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Dark Greetings to you,
My
name is Sir William Welles, and I am
the creator of New Goth City! Let me
take this chance to say
hello..."Hello."
If you are reading this, then you
are either: A) new to the Goth
lifestyle and scene, or B) a Goth
who has recently moved to the N.Y.C.
area (most of the basic stuff will
be prior knowledge to you) and are a
bit lost in such a big city of dark
opportunity. Either way, I would
like to welcome you, with open arms,
into our dark little secret corner!
Following my little commencement
speech here, you will find all sorts
of advice, information, and tips
amassed from fellow Goths in N.Y.C.
who, just like you, were once 'Newbies'
too! You will find that although
this might seem like a large city,
our community is quite small and
close-knit, but growing. You see...a
few years back, the N.Y.C. Goth
scene was much larger, and prospered
greatly. But all of that changed
when certain landmark events and
venues disappeared almost
over-night, thus leaving the
community without a solid sense of
direction for quite a while. A
handful of club organizers and DJs
farmed out and created smaller
events to bring a pulse back to the
scene, and in turn they've created
what we like to call: "The Great
Goth Renaissance!"
Enough about history, though...you
are entering this scene at quite an
exciting time! No longer are Goths
considered "angst-ridden teenagers
going through a phase," now there
are individuals in their 20's, 30's,
40's, 50's, and even up to their
60's who are proud to call
themselves Goth! Within the scene
you will meet artists, medical
professionals, performers, business
people, students, dancers, writers,
lawyers,
web designers, magazine editors, dominatrices, professors,
architects, filmmakers, and many other
professionals. |
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Many newcomers
to the Goth scene, no matter where,
are usually very intimidated by
being judged by those around them.
This is the number one concern,
across the board, from those I've
talked to who recanted their tales
of "Newbieness." The chief complaint
was that the elder Goths came off as
cold and non-accepting of those new
to the scene...this makes for a lot
of gloomy people standing in corners
at events and parties. Hell,
everyone goes through it...I still
do! While it is, as tradition would
dictate, the very nature of a Goth
to be standoff-ish and wary of those
around them, the constant fear off
being labeled a "Poser" is fresh in
everyone's paranoid mind. However,
it is when you gain the mindset of
"I don't give a flyin' fuck what
anyone here thinks about me!"
will you realize that you are truly
immersed within the Goth lifestyle
and scene...with some other
mandatory details, of course.
So, without any further ado...let's
get started with the information and
tips that will help you navigate our
wonderful dark realm!!!
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The first, very important,
thing you should know about
the Goth culture is that it
is primarily centered around
music. This is because Goth grew out from
Britain's Punk, New Wave,
and Glam movements. The
remarkable thing about Goth
music is that, especially
today, it covers so many
genres of sound such as
Darkwave, EBM, Deathrock,
Industrial, and the
like. We can have huge
debates about Goth music on
any given night, but for now
I want you to get familiar
with certain music "staples"
that define the basic Goth
sound, and that you will
eventually hear time and
time again within the scene.
Below is a list of must-have
CDs compiled by
DJ Cyn
and suggestions from various
friends
(Explore the links for band
profiles). Sure,
more can and be added to the
list, but let's start here:
(Band Name - Album Name)
And One - Best of And
One
Apoptygma Berzerk - 7
Bauhaus - Crackle
The Birthday Massacre -
Walking with Strangers
The Chameleons - Return
of the Roughnecks
Clan of Xymox - Medusa
Combichrist - Everybody
Hates You
Covenant - Sequencer
The Cure -
Disintegration
Frontline Assembly -
Live Wired
Front 242 - Front by
Front (reissue)
Leæther Strip - Solitary
Confinement
London After Midnight -
Selected Scenes from the End
of the World
Ministry - The Mind is a
Terrible Thing to Taste
Nitzer Ebb - Body of
Work
Project Pitchfork -
Early Years
Rosetta Stone -
Adrenaline
Sisters of Mercy -
Slight Case of Overbombing
Siouxsie and the Banshees
- Twice Upon a Time
Skinny Puppy - The
Singles Collected & Too Dark
Park
KMFDM - Angst & Curse
(Symbols)
VNV Nation - Praise the
Fallen & Empires
Wolfsheim - Best of
1987-1995
Wumpscut - Music for a
Slaughtering Tribe II &
EmbryoDead
There are also some
compilation CDs in most
major music stores at the
very end of the
Rock/Alternative section.
While very general, they
could be a good
representation of the more
classic Goth sound of the
80's and 90's.
For additional music, check
out these Free online radio
links:
Gothradio.com
Gothville.com
Vampirefreaks.com
www.wfku-radio.com
(a N.Y.C.
based internet radio station
featuring local DJs)
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Ask any Goth
what his or her favorite
color is, and the answer
will always be the same:
Black. While white is the
combination of all visible
light, black is the complete
absence of light, meaning
that (if you remember
science class in High
School) anything black
absorbs light and reflects
none back to your eyes. You
can do what you will with
that nugget of information,
but the appeal to black
clothing within the Goth
culture represents
many-a-thing. Mourning,
mystery, state of emotion,
absence, elegance,
tradition, etc., are all
very good reasons. But other
colors do appear in the
scene from time to
time...red, blue, and purple
are popular...as well as a
deeper shade of black...but
you have to look toward the Cybergoths for a wild
assortment of color.
Whatever your style is, just
remember one thing: make
your own style, and own it!
Use others' style and
sense of dress as
inspiration, but never,
ever, ever copy it. To be
Goth is to be creative...use
your wardrobe as a blank
canvas. Just be sure not to
include jeans as one of your
palette choices!!!
Goth clothing shopping in
N.Y.C. starts at two places:
Gothic
Renaissance,
located at 11th street and
4th Avenue and
Trash &
Vaudeville,
located at St. Marks Place,
between 2nd & 3rd Avenues.
Then you might look to the
internet for some more
fashions. Personally, I use
Gentleman's Emporium for
Victorian gar, or for more
bold fashions be sure to
visit
fuckthemainstream.com. There are
scores of website out there
that are all too willing to
dress you...but for that I'm
going to direct your
attention to a certain
magazine called
Gothic Beauty Magazine.
They are chock full of
information in regards to
fashion, lifestyle, music,
and a good resource for
online shopping.
And that leads to... |
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Along with the mandatory
reading of
Gothic Beauty Magazine
mentioned above, there are a
few selected books that
delve into the history, and
current pulse of the Goth
scene (and some just for
fun...Goths do have a sense
of humor, you know...just a
really dark one). I suggest that you
read at least three of these
books to get a good sense of
the scene as a whole.
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Always, always, ALWAYS have
your I.D. (Driver's License,
Non-Driver's I.D., Passport)
with you at all times! This
is a no-brainer and
shouldn't even be a tip
here, but you would be
amazed at how many times
I've seen people (even in
their 30's) walk around
without any source of
identification on
them...especially in a post
9/11 world! I know that I am
rather adamant about this
subject, but this is due to
a personal tragedy I went
through as a child. So, once
again...If you don't have
I.D. on you, don't leave
your house!!! |
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And speaking of
I.D.s...let's discuss Night
Club etiquette! (This is
gonna be a long tip)
Entering into a nightclub at
a Goth event for the first
time can be quite
intimidating, to say the
least. Every one of us feel
the same way every time we
go to a brand new club, we
don't know what to expect or
who'll we see
there...unfamiliar
territory, as it were. And
if you think you're nervous
about it, just think how
jittery the event's
organizer is, trying to get
as many elusive Gothlings to
his or her event! No wonder
we Goths come across as
solemn, we're all too busy
hiding the fact that we're
all nervous and jittery!
LOL!!!
But all kidding aside, in a
perfect world, every event
we'd step into would be a
gloriously dark room with
just the right music
playing, where everyone
knows your name...and were
all glad you came (Great!
Now I have the 'Cheers'
theme song stuck in my
head!). Well, until our
OPERATION DARK BAR
mission is complete, that
perfect world remains a
fantasy. So now, as a Newbie
about to take his or her
first steps into the
underworld nightlife scene,
here's what you're going to
do...
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First, pick one of
these three
Newbie-friendly Goth
nightclub events:
Contempt,
Salvation,
Underworld, or
Wierd. Now,
while none of these
events have a strict
dress code policy,
try to wear at least
all black clothing
as to not stand out
like Paris Hilton at
a Mensa meeting!
(If you got offended
by that last
joke...you don't
belong
here...Goodbye!)
Moving on... |
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Upon arrival at the
event you have
chosen, show your
I.D. to the Door
Keeper...unless
you're an old fart
like me and they
just wave you in.
But showing your
I.D. isn't just to
prove that you are
of legal age to
drink. You'll find
out, especially if
you go to
Salvation's at Don
Hill's, that
showing/scanning
your I.D. serves as
a security measure
as well...you
know...in case
anything should go
wrong (use your
gruesome imagination
here)...body
identification
purposes, perhaps? |
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Next, pay the price
of admission and get
stamped on the hand,
or get a fancy-schmancy,
brightly colored,
plastic wristband
that will inevitably
clash with
everything you are
wearing! [POP
QUIZ: What
color clothes should
you be wearing?] |
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After that ordeal,
walk forth to your
DOOM!!! Not
really...just walk
into the club. Now,
the good thing about
Goth nightclub
events is that they
are none too bright,
so if you are really
petrified about
looking or feeling
out of place, just
pick a dark corner
and observe the
scene. If you are a
bit braver, and I
know that you are
(how patronizing
am I right now,
hmm?), you're
going to confidently
move onto the next
crucial step... |
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Go to the bar!
*GASP* This is the
nexus of the entire
place...the watering
hole, if you
will...and for the
time being, the
bartender will be
the only friend you
have in this dark,
cold world. As
bartenders, they
have to be attentive
to you...it's just
good business
practice. However,
at a vey busy night
the bartender(s) may
be distracted or in
over their head to
pay attention or
even notice
you...don't take it
personally. And if
you've been to any
hipster joints where
you have to wait on
line to get in, you
know that it is
much, much worse in
those places!
Whether you are a
drinker or not,
order something...a
plastic cup of soda,
a bottle of beer, a
glass of
blood(bath), a flute
of
Champagne...anything!
Whatever you
do...don't order a
glass of water! If
H2O is your poison
of choice order a
bottle of spring
water...never, ever
a free glass of
water! That's the
quickest way to make
an enemy out of your
only ally here. Now
that you have your
drink in hand, and
after the
"UNHOLY-SHIT-THAT'S-A-LOT-OF-MONEY-FOR-WHAT-I-JUST-ORDERED!"
shock has left your
brain, be sure to
tip the bartender
very well for this
first drink (I
recommend $2.00).
This somewhat small
act of generosity
will come back and
reward you in the
not-to-distant
future...trust me.
The next course of
action is to now
nurse your drink for
a while and observe
the scene around
you. Take in the
sights and the
sounds. Let your
eyes adjust to the
comfort of the
darkness surrounding
you. Notice those
around you
(without staring
them down as if they
were freaks at a
sideshow...well...maybe
that guy over
there...), and
pay particular
attention to
everyone's sense of
style. You will soon
find that those
around you are quite
individualistic when
it comes to their
personal style. Me,
for example, I sport
a more Victorian
Romantigoth style
with a splash of
Vampyre
elegance...but
that's just me.
Other Goth styles
are helpful in
recognizing and
remembering
individuals at
future events as you
get to know more and
more people and
start seeing the
same familiar faces
month after month.
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O.K., from here you
have several options
for your next plan
of action: A) You
can remain at the
bar; B) You can go
and look for
someplace to sit; C)
Go out onto the
dance floor; or D)
Go home 'cause your
bored out of your
gourd! Let's explain
each option, shall
we:
A) Remain at
the bar.
With this option
you're going to get
a little bored after
a while. This is
perfectly normal,
and it is during
this lull of
interest that you
start to notice all
the various postcard
sized flyers that
are littered on the
bar's countertop.
These are pint-sized
advertisements
tossed about by
other event
promoters to alert
you to their next
event. This is a
time tested
practice, and in the
time before New Goth
City, this was how
Goths learned of the
next big party to
attend. Problem was,
if you missed one
night, you were out
of the loop! With
your nursed drink
getting smaller,
take this time to
read through some
flyers that seem
appealing to you,
and remember to keep
them for your next
night out (some
flyers acts as a
coupon for admission
at certain events).
B) Go sit
somewhere.
Getting to a
nightclub and
standing at the bar
can be some tiresome
work! Looking for a
comfy seat, and
maybe a table for
your
"running-on-fumes"
beverage, gives you
the opportunity to
move through the
crowd and explore
the venue a bit.
Take notice of the
restroom's
location...
yeah, you'll need to
know that important
bit of info for
later use...also
take notice of the
DJ booth. Why? I
don't know...just
take notice of
it...couldn't hurt.
If you are lucky
enough to find an
available seat, park
yourself in it and
continue to observe
the scene from a
different
perspective, while
putting on you best
brooding face!
C) Go
dancing.
This option is for
either the
incredibly brave,
the incredibly
dance-worthy, or the
incredibly drunk!
Now, I am not a
dancer...at all...so
I'm not going to
give you any
enlightened dancing
advice; however, one
of the greatest
things about being a
Goth is that you can
dance like
Frankenstein hopped
up on ecstasy and
crack and still look
pretty damn capable
on the dance
floor....just don't
go into a seizure
type dance move. If
the rhythm is
hitting your hips at
just the right tempo
and you feel the
need to go strut
your stuff, by all
means do it!!! Only
once did I see an
entire dancing crowd
stop to gawk at a
fool flailing
about...and that
fool they were
gawking at was me
because I am
notorious for
not
dancing! This is
also a good chance
to get exposed to
some new music
beyond those
mentioned in tip #1.
If one song in
particular really
peaks your interest,
don't be shy about
asking the DJ
(remember, you
noticed the DJ booth
before) what was the
song that just
played...DJs loooooove to talk
about their
playlists...just
don't ask the name
and artist of every
other song! (Quick
tip: Some
DJ will actually
post their playlists
on their websites
and/or MySpace pages
for you to
reference.)
D) Go
home. If
the club is totally
lame and devoid of
people, you could
always opt out to
just pack up and
leave. But wait just
a minute before you
do, though! Before
you go, realize that
most, if not all,
Goth nightclub
events don't get
really interesting
and crowded before
12:30am...it's a bad
habit within the
scene, but that's
the reality of it!
S, stick around and
give it a chance up
until 1am or so.
I've seen scores of
people pay for
admission at 10pm,
maybe get a drink or
two, find themselves
really bored, and
suddenly bolt for
the doors a mere 10
minutes before the
real party got
underway...don't be
one of these people. |
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Now that you know the basics
of what to expect at a Goth
nightclub event, here are
some other little obvious
pointers worth mentioning:
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Don't get sloppy
drunk. |
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Never start or
provoke a fight. |
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Never piss off
anyone on the
Venue's staff. |
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If you go outside to
smoke, keep your
voice down as to not
annoy any
surrounding
Day-Crawler
neighbors trying to
sleep. |
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Carry a pair of foam
earplugs if the
music gets too
loud...no one wants
to be deaf at the
age of 31. |
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If you use the coat
check, pay the fee
when you check your
coat, and then leave
a one or two dollar
tip when you
retrieve it. |
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Even though you
technically have to
be brooding and have
an air of complete
indifference about
you...try to have
fun! Just don't get
caught smiling!
LOL!!! |
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And, lastly, if you
see me at a
nightclub event,
don't forget to come
up and say "hi" and
buy me a glass of
white wine (with a
glass of ice on the
side)!
;) |
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If you haven't done so
already, get yourself a
MySpace.com and a
Vampirefreaks.com
account! They're both free
(although Vampirefreaks.com
does have a paid premium
membership available), and
it's the best way to
communicate with, and keep
in track of the people
you'll eventually meet in
the scene. You are more than
welcome to visit and
befriend the New Goth City
profiles by going to to the
following links:
www.myspace.com/newgothcity
and
www.vampirefreaks.com/newgothcity! |
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This next particular tip
might seem a bit
self-serving at first...but
hear me out...
Use the New Goth City R.I.P.
Pin to you're advantage. The
original purpose of the
R.I.P. (Really Important
Person) Pin is to serve as a
Goth community symbol.
Outside of also acting as a
coupon to certain events,
retail stores, restaurants,
and such, it is intended to
be worn proudly by those in
the N.Y.C. Goth scene and
identify, rather discreetly,
of course, fellow
like-minded Gothlings. If
you see someone wearing a
New Goth City R.I.P. pin,
you should know that you
automatically have something
in common with them! Think
of it as being part of a
secret underground
society...oh wait...it's
exactly like being part of a
secret underground society!
And if there are any R.I.P.
owners who are not Newbies
but are reading this (and I
know there are...I can hear
you breathing), please be
accepting to anyone you
might encounter that
utilizes the Pin as an
ice-breaker. It's all in the
name of preserving our
community! |
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This tip is more for
those new to the N.Y.C.
area...
Even though we
encourage using the subway
as means of getting around
by showcasing subway
directions on each
individual listing, please
be aware that the N.Y.C.
subway system is about as
loyal and reliable as a five
dollar hooker at a .99¢
store...don't ask. Numerous
delays, last minute service
changes, and other
inconveniences make it a
veritable crapshoot as to
whether you'll end up in
even the right borough every
time you step foot onto a
subway car! So my advice is
to constantly be aware: read
the signs...even though
they're not always correct;
listen to the announcements
over the speakers...even
though you can't hear them
right due to the crappy
sound quality; and try to
position yourself toward the
midsection of the train,
close to the
doorman/conductor, in case
you need some quick info, or
in case of emergency. A
little known, but quick way
to locate this position on
the station's platform is to
look for this long and
obscure sign toward the
middle:
Doesn't it just look just
like a pair of Lolita Goth
stockings? |
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The easiest way to be part
in, and integrate fully
into the Goth scene is to
actively contribute to it.
If you can provide a service
and/or skill that can be
useful to those in the
scene...by all means do it!
For example, the entire New
Goth City concept and
website is my way of
contributing. Don't just be
a casual observer of the
scene...be pro-active in it
and you'll be recognized for
it. Like I said before, this
is a valuable, close-knit
community...word spreads! |
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Going back to the chief
complaint expressed by most
Newbies about Goth elders
giving them the cold
shoulder, I'd like to say
that if you see me on the
street, on the subway
(hopefully I won't be lost),
or at a nightclub event, do
not hesitate to walk on over
to me, say hello and
introduce yourself, and have
a conversation with me! Just
like everyone else, I was a
a Newbie to the scene at one
point...I know how it's
like..that's why I'd like to
personally like to met you
and welcome you to the
greatest, most creative and
unique sub-culture in the
world!!! |
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And there you have it...my (and
other Goths') pearls of wisdom! If
you have any really good tips that
you think should be included on this
list, feel free to
email
them to me and I'll add them in! I
hope that you use these tips to your
advantage and in doing so you will
find that the N.Y.C. Goth scene
isn't such a scary place after
all...a spooky place, sure...but not
scary!
And always remember...The Night
Belongs To Us!!!
See you
in the Dark!
Sir
William Welles
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