The gAyBC’s With Bobby Beyond: C Is For Circuit Parties

There are many ways to party, but, as gay people, we have truly optimized the experience to a level that heterosexuals have to see to believe. Bars and nightclubs provide your typical boozy atmosphere paired with a (hopefully) talented DJ, all put together by a promoter who has the connections to pull it off. House parties are a bit more intimate and can get a bit wilder. But there is another type of party that’s wildly popular in the gay community, often hailed as a premium experience unlike any other. They happen typically around holiday weekends and pride celebrations. But this party is not for the faint of heart. C is for Circuit Parties.

I arrived in the LA gay scene nearly four years ago and attended a party that truly was unmatched by any other I’d experienced. That party was Masterbeat for New Year’s Day, 2020. We all know this, that, and the other about party favors at these events, so I won’t be going into too much detail on that. However, the rest deserves talking about. The lights, the music, the crowd, it all felt wonderful beyond belief. And if you’ve ever been to a great circuit party, you know exactly what I’m talking about. But how did this all come to be?

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, proto-circuit parties sprung up and they were called, drumroll please… Disco Parties! They were evening only and could be found in big cities. Clubs that held such events were New York City’s Flamingo, 12 West, and The Saint. The last one was especially iconic because of how advanced the club’s venue was. It featured a dome-covered dance floor that was suspended in mid-air. They projected a starscape onto the dome, creating an extremely visually stimulating experience for party-goers.

The next notable example comes from Corbett Reynolds. He was a Columbus, Ohio-based artist and nightclub owner who created the famous “Red Party”. The party outlasted the nightclub it originated at, “Rudely Elegant”, and on the 25th anniversary of the annual event, Reynolds passed away. They ultimately decided to retire the party after his passing, leaving his legendary party in the history books forever.

The 80s saw a particularly horrific mark on history, the HIV/AIDS crisis. Volunteer organizations popped up and created charities for the community with events that would donate their proceeds to the cause. Such parties like White Party, Black Party, Black and Blue Festival, Blue Ball, Southern Decadence, and Folsom Street Fair brought droves of gays to these large-scale events and kept the party going, despite the horrors they were facing every day.

The 90s birthed the blueprint for modern circuit events. The productions got bigger, the DJs got better, and the parties got longer. The “t-dance” would typically take place from 5 PM to 9 PM, and the main event from 9 PM to 4 AM. All. Weekend. Long. This is the same format you can typically see in circuit parties today!

There was a steep decline in partying in the early 2000s, mostly due to a lack of interest from the now older community, and the surge of gay cruises. However, the 2010s brought it back to light, and the rest is history. Such circuit events that are still popular today are GPS, Masterbeat, Pegasus, The We Party, White Party, Bearracuda, Cherry Festival, Peach Party, Purple Party, and Circuit MOM, just to name a few.

a través de GIFER

The modern era of circuits is filled with incredible light shows, themed events, stunning performances from superstar DJs and dancers, and a fun and free atmosphere. They provide an elite party experience that will get anyone who attends excited for the next one. It’s an amazing opportunity to network for sex, love, and friendship. I encourage any gay who hasn’t been to an event to try it out at least once in their life. That way you can discover why C is for Circuit Parties.

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