Soft clubbing is a new opportunity to launch your DJ career or event brand. For years, the DJ career path seemed straight forward: Learn the skills, get your first gigs, build experience, aim for a club residency or fame through releasing music. The problem now is that many clubs and venues already have resident DJs and you feel like you were constantly stepping on someones toes to get DJ work. It's always hard to get your foot in the door when there are gate keepers at every turn. The good news is that old model is cracking. A new generation, led by Gen Z, is fundamentally redefining what "a night out," is, and their preferences are creating a seismic shifts in how we party together.

Savvy business-minded DJs can take advantage of this rare opportunity and use it as a springboard to break through. Soft clubbing is the new trend and it's ripe with possibility. New DJs can ride the wave of the soft clubbing movement and establish themselves in the industry. In this blog we uncover the hottest soft clubbing trends and how DJs can pick this low-hanging fruit!

What is Soft Clubbing?

Soft clubbing is the trend of hosting social dance events with a DJ and a club-like vibe, but in non-traditional venues (like cafes, fitness events, galleries, or studios). Soft clubbing has a focus on wellness, connection, and intentionality over heavy drinking, drugs and late nights. It's a mindful and accessible form of nightlife that creatives a safe refuge away from intimidating crowds and overtly loud sound systems.

Check out any ticket selling website and you'll find a host of soft clubbing events ranging from coffeeshop DJ sets to hot yoga raves! Eventbrite is the most popular app for new and established promoters to list soft clubbing events and sell tickets. Its simple interface and Organiser app allows promoters to track ticket sales, email ticket buyers and manage the guest list.

Recent Eventbrite data reveals a staggering 92% increase in soft clubbing gatherings, particularly sober-curious events. Gen Z have grown up attached to their phones at the retina! Growing up on camera has made them very image conscious and keen to always be picture perfect on social media. The health and beauty industries have exploded as a result.

Electronic music and DJ culture have also seen a rapid rise, however late night clubbing and messy afterparties don't fit easily with a healthy image-conscious lifestyle f Gen Z. The solution: Soft Clubbing. A way to engage with DJing and music without the late nights, ugly hangovers, regrettable photographic evidence and being late to your morning yoga session! Soft clubbing brings together the biggest Gen Z trends, health, beauty, fashion, DJing, wellness, mindfulness and of course, capturing that perfect moment for TikTok.

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Soft clubbing is also making dance events more accessible across the board. Music fans on the autism spectrum often praise soft clubbing's lower volume levels, small intimate crowds and chill vibes. Many SC events also have better access for music fans with access limitations, such as those in wheel chairs.

Traditionally, DJ events were dependent on drinks and ticket sales, but soft clubbing is disrupting that too. DJ fans would rather not spend their weeks rent on four expensive alcoholic drinks and pay for it the next day with a punishing hangover. Instead, Gen Z are saving money and indulging in daytime events with a more affordable Matcha drink and a cheaper ticket. This decentering of alcohol and late nights to focus on intentional, energising gatherings that blend music, wellness, and authentic community is a welcome addition to the electronic music landscape.

Types of Soft Clubbing Events

There are many types of soft clubbing events that have always been around, and some that are fairly new to the scene. Read our list and see if you can come up with some of your own ideas on where to hold a DJ event.

Soft Clubbing in a Coffee Shop

Gen Z love a matcha-chocka-latte-frappe and why not indulge in the finest beats while you ride high on your coffee buzz! Coffee and music have always been a winning combo, and coffee bars, cafes and shops have become one of the hippest places to be seen DJing or listen to local talent. Eventbrite reports a massive increase with coffee clubbing events up 478%, with attendance soaring 150%.

Listening & Audiophile Bars

Listening lounges, bars and salons have been a fixture in the music scenes of many bigger cities around the world. They are now growing in number as music fans seek to trade obnoxiously loud clubs for audio fidelity and quality listening experiences. Many of these bars also have sumptuous interiors, cocktails, vintage records and immaculate vibes! All things Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z love to embrace.

Thermal Gatherings (e.g., sauna raves, cold plunge parties)

One of the most unique soft clubbing trends is that of sauna raves and cold plunge parties. Spas are cashing in on the shift to daytime parties and creating unique ways to merge DJ events with wellness and fitness. Just make sure you don't get the decks wet! Eventbrite reports an incredible 1,105% rise in attendance growth for thermal gatherings.

Morning Glory Parties

For those who want to start their day with a rush of energy they can find a positive community vibe at a local sober morning rave. Morning parties are famous for their upbeat endorphin fuelled expressive gatherings where dancing in the daylight is the norm. These events are typically sober events and people are encouraged to wear wacky outfits or just come in their morning jogging tracksuit.

Ecstatic Dance Happenings

Ecstatic dance is a freeform dance movement that encourages participants to break the conventional boundaries of movement and dance. Gatherings normally start with the participants lying flat on the ground listening to slow ambient music. The DJ then picks up the pace, slowly awakening the crowd by increasing the tempo with a variety of percussive and spiritual music styles. Tribal rhythms are often included and some ecstatic dance DJs will venture into house, techno, breaks, rave and even DnB. The DJ has no restrictions on genre of music or BPM. The dancers are encouraged to express themselves in any way they want.

Music Studio Parties

DJs and music producers are taking the parties into their studios, opening up their workspace to their fans and creating intimate networking opportunities. Many studio parties often host live streamed DJ sets, think Boiler Room, Mixmag Lab, The LSA DJ Networking Party and so on. These events are vital places where DJs, producers, singers, rapper and event promoters can meet and discuss collaborations.

Brunch Parties

Many music fans can't stay out late, because they have kids of work they next day, or simply they prioritise a good nights sleep. And who can blame them! Brunch parties have been thriving lately with many promoters pushing genre-themed events such as Reggae Roast BBQs and UKG bottomless-prosecco brunches! Drag brunch is one of our favourites.

Guerilla Takeovers

If you're feeling slightly rebellious your might consider the tactic of taking over a space without permission from the landowner. Pop-up raves on a smaller scale have been seen in abandoned forts, forests, national parks and derelict buildings. Think hand-held systems and quick-moving ravers, often on bikes or e-scooters.

Shop Pop-Ups

Many DJs can be seen launching intimate DJ events in barber shops, fast food restaurants and streetwear retailers. We've even seen discos in laundrettes and lifts! Which shop could you take over?

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How New DJs and Promoters Can Capitalise on Soft Clubbing

Now you know all about soft clubbing it's time to learn how to leverage this trend to your advantage. Here's our advice on how to ride the way of soft clubbing and use it as a vehicle to promote your DJ career or start a new event brand. Soft clubbing is the ultimate invitation to innovate and claim new territory, but your must act fast.

1. Adopt a Niche

Find a style of soft clubbing that suits your personality and goals. Use one from our list or invent a new way of doing things. What about running a rave in a plant shop, silent disco in a library or disco in a museum! Soft clubbing is all about quirky places you wouldn't normally expect to find a DJ.

2. Partner with a Venue

The venue is the most important thing for your soft clubbing experience. Start by proposing your idea and how you plan to manage the event safely and effectively. Your event proposal should include, dates, times, equipment needs, ticket price (if any), security and more. It's just like running a full on club event so make sure you don't leave out anything important within your business plan. Chat GPT or another LLM is a good place to get guidance on what your business plan and venue pitch should include. Consider asking the venue to sign an exclusivity clause so that so one steals your idea!

3. Brand & Promote

The next step is to set a date with enough lead-in time to pull off a sleek marketing campaign. Perhaps it will be word-of-mouth or maybe you'll use paid adverts. Give yourself ample time to promote the event and ensure a good turnout.

4. Deliver The Event & Capture The Content

Now it's time to deliver a seamless event but don't forget to capture the content! Make sure you have multiple camera angles, roaming photographer and videographers. A top tip is to create an instagramable photo set so that your influencer fans can market the event for you! The key with running new events is to get many people to help you on the day itself but also to promote. Start small, don't risk too much money and learn from your mistakes.

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An important point to make about soft clubbing events is that they are generally cheaper to run, and easier to sell tickets for. They are mainly cheaper because late night venues charge high venue hire fees and have expensive minimum bar spends. If you rent the same venue in the daytime it will be much cheaper, allowing for a better profit margin and less risk. Now is the time to start your soft clubbing venture, this new trend is hot right now so time is of the essencse. Grab this opportunity while you can and launch your DJ career or event brand.

Interested in renting studio space at LSA for your micro event? Contact us here for more info.

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