Brooklyn-based Book Club Radio not only proves the dancefloor is alive and well, but they wrote their handbook to keep it that way.
The death of the dancefloor has been a topic of conversation in online electronic music spaces for quite some time. While these discussions have sparked productive discourse in naming the killers, the fact of the matter is that a lot of these factors hold the truth in some ways.
No dance floor is the same, so what may contribute to one crowd’s post-mortem factors may not be true for another. Neither is invalid, just different. So what if we gave life to the dancefloor as we invited people to it?
Book Club Radio answers this question with one powerful notion: Intention is everything. Book Club Radio is a “dance party disguised as a book club” based in New York City. Membership in the club is simple: follow the Librarian’s Manifesto. In this manifesto are the requests that Book Club Radio’s Librarian asks that set the intention for their dancefloors.
As previously mentioned, no dance floor is the same. So, to say with certainty that these suggestions would work for every dance floor would be a reach. But Book Club Radio has perfected the formula for the intentions they set on their dance floors, and the proof speaks for itself.
Book Club Radio’s parties, called club meetings, are recorded and posted to their YouTube channel.
Often, club meetings will have their themes, also loudly declaring the tone for the dance floor. This is established even further through the titles of their videos, such as Dreamy Soft Garage & House Mix at a Slumber Party and Jazzy House Mix at a Cocktail Lounge.
Club meetings shine their brightest in each DJ’s mix. The tastemakers invited to play for the club always bring a thoughtful curation of fresh finds, deep cuts, and your favorite songs. It’s evident that each set is crafted with love and a broad understanding of the music.
With the CDJs facing a wall, usually in the corner of the party, the DJ has their back to the audience with only a mirror above them, allowing them to still read the room and how the crowd reacts to their mix.
Our dance floor is for dancing, and our DJs are playing music for the audience to dance to. We want the focus to be on the music and not the DJ. When everyone faces the DJ it makes it hard to dance with each other. The DJ can still see the dance floor through a special mirror and so the best way to show your appreciation is to dance your heart out.
The Librarian
Every aspect of Book Club Radio works because there are intentions set behind every step of the way. It’s not about the DJ or how you’re dressed; it’s simply about the music, community, and dancing your heart out. Scroll on for some of the sets that show off how vibrant their parties can be.
