FRINGE LAB: Dublin Needs Dancefloors - creating club nights information sheet
Club culture is culture and artists are the ones to bring our dancefloors back to life!
Are you looking to start a club night but don’t know how? Do you have a club night that you’re thinking of expanding? Want to know how to secure sponsorship and licensing?
If you missed our Dublin Needs Dancefloors panel discussion on the 16 November at FRINGE LAB, Dublin Fringe HQ or if you came along and would like a record of the invaluable information discussed, then please download our Creating Club Nights Info Sheet, compiled by Artistic Projects Manager Bee Sparks.
PANEL DISCUSSION ON CREATING CLUB NIGHTS INFO SHEET.
FRINGE LAB would once again like to thank panellists Lisa Connell (Mother), Azeez Saeed (The Sweet Spot), Michal Mencnarowski (Rathaus) and chair Dafe Arugbo, who all generously imparted their knowledge, expertise and passion for creating club nights. The artists discussed what it takes to set up your own night, from funding, acts, branding, sponsors and more.
Lisa is the co-founder of iconic queer club night Mother which has grown to be recognised as a cultural mainstay in the city, Azeez is a DJ and co-founder of The Sweet Spot a culture centre in Dublin where music crosses paths with cultures from around the world, and Michal is founder of Rathaus, a photo-free, discrimination-free techno and pop night.
Chair
Dafe Orugbo, a multidisciplinary artist, boasts an impressive artistic practice and extensive industry experience. His passion lies in creating art that centres around the audience's experience, as evidenced by his work with Dublin Fringe Festival and the Word Up Collective. Dafe's remarkable musical career as one half of hip-hop duo Tebi Rex has garnered international acclaim, with two albums released and tours across Ireland, the UK, and Europe. As a writer, spoken word artist, podcaster, and public speaker, Dafe covers a range of topics, from modern-day Ireland to Greek mythology. His project Filmore! at the 2022 Dublin Fringe fused interactive art installations with live performances, drawing inspiration from internet and meme culture. Dafe's commitment to mentorship is evident in his teaching of hip-hop, spoken word, and songwriting classes for the Word Up Collective, impacting the lives of young people through initiatives like Criunniú na nÓg, Youth Reach Tallaght, and Music Generation.
Lisa Connell (she/her) is the co-founder and organiser of Mother, a queer club night for LGBTQ+ folks and their friends based in Dublin. Mother has been running weekly since 2010, and across that time, the brand has developed in scope and scale from weekly club nights, bespoke events through the year to running one of Ireland's largest Pride parties annually during Pride month, Mother Pride Block Party.
Azeez Saeed is a DJ and co-founder of The Sweet Spot a culture centre in Dublin where music crosses paths with cultures from around the world.
Michal Mencnarowski is co-founder of Rathaus, a party inspired by liberated Berlin nightlife, which has been steadily growing in popularity since the first event in 2021. Passionate about electronic music, he focuses on management and bookings, with a goal to diversify club culture in Ireland.
