Sociologist and former fashion model Ashley Mears discusses her book 'Very Important People' which explores the labor conditions for models and the orchestrated displays of excess at VIP clubs. The podcast delves into the roles of promoters and women in the club culture, the gender hierarchy and exploitation in VIP clubs, the tragic consequences of idolizing the wealthy, and the transformation of Manhattan's meatpacking district into a playground for the ultra wealthy.
Promoters in the VIP club scene serve as intermediaries, creating an environment that signals status for wealthy clients.
The VIP club scene perpetuates economic inequality through conspicuous consumption and extravagant displays of wealth.
Gender dynamics in the VIP club scene exploit women's beauty and are rooted in patriarchal structures.
Deep dives
The role of promotions in the VIP club scene
Promoters in the VIP club scene serve as intermediaries between the clubs and the wealthy clients. They use their relational skills and connections to attract beautiful women to the clubs, creating an environment that signals status. Promoters strategically cultivate relationships with models and other attractive women to bring them into the scene, offering favors and access to exclusive experiences. Their role is to ensure a lively and vibrant atmosphere, making the clients feel important and enhancing their social networks.
The allure of status and luxury consumption
The VIP club scene offers a glimpse into the world of the ultra-rich, where conspicuous consumption and extravagant displays of wealth are the norm. Spending large sums of money on bottle service and other luxury experiences serves as a way for the wealthy clients to establish and maintain their status among their peers. This form of luxury consumption plays a role in perpetuating economic inequality and highlights the values and social world of the elite.
Gender dynamics and exploitation
Gender dynamics play a significant role in the VIP club scene, with women's beauty being a valuable asset that men exploit for their own gain. Promoters rely on the presence of beautiful women, often fashion models, to enhance the status and appeal of the clubs. Women, while not typically compensated monetarily, gain symbolic value by being part of the scene. This unequal power dynamic is rooted in patriarchal structures that prioritize male control and profit.
Consent and the construction of meaning
Women in the VIP club scene consent to their involvement, drawn in by the promises of fun, friendship, and access to exclusive experiences. Promoters carefully construct relationships to blur the lines between labor and leisure, creating a sense of camaraderie and reciprocity. The system of exploitation is maintained through a complex interplay of meaning and pleasure that women derive from participating in the scene. Their consent is influenced by societal norms and the desire for inclusion and status.
The dynamic of exploitation and ownership in the club industry
Exploitation in the club industry works best when it feels good, and this is achieved by creating a sense of pleasure and inclusion for the girls involved. Girls participate willingly as long as they feel valued and have fun, but they are quick to leave if they feel mistreated or the boundary between work and personal life becomes blurred. Promoters assert ownership over the girls, seeing them as a resource, but this possessiveness creates tensions between promoters. Despite the exploitation, the girls find pleasure in being included, and this pleasure is a powerful force that keeps the system running.
The transformation of clubs and the pursuit of wealth
The rise of bottle service in clubs transformed the industry, catering to the desires of ultra-wealthy clients. The clubs shifted focus from general admission to targeting wealthy clients and creating a culture of conspicuous consumption. Promoters aspired to reach the level of these wealthy clients and engage in business with them, but often faced disappointment when their relationships were not as substantive as they believed. The concentration of wealth and gentrification in cities like New York contributed to the transformation of clubs into exclusive spaces for the elite, reinforcing hierarchies and perpetuating a culture of wealth and excess.
Featuring Ashley Mears on her book Very Important People: Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit. Mears, a sociologist and former fashion model, explores the super-elite "models and bottles" party scene where beautiful young women and conspicuous consumption heighten the status of rich men.
