Without Nightlife, there would be no Miami—at least not as we know it today. For decades, clubs have attracted tourists, provided a stage for international DJs and given locals a place to let loose. But the ground of the Miami nightlife scene is notoriously unsteady—and that’s been particularly true in the past five years. After Mansion—one of the giants of big South Beach clubs—shuttered in 2015, it looked as though more intimate clubs and lounges might be the next trend. But nearly three years later, the big guys have held on and are stronger than ever. We caught up with four nightlife soldiers on the front lines to talk about the past, future and current state of Miami nightlife.
Daliana Santos: The new VIP profile is young, rich and multicultural.
Some despise the VIP section, seeing its fancy bottle service and shiny sparklers as a loud reminder of the club’s social hierarchy. But VIPs are vital to Miami’s nightlife industry. Daliana Santos, director of VIP services at Rockwell works to keep these folks happy. “I’ve noticed there are more young clients coming out to the VIP section,” says Santos, referencing a shift from middle-aged foreigners to young locals, which she largely attributes to shifting musical tastes. “When I first started going out, EDM was popular, but in the past three or four years, hip-hop has taken over.” Santos also sees an increase in Latin clientele coming through the doors, thanks to the country’s recent reggaetón obsession. It’s all made for a more inclusive VIP crowd, a trend Santos sees persisting as cultures continue to meld in Miami. The price tag, however, remains steep. Rockwell, for example, will send over a free hangover IV treatment to anyone who drops at least $10,000 in a single night. “But a lot of times the client won’t be up when we call them to offer,” Santos says with a laugh.
Ben Pundole: Clubs will continue to feed our need to be constantly engaged.
A city packed with such delightfully jarring diversity deserves a club like Basement, where patrons can hop from an ice-skating rink to a bowling alley to a dance floor led by the likes of Questlove and Carl Cox. And, according to Ben Pundole, vice president of brand experience at Miami Beach Edition, it’s the kind of model clubs need to stay relevant. “It’s about how to keep people’s attention,” he says. “People don’t need clubs anymore for social interactions, for romantic interaction—they don’t even really need it for the music. It’s an attention economy.” Pundole thinks a club’s livelihood may not hinge on its ability to keep guests entertained inside the club, but to get them out of the house in the first place.
Oscar G: The club scene is finally gaining a following among Miamians.
“I would say the biggest shift I’ve seen has been the development of the local scene,” says Miami DJ Oscar G, who rose to prominence in the ’90s during the heyday of South Beach nightlife. “Clubs are filled with locals now; there’s more awareness.” From his day spinning at nightlife staples such as Liquid and Warsaw, where tourists and fashion industry types filled the room, to his current residency at Coyo Taco’s back room, G has seen crowds change tremendously. Instead of scenesters here for the weekend, it’s neighborhood folk coming out to enjoy good music rather than just a cool scene.
Paulo Cardoso: In Miami, people still love to dance.
Like the people behind Ora, Paulo Cardoso started his career at Mynt, as a VIP host in 2000. But his career has led him to a smaller spectrum of Miami nightlife—specifically the new L.A. import Doheny Room. But no matter the size of the room, Cardoso attributes Miami’s nightlife dominance to its impermanence—in a good way. “People here really dance like no one’s watching,” he says. “Probably because of this kind of transient culture, where, you know, you’re probably not going to see the person next to you ever again. So you don’t really care.”
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