Turned Away at FOLD London (UTE Recordings Showcase) - The State of "Door Policy" Gatekeeping

[Uplifted]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share a pretty frustrating experience I had this weekend in London, mostly as a heads-up for anyone planning to hit venue events like this in the future.

I’ve been following UTE Recordings for around 4 years now - easily one of my favorite labels spearheading the 90s trance revival sound. When their UK debut showcase at FOLD was announced with Marius Bo, Ekkel, Oprofessionell (1/2 of Omformer, one of my current favourite projects), and Trancesetters of Westphalia, I bought my ticket months in advance and traveled 4 hours to be there.

What a lineup, right?

I showed up completely sober, physical ID in hand, and wearing a self-made t-shirt (pic attached) with a list of my favorite trance artists printed on the back. When I got to the front of the queue, the door selector looked at my passport for a second, mumbled something in German, and immediately processed a ticket refund on her device. When I politely asked if the event was postponed, she literally lied to my face and said "Yes, step this way" - while letting the rest of the queue right behind me inside. Security gave zero explanation.

Apparently, according to reddit comments under my post, FOLD operates a super strict "vibe check"/aesthetic door policy. Because I showed up solo in standard jeans and sneakers, I was deemed not "alternative" or "queer-presenting" enough for their venue's look. It didn't matter that I traveled hours, had a ticket, or was explicitly there purely for the music and label showcase.

I don't care about the ticket refund, but it's pretty depressing to see electronic music culture get to a point where performative fashion and venue "vibe checks" completely override actual passion for the music.

Has anyone else dealt with this kind of Berghain-style arbitrary door policy at UK/European venues recently?


P.S. also, this is what I've been wearing

 

[TRANCEBLASTER]

I got turned down from 'Tresor' back in the day too, it happens from time to time, neverthless, I still love to support their label..

 

[Julian Del Agranda]

Sounds ridiculous. They refused one if the biggest trance fanatics on the planet 🥹

 

[PegaSus]

That's awful man. People who bought tickets should get access. What a waste of time and money. They should be ashamed. Hate to say it, but next time you probably have to find a friend to go with you.

 

[Arnoud]

"I'm sorry this happened to you, but you have to understand that Fold is not just any club. The door policy exists to curate a specific space inside, and as one of the bastion's of queer nightlife theyre suspicious of straight-looking men like yourself trying to come in alone. I'ts difficult to vibe check every persons character on the spot so unfortunately door policies work on more obvious physical markers like age and stylistic preference, just think of yourself as an unfortunate sacrifice to protect the space of the event and others from potentially being creeped on etc."

This coming from some nutjob called 'No_Job_5303'. That last sentence made me laugh. Just accept it for the greater good of gays and other LTB whatever.

Just to be very clear, I have nothing against gays, lesbians etc. I don't care what people's preferences are in the sack.

Sucks that you missed out on the event.

 

[Haize]

looks like an amazing night, very sad to hear it went down that way for you. How ironic that this community has decided to discriminate, based on nothing but how you look. Shameful.

 

[Jetflag]

This type of tribalistic, aesthetic gatekeeping is exactly what invites/fuels identity-based counter moves and ideas these people claim to hate. The simpler principle is obvious: if you're an individual and bought one of limited tickets and you aren't a security risk, let them in.


It’s almost comical watching part of a scene that constantly rails against “soft bigotry” and the exclusion of LGBTQ people under our “hetero normative tyranny,” while endlessly invoking the gay rights struggle against being barred from venues among which…

...Will in a heartbeat when the chips of power are in their favor hold the door and practice the same elitist gate keeping posh etiquette that barred gays and blacks from parties &festivals in the 1950's...

" you're a stwaighthuaitemale with jeans and a t-shirt...not good enough in our high standing kaste system pleb.."

Power + self-image produces the same selective exclusion it pretends to oppose.

I suppose the virtue-signalling cherubs are only human after all.

what used to be the outsider then ( politically/culturally etc.) is not per-se what it is today.. especially not politically speaking given the shifting (40 y) landscape.

 

[PegaSus]

And why didn't you show up like this man.

 

[Jetflag]

And why didn't you show up like this man.

no strap-on dildo

=

2-10 would not bang/allow to enter.

 

[Julian Del Agranda]

I would like ‘them’ not to be referred to as ‘the gays’ to be honest. I think I would have been rejected too for not being ‘alternative’ enough.

It’s a bit cult-like, a subculture within the queer ‘community’ (I use the ‘ symbol because it’s not really a community, but just a collection of individuals with one certain variable being the same).

they don’t respresent lhbti people in general.

 

[TRANCEBLASTER]

I don't want to take sides here, but since I attend every event with my girlfriend, I have to say that in the last years is the club energy not like it used to be.. I have to push away at least two guys a night who get way too close to her ... once, a guy even started touching her hair right in front of my eyes. nothing like this used to happen 10 or 20 years ago, and I'm sure we're not the only ones experiencing this.

young gen-z women are repelled by this overconfident male energy. I believe that just like we used to stare in disbelief at guys wearing hunting or fishing t-shirts back in the day, the girl at the door might have found his t-shirt way too cringe to let him in. there's a massive generation, gender and cultural gap between people right now..

 

[Jetflag]

I would like ‘them’ not to be referred to as ‘the gays’ to be honest. I think I would have been rejected too for not being ‘alternative’ enough.

It’s a bit cult-like, a subculture within the queer ‘community’ (I use the ‘ symbol because it’s not really a community, but just a collection of individuals with one certain variable being the same).

they don’t respresent lhbti people in general.

True, they’re not/don’t.

Though I suspect they very much like to think or claim too…

 

[Archon]

I've heard of something similar about one/some of Berlin's night clubs from friends who (IIRC) went there. Can't remember the specifics, but the overall idea of vibe-checks on entrances is something they explicitly mentioned.

I really don't have an opinion on this as this doesn't affect me in any way, but I understand the frustration for being denied entry. You raised alarms on all levels, and I saw you were nicely compensated, so good for you.

 

[TRANCEBLASTER]

I've heard of something similar about one/some of Berlin's night clubs from friends who (IIRC) went there. Can't remember the specifics, but the overall idea of vibe-checks on entrances is something they explicitly mentioned.

the 'Berghain' queue typically ranges from 1 to 3 hours, but it can stretch to 4 to 6 hours or more during peak times... and ofc they can't let all those people into the club, some selection must be done.)

 

[Hensmon]

the girl at the door might have found his t-shirt way too cringe to let him in

Not too much common sense required to come to a conclusion he's just a music nerd/enthusiast though. Especially with these sorts of underground Trance nights in the UK, where the crowd is always more alternative, and usually quite friendly by nature. Not like a typical dude is stumbling into clubs like this. Seems very harsh what happened, never experienced that in clubbing in London over 15 years, although that was over a decade ago now.

 

[Uplifted]

FOLD banned me from their Facebook page today

This was the comment I've made, and that was it. No abuse, no trolling. They didn't reply with anything.

And there's the proof of how fake their "inclusive vibe" really is.