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LONDON, UK – Every third Friday in the Vauxhall area of London, The Factory nightclub transforms itself into Starkers, London’s only nude disco. Hundreds of young men and women, both gay and straight, gyrate on the dance floor wearing only shoes.
This isn’t really a nudist event, but nudists who love nightclubs will perhaps find here the ideal evening out. We interviewed Jamie Rocket, as he’s known, the founder and one of the promoters behind Starkers. His answers were very candid and at times surprising. Nudist club owners could learn something from him relating to attracting young people to their resorts… |
Nudist Day: How did Starkers get started?
Jamie Rocket: I was employed for a while as a naked barman at a fetish club. People often used to say how much they envied my confidence with being naked and said they would love to be naked as well so long as everyone else was…which gave me an idea. Also, I could not avoid noticing how few young people went to most naturist events in Britain when young people love getting naked which is a bit of a dilemma because the naturist movement needs to engage young people if it has a future. Their main complaint, and mine, was that once you arrived at a naturist venue there was usually little or nothing to do apart from being naked. I thought because young people enjoy clubbing, drinking and socializing then they may be receptive to a nudist experience in a nightclub. The opportunity came to host my own night at the venue where I worked so I grabbed the chance. We have changed venues a few times since then and have grown steadily.
ND: Are the nude disco nights a success, in your opinion? How many people attend on average?
JR: They are a tremendous success. The atmosphere is always totally incredible and many people love the events so much that they have become almost evangelical about them. We currently average about 250 people at each event. The most we have had is 390. We think we are the largest organized naked event apart from (photographer) Spencer Tunick.
ND: In general, are patrons overwhelmingly male?
JR: There are always a lot more guys than girls at our events. However we have a healthy and growing female contingent. Initially we could not have survived financially if we were to bar all single men from coming to the club. Also, considering that several of our staff are bisexual or gay it would also be totally hypocritical and discriminatory. We have always had an open door policy which only closes if someone acts in an objectionable way and is asked not to return. This, however, in the nearly four years the club has been running has only ever happened on a couple of occasions. We find having a large, happy, gay contingent at the club defuses any potential “laddish” troublemakers who’s sole intention is to come to the club to stare at a naked woman. We find the women feel very safe at the venue because anyone pestering them sticks out like a sore thumb – also they love the look of all those guys who spend time on their bodies and looking good! Our events are always mixed, chatty and friendly, we employ a number of female staff and new visitors, men and women alike are always made to feel comfortable and welcome.
ND: Are there plans to increase the current frequency of nude disco nights?
JR: No. However, we may explore franchising the event so it can be hosted by others outside of London or the UK.
ND: Typically, people accidentally bump into each other a lot on dance floors. Being that patrons are naked, doesn’t this cause tempers to flare more than usual?
JR: Oh absolutely never!!! People like bumping into each other on the dance floor – that is why people dance in any club! Some people may find it quite exciting on occasions but this is not a family holiday, it is a nightclub for adults who know what to expect when they go.
ND: Is there anywhere to sit down in the club, and if so, don’t patrons have to use towels to sit on?
JR: Yes there are lots of places to sit down in the club. We have a lovely chilled social area in the Party Bar which is well lit and close to one of the bars. We do not encourage the use of towels to sit on and find them unnecessary and inhibiting.
ND: You claim, on your site, that overt sexual behavior isn’t tolerated, that nudity is non-sexual, yet on another page you refer to the “eroticism that such an experience implies”. Is this not a contradiction?
JR: Basically, we don’t allow people to start banging each other in the club and we intervene if someone looks like they might be going too far. The night is exciting, it is not boring. It can be natural, liberating, carefree, racey, thrilling or erotic – it depends on the person because, believe it or not, people are all different and come to nudism for different, personal reasons. If people are enjoying themselves and finding the event a thrill then good for them – that is what we want. What should be remembered is that this is a nightclub. In any nightclub, like the ones people go to wearing clothes, they are for chatting, dancing, flirting and getting to know someone new. Starkers is not any different in this respect. Starkers is a not a traditional naturist event, it a nightclub where everyone goes nude. That said, we deal strictly with anyone who is being antisocial and have on occasions ejected patrons who have shown a lack of respect to others around them.
ND: Tell us about a peculiar or funny incident
JR: A man turned-up with another young man and a young woman. When he introduced them to me it became apparent that he was a company director who had invited two members of his staff out for a drink and did not tell them where they were going. They all ended-up naked…and had a great time. I wonder if there were any awkward moments at work the next day, and while I do not condone a boss putting his employees in that situation it certainly was very funny.
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Photo courtesy of Starkers. Copyright Starkers
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Tags: entertainment, music, UK
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