Le Baron: Julio

Le Baron: Julio
Julio Montero What do you think needs to change in nightlife? Right now, there are all these kids that don't know anything about nightlife, and a lot of impostors, basically con artists. They come into a place and say we do this, we do that, we're cool...and really don't know anyone. People who are supposed to be the big shots of New York are asking me for people's numbers. Nightlife is fake right now; it's more pretentious, where people sit around looking at each other's shoes and there's no real fun behind it. You also have all these promoters who put a flyer on Facebook, come in with 5 people, and get paid 300 bucks to be here two hours, for nothing. What's your ideal club? Of course it would be a tight door, good energy; there's kind of an art to getting the right people in the right room, and everyone has fun, instead of saying 'oh yeah, you're wearing Louis Vuitton.' I would want a place where the right people are having fun, and some of these people that we let in [at Le Baron], some of them I would turn away because it would ruin the vibe. How do you determine who's cool and who gets in? Well at this point, I've developed almost a sense for peoples vibes. There are people who are in the right circles but are still douche bags. A lot of these kids are entitled. Then there are people who have been in it for a while, and you accept the people they bring. All the people I meet now are through people that I already know. It becomes a tight circle. When you're a doorman, you can't just watch the ropes, you actually have to go inside and observe what people are doing. You can make a decision next time, whether they're coming in or not. Vibes. It's not just fashion (laughs). What qualities make you good at your job? The number one quality is my ability to pick up vibes and make a decision within seconds of meeting someone. I'm really good at picking people that should be together. When I go through my contact list and I'm inviting someone to my party, I know which people don't fit with others. You have to know which direction you're going. It changes everyday. You need to know when to mix up the skater kids with the art people, and maybe some models, so the skater kids have something to look at (laughs). Create a good mix. And throw in a couple of randoms.
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