Kinky and Smart!
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Toronto's beloved Fetish Night, JJ Deogracias took the opportunity to sit down with George Giaouris, owner and president of Northbound Leather.
What inspired you to do Fetish Night?A lot of people were coming around telling us that all sorts of things
were filling their closets from our store and other places and no
where to wear it outside of their homes. Recall that this is back in
the early 80s there were a couple of mens bars, but no place where men
could be with women. And a good deal of our clientele was straight. So
we created an environment by setting up a club night once a month in
order to accommodate everyone that were not accepted anywhere else, a
place where they could be comfortable in full regalia. Gay men had the
Toolbox and the Barn, but those places would not accept women or
straight couples, so we created a club night that accommodated
everyone pansexual - boys, girls, and everyone in between. It started
off slow, about 60 people were at the first one, and built to the
point where we averaged 600 on some of the bigger nights.
What were the Fetish Nights like when you first did these nights and how have things changed in 20 years?
Initially, we were in rattrap bars. Actually the first one got shut
down by the fire department. And we would run on Thursday nights which
was kind of cool because it was kind of like the in-time to go out,
because all of suburbia went out on the weekends and all the cool
people went out during the week. What ended up happening, the event
outlived the bars we were running in so we ended up moving the event
around a lot. For a long time, we were running out of the gay bar
Boots & Buds (Buds later became "Kurbash") - they were two bars side
by side under Hotel Shelby (Sherbourne/Shelby). And it was very
cruise-y. They even had shower stalls and open bathrooms, let's just
call it a wet bar. And we used to run there twice a month, it was that
popular.
Most definitely. I remember being outside one night, and I got egged. One thing I always tried to maintain is pansexuality at my events. I don't like to be pigeon-holed. I staged these events as the gateway to the community, and I try to be ambassadorial. Essentially, I try to avoid environments that encourage cliques. By virtue of the fact that there's dress code, and I maintain this dress code, yes, it does bring people into the store, but this is what the people wanted originally. This is a way for them to wear their gear as their alternative selves, as opposed to their normal business-suit self. If you're someone who's into cross-dressing, you can cross-dress. If you're into uniform, you can wear uniforms. If you're into sadism and masochism, then you'll either show up wielding a whip or wearing a collar. They wear their sexuality on their sleeves. If you're into corsets, then you can find someone who's also into corsets. It's always a safe event. People feel comfortable. Everyone knows the rules, and if you misbehave, you will be ejected and asked not to come back. That's why people feel safe coming to these events wearing what they wear. And this has worked for us for 20 years.
How many people came out for the anniversary night? How did this compare to the beginning?
Over 600 people. Close to 700.
How did you see Fetish Nights contributing to the Toronto Leather/Kink/BDSM scene? And the scene internationally?
What I see is inconsequential, I go by what other people see. And what they see is an anchor event something that's been there for a very long time, and will continue to be there for a very long time. I've been told by some that it's like the mecca of kink, something that people gravitate to. One guy drove from Kansas City. The furthest places people maintain an event - New Zealand. Other places - LA, Germany, Australia, motor home from Que City with four people, Winnipeg. One out of town - Winnipeg - couple maintains a residence nearby and comes to the event all the time. One other reason we have been able to maintain and perpetuate is because we don't out people.
According to Enza, Fetish Night is one of the longest running club nights known to exist. What do you think contributes to the success and longevity of Fetish Night?
It's been copied many times, but I believe that it has to do with the
dress code. I believe that you give people an environment that's
comfortable to express themselves and to wear what turns them on, and
they'll return again and again.
We were the only game in town for ten years, and people started doing
copycat fetish nights.
Can you give me some information on some of the history of Fetish Night? Such as where you held Fetish Night prior to Goodhandy's?
Some of the places they've been at - Club Alibi, 5ive, Boots, Stealth Lounge (in Yorkville), what used to be the Embassy, the Empire Club, the Lizard Lounge, the Bohemian Embassy, the Reverend John, the Gasworks... every time they shut down they have to find another club. We definitely outlived most of the venues that hosted us.
What were highlights in doing this night? What were some things you would like to improve? What do you see for Fetish Nights in the future?
Highlights - People tell me that they hook up, finding their understanding partners, finding their soulmates through this events - that is always heartwarming. I've been invited to a few weddings as a result of this. Fondest Memories - When these nights first began, we used to have visits from Toronto's finest (COPS). On a couple of occasions, we needed to hustle one drag queen/cross-dresser out the back door, as she feared that the boys in blue would recognize their daytime partner. Obviously, I would like to see it grow much larger than it is. I believe that there is still quite a few people out there that are too bashful to join us. But on the flip side of that coin, I feel that events like this one give people an opportunity to be themselves, and not have to hide in the shadows anymore. And it always makes me happy to see the smiles on the faces as they arrive and leave from the events because like me, they now know that they're not alone.. And that's the truth.
What would you recommend to anyone who is coming to events like this for the very first time, and what to expect?
Be yourself. Just be yourself. And be respectful of other people being themselves. Everyone keeps to that code, they'll have a very memorable time.
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