V.I.P. ( Very Ignorant Person )

A guest list for a club or bar, or anything for that matter, is a term used to define the special guests of the night. The ever-so-magnificent guest list may allow you to enter an event for sometimes a reduced admission or even for free.

At times it will also allow you to cut right to the front of the line. This term has been widely used around the world in the clubbing industry (I am talking about UK, Ibiza, Miami Winter Conference, festivals and mostly the Hollywood celebrity clubs in LA and Sin City). For these clubs being on the guest list or being a VIP is something you dream about — even some of the top hot celebs are refused entry to some of these clubs simply because their names aren’t on the list.

So who should be on the VIP list?

The real meaning of VIP — and I am sure you know this yourself, if you’re reading this; no need to detail it much further — is for those who fall under these categories: famous, rich and with an attitude. Please try to understand the real meaning of these words. A friend of a friend of a promoter or a fresh clubbing graduate is not famous; sporting an LV bag or shoes doesn’t mean you’re rich, and swearing at the front line or waiters is not the attitude required of the VIP. You must earn it in order to appreciate it. 

I had my most shocked facial expression when I came across some invites on some social websites with titles like “Unlimited Guest List” for certain nights at certain clubs, and I was thinking, have we reached this level of desperation? How come we don’t have that many clubbers in this beautiful city? Maybe it’s better to just make a huge sign that says “FREE ENTRY” and handle the consequences. It’s this simple: if we can enjoy a cup of coffee or Frappaccino at Starbucks worth P250 we will surely enjoy paying the same for a unique set of music by any passionate DJ and also maintain the image of the venue at the same time. Let us educate the clubbers on certain privileges they can earn.

The privilege of being on the guest list of any club or bar is to make you feel special, knowing the fact that you will probably be spending 10 times the amount of the door charges on your booze, which will still benefit the club. Again it’s a privilege you must earn, not a request. How do you earn it? Simply by being a loyal clubber, a good spender during certain events and a well-behaved gentleman (or woman).

Raising your voice at the entrance, trying to shake off some bouncers won’t get you anywhere; in fact you may end up on the blacklist rather than on the happy list. Now here are some tips on how you should act when you are on a regular night out with friends, your GF or a group of out-of-town backpackers:

• Lineups outside a club that is longer than Gisele Bundchen’s legs can be discouraging, but should not be an issue if you are up for great night.

• If you’re going to a trendy, posh nightclub, then dress the part, or “dress to impress,” as many would say in Manila. This means wear a nice pair of pants, a classy shirt and (relatively dressy) shoes. In other words, don’t wear jeans, a cotton T-shirt and sneakers. Though you can mix some classy shirt with your branded jeans; and even if you’ve got the right style on top, don’t even think about wearing a runner.

• On the same note, make sure the people you go with know the rules too. Remind them or you may risk being shunned by the bouncer because one member of your posse is wearing shorts with flip-flops, carrying on his shoulder the excuse, “I just arrived from the yacht club.”

• When you get in line, make sure that you’re in the right line. Most of the trendy clubs and events have one line for VIPs and another one for the regulars. You don’t want to waste 20 minutes waiting in the VIP line, then find yourself having to go back to the end of the other line.

• Meshing and mingling with others might be your ticket inside. Women have it relatively easy when it comes to getting into clubs. All they have to do is flash a little bit of this, strike a smile at the bouncer, and voila! They’re inside the club in a few minutes. You can’t exactly flaunt your physical attributes in order to get into a club quicker, unless you and the bouncer met at match.com.

• Chat and mingle with the ladies in line. Don’t be sleazy and act like you’re picking them up, just be friendly with everyone. Your goal is to blend in with the hot gals in line so that you get in as a unit.

• Once you are inside don’t be a request pest. If you have requested a song to be dedicated it to the cute Chinita you’re chatting with, that’s almost a no-no for a DJ in a regular club. So don’t keep going back to the DJ with more requests, or just to remind him to play your song. Try that and the DJ will end up dedicating the song Loser (by Beck) to you.

Who would’ve thought that there are lots of rules involved in going to a nightclub? I would say the best rule ever is always have a blast!

Work hard, party even harder!

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This is where your music education continues in “Young Star” every Friday. You can also check it out online through philstar.com and on Facebook.

Comments and suggestions? Feel free to e-mail me rickydaker@gmail.com.