I became a Sydney queer in late 2011. Prior to that I was either overseas or boring. As a result, I have not known life prior to the birth of Sydney queer promoters House Of Mince, and for that I am thankful. Established in mid-2011, this weekend sees House Of Mince celebrate its fourth birthday, with the second instalment of its Super OpenAirseries (details below).
The minds behind House Of Mince have developed a substantial reputation in their four years on the scene. They’ve brought huge queer international acts to Sydney, and they’ve also fostered a huge amount of local talent. Peter Shopovski, the man behind the Mince, is clearly committed to developing a Sydney scene as well as bringing out the big guns.
That commitment to Sydney is evident in the vibe of these parties. I went along to House Of Mince’s collaboration with Vivid and Goodgod, Goodgod Minceteria, at the Opera House a few weeks ago, and the atmosphere was phenomenal. Inside the Studio, the dancefloor was dimly lit, the DJ playing from the window of a tower in a castle, longing to let down their hair Rapunzel-style, while the stage was a mish-mash of all kinds of performers in all kinds of get-up, from skanky drag to sporty chic to not much at all. It was a busy vibe, but one that perfectly captured the eclectic mix of both the party and the Sydney queer scene generally.
And then, you stepped outside for a cigarette, and the world was transformed. No longer in the dungeon of messy, sweaty, queer bodies, you were on the promenade looking out towards the Harbour Bridge. Behind you, the Opera House was lit up in all its Vivid glory. Where just moments ago you were voguing and mincing with fierce queers, now you found yourself trying not to blow smoke on the family pushing their pram past. The family had no idea what was going on inside the depths of the Opera House; their only clue your “homo fabulous” singlet and coloured hair.
To me, both of these moments were quintessential Sydney experiences. The mass of tourists strolling down Circular Quay is a reality for most locals and every visitor, but the messy queer club pumping house and disco with sassy voguing babes carving through the crowd is my Sydney. To see these polar opposite Sydneys side by side was not something I’ll easily forget.
The dualism of these Sydneys, albeit completely amplified at the Minceteria, is not new to House Of Mince. It’s what the OpenAir series has been encapsulating since its debut last year. Last November, the car park of the Vic On The Park Hotel, one of my locals – though a place I’d typically associated with burgers, bringing the dog and playing some amateur basketball – was now a queer dance haven. It was still light, it was a Sunday, and we were in a car park, but none of that seemed to bother anyone. As I danced in broad daylight with people I usually only see under the UV light of the club, I looked up and watched a plane fly low overhead, reminding me that the outside world wasn’t that far away. Sweating off last night’s hangover and dancing to Stereogamous, I found myself wondering what the people on the plane were doing, what their Sydney was like, whether they were having as much fun as me.
That’s the beauty of House Of Mince parties. They’re simultaneously otherworldly and grounding, reminding you that despite everything, despite our shitty lockout laws and our shitty notions of ‘equality’, Sydney is still a pretty alright place to be a queer and have a good time. Maybe I’m too sentimental; maybe I just like partying too much. But certainly, for the past four years, being queer and living in Sydney has been fun. And while I’m not going to give it all the credit, I definitely owe a decent chunk of that to House Of Mince.
This Week…
Wednesday June 10 sees the Sydney launch of Melbourne-based queer mag, Archer. As part of a conversation night featuring Paul Mac, music will be provided by Homosocial DJs. Head along to 107 Projects from 7pm to check out the latest issue and grab some discount Young Henry’s on tap.
And other than that, save yourselves for Super OpenAir this Sunday June 14 (before that, stay in on Friday and Saturday with Season 3 of Orange Is The New Black!). Upsizing from the Vic, OpenAir has gone Super and is now around the corner at the Factory Theatre. Tickets are cheap and it’s a full afternoon of dance music and good vibes. Join Kiti, Lorna Clarkson vs Annabelle Gaspar, Gang Of She, Ben Drayton, Ben Fester and many more.
PHOTO: Daniel Boud
