The club scene in L.A. is no different from any other big city except that it is tinged with some- how do you say it....desperation.
In London and New York the consensus of club-goers were 1) rich kids a la "Gossip Girl" 2) yuppie businessmen 3) old guys trying to hit on young chicks 4) occasional celebrity and entourage 5) some member of the royal family (Fergie? Can you hear me?). In L.A. there is a darker tinge to most of the club-hopping possy, many of them are hoping they will meet that special someone (and I don't mean soulmate or life-partner) with a golden ticket into Hollywood. Broke, young but beautiful actresses work their charms over crowds of early-30s men calling themselves "producers" and the latter scan the rooms for older bigwigs to officialize them in this town.
Yes, even after-hours, this town is at work.
I had not ventured into the club scene for a while but an acting class buddy was celebrating her birthday at "Les Deux" and she had a table arranged with no cover charge for her guests. How can a girl say no? It was a great time to venture back into the world of dressed-to-impress wannabes.
When you are escorted to your table the natural instinct is for everyone to look at you, to see if you might be mildly important and therefore mildly significant to talk to. Then one of two things happen...either there is disappointment in their faces and they turn and get back to their 12 dollar Kettle One & Tonic or they hang out, trying to figure out who you are, what you are and whether you're pretty enough to be worth a conversation. Sorry boys, but I did hear me some terrible pick up lines: "Can you give me directions? Cause I'm lost in your eyes." I'm walking through a crowd with my boyfriend and one guy even has the nerve to grab me. Yeah, that's gonna make me want you...a good grab. Lol. Two gorgeous African-American girls sat on top of the smooth leather couches, dressed to the nines looking unapproachable but ready for the kill if they saw something they wanted. Two guys next to me were already so smashed that every bottle or glass they held inevitably ended up shattering on the floor and the reluctant but hopefully high-paid cocktail waitresses would get things cleared up to "I'm sorry, honey" slurred in their ears. Mmm, this is hollywood living at it's best. I just have one question- where are the actual "famous" Hollywood people that all these people came to see? Nowhere. Probably at home learning their lines or closing late-night deals. Sadly enough for the club-goers, wannabes are hanging out with more wannabes.
It was a good night but more for hanging out with my class and having fun with the company I already had than venturing out to icky land. Is that judgmental? Well, it's just hard to enjoy meeting new people when there might always be an agenda behind their smile and next thing you know you have someone calling you the day after asking you if you know anyone that they can pitch their new horror film to. At least you know the agendas of the other cities- get drunk, have fun and get laid. Simple visceral goals.
I won't hold it against you clubs in the land of angels, I just somehow have more fun when you're located off the beaten path. And what's funny...I usually see more famous people at those places anyway. Guess that's the irony of the game.
