Beaver Night Club is not your standard night out.
There aren’t a lot of gimmicks, no ‘famous’ person waiting to not talk to you once you get inside.
It is based at Tribeca and is a female centred, LGBT friendly event, with the intent purpose of showcasing the vast array of talented women DJs that sometimes slip under the net.
But Beaver’s producer, Hazel O’Keefe, is keen to sway away from using this as an advertising ploy.
“I don’t ever do a hard sell for any of the events I produce,” she said.
“Find out what we are about and come down.
“If you are nervous to come on your own, get in touch with us and you will find we are a very friendly bunch.”
DULCET SOUNDS: Hazel is an experienced DJ
Although the team behind it, Dulcet Sounds, have been running club nights for a while, albeit under the name of Rapture Club Night, it is starting to take particular importance given the recent government and NUS comments on ‘Lad’ culture.
For those who don’t know, ‘Lad’ culture is the social disease which actively encourages young men to be as big a misogynist as possible making it increasingly problematic for women to comfortably attend clubs.
The University of Manchester, after years of hard campaigning by UoM Women’s Officer Jess Lishak, are one of the first establishments to finally wake up to the harsh reality of university life for many women on a night out.
‘Lad’ culture also spreads to the LGBT community, with ‘pack mentality’ often making it uncomfortable for all punters.
Not only that, but the objectification on women is rife throughout club advertising – to the impressionable fresher putting a naked picture on the flyer apparently convinces them that the dingy trebles bar will be full of beautiful women.
Hazel believes that the club owners have to take some responsibility to change this.
“I see women’s nights advertising their events with size eight naked women all the time,” she said.
“I really don’t get it – ‘eat some pies’, I think.
“Why are we using images which objectify women to promote women only or centred spaces?
“Events like this are important as a safe space for people to come to and feel like they can be how they want to be.”
CLUB FOR ANYONE: Hazel hopes the night will make people feel comfortable © Jules Styles
That’s where the Beaver Night club comes in to its own. It really is a club for anyone.
The club advertises itself for feminists, lesbians, bisexuals, latercomers and straight queers to name a few.
There is another purpose behind the club other than a standard boozy night out.
The night acts as a platform for people to explore other women-centred nights, such as the Women in Comedy festival and the Laughing Cows comedy night at The Frog and Bucket.
“People who come can feed into the team and let us know how they would like projects to grow,” she said.
“Then they can either be actively involved with this or feedback and shape the companies development.
“Last year if you Googled female DJs, half naked images of women came up.
“That’s starting to change with positive images of DJs like Annie Mac, and now the focus is on the skills of female pro DJs, not what they look like.”
The change in people’s attitudes towards women in comedy are also starting to change with the stereotype of ‘women aren’t funny’ eventually starting to shift.
“Some women are funny, some women are just not the same as our male counterparts,” she said.
“Our focus is to continue to work with people who want to help to make the positive changes we need to ensure equality of opportunity.”
Club Beaver is a monthly night, with October’s edition happening on October 3 at Tribeca on Sackville Street. Since it’s Fresher’s week free entry is being offered to students, just text Mancunian Matters to 07958642090 and you will be put on the guest list.
For more info on Dulcet Sounds and the events they run visit.
Original main image courtesy of finchlake2000, with thanks.
