| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE - The Formula 1 is not just a racing event. It comes and goes with a sonic boom, both on and off the circuit. Sponsors hold mind-blowing parties that are the talk of the town and the after-parties are where international celebrities and the high society hang out to exchange pleasantries and pose on the red carpet in couture.
So, why didn’t that happen here in Singapore? What happened to our party scene?
While both Sistic and the organisers of last Saturday’s Megadance party at Suntec Convention Centre declined to provide us with ticket sales numbers, the largely empty dance floor spoke volumes.
When we went to the party around midnight, there were only an estimated 200 people at the event. The organisers, who had predicted a crowd of 1,500 to 2,000, were, unsurprisingly, unwilling to comment on the event turnout.
Most of the party attendees had chosen to park themselves at Zouk’s party at the Padang instead, where their Grand Prix tickets provided access to DJ acts Carl Cox and Agnelli & Nelson at no extra charge.
The club happily reported a doubling in profits on Saturday, as partyheads followed the DJs back to Jiak Kim Street to continue the action.
The Amber Lounge — the exclusive travelling F1 party — was naturally packed over the weekend, but lacked the glamour and fashion element that it is commonly associated with, replaced instead with a large number of wannabes hoping to squeeze past the notice of the bouncers.
Local scene-maker Dennis Foo reminded us that “compared to Monaco’s Grand Prix, our circuit has a larger capacity, and since it’s the first night race and the inaugural race in Singapore — the race itself was the focus of the event, not the parties that surrounded it. Plus, there is a marked difference because circuits around the world are day races. Ours is a night race. Many are too tired out to party.”
One Attica regular, who preferred not to be named, agreed.
“I had spent the entire day with my boyfriend at the Grand Prix absorbing the entire set-up,” she told TODAY. “It was exhausting, so, I didn’t go to the clubs ... Besides, I have to work on Monday. I’m not a tourist following the F1 circuit.”
Financial consultant Andy Lim provided another reason for staying away from the party scene. “I knew the F1 circuit was bound to be packed, so, I decided to stay away instead. While I’d usually be partying at Zouk, I don’t really want to fight for space with the F1 fans,” he said.
Not all the clubs were badly hit by a poor turnout, however.
IndoChine owner Michael Ma brought in three Playboy Playmates for a knockout party at the Forbidden City outlet and saw brisk earnings at the club, though he declined to give specific numbers.
However, it was easy to note a flood of expatriates and tourists at the F1 circuit and parties afterward.
With the exception of Chivas Live!’s River Valley pool party — an alternative party for non-F1 fans with international dance act Chicane entertaining a capacity crowd at the drained-out River Valley swimming pool even at 4am — a dearth of local guests seemed common.
Perhaps, many were out of town for a quick getaway due to an extended weekend thanks to the Hari Raya holiday on Wednesday and the largess of some companies which also offered an extra day off on Tuesday.
Or maybe, we’re just party poopers who don’t like crowds of tourists.
Will next year’s party circuit be as big a raving success as it is a racing success?
Well, the organisers of Megadance have hinted at the possibility of returning next year. And if that doesn’t spell optimism, we don’t know what does. - TODAY/ar
|
