Dancing For Donations
Midnight Train Productions Gives Back to Community
There are only a handful of major circuit parties around the country and the world that aim to turn dancing into donations, and one of those parties is budding in Atlanta, Georgia. Midnight Train Productions started only last year with their first-ever Pride party. Up against stiff competition from seasoned promoters, Tang Nguyen and Rob Jameson created what they thought would be a sure win for the LGBTQ community.
“We are seeking more diverse patronage,” said Jameson. “Our goal is to bring more of the community together and not just have white gay guys at the parties.” From different races to trans and drag queens, the two felt like inclusion was a missing part of the equation at many local circuit parties.
“We specifically like to hire diverse dancers, which we’ve not seen at the parties here. We have dancers of every nationality,” said Nguyen. “Even last year, our entertainment was the number-one Beyoncé impersonator who happened to be trans.”
Their one-night party over Pride weekend last year, labeled Papa Heroes, got mixed reviews from attendees as it was Nguyen and Jameson’s first venture into the circuit world production scene. They went back to the drawing board and planned to expand their brand into a full weekend celebration for Pride 2019.
But there are several other parties during both nights of Midnight Train’s events, creating a heated battle between promoters, from Big Ol’ Slice’s packed line up to TEN Atlanta’s weekend block party. How are Nguyen and Jameson looking to keep up with that competition? They say it’s all about giving back.
“Our parties raise money for the LGBTQ institute,” said Nguyen. “They do a lot of research targeting minorities and the trans community, to change laws and to introduce legislation.”
There’s that and then there’s Midnight Train’s party giveaway: tickets to see Ariana Grande. “Each pair of tickets is a value of $650, they’re good floor seats,” said Nguyen. “You can go dance at any party and probably forget about it the next week, but if you go to a party that you can win tickets like these, you’ll never forget it.”
Their venue choices are a switch-up from previous years’ venues. Friday night, they’ll throw their party at Believe Music Hall, an old church converted into a modern event space. Saturday night, they’ll open up The Cellar for another unique venue change that they feel their guests will appreciate.
It’s all part of their mission to bring something new to Atlanta’s circuit nightlife, a growing scene that will only continue to grow as international DJ’s make their Pride pit stops for a weekend of non-stop dancing and good times.