The S.H.I.T.T.S Podcast

The Pulse of Chicago's Nightlife: A Conversation with Moe773

Monsoon Staraw/Moe773 Season 8 Episode 179

Hey there, party enthusiasts and aspiring event promoters! You're in for a treat as I, your host, Monsoon Staraw, get down to the nitty-gritty of Chicago's vibrant nightlife scene with our very own insider, Moe773. Join us as Moe773 walks us through his journey from a fun-loving party-goer to a seasoned event promoter. He spills the beans on the hurdles he faced while setting up his first event, the significance of consistency, and understanding your audience.

Ever wondered about the role of DJs and hosts in turning a regular party into an unforgettable night? Well, wonder no more! Moe773 lays down the importance of having a DJ who can feel the pulse of the crowd and mix things up to keep the party alive. He also emphasizes on having a host who knows how to keep the attendees engaged when the music alone isn't enough. He takes a strong stand on creating an inclusive vibe that caters to everyone, irrespective of their gender or sexuality, making this a must-listen episode for all party freaks!

We also delve into the challenges and opportunities that make Chicago's nightlife a rollercoaster ride. Moe773 brings to light the impact of responsible behavior and black ownership in elevating the city's party scene to an unparalleled level. He addresses the influence of social media on artist pricing and how it has escalated the competition among non-owners. Wrapping up the episode with a fun rapid-fire game, we reveal how quick decisions lead to surprising self-discoveries. So, get ready to get uncensored insights and backstage secrets of Chicago's nightlife in this thrilling conversation with Moe772

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: The SHITTS Podcast. Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart Radio. Subscribe and comment.

Speaker 1:

Yo, what up, what up, what up? Y'all. This your boy, monsonsterry. Yo, welcome to the Shits Podcast. So we're either shooting the shit, starting some shit, or picking up a shit left off. Yo, I'm your host, monsonsterry. All the coolest cats you heard thus far. Yo, check it out y'all.

Speaker 1:

This week I got a very special guest to the podcast. I say this because we've been talking about there's been numerous conversations around the city of Chicago talking about Chicago nightlife. Is it there? Is it not there? What needs to happen to it? Me myself, I remember going out to certain clubs like Slicks, the Dragon Room, all types of stuff. I remember going out to the spots and having a great time. Now you know what. I'm not going to express my opinion, I just feel like it's changed. So I have a very special guest to the podcast this week. My man is deep in that scene. He's deep in that club scene putting on his own events, going to other events, offering gyms. I've seen my man on Chicago Media Takeout offering gyms and I had to get him on the podcast. With that being said, I want y'all to put y'all hands together and make some noise for the one, the only, mol773, y'all.

Speaker 2:

What up bro, what's good, what's your name? I'm good man, can't complain man Can't complain.

Speaker 1:

Not at all, man. Thanks for coming on, man, straight up. First off, man, I just want to say man, thank you for your time, man, because I always tell people time is way more important than money. Man, you know what I'm saying. You can't get time back. You can get money back if you can't get time back. So, with that being said, man, first off I got to get some shots out to the Ownership Club. Check us out every Sunday on Saw 106.3. Sunday's, 9 pm to 11 pm, and also, when y'all get done checking us out from 9 to 11 pm, head over to the Hottoway, 1245 Burnham Avenue in Cayman City, illinois, y'all. Yep, I always like to do a check in with our guests, man. So, since you're the guest this week, how your week been bro.

Speaker 2:

Oh man, it been cool. So far. My boy's been going a little in and out.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 1:

You got some events going on this week, right?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, I got Friday night we doing island vibes this week.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 1:

And what does that?

Speaker 2:

Friday night party. It's on 127 Cally Med Park.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 1:

Oh, is that what's the name of the spot, though? What's the name of the venue?

Speaker 2:

Island vibes.

Speaker 1:

Island vibes. Okay, okay, okay, okay, Back back. So let me ask you this, bro when you from.

Speaker 2:

I'm from out west.

Speaker 1:

From out west. Okay, okay, you know it from Chicago. When he said out west, he ain't even said it west, he said it from out west. So you know it from Chicago. What made you get into promoting events?

Speaker 2:

Man, I had a homie that was doing it. You know I always used to go out and party a lot back in the day.

Speaker 3:

It was something that I admired.

Speaker 2:

You know what I'm saying. I had a small interest back in the day. We just spent a lot of money yeah, spent three, four days and weeks to buy us sessions.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And it's just something I always admired. And then I had a homeboy. He ended up getting into it and I just tried it out with him.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Been doing it ever since about 10 years now 10 years, dude, that's man.

Speaker 1:

Congratulations, man, because you know, with this city man and I'm not trying to shit on it, you know what I'm saying but with this city man, it's like it'd be hard for things to stay consistent. You know what I'm saying. For you to be in it for 10 years, that's commendable, bro. Real talk Straight up.

Speaker 2:

That's what I pride myself on too. I have been definitely one of the most consistent over the last 10 years as a promoter.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 1:

I've wanted to be definitely Okay. What was the biggest challenge you faced with the first event that you threw?

Speaker 2:

Not knowing what I was doing. You know, we were some street guys and just thinking everybody gonna show up at your party because you're there.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2:

You don't even care of what you got going on.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and it don't work like that.

Speaker 2:

You know what I'm saying. Yeah, they might come to that first one, but that next one you're saying people not coming every week.

Speaker 1:

Right, okay. So let me ask you this, bro why do you think that is though?

Speaker 2:

It's just the nature of the business man. You know it's something that you learn over time. Yeah, you know, to get your saying, your friends, the people that you expect to be there every week.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

You know you're driving that way.

Speaker 3:

Right, right Right.

Speaker 2:

And we spent a lot of money you know what I'm saying Trying to learn the game and marketing. You know, going to the radio stations running commercials. We're back then. It was something that we would do. Yeah, you know, bringing out different radio hosts, booking the best DJs. We was doing live broadcast. We was trying everything, man.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Get that thing off the ground and it would work for them nights that we did that, but on a weekly, every week.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it wasn't it.

Speaker 1:

So, out of everything, out of everything that you just named, like you said, going to the radio stations, you know, paying radio personalities to come out doing live broadcasts what do you, out of all that, what do you think worked the most?

Speaker 2:

Out of all of that.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, whoa, whoa.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

For real.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, man, the thing is, you gotta know the people man.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

That's the biggest thing. Until you, you know, build a relationship with the people. You gotta know the people who are outside three, four days a week.

Speaker 1:

That's a good point bro.

Speaker 2:

That's a good point. You gotta be outside to know who outside you know what I'm saying. So you gotta do your market research and being in circles to know man these people outside during the week.

Speaker 3:

Right.

Speaker 2:

It's a different party during the week than it is on the weekends.

Speaker 3:

That's true, that's true.

Speaker 2:

You gotta be in that way On the weekends you get some of everybody. Okay, you got college kids, you're working class. Whoever, you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

On the week. You got more of your chill stuff. You got more of your pleasure. Daddies, you know what I'm saying. There's more of a different atmosphere during the week the daddies, okay, yeah yeah, the nice women. You know what I'm saying. Yeah, the weekdays is more of the vibes. You know what I'm saying On the weekends is doing the masses out.

Speaker 1:

Okay. So if you had to put an age range on the crowd that you would get during the week, what age range would it be?

Speaker 2:

I would say 21 or 35.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Maybe 40 at the max you know Okay. Yeah, that's usually about the range.

Speaker 1:

And the weekend is like this all over.

Speaker 2:

It's all over the place. You know, depending on who your crowd catered to, you're going to get whatever that is.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 1:

Okay, okay. You've been in the game for 10 years, bro, and, like I said, I commend you for that. I sincerely do. What do you think promoters are doing right?

Speaker 2:

Keeping it going, man. We trying, even with all the obstacles we face in the city you know what I'm saying. We still trying, you know and that's how we can keep doing is trying to provide and curate nice events for the people and hoping that at some point they start to turn back around like they used to be.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I mean honestly, bro, that's what I'm hoping for. You know what I'm saying, because I remember. You know what I'm saying. I remember going out two, three days out the week. You know what I'm saying, and you can't. First of all, you came home safe. That was the main thing. You know what I'm saying. You came home safe and then the other side of that man, you came home with a story, bro, you know what I'm saying. Well, you can be like man. This happened, you know. Your partners then kicked it. You know what I'm saying. Some wild stuff didn't happen, nothing aggressive or violent, but it's like man, something that you can still talk about. And I just think that you know. I really don't want to even say this generation, because you can't put it on this generation, because it's a lot of older knuckleheads too, you know what.

Speaker 1:

I'm saying Like Buddy just shot up the spot out west.

Speaker 3:

My man was?

Speaker 1:

he was 48. You know what I'm saying. So I was like why are you even there? So, but yeah, I do think I appreciate, man, like just the fact that y'all trying to keep it going. What do you think? What do you think some promoters are doing wrong?

Speaker 2:

Uh, knowing your crowd is being. You know what I'm saying and it's sad that as a promoter, we have to be in these positions. You got to know you're inviting out, you know, because then you have issues where you got this faction over here into with these people. But if you know both of them, you cool with both of them. They support your events, but then when they come to your event they clash in heads.

Speaker 3:

Oh.

Speaker 2:

If you don't have a the respect of them crews, to where you could go in a in a V and be like, yeah, man, don't do that, it's my party home, you don't do that. You know I'm saying right right. It's a problem Now. A lot of times, don't people? You know what I'm saying. They will respect you, but you still got some that they ain't respecting shit. You know what I'm saying. They just don't Right. Yeah, it is what it is. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2:

I'm a blessing, where I do get a lot of respect from you know the different people who I invite out.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Sometimes you might not know these people coming it's. It was some younger guys that you don't know. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Right, right, right Right.

Speaker 2:

And that could be a problem. You know, and that's from you know the bougiest parties to. You know they try and people try and think that all is the bougie crowds. Don't get that. Well, that's not true. I've seen it happen over the years. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, you always get a knucklehead.

Speaker 2:

You know what I'm saying, Whatever you doing.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Once the party you know starts to gain that attention, you know you just attracts that right. There's nothing that we can do about it.

Speaker 1:

Right when you start to think about the elements of just promoting promoting an event and nightlife period how important, how important is dress code to you? Like the person that's that's curating the event. Like how important is dress code?

Speaker 2:

I think it's important, depending on the venue, that you're doing okay and the location you're doing in a day of the week? Oh, I'm saying okay, you know the weekends you down time you need to have on your best.

Speaker 3:

You know, okay, yeah.

Speaker 2:

During the week it's a little bit more relaxed. You know I'm saying yeah crowd during the week, the crowd not really night coming out. You know, too dressy, no more. That's something that has changed over the years, you know back in the day we used to have to come with it. We couldn't wear gym shoes and we used to have to go get those special shoes. That's a cup to the club.

Speaker 1:

You couldn't even do Timbs, they wouldn't even let you do them. Joe, exactly.

Speaker 2:

You know at what point you had to have collar shirts and all kind of stuff.

Speaker 1:

Right, right. Yeah, I didn't got turned through a few times for not being a dress code. You know what I'm saying. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, those, those days have changed with you know. I'm saying the youth Right as, and the thing is, the hip hop kind of dictates a lot about our culture and the music is dictating the dress codes nowadays because it just got to a point where the youth was like man. We're not doing that. We're not going to buy collar shirts and we're not going to buy special shoes. We want to wear what we got.

Speaker 3:

Right.

Speaker 2:

And nightlife had to adjust or it was falling off. You know what I'm saying? You have to adjust with the times.

Speaker 1:

So, with that being said, do you think, do you think, that the nightlife had to, or do you think like it was? You know, promoters just felt like we know we don't want to run the risk of losing, of losing this crowd or losing this revenue, so we just going to just. Or do you think that? Do you think that if people would have held, held the, held the ground and just stuck to it, that eventually they would have that that crowd would have came around and just stuck to the dress code?

Speaker 2:

No man, they had to adjust and I was one of the people that adjusted with it. You know, I used to do a lot of stuff downtown at one point and then I had a homie. He pulled me to the south side with him. You know this is mega club stuff. It was a new, new thing to me coming from the downtown scene, and I'll solve it. What no dress code.

Speaker 3:

No, not at all. Once I once.

Speaker 2:

I went once I went to the south and seen what they was doing. You know it took me a little while to learn and adjust from being downtown, but once I got it, man, it just it was night and day. You know the downtown guys here to adjust because outside, where all the money was, you know, we had four, five clubs all doing 1500 people plus every Friday, saturday, you know yeah, yeah, yeah. And you know, the decline of the downtown life was just they was taking it away, man.

Speaker 1:

So why do you think that happened though?

Speaker 2:

Well, the violence the violence and the racism. You know I'm saying niggas don't know how to act. And it's sad. Even in cases where it wasn't gun violence, you know you will have people fighting. And because it was a black establishment. You know I'm saying that, that district over there. They just would get to get it shut down or threaten the ownership. You know I'm saying we'll shut them down if they continue, you to do black parties.

Speaker 3:

Right, right right.

Speaker 2:

You know, risking their licenses, they turn away from us and just would do white business. The thing that turned them around is where they smartened up, where those owners. It got to the point where they started booking the black talent. So they had their, you know, basis of people white whether it be white or whatever other race it was, you know, not black, they would book the black talent. So now they book in the black rappers all the artists and they bring them, and that made a difference.

Speaker 2:

Okay that made a difference. So now they could still get the attention in a way they wanted, but they didn't have to let us in.

Speaker 3:

Wow.

Speaker 2:

And their people were willing to pay those premiums to see that black talent, which is something that they weren't getting before.

Speaker 1:

Wow. So you know what, dude, when you said black talent, you said you said rappers. I just thought about it, man, I'm thinking like nowadays, in this social media era, could black talent also include like influencers?

Speaker 2:

actors yeah, actors ballplayers, all of that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's crazy, man it is. It is seemed like every time, every time that we as black people kind of get like a stronghold on some, the powers that be, or sometimes white folks, they find a way to tap into that shit and then cut motherfuckers out and then, like you said, we some, some niggas, fuck it up because they don't know how to act and then it makes it worse for the people that's actually on a business. You know I'm saying and trying to make some stuff happen. So that's, that's man, that's toe up Like I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm an 80s, I'm an 80s baby. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1:

So, like, I understand the importance of DJs when they come to hip hop. You know what I'm saying Because I understand that the DJs came first, before the rapper. You know, you, being a curator of events, how important is the DJ to the events that you, that you promote? And the second part of the question is is the venue? Can? Can a DJ outweigh the venue? You see what I'm saying. So the way I can explain it like, even if the venue is not top-notch, if you get a A-list DJ, is he able to really, or they able to really bring in the crowd, even though the venue is not that well known.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and you know, sadly we only have a few of those in the city right now. I would call A-list DJs or that the crowd follows.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's only two or three Come on, bro come on.

Speaker 1:

Are you serious?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean this. In my opinion, it's only two or three that the crowd really follows. You know what I'm saying?

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

But the DJs make or break your party. You know what I'm saying. You got a wack DJ that can't read the room and no one to turn it up or turn it down. The DJs make or break your party.

Speaker 1:

And you know what it's like. I've been going to events for like the last two, three years, man, and I've been saying I've been saying it to myself, but I said to some people sometimes, but I'm saying to like, dude, I think people don't focus enough on the DJ. You see what I'm saying Like really bringing in a DJ, like you said, that knows how to read the room, and I think that some people feel like DJing as you just come in and you just spending records and then that's it. I'm like, oh, bro, it's so much to that man. These DJs, the really good ones, they study. You know what I'm saying? They study records, they study responses, bro, and that's a whole different skill set right there, yeah, man.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and then a lot of times the DJs. You know it's a two from one. You know, are you a?

Speaker 1:

DJ and an.

Speaker 2:

MC. If you're not an MC, do you got an MC with you that could pick up what you don't like to talk? You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Right, right right.

Speaker 2:

You know, Katie moved to some of the crowd where you might be slacking off or y'all could put together some things to go back and forth off each other to keep their crowd involved. All that plays a part, you know. So you got to know your DJs too. So if your DJ is not a talker, they not want to keep that crowd active. You need to have an MC, you know what I'm saying Right right, they go hand in hand, but some DJs they have to do both. They can do it by themselves.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah. So what about? So what about host Like, because I know you said sometimes DJs, they may have an MC with them. What about DJs that don't Like? Do you think how important is the host when it comes to these parties?

Speaker 2:

Hosting like the MC hosting right.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It's very important. When I'm saying MC, hosts are meaning the same thing.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So it's very important, man, If your DJ don't talk to have a host that can get the crowd into it, also pick up on the vibes. If the DJ missing the cues to switch things up, your host picking up on it. They go hand in hand.

Speaker 1:

Man, dude, you know what. I'm so glad I'm having this conversation with you, man, because I really do think that a lot of like this is something that a lot of people don't are not really aware of. You know what I'm saying, because sometimes I think people just put events together and they feel like it's at this venue, it's on a Saturday, it's nights outside, people should come out. No, it's not that easy, bro. You know what I'm saying. And then, even when you're speaking about DJs, you know what I'm saying. Like have a book and a DJ that knows everything that you was just saying, you get what I'm saying. Compared to somebody that's got their playlist and they're going to run through their playlist regardless, you know what I'm saying. Like they're not even going to worry about what people respond to, they just going to run through their playlist. It's like no, bro, like this is a job.

Speaker 3:

You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1:

And go ahead. I'm sorry.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, they gotta know how to switch it up. You know if your crowd not responding to the newer music, you gotta be able to go back and hit them with the older school. You gotta know when it's time to switch to some R&B or some reggaeton or whatever. You gotta be able to be versatile at what you're doing.

Speaker 3:

Right right.

Speaker 2:

Because the most important thing is the ladies having a good time.

Speaker 3:

That's what.

Speaker 2:

I'm about to say so you gotta make sure that ladies is in to it. They dancing, they drinking, they enjoying themselves. The ladies ain't vibing. Your party ain't on nothing.

Speaker 1:

I was just thinking that, bro, I was just thinking because I'm but you know what, I'm being honest with you, though, in this day and age, in this day and age with you know, with gender, well, how can I put this? Not people questioning their gender, but with this whole movement of I'm, this gender, and you know, stuff like that, like sexuality, is more open these days. So it really made me think, like is it, is it still that important just to cater? Is it still that important to cater to women? When I don't want to be offensive when I say this, people all over the place, you know what I'm saying. So is it still that important to cater to women? You know?

Speaker 2:

It definitely is. It definitely is that hasn't had an effect on the parties overall. You know what I'm saying. I'm not sure what they do in their own specialized sense. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Parties or whatever. I'm not familiar with that kind of scene.

Speaker 3:

You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2:

But in our, in our parties, the regular shit you know what I'm saying the ladies is the most important aspect.

Speaker 3:

Okay, okay.

Speaker 1:

Is? Is people still like? The last, the last couple of parties that I went to, I ain't, I ain't had no slow slow music at all. And I ain't talking about like slow like GD back at a bus. Slow, not like that. I mean like slow it, like slow down music, like are DJs really still playing that?

Speaker 2:

You mean more like R&B, R&B vibes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, where's just like that's the time, where that's the well. I don't even think we're fucking slow dance in the clubs, no more.

Speaker 2:

They don't do that, they do play. They do play the music, though.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

It's usually well, depending on what kind of party you got on, because they got some R&B parties and things going on now.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Outside of outside of those R&B parties and things that's catered to just that vibe is usually closer to the end of the night.

Speaker 2:

So you're like your last 30 minutes. You know 30, 45 minutes of DJ usually start to slow it down. You know what I'm saying. To give you a chance to get a crowd, a chance to calm down First of all everybody, not all hype. You know what I'm saying. When it's time to get you a chance to. You know, if there's some ladies in there trying to get to the ladies, smooth it out a little bit, they show your time if you ain't made your moves already. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Right, so you can last 30, 45 minutes.

Speaker 2:

They usually slow it down.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, like if you ain't got nothing biting around 2am, you going home alone, so just as we all call it a day you were speaking about you were speaking about marketing earlier, man. So I know like with the increase of social media Instagram, tiktok, stuff like that it may seem like it's easier to put a flyer on your Instagram page or your Facebook page or TikTok. But to you, how important is it to still get out there with flyers and put them on the car windows and hand them out to the people and stuff like that?

Speaker 2:

Man, that's like the one of the lost essence. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

It's definitely not big anymore, you know.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

It's not as important as it used to be.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

But at the same thing, you know, posting on Instagram ain't all of it either.

Speaker 3:

Right right, right right.

Speaker 2:

I see people post flyers every day, all day, and can't get nobody to come outside.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So it's talking to the people, knowing the people, meeting the people, building them relationships. You know, when you start getting people out every week, you gotta build every poor with them.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

That's the biggest thing, more than anything, is building a one-on-one relationship with the clientele, making sure that the people who come in know who you are, introduce yourself. You know what I'm saying. If y'all not following each other, following each other or exchange numbers, whatever, so if you're, having different things.

Speaker 2:

You can invite people out. Having a database as a promoter is the biggest thing, because at that point I don't have to post a flyer. I can call everybody in and say hey, we here tonight. I need you outside to support me. You know what I'm saying. Come forward with me Right. That's important. You know what I'm saying. You can do that without having to post a flyer on nothing.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Everything else just adds to it.

Speaker 1:

Okay, okay. Also, you earlier you spoke about the radio. Do you think that Chicago Radio does play a big role in Chicago Night Live, and if it doesn't, how can it play a big role in Chicago's Night Live?

Speaker 2:

It doesn't anymore. I think now people only use radio for really big events, you know, booking an artist or you're doing some comedy shows and things like that. I don't hear a lot of club things on radio and less is something that really you know. A newer business that's trying to get that word out there, but the established venues they don't even do that no more. It's kind of an outdated thing. The younger generation, a lot of them don't listen to the radio like that.

Speaker 2:

They're always in the iPod I mean on the iPhones, you know what I'm saying Playing with the iPhone too, and now you got podcasts and all kinds of things that's pulling you into your phone and keeping you off that radio.

Speaker 3:

Right, right right.

Speaker 2:

I think the effect of that radio station has definitely declined from what it used to be.

Speaker 1:

Wow, wow. I mean I can definitely see where you're coming from with that and then also with podcasting, because I think with podcasting you get the opportunity to kind of have more of an intimate interaction with the people and, like you said, it's right there on the phone when you think about Chicago Nightlife and, like you said, you've been in for like 10 years, right.

Speaker 3:

Yep.

Speaker 1:

What do you think can happen? What do you think can happen that can really bring that Chicago Nightlife to an elite level? You know what I'm saying. Sometimes I don't like comparing to other cities, but just to be honest, you have to compare to other cities. You know what I'm saying, because if anybody has been outside the city, you go somewhere and you like busing. You know what I'm saying. So what do you think we have to do here? Whether it be radio personalities, whether it be artists, whether it be promoters, whether it be the people period, what has to happen to bring Chicago Nightlife to an elite level?

Speaker 2:

A couple of things. One, the people we got to get the people to act, right man.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

That's the biggest issue. If we could get the people to act right, then I think we'll be able to initiate some of this change. Getting the people to act right is number one, and then a black ownership would be number two.

Speaker 1:

Okay, elaborate on a black ownership.

Speaker 2:

Okay. So when you go to these cities Atlanta, houston and the B Pacific you have a lot of black ownership.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And you know, people are ages and younger. These are not the older generation, these are young people owning these venues. Some of them own multiple venues. I know some of them personally.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

I witness they rise. So when you got these venues, the things that have changed from now how it was some years ago is the artist pricing is astronomical now due to social media, and how much money these artists are getting paid for these festivals and doing their own things like that.

Speaker 3:

Right.

Speaker 2:

You know they don't want the club money, no more. They still want you to pay them. Like you know what we used to be able to book Young Jeasier somebody for 20,000,. You know he wants 50, 60,. You know, oh yeah, and if you don't own an establishment, there's no way you can get those kind of people into your venue and still make your return Right Cause on a night like that, say, if I was a owner, if I was a owner and I had a venue and I could fit enough, sacrifice 500 people, I wouldn't mind paying Jeasier that money. You know what I'm saying. I'm not gonna make a dime that night, I'm gonna break even that best. I know that me continually having the people like that that you know the city want to see it's gonna take my venue to where it needs to be and a lot of owners don't understand that aspect.

Speaker 2:

Everybody looking for what they can make today. You know they don't understand that keeping the longevity at some time about that investment.

Speaker 3:

Right, right, right, right, that's what the.

Speaker 2:

You know a lot of the white clubs are doing now. You know they start outbidding us and you know for people like we used to book for, book future and shit like that. And now they, they outbid us so they can get them. You know what I'm saying? Wow, and make it to the point where it's unaffordable for us to make their money back as promoters, right, you know they got the bar and they got the door and they got the money back and they can make all that money back.

Speaker 2:

As promoters, we usually just got the door and maybe a small percentage of the bar. Yeah, but they got it all. So they do everything that they can do. They do everything that they can make their money back. You know, yeah, so those are two biggest things that we need to get some the people to act right and we get some black ownership man, I think I don't think it'll be to the levels of those other cities, but I think it could be pretty close, you know.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

We just don't have the people living here like that. You know, all the celebrities are moving to those places.

Speaker 3:

There you go, Houston.

Speaker 2:

Dallas. You know, Texas got tax breaks so they can go down there. They ain't got to pay no state taxes on their money. Right, you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Houston, I mean Atlanta, is just the black mecca. And then you got places like Miami, where a lot of people gravitate to. So yeah. We just can't compete with that.

Speaker 1:

And you know what, dude, I'm really glad. I'm really glad you said what you said, man, because you know, I've always thought that. So, like you said, to get those artists to come in and book those artists for that night and not, the prices are different. So what was once 20,000 is now 50,000, 60,000. You get what I'm saying. But I also listened to you earlier when you said about building relationships with people. You get what I'm saying. So I listened to all that and they make me think about if we had our celebrities, if we had the artists that come from here, that have those relationships with the promoters. They're saying you know what, you, my man, you know what I'm saying. So I'm not gonna hit you for the 20 cheese. You see what I'm saying, so I'm gonna help you out, you know, and I'm gonna stop through your event. You know what I'm saying, just on some love.

Speaker 1:

You get what I'm saying. I always think like, wouldn't that help? Wouldn't that help our scene? Wouldn't that help our entertainment industry in Chicago? You know what I'm saying. But I feel like, one, we don't have the people here. You get what I'm saying. Two, it's like if they do come here, I'm more worried about getting robbed. You get what I'm saying. So that's huge. So it's just like, man, I be thinking about it all the time, man, like what is it that we can do to help build it up? But you really hit it on the head, man, when you say it's the people, the people gotta change. So it makes sense, man, it makes total sense. And that's getting us crazy, man, because Once again, like you said, you're getting outbidded by a white club for black talent. You know what I'm saying, man. Once again, bro, that's nuts. Man, that's nuts. In your opinion, what would, in your opinion, the top three Chicago clubs of any point in time, whether it be the 90s, 2000, whatever the top three Chicago clubs?

Speaker 2:

Any point in time.

Speaker 1:

Any point in time.

Speaker 2:

That's tough. That's tough man. I've been around it all the time. I've been through some great nightlife Lumen Thursdays.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

That was one of the best nights. You had hearts. At one point it was Slicks. It became Hearth's later.

Speaker 1:

I love Slicks, jack, I ain't gonna need a lot to.

Speaker 2:

At one point it was Slicks. It became Hearth's. Later Hearth's used to go crazy. You say three.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Let me fold it. I got two of them.

Speaker 3:

Okay, okay, okay.

Speaker 2:

Hearth's Lumen. Hearth's Lumen. One of my personal favorites used to be the 151. What was that?

Speaker 3:

That was the 151.

Speaker 2:

It was right on Ohio.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Right on Ohio and I think LaSalle right before the corner.

Speaker 1:

Okay, okay, okay okay.

Speaker 3:

It was 151.

Speaker 2:

Every Thursday that was a VIA, that was an A&O party. Sorry, I'm homey-O. That was a real dope spot. And for the last one I got to take it to the south side, to the staple Adriana's man. Adriana Got to take it outside.

Speaker 1:

Yes, sir, yes sir. So A when you think about all of them spots, bro, do you think they incorporated everything that you said to really build a night up, like the people that were behind those nights?

Speaker 2:

I think the city didn't try everything, because every promoter is different. Okay, so you got your fraternity sorority promoters, who they just promote to fraternity sororities and working class.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

You know the upper echelon kind of they try to stay on the black echelon side. Okay, and then you got your promoters who just they cater to more of the baddie crowd. They cool with all the nice little chicks in the city, yeah, yeah yeah, they get a lot of nice chicks out. They able to get some of the ball players and stuff like that in the city just to fall through their bodies and stuff like that.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

You know, you got that kind of crowd. Then you got your crowd who get to the street dudes. You know what I'm saying. The street dudes that got a little money. You know what I'm saying. Who gonna come out and spend some money, but they still get some of the nice ladies out, right, you know what. I'm saying you got that level and then you got your just ratchet bottom, whatever. You know what I'm saying. You got a. It's all levels. You know what?

Speaker 1:

I'm saying Right, the sexy reds, and you know, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, and sometimes those levels end up interchanging, okay, you know what.

Speaker 2:

I'm saying Like I say once your party get hot you know what I'm saying you can get some of that bottom level at that top, you know.

Speaker 1:

Oh, okay, okay, that makes sense, that makes sense, man. So, man, hey, bro, like I said, once again, I truly appreciate your time, man, because I know you got a lot of stuff going on. You got the day party coming up, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Day party Sunday, november 12th. Okay, 10 doors. We doing a Carisha please, game night and day party. You know it's going to be a fun dope event. You know what I'm saying. You know we're going to play the game a little bit and we're going to have some fun. Man, this event is strictly for catering to the ladies. You know what I'm saying. So it's going to be a lot of nice looking ladies in the building for this one, just doing something fun, trying to you know what I'm saying Get us, the ladies, something fun to do, just to set up a regular party.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

You know we're going to pull out some of the cars for the games. You know how to get on if you're familiar with the game. But like, if you ain't, if you ain't did this, you got to take two shots.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you know what I'm saying Okay, that sounds like fun yeah.

Speaker 2:

We ain't going to get too, too crazy with the cars. We're going to pick some of the more modern stuff.

Speaker 1:

Oh, no, fuck that. No, bro, fuck that. No, you got to go all out.

Speaker 2:

Some of the cars like tell you home, we to pull this joint out.

Speaker 1:

Oh, no, no, no, no we good we good, we good.

Speaker 2:

We going to pass on them.

Speaker 1:

We're going to pass on them. That's a Will Smith party. No we good bro, we good.

Speaker 2:

But like the boys, like that, kiss the closest girl to you or take some shots we going to pull out that you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1:

Yes, sir, yes, sir yeah.

Speaker 2:

It's going to be a good time, man. It's something that the ladies already kind of fucking with. So okay, cooperating there with the vibe. You know what I'm saying Some good music. They got great food. It's going to be a good time.

Speaker 1:

And where's that at again?

Speaker 2:

It's bartender. It's 1275 West Taylor.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

It's right in West Loop area.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Yeah so that's Sunday. November 12th.

Speaker 1:

And that's what's, and what time do we start?

Speaker 2:

It's from 5pm to 12am.

Speaker 1:

That's what's up. That's what's up, all right, man. So, speaking of ladies, man, I got to ask this question. Man, all right, it's kind of off topic, but I got to ask it, all right, do you think people with big noses are better or worse at 69?

Speaker 2:

I don't know man, I never thought about it. I don't know, and I, you know, I ain't never really had, you know, too many girls with like real big noses. I ain't maybe one or two out of the three. Right, I can't, I can't even, I don't know. That's a good question.

Speaker 1:

I for so, for so, for so, amen. Real quick I got this game that we doing on the show man Hold on, hold on, hold up, hold my shit together, hold up, wait a minute, all right, so, all right. So the name of the game man is called. It's called first of all. So, basically, all you doing, bro, whatever come to mind, whatever, whatever first thing popping your head, that's your answer. And the whole thing is you're trying to see how many, how many, you can answer in a minute. All right, you ready.

Speaker 1:

Yep All right, here we go, all right, all right. Quickest way to get fired yeah, lazy Quickest way to get hired, going over and beyond. Quickest way to get robbed.

Speaker 2:

Not paying attention to your surroundings?

Speaker 1:

Quickest way to get famous.

Speaker 2:

Sex tape Quickest way to get blocked Doing stupid shit, quickest way to feel good. Have sex.

Speaker 1:

Quickest way to get your ass whooped.

Speaker 2:

Talk crazy to the wrong one.

Speaker 1:

Quickest way to start a business. I'm lying. Damn Quickest way to be misunderstood Talking to people that's not on your level.

Speaker 2:

Quickest way to steal from Walmart Self check.

Speaker 1:

Self check. Self check.

Speaker 2:

Self check Self check, self check.

Speaker 1:

Self check, self check, self check, self check, self check, self check, self check, self check, self check. Make sure to tell them that, whatever they told you, whatever they told you about that, nope James, no.

Speaker 2:

Appreciate you having me man.

Speaker 1:

No problem, man. Hey, good luck in the future, man, you might see me out there.

Speaker 2:

Man, that thing, man Come to me, man, it's gonna be a vibe man.

Speaker 1:

I can't be next to a nigga putting his joint out, though, but you know, nah, we ain't even putting them cards out.

Speaker 2:

We don't play them, guys, right? Yeah, so For sure. Everything, like I say this, catered to the lady, so all of the stuff we gonna be doing is for them. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1:

Yes, sir. Hey, man, thank you for what you're doing for the night life, man, and for the city, bro. That shit is important man.

Speaker 2:

Appreciate it, man.

Speaker 1:

No problem, be safe, bro, alright, peace, yeah, yeah, yeah, amen. Y'all heard my man, mo 773,. Man, you just dropped gyms on y'all about the Chicago nightlife and nightlife period, man, because think about it, let's really be honest, y'all, we got some promoters out here. Man, that's trying their best to really bring people out and it's like man, just listen, listen to what he said. Man, you gotta be in tune with the people. You gotta get in contact with the people. You gotta do your research, you gotta do your marketing, be serious about your marketing, and the old way of marketing is not the same way that that's effective today. So think about that, think about your crowd, think about the dress code and all that. All that is important. So at this point in time, y'all you know how we do. I gotta drop these gyms on y'all, man, because I drop gyms too, because I only want people to be aware and just to understand what's really going on. So this week's segment of I don't know who need to hit us. I don't know who need to hit us, but can y'all please stop putting 15 to 20 acts on the showcase. Nobody is gonna stick around to watch 15 motherfuckers perform. Unless it's a festival, nobody gonna sit around and watch 15 to 20 local motherfuckers perform. No matter how much we talk about we wanna support people, it's just not gonna happen. Y'all Bring them numbers down. Man, do about three to five, six at the most. You know what I'm saying. Don't waste your time, don't waste nobody else's time. And then also, y'all know some of the motherfuckers be wack as shit. So we definitely ain't stand for that, you know. So, with that being said, y'all, like I always tell y'all, just because you not listening does not mean it's not being said. And that's this week's segment of I don't know who need to hit us. Yup, so y'all hear that music right there, man, that means it's time for me to get up out of here. Now I'm here with these. Let me show y'all with these shout outs, man Yo. Shout out to one man Decker Durr's. We back in the studio, so we got some in studio podcasts coming up. Shout out to DeeDeeLicious. Shout out to the family. Shout out to Joey, bryce, jaylin, crystal, smoke BiggieDog how the stick SmokeDogs get grown. Beautiful dog and man. Shout out to the whole ownership club Checking me out every Sunday on Soul106.3 FM.

Speaker 1:

A man Shabliss, liz Toussaint, melly P, risha, renee, alex DeWine a man, kim Folks, ryan Fleming, raymond Betts, that girl, olivia. I said Shabliss, right? Dj Giddim, dj Stakes Yo, it's a vibe. If I missed anybody, please forgive me, I'm not trying to be bogus. Yo, y'all, make sure y'all come out to the Hatterway every Sunday, 10 pm 2 am. That address is 1245 Burnham Avenue, calumet City, illinois. It's the ownership club after party. Y'all, make sure y'all come check that out.

Speaker 1:

Like I always tell, y'all make fans, not followers. Followers will get you cloud, but fans will get you work. Trust the process, realize that it takes work. Do something that gets you out to bed in the morning. And also shout out to my man, mo773. But man, just stopping by and just dropping them gems on us, shout out to Chicago. Shout out to my brother, ty Barnett. Man, if I forgot somebody, I apologize. Real talk, I really do apologize. A lot of shit going on.

Speaker 1:

Y'all, make sure y'all continue to support the Shits podcast. We on Spotify, we on iHeartRadio, we on Apple Podcast. Anywhere you get podcasts at, you can find the Shits podcast. And yeah, y'all, I'll holler at y'all later. Man, yo, my bad, if you want to get into it with me, it's right there, or I'm doing it right. It's right there. Text 708-390-8479. If you want to book your interview, if you want to get in contact with me on social media, you can find me on Instagram at the Shits podcast, that's S-H-I-T-T-S-P-O-D-C-A-S-T. I know I spelled that shit right. Or you can contact me at Monson Starat, that's Monson S-T-A-R-A-W. Yo, I am out. Y'all make sure y'all continue to support the Podcast. Y'all stay cool and y'all be safe out there, man, because that's what's important. Y'all bein' safe, get busy, y'all Get busy, y'all Get Wait. That's what I'm using. It's all good, I'm out.