Clubbing: Maybe Try Something Else

Clubbing—is it really all it's made out to be?

This past year, I’ve managed to venture into a world that I’ve so frequently heard raved about by my peers. But, I’ve been left underwhelmed by the clubbing hype.

Throughout college, I haven’t necessarily been introverted, but I’m not constantly jumping at the thought of going out. I’ve had great times with my friends at bars and day parties, around campus, but I’m always happy to move the party back home too. I get the most fun out of exciting conversations and interactions with new people, so flailing around to house music in a dark room never really sounded like my cup of tea.

But, the fear of missing out on supposed fun left me reconsidering my judgemental tendencies. So, this past summer, I started joining my friends at San Jose clubs on the weekends.

Every club felt like another version of the same nightmare. Whether it was packed to the brim with sweaty bodies or scarce with a few staring creeps, I could be certain I would have to pay a hefty cover fee to dance with a bunch of 30 to 40-year-olds who are far too old to be clubbing.

A San Jose club without any college students is a terrible starting place to gauge whether clubbing is in fact a meaningful activity. So, I’ve continued my quest for answers to the heartland of clubbing: Europe.

Studying abroad in Milan, Italy, I’m surrounded by those itching to explore as many clubs in as many countries as possible. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t felt the same excitement myself.

Sadly, I learned that going to Europe doesn’t stop cover fees from burning holes in my pockets at a minimum of $15 a club. As a pretty frugal guy, this is always a brutal mental obstacle for me, but nevertheless, I must persevere. On the bright side, Europeans are kind enough to toss in a “free drink,” or two, to soften the blow.

So now, after a long wait in line, we're finally in the club and it's time for the magic to happen. My friends back at Santa Clara University would always tell me that, if the club was packed and the music was right, I would finally understand the hype. And understand I did—sort of.

Many of the clubs I’ve been to in Europe have met those requirements, and I will gladly confirm that it does enhance the overall experience. Yet, I remain uncertain that clubbing should be the go-to activity.

My most memorable clubbing experiences haven’t revolved around music being good or people being pushed up against each other. In fact, I’ve actually realized both of these things are merely short-lasting joys.

Sure, it's fun to blast nostalgic tunes from the 2000’s, but at some point in the night, the combination of constant noise and substance consumption wanes on your energy—hard. And once that inevitably happens, the hundreds of people pressed up against you aren’t so awesome anymore. I don’t consider myself an angry person, but the rage that runs through me when a line of ten shoves past me in these moments is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

The true excitement lay in finding clubs with a truly unique element. For example, when visiting Budapest a few weeks ago, my friends and I stumbled upon a place with seven different dance floors, all of which had their own genre of music and layout style. This was super cool and, for the first time, I was shockingly happy to stay somewhere until 3 a.m. If I’m going to be forced to pay to dance in a room, the least the room can do is be distinctively exciting.

To be clear, I’m not slandering clubbing, but rather detailing my own experiences of a choice Saturday night activity. As I have visited more and more clubs throughout the past few months, I can certainly say that dancing in a circle with your friends is only fun for a set amount of time and probably not worth paying for whether in Europe or San Jose. And yet, the fear of missing out will lead me to pay for it many more times moving forward.