Is NYC nightlife really as glamorous as social media makes it seem?
Photo: Avery Paulen, The DL nightclub
We’re sure you’ve seen the Tik Toks of influencers’ takes on what they think are the best bars, nightclubs and restaurants in New York City. Their content is inarguably enticing, as it promotes colorful cocktails exploding with sparklers, dancers on tables and DJs spinning turntables under LED lights.
Everyone who uses social media is aware that despite how fun people may make these events seem, they don’t always paint the full picture. There are holes in between each photo, video and reel that are not advertised. This one night or weekend might be the highlight of a person’s entire month, or they might just be posting to seem “cool” and attract attention. On the other hand, NYC nightlife is known to only promote the “ideal” attractive clubgoer, which makes going out seem inaccessible to the average person.
The Edge is here to break down each aspect of the NYC nightlife scene and deliver the hard truth on what makes it worth it—and what doesn’t.
Promoters
First off, if you don’t know what a promoter is, it’s a person who advertises parties at nightclubs on social media. They take initiative to reach out, usually via Instagram DMs, to get you to buy tickets through them so they can receive a portion of the profits. Here at The Edge, however, we appreciate a good promoter who isn’t in it for the money, but rather, wants to get a good turnout at the club. So, they take you along with them for free, give you drinks and help you network with other people in the industry.
There is a certain level of danger of promoters, however, that you must be aware of. Some are extremely predatory and have been in the news for sensitive topics such as sexual assault and harassment. The key to having a great night out is to find a promoter you trust while still being able to deliver a good time.
Transportation
Another aspect of going out in the city that we’re sure you haven’t considered is the transportation. This is, of course, something you don’t see in the fun Snapchat or Instagram stories of people dancing and singing. Getting in and out of the city can be a hassle if you don’t live in Manhattan. Uber prices are extremely high at 3-4 in the morning, especially if you’re going across the Hudson River into New Jersey (usually more than $100). Trains also don’t run to New Jersey past 1 a.m. Basically, it’s impossible to get home if you don’t have a place to crash unless wait until morning to get a train at 5 a.m.!
Pro-tip: If you choose to ride the subway to your destination, be hyper-vigilant, as several underground crimes throughout the city have taken place recently.
Vibes
Before going out, take your emotions into consideration. How are you feeling? What kind of experience do you want to have? If you’re in a more chill mood, a club would not be the best fit for you. Instead, consider a rooftop bar. Some noteworthy recommendations are Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge, Mr. Purple, Jimmy SoHo Rooftop Lounge and Bar and Electric Lemon.
In all honesty, you need to be in a party “go-go” mood for clubbing. It’s a lot to handle a bunch of sweaty people bumping into you 24/7 and, let’s be honest, horny men that constantly approach you and start booty-bumping you unsolicitedly. That’s definitely the biggest downside of the clubbing scene, as you barely get any room to breathe. Not to mention, the lines for the bathrooms are always super long and it’s a hard setting to have intimate conversations.
Looks
Let’s ditch the stereotype that we need to be models to attend a club. To put it simply, this is absolutely not true. This is just another example of social media creating a false narrative that you need to look a certain way to get into a club.
Despite this, anyone and everyone can have a fun night out in the city, no matter what you look like or how you dress. Here at The Edge, we feel we need to see more progressive posts on social media advertising NYC nightlife so people do not get caught up in the false stereotypes.
Going out in New York City can be fun and glamorous if you do it the right way. Remember to be safe, not get too trashed and overall, be in the moment and forget the background noise of social media.