try 1OAK right around the corner.
HOW TO GET IN
Crowd Girls: beautiful. Guys: promoters, or bought tables.
What to drink Champagne.
Music/Dancing Depending on the night, music is a mix of hip-hop / electropop. The club is very small and table-centric, so dancing space is limited and gets tight very quickly.
Our favorite time / nights to go
Go on a Sunday/Monday/Tuesday to catch the best crowds.
THE CLUB
Don’t try to speak French if you don’t speak French.
KISS & FLY
Door Difficulty
Moderately Difficult
The line It exists, but it does move.
How to get in Have a good ratio, or get on a promoter’s list.
What else to know
Don’t pretend to be something you’re not: this club has a largely European crowd, so “don’t try to speak French if you don’t speak French”
HOW TO GET IN
Crowd European except on Wednesday hip hop nights.
What to drink If you stay long enough, the bartender will jump on the bar and pour shots into your mouth!
Best features 1. Bartenders that have neat bartending tricks and jump on the bar
2. European house / electro-pop music
Our favorite time / nights to go
They have one of the best Tuesday night parties. Wednesday if you like hip-hop.
THE CLUB
The gloves come off
LAVO
Door Difficulty
Difficult
The line It forms early and stays long through the night. The bouncers enforce it well.
How to get in The doorman will give you the time of day, but he runs a tight ship so make sure you have a good group.
What else to know
Start with a casual drink at the bar/restaurant upstairs, and head down to the club when it opens at 11:30pm. The earlier the better for getting into this place!
HOW TO GET IN
Crowd Mostly early to mid 20s but always people who want to have fun.
What to drink Anything to get your energy going: red bull & vodka.
Best features We absolutely love this dance floor. Filled with high energy, smoke guns, scantily-clad dancers and, obviously, great music.
Our favorite time / nights to go
Saturday night, though we love the brunch party in the restaurant upstairs!
THE CLUB
Britney Spears had her birthday here in 2006.
TENJUNE
Door Difficulty
Moderate
The line Standing in the line can be a somewhat reliable way of getting in, and is moderately enforced by bouncers.
How to get in If you bring girls, they’ll be fair and let you in with just a cover. No girls, and you’re looking at a bar minimum / table.
What else to know
Tenjune has been a Meatpacking mainstay for years, but it still attracts a very consistent crowd. The place is filled with young professionals and other good-looking people who want to have a good time.
HOW TO GET IN
Music Combination of Top-40 and Hip-Hop.
What to drink Start with vodka/soda, move on to shots of Patron later in the night.
Dancing The dance floor gets really crowded; make your way towards the DJ to avoid having drinks spilled on you. Added plus: the music reverberates all around you!
Our favorite time / nights to go
Grab a Thursday evening drink at the Standard and then make your way to Tenjune to dance the night away.
THE CLUB
It’s back! (And better than ever)
MARQUEE
Door Difficulty
Moderately Difficult
The line There are often a few; make sure you get in the right one so you’re not standing put all night.
How to get in It’s a big club, but the door is tough so keep your group small, nimble, and good-looking.
What else to know
It’s the same club and location from the 2006 Marquee that you know and love, but it’s back and better than ever -- definitely check it out!
HOW TO GET IN
Crowd Eclectic, but extremely high-quality. Good-looking girls and well-off guys of various ages and backgrounds.
What to drink Jack and coke to start the night, and shots of Jack to end the night.
Best features It’s as close to a mega club as Manhattan has left (and it’s not that close), but they can hold huge parties there.
Our favorite time / nights to go
Wednesdays, or any night when they bring in a famous DJ!
THE CLUB
Walking on a Dream...
PHD: DREAM DOWNTOWN
Door Difficulty
Moderately Difficult
The line The line forms at the door of the hotel, while the club is all the way to the back. The line is outside; the doorman is based within the velvet rope on the inside.
How to get in The more girls, the better. Keep in mind the entrance is inside a hotel, so the lights are bright. Look good.
What else to know
Always reliably filled with several promoter-driven tables that have incredibly hot girls. Outside of that, financiers buying tables. You can also expect the occasional celeb sighting.
HOW TO GET IN
Music They opt for more of a hip-hop theme than their counterpart Lavo, but lace it with Top-40 influences.
What to drink Orange Stoli and Soda.
Best features The indoor – outdoor setup in the summer is amazing! Unparalleled views of NYC skyline.
Our favorite time / nights to go
We love the sunset brunch parties on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s an afternoon club that turns into a nightclub as the sun sets!
THE CLUB
Catch Meatpacking On the top floor of Catch restaurant, part of the well-known EMM group.
No. 8 Chelsea Revitalized version of the famous Bungalow No. 8.
Boom Boom Room / Le Bain Meatpacking Both on the rooftop of the Standard Hotel. Entrances are right next to each other and the doors are very difficult.
Simyone Lounge Meatpacking You know it as SL; previously a finance hotspot.
Finale LES First big foray into LES clubs. Very big club, electronic music focus.
OTHER CLUBS