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About AC
Last Updated on Monday, 06 February 2012 15:20 Published on Tuesday, 01 November 2011 20:04 Hits: 4349
History of AC
Club AntiChrist was born in the summer of 2004 at Camden's Electric Ballroom. It ran on 3 bank holiday Sundays in May and August and featured the first live body suspension in the UK, Perversion dancers, and a live band or two. It ran between 10pm-4am in 2 rooms, with the entertainment interrupting the main dancefloor at intervals. When the Ballroom introduced 'Inferno' in its place, AntiChrist went on hiatus.
We ran a hugely successful re-launch night at Sin in Charing Cross on November 23rd 2007, when around 900 attendees were treated to 5 live bands, 2 dancefloors, a dungeon and a theatre that ran for 8 hours straight! Eight hours of non-stop shows – gore, bellydancing, mime, strippers, burlesque, fire, blood and angle grinding Smurfs! Sadly, just weeks after that launch night, Sin was pulled down to make way for a new tube station and we found our new home at The Colosseum Club in Vauxhall.
What we do
We are an Alternative Club first and foremost! We do have a dungeon and a couples darkroom, and we allow full nudity in the dresscode - but that doesn't make us a traditional fetish club!
We created AC with the aim of offering something new; the club we always wanted to go to but didn’t exist. So, AntiChrist offers:
- A party vibe - informal, friendly, fun and a good excuse for dressing up.
- Bands - ranging through brutal industrial to punkpop to Rock 'n' Roll to electro and more. See below for a full history.
- Shows - Again, a wide range of styles including strippers, burlesque, fire, black comedy, magic, needles, fashion shows...
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A good mix of music - 'PurefuckingIndustrial' (PFI) offers industrial and dark electro, 'The Hellfire Room' is goth, 80's, and what we call 'Alt Anthems' - Prodigy, Manson, Rammstein et al. Sometimes we also have 'HellHole' playing rock, metal and industrial metal.
- Dungeon - it's well equipped and staffed should you wish to try it. If it's not your 'thing' then you can walk right on past the door!
- Couples darkroom - as above, you can skip this as you wish, but if you do fancy being a bit naughty there's somewhere comfy and safe to go!
- Freebies, happy hours and giveaways! There's a free raffle every Halloween and we often have cds, gig and festival tickets and other bits to give away. We have 3 happy hours as we know London drinks prices can feel a bit steep, we give away free cake at our Birthday event, free sweets and condoms at every AC, and have had caricaturists sketching for free too!
What we don't do
The venue and it's furniture, bars, security-, cleaning- and bar-staff, the cabs outside, the carpark, cloakroom, drink prices... are all out of our control as they are run by the venue. Naturally we communicate with the venue management should there be a problem, and we negotiated the 'Happy Hours' at the bar, but all those things mentioned are not run by AC.
Other things we don't do: house/funky beats/trance/dance music - it's common to hear that kind of thing in other big fetish clubs, but it's not our cup of tea! We don't do 'wanky men' either. It's so impolite and totally non-consensual, so we won't tolerate it. We were a bit taken by surprise by the wanky men at the re-launch in '07, but have since cracked down on them and happily can report that we haven't had a problem with it for years :)
Fetish Friendly
AC is often called a Fetish Club, but that's not the sum of our parts! There is a dungeon (The Devil's Playroom'), and as said above it's easy to walk right past and ignore that zone if you want to! If you are interested in the fetish side of things, AC is perfect for both 'newbies' and experienced BDSM-ers. If you are new to the whole concept, our Dungeon Monitors (DMs) are very friendly as is Mistress Rebekka Raynor, and they can give you pointers. They can also demonstrate how the equipment can be used and how to play safely.
If you already know what you are doing, feel welcome to walk in and claim a piece of equipment. We have spanking benches with retraints, St Andrew's crosses, cages, a gynae chair with medical setup screens and lights, and often have a few pieces around the venue too. There is a dedicated aftercare area with seats, and the dungeon is split into play space and viewing space with a monitored cordon. We have DJs playing a mix of goth and industrial at low volume, and they'll happily play requests!
Wristbands
We use wristbands for entry to AC in place of 'real' tickets. This speeds up entry times, as people who have their wristbands posted to them can put them on before arriving, and simply show their wrist as they walk in, instead of having to show a ticket which must be checked and torn. It also allows people to leave and re-enter the venue before 3am, for example, if they wish to get something from their car. These wristbands always have the date of the event on, and are a different colour each time (according to theme).
GREEN wristbands - these are available to collect from the ticketbooth or usherettes at any time during an AC. They are to show that you are single/available/willing to be approached/looking for a play partner... The idea behind this is to make it a bit easier to connect and break the ice. They can be worn by couples looking for someone to join them, straight/gay/bi/whatever orientations, single men, women, TVs, TSs and so on...
If you choose to wear a green band, people will know that they can approach you and that you aren't already taken.
If you are hoping to meet a partner at AC (for life, for love or just for the night!), then grab a green band from the ticket booth or an usherette. Wear it so people can see it, and keep an eye out for others wearing them too.
Who runs AntiChrist?
Club AntiChrist is run by 2 people - d.Void and Missy. There is a wonderful team of people who work on the night (and we couldn't be without them) but all the day-to-day tickets, artwork, booking, emails, websites, promotion and so on is done by the two of us! We also run TheAlterium.com (a social network for Alt adults), SinZine.com (an online 'Zine with articles and interviews covering all aspects of Alt life) and thedevilswardrobe.com (clothing, jewellery and accessories including AC merch).
Our Team
These people are all wonderful, and without them AC would suffer! Pete Valente + Sabrina - flyer distribution; Rin - stage manager; Mr Boo - lighting engineer; Demondaz and Exhayle who work on the door, Tamara Lee, Grace, Gothinisity and Sam who work in the ticketbooth; Mistress Rebekka Raynor - Dungeon Mistress; Athor, Michael Cane, Polly - Dungeon Monitors;
Our Ethos
The AC ethos is 'everything goes'. More broadly put, we don't want anyone to feel left out. There is no reason why goths should be put off going to a fetish club, or vice versa. For example - we aren't going to ban Nazi insignia just incase someone is offended, for the same reasons we allow nudity - everyone at AC is over 18, and can make their own judgements. Clubbing is supposed to be fun!
What makes AC the best?
So what sets us apart from the other clubs? Originally, it was the way we combined the different dancefloors with live bands and theatre shows and a playroom. No-one else was doing that at the time. 4 years on of course, many other clubs have sprung up doing the same thing (for example, the Bizarre Ball). It was to be expected, and fulfilled the prophesy created by Bizarre Magazine themselves when they called us the “future of clubbing” after our re-launch in 2007.
These days, what sets us apart is our care for our customers. We actively solicit views after every event; we want to know what was enjoyed and what was not, and we use that feedback to shape the next event.
- When clubbers told us the queue for the bar in the Dungeon disrupted play we closed that bar for all future AC’s. And we added a cordon in the dungeon to separate viewers from players - along with seating for aftercare, and a monitor on the door to ensue the room never gets overcrowded, at the suggestion of our customers.
- In the Theatre, when customers told us they had difficulty getting a good view, and we found we couldn’t raise the stage height due to the low ceiling, we re-thought the room’s layout - added a raised platform with seating at the back of the room, and podiums near the stage.
- A final example is the ways in which we've evolved to fit our customers' needs is the queuing procedure when you arrive at the club. We were overwhelmed at one event by large numbers wanting to pay on the door, resulting in lengthy queue. We tried our best on the night, and learned from it the future - since then we've had 3 extra staff working outside to process ticket holders and those collecting tickets, with the result that no-one has to wait longer than 5 minutes to get in.
We do really care about you, our lovely clubbers, and we want you to know it! That’s why we organise the free raffle every Halloween, the free tea, coffee and hot chocolate at 3am, and all the other giveaways.
We also share the love by allowing people free entry in exchange for some work - we know some people are so skint they can't afford a ticket, so they hand out sweets or serve tea, bring us pumpkins or cake, or help us pack down after the club and we let them in free! It's a benefit to the whole club as well as us and them :)
If you have a comment, complaint, or suggestion (or praise, we love that too) then feel free to let it be known. We have to know what you want to be able to provide it. I might add too, that if you have a particular need or problem while you’re at AC, do try to let us know there and then – we might be able to fix it right then, instead of having to wait till the next one!
Testimonials
By our customers:
"It's the beginning of the end for all other clubs, the most enjoyable by far" - Gothinisity
"AC is full of the most deliciously deviant and full of downright debauchery, and we love it!" - Mel
"The most fucking awesome club on earth a place where you can be yourself and not be judged" - Ashvegas
"Great venue, great people good music and well priced drinks what more can you want from a club. Really well run with a welcoming atmosphere have been 3 times now and have enjoyed it every time."- Paul Crossley
"Antichrist is run by those on the scene for those on the scene and this is so evident in the friendly atmosphere that remains throughout the years. It has a lovely venue and nice varied entertainment I always really look forward to it." - Lian Cooper
"AC is one of the few clubs that I really do enjoy myself completely through the night. It's friendly, filled with awesome music and it's really a place that people should visit if they are into the alternative things of life. Besides... this place has so much to offer to so many!" - Sveinbjörg Inga Lind
"AC is all the fun and none of the attitude, big, sexy and brilliant." - Hex Libris
"Absolutely brilliant night out - what being alternative in London is all about. I keep coming back time and time again; I'm literally a glutton for punishment! :D" - Corinna Lovegrave
By the press:
"One of our favourite club nights" - Bizarre magazine
"Downright deviant and gloriously goth" - The Guardian
"Surely the most sinful way to spend your weekend" - Time Out
"Colourful, vibrant and accessible" - Skin Two magazine
Past performers
Circus of Horrors (Carnival of the Bizarre)
Mistress Olivia (Tribal bellydance/gore)
Warren Speed and Kinkarella (Smurfs/male burlesque/fire)
Lil' Miss Chaos (catheter show)
Strumpet and Vixen (Living marrionette/siamese twins)
Assisted Suicide (Burlesque)
Dangerous Dolly (Aerial hoop)
Felicity Fyre Le Fay (Aerial/fire/statueing)
Elysium Corsetry (fashion show)
Randy Wornhole (Compere)
Satanic Sluts (Sophia Landi and Morrigan Hel)
Satanic Sluts Xtreme (Cheerleading)
Toxic Energy (Stilts)
Fanny Divine (Burlesque)
Kalki Hoops (Hoolahooping)
Misty Lux (Burlesque)
Michael Coffey (Magician)
Pariah Circus (body mutilation)
Miss Vermilion Embers
(anglegrinding/stilts/glo poi)
Chris Cross (Contortion/escapology)
Paul Moyse (Caricaturist)
Jared Louche (Compere/wordsmith)
Valkyrie Corsets (fashion show)
Sophia Landi (stilts/fire)
Darling Vixen (dead Mata Hari/bellydancing)
Mouse (filth)
PinkGem (Needle show)
Veronika Valentine (Burlesque)
Lydia Darling (Neo-Burlesque and body art performance)
Obadiah Arkham (Body art performance with Lydia Darling)
Kazoo (escapology/living statue)
Marcus Chainsaw (compere)
Hellfire and Jentheroo (medusa/creature stilts and anglegrinding)
AMF Korsets (fashion show/human suspension)
Veronika Valentine (burlesque)
Baawo and Missy Macabre (gore cabaret)
Lola Lenore (burlesque)
Dee Christopher (magician)
Sex0r (fire and grinding)
The Jackin' Man (pervery)
Dixie Licious (burlesque)
Esinem (rope bondage)
Joe Black (dark cabaret)
Kittie Kohl (burlesque)
Transmutant (Steampunk show)
Luna x (fetish dance)
Duchess Divine (burlesque)
Marnie Scarlet (fan dance)
DaveDisaster (compere)
Nikki of Kinky Britain (compere)
Hel and Sophia (Fire show)
Fifi Fatale (burlesque)
Carnivile (stilts)
MisSa Blue (hot wax show)
Leah Debrincat (bellydance/sword swinging)
Sabretooth (Red Mass)
Endurance Test
Past Bands
Richard Christ
Deviant UK
Leechwoman
Problem Being
Agapesis
Attrition
Novus:UK
Uninvited Guest
Undercover Slut
Alterred
SkinJob
Maxdmyz
Cybercide
Sex Beat
Texas Chainsaw Orchestra
Uberbyte
The Thought Criminals
The McCarricks
Shanklin Freakshow
The Whores
Ghostfire
Syndrome x/209
Global Citizen
Zeitgeist Zero
Obsessive Compulsive
Diva Suicide
Resist
Pro-jekt
Martin Degville/Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Metaltech
Inertia
Kiria
Mechanical Cabaret
Concrete Lung
Vince Ray and the Boneshakers
John Drain
Vince Ripper and the Rodent Show
Satan's Strip Show has featured:
Leila Domini
Jezabel Suicide
Tallulah Tease
Luna
Suzie Wong
PinkGem
Lord Loki
Sex0r
Idol
MisSa Blue
Jurgen Mudveins
Tainted Lover
Candice May