Is it safe to ask for a favorite song at Paris bars? Not necessarily. I did, and they literally threw me out. The reason? For requesting songs the Paris DJ preferred not to play. Learn why.
Ian Johnson, Out Now
June 12, 2009
To regular readers I apologize in advance.
I do not normally discuss my personal situation.
No offence to any of you - but I like 'Ian Johnson - CEO of Out Now' to be someone other than me if I choose to go out for a quiet night.
As it happens, tonight I did have a work hat on - and was reviewing a Paris gay bar I had heard good things about called The Cud.
I made what I would have thought was a minor mistake in asking the Paris DJ to play two of my favorite songs. The bar man in fact - when I asked if I could request a song - actually had encouraged me to write these down on a piece of paper he gave to me to show to the DJ at The Cud.
The DJ made clear he did not want to play these songs. I then stuck that paper onto a random piece of blu-tack I spotted on the wall. Quite some distance away from the DJ booth at this Paris club.
I had forgotten all about the music request until about 20 minutes later -- when out of nowhere THREE muscled door attendants turned up, specifically to remove me from The CUD dance floor - to the shock of the Swiss people I happened to be chatting with at the time.
When I asked the door people what had happened (in my very bad French) they told those now around me (outside this Paris club, and who politely translated for me) that "I would know".
As I can assume only that the reason was that I had dared to ask for a couple of songs that I would like to hear played by the DJ at the club, to the DJ's obvious distaste - that response annoyed me more than just a little.
Is The CUD a great place for gay men to visit in Paris? Well, in my opinion, NOT if you might dare to ask the Friday night DJ for a song. Watch out!
PS - For those who care - my infracting songs requested then forlornly stuck onto a wall were "Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics" and "Situation - Yazoo".
Annoyed the DJ did not want to play either of my songs? A little bit, but not overly. I was more amused by him really. Maybe that set him off.
Angry the Paris DJ then had me ejected for "daring" to stick the piece of paper with the two request songs written on it onto the wall? Absolutely. Quite shocked by that really. Still am.
If The CUD wanted ever to allow these songs to be played I might consider going back...
But if tonight's DJ was there - I seriously suspect neither of us would miss the other. The only difference between us being that I would never try to get my "thugs" to manhandle him out of anywhere.
There you go. AYOR - 'At Your Own Risk' I guess that The Cud gay bar in Paris would have to be rated, for gays, lesbians and their friends, based on my personal experience, and my opinion.
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2 comments:
person will believe you if you were put out, is that you had a inaceptable behavior and above all by saying: "you DJ? your music is shit!"
you can ask for music, but politely.
See u
Laurent JAY
CUD Manager.
Hi Laurent
Thanks for responding - I appreciate that.
I must assure you that the DJ music was actually very good. It was the reason I was happy being there and chatting. You have a great club with good music.
The problem was not the music at all. I liked it. It was that your DJ reacted badly when asked if he would play one of the requested songs.
What was frustrating and frankly annoying was the idea that the note being left on a wall somewhere was so unacceptable that this warranted ejection from your club by three big security staff.
I wish you well, and sincerely hope all who visit get to experience nice music - and hopefully a little more friendly treatment.
Best regards, Ian.
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