What do DJs think about clubbing as "just something you do in your 20s"?

In my younger days I preferred going to “raves” as they were called back then. The clubs were just a place to meet up with friends and network, but the underground parties were where the action was. This was back in the mid-late 90s and that all changed when new laws were made to stomp out these parties.

For a while I didn’t have much choice but to go to clubs. Sure, there was some good music and fun people, but it wasn’t an adventure like the rave experience. Still, I stuck with it for a few years, but in the past year or so I haven’t been out at all. Is it because of my age? Yes. But it’s more accurately because of where I’m at in my life, not the number. Some people get to this point in their 20s, some in their 40s, some never get there.

A few reasons (or excuses?) I don’t go clubbing anymore:
-Don’t enjoy the music that comes thru town as much as I used to
-Don’t like being the “old guy” in a room full of 20 yr olds
-Got tired of the politics and drama of the club scene
-Got married, settled down, etc. Time is limited.
-Work became more than just something to do while waiting for the next party. My job became my career.
-Don’t “party” like I used to. Pretty clean, actually, after all these years.

Thanks! Been using the avatar for a while now but I can’t take credit for the design. Actually it’s been so long I don’t remember who made it for me, but I love still love it!

And yes, raves used to be more than an event; they were an adventure. Spending all Friday afternoon picking out an outfit (yes, I was once a JNCO wearing, white glove dancing, pacifier chewing goofball. No, don’t ask for pics), making sure we had party favors, refreshments, etc, picking out a selection of mixtapes for the ride to and from the show, and getting in touch with friends and planning where and when to meet (this was before everybody had cell phones so we had to plan ahead). At the designated time we had to call for the “map-point” location, and we all met there for a little pre-party. Sometimes we just hung out and traded mixtapes in the parking lot, sometimes they actually had a local DJ there. Once we got the map to the venue we were off!

The venues were pretty cool too. Sometimes they were just empty warehouses, sometimes old roller rinks, a few times we went to an old fairgrounds after hours, or sometimes in the middle of fields, or maybe at racetracks, or in empty strip malls, or in parking garages. My first party was in an old junkyard that had been turned into an outdoor paintball arena. I think one of my most memorable shows was at Bishops Castle. We’d be partying til the sun came up, we’d grab a bite to eat, go home, sleep a few hours, then meet at a park or something for BBQ and to plan the show for the next evening and the cycle start over again…

But when the promoters started getting shut down, some tried to move the events to club settings. Sure it was more legit and legal, but a lot of the magic was lost. I feel sorry for the kids just coming into the scene today that didn’t get to experience that.

So maybe I’m jaded when it comes to clubbing nowadays. I’m not saying I’ll never go to another show, but will I ever be a weekly club fly again? No way. That period of my life is long past. But I know a lot of people in their 20s or 30s or older that do still enjoy going to clubs. They are generally cleaner, more organized, more centralized, and have built-in sound systems and gear.