Kitkat mi amor
Tomorrow, Kitkat Club celebrates 31 years of existence. Most likely, and not coincidentally, you didn't hear about it. It is unique, a strange institution, a strange bird in the night-life skies of Berlin. Just about two months ago, I wrote about a different unique bird, and talked about Berghain's 20th anniversary. I pointed to how the occasion was cynically used by the GmbH that runs the club to milk money out of its community.
Kitkat and Berghain are very different. Both have strong, loyal communities around them, however, the community around Berghain functions more as a cult than a community. This is what allows the club to get away with basically anything, including a 120% entry fee increase.
Kitkat doesn’t enjoy such protection, and it feels that the more successful it gets, the more dirt is being thrown at its direction.
Our own start at Kitkat Club wasn’t so smooth. It is a closed circle, and when we first pitched the Four Play to the owner about 13 years ago, it wasn’t received well.
Also, when we finally made our footstep into the club at the end of 2018, it took us a long time to feel accepted.
However, with time, much work and many beautiful events, we became part of the system. We also learned a lot about it. It also made us part of the numerous shit-storms the club had to endure in recent years – most of which were absolutely baseless – especially the insinuation about employing Nazi bouncers – which contradicts everything we have experienced with the club’s security team.
Despite being such a famous club with so many fans, unlike Berghain, Kitkat hardly ever gets public advocacy. Most people are quick on the keyboard and would join any social media mob, but how often would you read about those things that make this club so fucking great?
And so, when you come tomorrow to celebrate the club’s 31st anniversary, you will not have to pay even one cent more than the usual admission price of 20 euros. In this fee, you will also get a free coat-check service, fruits and lollipops around the club, and despite its vast dimensions and many rooms, every square meter will be heated up properly. The bars will be adequately staffed, there will be matrons cleaning the toilets, and there will always be enough soap and paper towels. The DJs will have all the equipment they need on all floors, and no guest will ever be treated better than the other.
This all might sound trivial, or perhaps it is the first time that these things occur to you, but from a promoter’s point of view – these are the components for creating a great party, and a great party is easier to make in a great club.
Happy 31st Anniversary, Kitkat Club!
