#8 __ energy

I’m not a spiritual guy. I don’t get anything out of supernatural explanations or mystical perspectives. But the concept of energy has become central to my understanding of parties.

Everyone has an energy, and that energy can be sensed almost immediately. Some people might call it an aura or a vibe. I call it energy because energy is something that influences its environment as a fundamental property. It spreads and multiplies in every possible direction.

Energy is more than just a first impression, because the same person can have a different energy from one night to the next, or in the beginning of the night versus the end. It’s different than a mood — some people’s energy is fabulous even when they’re not as upbeat or happy as usual. It’s not about introverts vs. extroverts, either — plenty of social butterflies have a foul energy.

It’s about contributions to the dance floor, and to the party as a whole. It’s about comfort and safety, smiles and hugs, creative and emotional expression, honesty and generosity, awareness and understanding, forgiveness and acceptance. Energy is what others are passively emitting through their body language and presentation. Paying attention to this is key to finding and creating joy in a party.

People with great energy are a source of restoration, inspiration, and excitement. When you see them on the dance floor, you feel a lift, a bit of reassurance that this is a place you want to be. They’re a model for how to enjoy the party. They’re in harmony with the vibe of the party, or even better, adding their own flavor and identity to the atmosphere, increasing the diversity and richness of the experience.

Energy is contagious. One enthusiastic person can revitalize a room just as much as a great track. Energy has momentum. If the dance floor starts with a few positive influences, that can carry through the whole night.

It’s a thing of intuition. For me, it can sometimes be intense and visceral; someone will enter into my neighborhood on the dance floor, and suddenly I’m pulled out of myself, I’m paying attention to my surroundings again, I feel more alive. Other times, I feel a raw discomfort, this burning sensation that immediately tells me to leave or find a new spot on the dance floor.

Early on, I often didn’t understand why I felt a certain way at a party. I assumed it was my fault — that I was doing something wrong, that I didn’t belong, that I was out of place. But in retrospect, many times it was because I was absorbing the energy of my neighbors — and their energy wasn’t good. Or at least, it wasn’t right for me.

This is one of the many ways I’ve grown as a result of my dive into this scene. I’ve learned how to listen to what my gut is telling me about this situation or that person. I can better differentiate between feelings that are caused by my surroundings versus emotions coming from within.

That’s all I got on this one. Time to go dive into Bossa’s floor.

Thank you so much for reading.

This weekend is a bit meager because Sustain-Release is going on — an invite-only festival that I am pretty sad to be missing out on. I haven’t made any firm decisions for thus weekend but Friday there’s a new venue opening that sounds intriguing, and Analog Soul is headlining. On Saturday, Antenes will be at Three Dollar Bill, which I … think … is the same thing as Sutherland, so I may give that another shot. I want to know how my experience with the sound system will change with a vastly different sort of DJ.

Whatever else happens, though, I will absolutely be in Fort Greene for the last Soul Summit of the season.

Previous issues

• the vibe
• how to enjoy dance music
• the derelict ship rave
• crowd dynamics
• the bass party
• more than just music
• art of the promo
• launch

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