Save The Date: “Voodoo”

No one will ever confuse me for a party animal. Workaholic maybe, sports nut, recluse. Guilty as charged. But just because you won’t find me up in the clubs doesn’t mean I don’t know who’s doing what around town.

Nathan “Seven” Scott produces some of the newest and most popular events targeting a Black gay crowd in NYC. In addition to running three regularly held events, on December 7, he’s hosting a special fundraiser at Club Shelter, for Bailey House, Inc., New York City’s largest provider of housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. Bailey House is also my employer and so we e-chatted to find out more of what he’s up to and what this event is all about.

Bernie: You seem to have at least an event a week somewhere around town. How many do you produce a year?

Nathan: Oh gosh, well I’m really just getting into producing. In the past I’ve produced maybe 3 events a year, but I’ve definitely produced more events this year.

B: You’ve got regular events plus special events that you do, right?

N: Yes, I have a weekly party at Luke and Leroy called 7:THE PARTY. I produce a once a month spoken word event called WORK, it showcases artists and it’s been amazing, and we’ve started a discussion group of sorts called Last Wednesday.

B: I think most folks may be familiar with your party at Luke and Leroy. Tell me how that all started and how it’s developed over time.

N: Hmm… well we’d have to go back about 2 years. Nathan Williams and I started a party at Bar D’o on Thursdays for the afterwork crowd. That party “SPRUNG” outgrew the space and then moved to Luke & Leroy. This past march I had a conversation with the owner of L&L via Nathan and he gave me the chance to create a new Sunday party there and 7 was born. It started off with a BANG! The party had a tough time finding it’s crowd, sometimes there was a mature crowd, a young crowd, a mixed crowd, it’s sorta been up and down, but it’s now starting to get it’s groove.

B: And how about the spoken word event. How’d that start and how’s it progressing?

N: Oh that’s been AMAZING! It’s hosted by Raymonde Green who is an amazing poet/writer. Each month we’ve had the most talented muses and it’s outgrown Luke and Leroy so we are moving to a new location…GROOVE, it’s right down the street from the BLUE NOTE on West 3rd street. We’ve only been doing it for 3 months and each time there have been 100+ attendees. It’s like a broadway show…LOL.

B: Fantastic. And so what is the discussion group about?

N: Basically Last Wednesday was created to foster relationships outside of the bar scene. We’ve been hosting it at Factory Cafe on Christopher Street. We talked about sex (Can I put the head in?) and the last time we did a social mixer using cameras, it was so much fun. I co-host it with a guy named Cisco. and it’s supported by GMHC.

B: How’s the turnout?

N: There have been over 20 men in attendance.

B: But this is the newest of the three, right, so there’s room for growth.

N: Yes of course but I’m learning that brothas aren’t as open to having real conversations. The bar scene dominates our community.

B: This is true.

N: Everyone wants to pick up a date but nobody REALLY wants to talk.

B: Hmmm…we may need to talk further later about that problem. One of my pet peeves.

N: My pet peeve too.

B: On December 7, you are hosting “Voodoo.” Tell everyone about it, because it’s not just a chance to socialize but also do something for a good cause.

N: Oh man, this VOODOO thing has been in the works for about 3 months. We are raising money for Bailey House. Our goal is to raise enough money to buy toys for the children. I honestly think we should be buying them something more useful like a savings bond or something that can grow, but kids want toys so i guess that’s what we’ll give them.

B: hehehe. You’re thinking long range, they want immediate gratification.

N: Quentin Harris (dj, producer), L.A. Thomas (dj), Audi Thomas (dj) and myself are the major players in this. We tapped our resources to get the live performances which include Joi Cardwell, Cordell McClary, Dawn Tallman and Buttaflysoul. I think it’s going to be an amazing night, things have been shaping up so well, we have ads coming out in HX and NEXT and we didn’t expect that at all.

B: It’s at Club Shelter, 20 West 39th Street, btw 5th and 6th, for those who don’t know. What’s the cost to get in? Can people just show up?

N: $10 is the minimum donation, but folks can donate more.

B: What else would you like folks to know, either about this event, or anything else you’ve got upcoming?

N: Hmmm… well let’s see… we are making WORK bigger and better so I think that people should definitely support us at the new venue, it’s much more conducive for performances. I’m so very excited that I will be working with executive producers Nathan Williams, Keith Boykin and Maurice Jamal on Maurice’s new film ‘Dirty Laundry’. I’ll be a producer on that. I cannot wait! People should also know that they can support that at www.dirtylaundrythemovie.com. I have been very blessed and I feel that with the community’s support I can continue to develop and produce interesting events for New York City nightlife and more. i’m having a blast.

B: I think by the continued success you’re having, the community appreciates your hard work. Thanks for talking with me.

N: Thank you for the conversation.

Nathan blogs at The 7 Magazine and Got Nathan.

Voodoo, a special benefit concert for Bailey House, will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2005, at Club Shelter, 20 W. 39th Street, New York, NY.