DC9’s Discnotheque: Everybody Dance Now
With Discnotheque, DC9 aims for more dancing to house music and a whole lot less phone usage
Why aren’t more people dancing?
Especially at predominantly straight events, many clubgoers stand facing the DJ. And everywhere these days you’ll find a good portion of patrons on the dance floor glued to their phones.
“It’s frustrating as a DJ, because all you really want to do is make people dance,” says DC9’s Bill Spieler. So Spieler launched a new party at his club on the now-trendy 9th Street that takes inspiration from venues elsewhere banning the use of phones — notably, a strict no-phones party in New York Spieler had visited. “They actually have a specific security guard that just watches for when people try to use their phone, and they ask them to get off the dance floor.” Dubbed Discnotheque, Spieler’s party entices patrons to check their phones along with their coats by waiving the normal $5 cover if they do.
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But the party, which Spieler throws with fellow DJ Sean Morris, is a throwback in more ways than just technology. It’s also intended to be a house music-focused party that draws a mixed crowd. “DC9 has always been known as a mixed party,” Spieler says. “It’s not a gay bar, but you certainly don’t feel like you shouldn’t be here if you are gay. And we’ve always had some kind of gay party going on.”
Photo by JD Uy
DC9 has not always been known for house music — it’s best known as an indie-rock venue. “I’m certainly not as connected with people that like house as I would hope to be,” Spieler says. Partnering with Morris, one of the promoters behind the gay party Flashy Sundays at the nearby Flash Nightclub and a weekly resident at Cobalt, is one way in which he hopes to change that. He’s also added new lighting and installed a “super-beefy” sound system.
DC9 has not abandoned its rock roots, but Spieler hopes to offer more house going forward. He’s also talking with other promoters to start new events at the 11-year-old club. He’s open to more house-oriented parties as well as scheduling more house music acts to perform live.
Spieler is even considering moving the main floor DJ booth to be “a little bit closer to the dance floor.” Though of course, such a move risks people just standing and looking in his direction. “I think it’s a good thing to have the DJ booth in the back of the room,” he says. “Because there is nothing to look at. You’re on the dance floor, and dance is what you do.”
Discnotheque is held every Friday starting at 10 p.m., at DC9, 1940 9th St. NW. Cover is $5, or free with phone check. Call 202-483-5000 or visit dcnine.com.
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