Interview with Dance Event promoter Bakh

Here's an interview with Bakh, one of the DJs who held their first VICE dance event last night. I am told around 70-80 people showed up - mostly in costume - and all seemed to have fun. As usual, too many guys and not enough girls, but this is Muscat... Reports on the music were OK and the beer was 2.5

But as a first event, not too bad. I don't know if having Rock Bottom downstairs was good for business or not...

Muscat Confidential supports SMEs. We need more such enthusiasm.

Here's the interview.

> 1/ Why are you starting a dance event company? Who is your target market?


For fame and fortune, of course!

Jokes aside, we feel that Muscat is a place that strives to seamlessly
blend traditional charms with 21st century jet-setting lifestyles.
People here work very hard, but to have a good time they go to
neighboring Dubai, Beirut; even London and Ibiza. There is an enormous
void in the quality and variety of local entertainment!

We want to contribute to this city's nightlife. To those hard-working
(and hard-partying) residents and guests, to those that have
discerning tastes and a thirst for quality electronic dance music, we
offer well-produced events to the soundtrack that rocks underground
dancefloors world-wide.



> 2/ What's your background? How did you end up in Oman?

I was born in New York City and spent my childhood in places like
Soviet (and later Independent) Russia, Sudan, Abu Dhabi, Western
Europe. I started DJing and throwing parties while in college in
Boston over 10 years ago. Since then I moved back to NYC, started a
family, got my MBA and was invited to contribute to a start-up
business here in Oman. In the meantime DJing took me all over Boston,
NYC, Miami, Zurich, recently Dubai, and now Muscat.


> 3/ What sort of music will you be playing on Thursday?

Our specialty du jour is freshly baked house + techno, straight out of
the oven. There are three of us performing on Thursday, for a total of
six time-slots, so you can expect to hear many different takes on the
deliciousness, like deep, vocal, dub, disco, electro, minimal,
progressive and balls-out slammers.



> 4/ It's a Halloween theme for your first event, and you've said 'No costume - No entry' ... but that sounds like it might stop a lot of people from coming. What really happens if people just want to attend in casual clothes?


People have purchased masks in Carrefour, Markaz Al Bahja, the Muttrah
Souq. Plenty of creative ideas on the Internet; here's a collection of
YouTube videos to start http://bit.ly/40mIPA

There is no need to over-think this: simply dig deep into your (or
your partner's) closet. I am sure Mrs. Dragon will look spectacular in
Dragon's tuxedo; whereas the Dragon himself in Mrs. Dragon's stilettos
and stockings will be the highlight of the night. VICE is an equal
opportunity party and no cross-dresser will be denied entry, you have
my word!

We want this to be a very special event and we're doing our best to
make it so. But we can't pull it off alone. Our guests, their positive
attitude and untapped creativity are an integral part of the
experience, they are the ones that will make VICE a true Halloween
Extravaganza!


I would like to personally thank Undercover Dragon for giving us the
privilege of extending our message to a lively and enthusiastic
audience such as You: the readers of this blog.

We hope to see everyone on the dancefloor, shaking their money-makers
to the finest house + techno music ever played this side of the Hajar
mountains!

One love,
Bakh

CAYC Commodore summoned to the headmistresses'office

It seems the Commodore of the Capital Area Yacht Club [a.k.a CAYC] has been summoned to the headmistresses' office, according to my sources.

Her Excellency, The Minister of Tourism, has called for a 'very urgent' meeting with him, front and centre in her office tomorrow.

Topic no. 1 on the agenda?
I presume, maybe, the total lack of any action following her executive demand last month that they please evict themselves as of October 1st (and despite the case being sub-judice in 2 separate courts).

But that's just a guess.

[I'm not a lawyer. But obviously Her Excellency is well advised in such matters by her senior staff. Such an instruction from her Sovereign Ministry - especially one allegedly sent on letterhead above her signature - must have be based under a clearly agreed legal authority, vested in HE, duly exercised under the State law under the watchful eye of an independent judiciary, and even includes, I guess, sufficient delegated authority to enable land ex-appropriation and arbitrary compensation. Obviously.)

I stumbled across the eerily appropriate myheadmistress.co.uk. Talk about taking one for the team Commodore!


Photo: Not something one would ever find in the office of HE the Minister of Tourism. That would be ridiculous.


NSFW!
A google search for "spanking school headmistress" probably gives you an idea of what's in store for the poor old sailor! Naughty boy!

New fines for traffic offences so far just a rumour

There's an email going around that the ROP has apparently raised the fines for traffic offences.



Finally, you might think.

This obviously follows on from the speech HM made on road safety last week.

However, while it seems a good idea, my sources tell me it is not (yet) true, although it probably reflects plans by the ROP to 'do something'. So while it may be true, it is not yet confirmed by the ROP. And the last one about 'confiscation' seems totally OTT, and would probably require a Royal Decree.

IMHO, it would help a lot more if the ROP actually just made an effort to enforce the rules they have, and stopped relying on speed cameras.

Here's the rumour:

This is to inform you that, as of today 24.10.2009, ROP has raised the fines, in which you please note.:

Radar violation: R.O. 35/- and upwards

No Belt: R.O. 35/- and above

Glass tinted: R.O. 35/- and upward

Use of cell ph: R.O. 75/- and above

Overtaking from wrong/restricted
path/speed lane: R.O. 75/- upwards

Driving w/o
license: R.O. 500/- fine, six months jail, vehicle confiscated and sold.

Party Ticket Giveaway: And the winners are...

OK readers, first up, the (OK, OK, a few days late) results of the Muscat Confidential draw for 2 pairs of free tickets to the new VICE outfit’s rave dance event by BMB events, this Thursday at the Ramee Hotel in Qurm:



After a rigorous random draw, performed under the unrelenting supervision of Ms. Dragon (the ISS and ROP declined to attend, saying they trusted Ms. Dragon to act on their behalf), congratulations go out to:

Lucky winner no. 1
Melissa Dixon & guest. Melissa will be going as a Vampire French Maid accompanied by her zombie butler. Awesome.

Lucky winner no. 2
The anonymous blogger Local blogger Muscat Mutterings, who simply said he’s big and bad enough to go as himself and still scare the children.

Melissa and MM - your VIP entry details have been emailed separately.


Photo: Artists imaginings of a Vampire Maid... Hmmmm.


Hopefully we'll be able to arrange for more giveaways at Muscat Confidential in future.

Muscat finally gets a decent dance gig? VICE Halloween Event Ticket Giveaway - exclusively for Muscat Confidential Readers

In a another first for Muscat Confidential, you, dear readers, have the chance to win a free night out at an upcoming dance/techno spectacular on Oct 29th!



A group of internationally seasoned dance music aficionados, tired of the offerings in the standard Muscat night clubs, wanted an alternative: The result is BMB Events - "the finest house + techno parties this side of the hajar mountains", according to ex-New York DJ Bakh Inamov, who sounds like a pretty cool dude.

Their inaugural event is VICE: a "Halloween Costume Party fueled by House and Techno", this October 29th, at the Ramee Guestline Hotel, above the infamous Rock Bottom bar.

Their website is here: http://www.bmboman.com/
we'reThey are also on Twitter and Facebook, but I won't hold that against them.

Music will be spun by BMB's founders:
DJ CEE.J (Muscat)
DUB BASS (Muscat)
BAKH INAMOV (NYC)

The party is taking place at the specially decorated Mirchi Ballroom, which is on the 2nd floor of the Ramee, with a very, very, loud sound system.

A stocked bar of alcoholic beverages will be open until 2:30am, serviced by the Ramee Hotel staff. A Special Halloween dress code will be enforced: NO COSTUME = NO ENTRY

Entry fee is 10 Rials for the ordinary people, but the Dragon has wangled free VIP entry and tickets for 2 lucky couples, and we're giving them away here on Muscat Confidential.

Just email me your name, along with a short explanation of what costume you'll be wearing, and you'll be entered into the draw. The 2 lucky winners of a pair of VIP tickets will be announced here on Friday October 23rd, so get in to win. The draw will be supervised by the ROP, ISS, and Ms Dragon.

Send your emails to undercover(dot)dragon(at)gmail(dot)com

I am not in Canada...

Or female, obviously (who-ever that wanna be Sherlock Holmes may be)

I have just been so totally freaking busy working my claws to the bone, earning my vast salary - and combined with a total post Ramadan/summer/Eid lack of any news I can blog about. Or, at least, nothing note worthy I can say without breaching either various legal confidentiality agreements or the law...



OK... I've been feeling blog-lazy too.


And I can't even blame twitter... sigh

But I was thrilled to see the first Twestival of twitterers in Oman. (sp?) The net might just save the Middle East...

Now that I've posted, at least Jet Driver can blog again!!!

And meanwhile you can all read great Omani blogs like Dhofari Gucci (see blog roll), oh, and a great 'observational' blog I stumbled across recently by an American teacher in the wilds of Oman, describing the total and (at the same time) hilarious dysfunction that is the product of your tax dollars and the excellence that is the Ministry of Higher Education in Oman... Check out Eyes Wide Oman, by Claire. I'm a fan.

Enjoy!

And don't worry, I am still here in country, and will get of my fat green tail soon,. Be assured am certainly not tucked away in the Dark Castle... (but thanks for the rather brave and supportive emails. You know who you are...)