theblueark said:
What you have to know is the context of the report. This is a report largely for business travellers. The panel of judges consists of writers, editors,
analysts, marketers, managers and other sector professionals.
This is why I find it even harder to believe. There is no indication when this survey was done. Judging by the timing, (I'm only guessing), should be around the same time IMF was held here. Because that is period where all these professionals flock into Singapore at one go.
So far I have done shows in several countries and the clubbing scene overseas are largely differently compared to Singapore. Australia has primarily remained similar to Singapore clubbing concept but with clubs like Club Oak revolutionising the club scene there, it has evolved into something major for the DJs and Producers. This is not something "digestable" in Singapore, such that locally, we are greatly sucked by "branding".
Overseas club scene is also variant from that of Singapore because of music knowledge. Elsewhere, people know what kind of music they like, they go to specific clubs because they are being catered for, no matter what the trend is. Here locally, it's about following trend blindly. Most clubbers - not all - don't even know what genre of music they are listening to.
(I was laughing the shit out of myself when a girl beside me talking to her friend, she loves the trance music this DJ is playing when my folks all knew it was Tech-House...)
A typical example is "Progressive". Under the 100+ genres of music from 1970s til now, the commonly heard "Progressive" has never ever been classfied as an official genre. But yet, it seems like a "cool" thing to call out progressive here, progressive there. Next we have the RnB and Hip Hop trend. And suddenly, all the minimalist clubbers start going to that, because wanting to be seen as trendy, and thanks to Pop.
Now you can see, Singapore has NEVER been a trend setter, but a trend follower. That's how vibrant the club scene is in other countries. They can explore, expand, influence and lead.
It's silly to link chewing gum ban to clubbing scene. And there are much more than having big names here. Most of my friends who came from US and UK were shaking their head. And oh ya, did anyone know a "gay theme" party was not granted the license to be held at MOS on the reason that "it is an unhealthy theme for the society"? But yet, at Zouk, we used to have things like lesbian "girls only" parties. Go figure that...
In Thailand, we do have clubs like Beds Supperclub that closes at 3am to 4am. It's my favourite club in BKK by the way.
In Taiwan, the huge amount of parties organisers specializing in their own genre of music. When you hit Taipei, The Roxy cannot be missed! It's the biggest name in Taipei, residing in a space that used to be a nightclub.
US and UK, needless to say, the trendsetters.
Take my words for it, many folks will not agree with my statements, especially for someone in nightlife ... DJs, club promoters. And did anyone know DJ Aldrin won the title of "Best newcomer"? Title aside, with Zouk's rich history of more than 10 years, and Aldrin almost spending his entire career there, all he got was a "newcomer". I asked all the promoters abroad, do they know about Zouk or rather Aldrin ... they go HUH? Who the hell is that?
That's how little a baby Singapore is to them.
DD
