KEEPING THE PARTY GOING
DJS offer virtual nightclub scene
Think there’s no way to enjoy nightlife under COVID-19 conditions? Windsor club scene impresarios Remo and Renaldo Agostino beg to differ.
The twin brothers — who run Element Entertainment and downtown club Imperial — celebrated their birthday last Saturday night with a party: An extended DJ set on social media, live from the deck of their back yard pool.
“Every year, we do a big birthday club event. This year, obviously, we weren’t able to do that,” Renaldo said. “So we had to turn lemons to lemonade, and decided to do it at home. At the Compound, we call it.”
Featuring non-stop beat mixing, trippy graphic displays, and even pyrotechnics, the virtual club experience started at 9:30 p.m. and went on for hours, with Remo manning the DJ deck and Renaldo playing host.
The party was also a fundraising event: The Agostinos solicited donations from viewers on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society — a tribute to their late mother, who died from cancer.
By the time the broadcast was finished (past midnight, naturally), $4,500 had been generated for the cause.
LIUNA625 Bluesfest were the biggest donors, matching all contributions for a certain time.
Renaldo said the event’s peak had more than 300 viewers tuning in at once, via Facebook, Instagram and Twitch.
Total viewership for the whole night was likely from 500 to 750 people, Renaldo estimated.
“Which was pretty good. Saturday nights, right now, are all about the internet.”
The online bash even had celebrity endorsements: Friends of the Agostinos ranging from international superstar DJS Benny Benassi and Steve Porter to CFL hall-of-famer Doug Flutie gave the brothers shout-outs and well-wishes on social media.
Of course, bringing a nightlife vibe to a quarantined world required some improvisation.
Remo focused on mash-ups of 1980s hits for his set list. The funky graphics were television displays turned sideways. And the pyrotechnical climax was provided by Renaldo’s son firing off a hand-held Elon Musk-brand flame-thrower.
Remo said he intends to keep up the live DJ sets as long as the lockdown lasts, broadcasting on his Facebook page and Twitch channel every Saturday night at 9:30 p.m.
“So far, it’s been a big hit,” he said. As for what the future holds for the nightclub industry and live entertainment, with the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic still being felt, the Agostinos are trying to stay stoic.
“I think it’s going to be tough for a little while,” Renaldo admitted. “Nobody wants to put anybody at risk by opening venues too soon.
“There are concerns in regards to entertainment — when it will come back, how it comes back. But the industry is very crafty. It’s got a lot of creative people in it. I think, when it’s time, we’ll figure it out.”