In St. Louis, everybody has to be seen and heard and this is something we learn very young. It all started with something called a "lock in". Who wants to be locked in anywhere and why? Who, is little, screaming, sneaking 9-15 year olds at various skating rinks around the city. Why? Because the parents of little, screaming, sneaking 9-15 year olds took it as a night off. We heard about lock ins a month in advance, and it gave plenty of time for matching outfits to be bought, hair to be pressed and lines to be stood in for the new J's. It was all the rave to the small children of St. Louis and everybody had to be there!
Now, my mother didn't let me go to lock ins. I guess she already knew what was up (Plus, even if I did go there was still a house full of kids, so it really wasn't a night off her anyway)! And what was up, was everything. OMG, if you didn't go to the lock ins you were the wackest, lamest, nobodiest kid at school. Trust me, I know. Kids came back on Monday talking about the fun they had and I sat quietly during these times wishing I could be in on the action...Not really, I just walked away and would read or something which is how I slipped into Land of the Nerds.
Though I did miss "the lock in era" I caught up fully on my clubbing! I lived and died to go the club. Started my club planning on Tuesday morning! Left school early on Thursday's to find an outfit before my shift at the mall started. Friday's were all about planning who is stealing their mom's car, what time is so and so's curfew and who was out til the sun came up! No, not in college. This was just HIGH SCHOOL! That's just how hard the club scene goes! It's all about being seen and like I said you learn early.
So now, years after high school, when I'm supposed to be enjoying my freedom and weekends off, I'm in the house. WHY? Because I'm burnt out on St. Louis clubs!!! Not clubbing, just St. Louis clubs. When I go out of town, I have a ball! There are different people, they look different, the atmosphere is different...it just feels like clubbing should!
But here, I really feel "locked in". Smushed from wall to wall, couldn't leave if you wanted to because traffic is bananas, same people I went to school with or my sister went to school with or lived down the street from my grandma,people matched up but not on purpose but because everybody shops at the same store, gets their hair done/cut by the same person, got their purse/J's from the same flea market stand who THEN have the nerve to look at you funny because YOU don't look like THEM, competing over dudes/women, got a funky screwed up face because they think you may be after their dude/woman and after a while it really becomes not worth it.
Especially when you get charged an arm and a leg to park, another arm and leg to jump the line, your left eye for the VIP booth only to find out it DOESN'T come with a bottle and the waitress is not that cute, not nice at all and doesn't even have a fat ass! They won't let you smoke AND they let stagglers in your booth AND they won't even let the guy paying the bar tab wear a fitted cap! So everybody is standing there with no arms, legs, missing a left eye, trying to drink in a booth crowded with strangers and saggy pants, ugly waitress who doesn't really care.
And yes, it's about the money. Not that you may not have it to blow, but wouldn't you rather blow money and feel good when it's all over? Like, when you leave the mall with a bag of shoes...That feels good. Spending that same amount to get a C- night, doesn't feel too good. If you're gonna take people's money like that, you should guarantee at least a B+ night...I'm just saying.
This is an opinion based off of MY most recent club cycle...I haven't been "out" in St. Louis since like....December. And that was ONLY because it was Steph's birthday. Before that, I couldn't even tell you the last time I went to a club for pure enjoyment/non work related reasons. I haven't even been to Lure or Plush at ALL! Why? Because I feel like I already know what and who I'm gonna see especially since I joined Facebook!
So now, for all the people who wonder why they never see me out and who ask me why I don't go out anymore, this is why. If the club scene has changed and shit isn't really how it used to be, let me know. If I'm over-reacting, let me know. Fuck it, if you have a club/bar/tavern/saloon that you think I should go to, let me know because for me the thrill is gone.
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