“The Death of Clubbing”, they say, is imminent upon us.

Who would’ve thought? As a late-thirties millennial, with memories still fresh in my mind of the way things used to be, I’d be lying if I said the words didn’t sting.

Hailing from the generation that experienced immense bonding, youthful connection, platonic and romantic love, and, to be honest, came into their own through their twenties and early thirties spent in and around club culture, this new turn of events causes some shock and cause for deliberation.  

THE FACTS.

Recent statistics suggest an evolution rather than an abrupt end to our fun, I mean, the “youth’s” fun.

According to this article by the talented team at VICE, since the 2020 pandemic and its eventual end, not only have many well-loved clubs closed down, but the pre-pandemic style of club culture itself is sadly losing its enthusiasm among its target audience.

THE CHANGE.

However, the keyword above is PRE-pandemic. Meaning, the old model of larger-than-life venues, high entry costs, heavy drinking, heart-pounding raving, big spending, and what one may consider a truly bombastic style of a big night out.

The party sentiment itself seems to exist still, only it’s taken on a more bespoke, thoughtful, and dare I say “conscious” manner of approach. Clubgoers are becoming more selective about the number of nights they dedicate to clubbing due to financial consciousness and a greater health focus, among other personal reasons.

Tamer, more mature types of events, such as art exhibitions paired with cocktails late into the night, daytime parties, and bottomless brunches, have also drawn considerable appeal.

Post-pandemic, with the emotional, social, sexual, and cultural repression that it caused, people also seem more open to exploring and experimenting with their sexual fantasies far more openly, given the number of sex parties, dark rooms, and kink-themed events gaining traction all over the world.

HOT TAKE.

My theory on this, if I so happened to be caught in this period of time while I was in my twenties, is that yes, post-pandemic, our overall psychological makeup and resulting party proclivities have changed. Our brains can no longer handle the sheer sensory overload of what used to be the classic nightclub.

Additionally, the yearning for one-on-one, deep connections is at an all-time high for several reasons. The youth were starved of quality “get to know each other” type interactions that typically occur either in the workplace, through shared hobbies, or through common friends. Thoughtful and intimate conversations, group dinners, and entertaining at home are the “chosen ones” for socializing, both on a personal level and, from what I observe, a societal one as well.

As a Toronto resident, at the age of 39, even my “grown-up” dinners with peers my age, at what one may consider a higher price point for Gen Z, many of the people surrounding me seem to be in their twenties and genuinely enjoying themselves. I have a feeling that our time spent in the pandemic spurred immense personal growth and mental depth, strength and maturity.

Although the transition to this new way of thinking, behaving, socializing, and dating may seem abrupt and like an overnight occurrence, the resulting consequences are relatively long-lasting and permanent.

It could be an overall positive change, since many aspects of the way we used to do things could be considered a bit extreme, for example, the intense “pre-gaming,” stiletto heel-wearing, and shot-taking habits of Gen X and millennials.

Perhaps now this could be the start of a pivot back into a more traditional, sensible and “old school” style of social bonding and courtship for our youth? It could lead to an eventual pivot back to the way our parents and grandparents used to regard the best manner of connection. Who knows, but the circular nature of life and the world is not something to be disregarded, and we could very well be on our way.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope what you have read has somehow educated, informed, or inspired you.

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