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

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.

US Embassy bans staff from Rock Bottom cafe after altercation

Rock Bottom is a nightclub in Muscat, part of the rather downmarket Ramee Guestline Hotel in Qurm (apparently 4 stars tho').



Although in theory it's an 'American themed' restaurant/bar, they usually have a good band and a dance floor, and its been a popular drinking place, for youngsters especially. The ages of the girls (usually 'expat brats' - kids of expat workers here) has always been well under the legal age of 21, with all of the teenagers having fake IDs. (And lets face it, having scantily clad 17-19 yr old white girls in a bar is something the management probably don't want to try too hard to stop, as they bring in the guys, especially the local lads.)

But the place has always had a reputation for super-aggressive bouncers, and for fights occurring pretty much every weekend between the bouncers/Expat guys/Omani guys in some combo, often 3 way. There are always a lot fewer ladies than men (typical for all night spots here - not a lot of local girls...), and when the guys get a few drinks under their belts, testosterone starts to kick in as they try to get the girls.

It does seem that many of the younger local boys have difficulty holding their drink and can't resist the occasional harrassment of the girls, who then get 'protected' by the other guys, and.. well.. this sort of thing seems inevitable.


Photo: A typical Thursday night in Rock Bottom, Muscat

So it was interesting to see the message sent out this morning that the US Embassy have banned their personnel from Rock Bottom, after one of their staff got into some action with the bouncers.

Warden Message - Rock Bottom Café Off-limits to Official American personnel

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Muscat would like to inform American citizens residing in or traveling in Oman that the Rock Bottom Café in Muscat is temporarily off-limits for official U.S. Embassy personnel due to safety concerns.

The U.S. Embassy Regional Security Office (RSO) has designated this establishment in Muscat off-limits to all official American personnel. Early the morning of Thursday, July 2, 2009, a U.S. Embassy employee was assaulted by an employee of this establishment. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) is currently investigating the incident. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the RSO will reevaluate the situation.

The U.S. Embassy in Muscat advises Americans to always exercise caution when visiting bars or nightclubs, particularly late at night or in the early morning hours.

...
Tracey Thornton
Consular Section Chief
U.S. Embassy Muscat

US Expat blogger Mean Reds in Muscat mentioned the bouncers here last year. Jet Driver commented that the bouncer came off a little worse for wear when trying to manhandle a US Special Forces guy. LOL. Maybe they were trying to get their own back last weekend...