Elise Briggs spoke to new club promoter Michael Griffin about his big adventure.
Mike Griffin came from near the Highlands of Scotland to the badlands of south east London, where his new club is tipped for success. I wanted to know how he came to be here.
So, what got you into the club scene in the first place? My first night out in London actually, me and my girlfriend at the time went to see Duke Dumont for a fiver at XOYO, just off Old Street. One of the promoters gave my GF his card, but I contacted him instead.
“I’ve got nothing to lose so might as well gee it a bash!”
I sorted out some guest-lists and did online promo stuff for them and their club nights. Alex & Henry also helped out with a club night called DURRR which was run by Erol Alkan’s wife. This was a dream come true for me as Erol was the first DJ I ever saw, and instantly one of my childhood heroes when I was about 14 or 15 at The Reading Rooms in Dundee.
My home town club is in my opinion one of the best clubs in the UK hands down. It was the only place in town that actually played good music, anything from reggae to techno, I basically lived there in my late teens and it’s now run by all my friends.
What background do you have in the event industry? I work for the nightclub Farbic in London, learning the ropes to be an artist liaison for them – a dream job to say the least. Before that I did various odd promo jobs for bits of extra cash (really only to get me and my friends free entry for nights out.) I’m currently helping out with distribution at Oslo in Hackney. Also done promo work for Dollop, Percolate, Dimensions, Outlook festival and other friends’ nights, so that’s why I feel it’s time that I start my own night.
What’s inspired you? Well I’ve been to as many raves and parties down here that I could possible. Burned way too many calories busting sick moves on a dance floor getting my sweat on. I’ve seen pretty much seen all my favourite artists, most of them multiple times over now. After spending countless hours sticking up posters and smashing out flyers to thousands of people, I figured I’ve got nothing to lose so might as well gee it a bash!
Have you had any help? Aye, I was surprised by the response I got when I decided to put on my own night. The boys from the disco have been a great support along with other guys that run their own nights. All my pals said they’d come down and show there support. A few guys have offered to help out by supplying the equipment etc, helping with the necessary promo stuff and actually playing some jams. Going to the University of the Arts in Camberwell, means that I have the best contacts, and people that are on the same wavelength.
Do you think areas such as the Deptford and Peckham need more club nights? Where I live there doesn’t seem to be any sort of night life around, so most people venture further into town. Think Bussey Building in Peckham is the closest club but still that’s quite a fair trek. A lot of young people don’t really plan to go out until last minute, like they always say ‘the nights out you don’t plan are usually the best’, and really we’re catering to that kind of crowd, so something on their doorstep would be ideal. Many students are not keen to pay up to 20 quid entry prices, or £5-10 for a drink. Never mind possibly wasting three hours of your night in a queue. Having something local will save loads of kids the drunken trek home on the night bus, and waking up in Kent. I mainly just want to put on a decent party for my friends to get loose and enjoy themselves without regretting it too much when they look at their bank account the next morning.
“A regular party that connects to the local community particularly that of Deptford, Lewisham, Greenwich, New Cross, Peckham and other surrounding areas for wee boogie and social.”
So tell me, how is your night going to be different from other events on offer? The night will be called MOTIVE and it’s a work in progress. I study Graphic Design at Camberwell so I’m wanting the artwork as part of a series, so the posters for each of the events link together hopefully as a set. I’ve got little to no budget at all so looking into the university’s resources to produce my posters/flyers! Hoping to use the waste photography paper and develop artwork on it for the first poster design, reusing material and saving the environment. I’m also going to letterpress the flyers as the inks are free so I will just have to pay for paper. I’ve got some friends from local universities to help out and spread the good word.
I’m keeping entry price as low as I can at £3 all night long, and drinks will be on offer for £2.50 for a double of house spirit and mixer. There’s not many places that can offer hot jams and prices like that on a Friday or Saturday night. It’s a basement club with a wee chill out spot inside. Plus it’s five minutes walk from my house for the after party!
What’s the competition like? There’s not many well known nights in the area…. The closest ones are probably at Bussey Building or Rhythm Section at Canavan’s, or even Corsica Studios near Elephant and Castle. But still these are a bit of out of the way. I’m looking for a smaller more intimate party run by myself and my pals, just playing our favourite jams and seeing where it goes…
Who are you appealing to? UAL / Goldsmiths / Greenwich students. But not strictly only students, of course – anyone is welcome. A lot of my friends have now left university so it will be a mixed crowd. Basically if you’re nice you’ll get in, but of course there is a no drugs policy.
“Come check oot the vibes and see if you enjoy your night.”
I have to ask your views on the current election and who you’re voting for, if you are at all? I’m not voting, I try not to get involved with politics because if I did I would have to change something. If I had to, I would vote SNP.