BCM, short for Bad Boy Club of
BMontreal, produces events that are
big, beautiful and transcendent. _
They are also painfully difficult to
describe accurately. You have to see it to
know it. And you have to know it to
decide how it does or does not fit in your
life.
Here’s your chance. On May 19-
23, BBCM is presenting Hot & Dry, five
days of parties that climax at Club
Metropolis on May 21and 22. The event
combines world class DJ 5 with high-ener-
gy visuals to create a spectacle unlike any
other on the planet. The theme of this ‘
year’s event is Egyptian — but not the
Egypt of gay arrests and imprisonment,
no, this Egypt is the desert land of fantasy
and excess: think Cleopatra.

From Friends to Foundation
BBCM started in 1991 when a group of
friends decided to throw a big party.

“In the beginning, we started off
with just one party, which was the Black
and Blue,” recalls BBCM Director of . ’
External Affairs Caroline Rousse.
“Originally, the cofounders wanted to
recreate what was going on in the States
and be part of the Circuit. They wanted
their friends to come to Montreal because
they really liked their city. They started
by inviting their friends for the first Black
and Blue. It was a by-invitation—only
party, but 800 people showed up.”

The Circuit is a series of annual
events that take place around North
America. The events are one part
marathon, one part disco, one part family
reunion with drugs, sex, music, and lights
thrown in to boot. What lures someone to
a Circuit party can be anything from
curiosity to spirituality, a deep love of
club music, or a desire to be part of
something much, much bigger than them-
selves.

Over the years, Black & Blue
became a fixture of the Circuit and grew
to a seven—day, multi-faceted social, cul-
tural, sport, and party extravaganza that
brings more than 80,000 participants from
North America and beyond. BBCM began
producing other events throughout the
year: Bal des Boys on New Year’s Eve;
Red Party for Valent_ine’s Day; Twist dur-
ing Montreal gay pride in August; and
Hot & Dry Weekend in May.

“Hot and Dry is our second-

‘ biggest event,” said Rousse. “It is the end

of the winter here and people go wild.”
Rousse added, “For this party,

Montreal’s Spring
Weather Forecast:
  Hot & Dry,_
Lots of Dancing

by Ric Kasini Kadour

we’ve been booking more progressive
DJ s. For other events, we have a more
typical ‘gay’ sound.” This year, DJs
include DJ Vibe from Lisbon, DJ Desyn
Masiello from London, Robert de la

the twelve—hour party. The provocative
Radical 5 and the BBCM dancers will
present “Queen of the Nile.” Singing diva
Stephane Moraille will perform live.
Proceedsfrom these events sup-

The BBCM Foundation has granted over
$1.1 million to gay and AIDS-service organizations.
Its events have generatedover $500 million in
economic and tourism spin-offs.

Gauthier, and local—boy DJ s Patrick Guay
and Gilles Jr.

Walk Like an Egyptian

“We also have a theme that we work
around every year. This year is Egyptian-
themed. We have a dancers show. We are
talking about Cleopatra,” said Rousse.
BBCM works with several artists and a
team of dancers to weave various shows,
imaginative décor, and special effects into

port the foundation’s charitable work.
The BBCM Foundation has

granted over CAN$1 .1 million to gay and
AIDS-service organizations. Its events
have generated over CAN$500 million in
economic and tourism spin-offs. Their
success is the result of a few unique fac-
tors, not the least of which is the broader
social and cultural conditions of Montreal
and Quebec, including tourism promotion
support from the city and the province.

 

World-Class Acceptance

While the core audience of BBCM events
is gay men, a greater diversity of partici-
pants makes them more welcoming than
other circuit parties.

“For some reason, in Montreal,
people really like to mingle together,”
said Rousse. “They go out just have fun,
so what you look like really doesn’t mat-
ter so much.” Men and women, gay and
straight, old and young; when BBCM
throws a party, a wide cross-section of
Montrealers get involved.

BBCM also has developed a rep-
utation for being fiercely progressive and
forward-thinking when it comes to pro-
ducing a party. They look globally for tal-
ented musicians, rely on highly skilled
professionals for lights and décor, and
stay mindful of the health and well being
of their audience.

“We know that people do take
drugs and there is no way for us to stop
them: We realize that it is a problem
said Rousse. “We do the best we can. We
give them information. We do lots of
research about the effects of drugs. And
tell people to be careful.” BBCM’s web-
site offers clear, succinct information
about how ecstasy, GHB, crystal meth,
and other club drugs work in the body.
The site includes information on benefits
and potential risks. The site also offers
tips for safe and fun partying.

For those who have never been
to a BBCM event, or any circuit party, for
that matter, Rousse has some advice:
“Dance a lot, make lots of new friends,
and relax.”

Hyperbole is easy when talking
about BBCM events. One could say it’s a
few thousand mostly gay men dancing
shirtless for twelve hours, taking a nap,
and doing it again. You could say, it’s a
bunch of cranked-up, bitchy muscle
queens spending 72 hours getting wasted
and screwed to monotonous, repetitive
music. Or, you could say, it’s a deeply
spiritual convergence where music and
lights are the vehicle participants use to
enter sacred space, to transcend the mun-
dane and elevate their lives and the lives
of those around them.

Rousse’s best advice is also the
best description of the event: “It is a state
of mind.” V

Ric Kasini Kadour is a writer, a men’s
health advocate, and a Bear who lives in
Montreal and Vermont.