About a year ago, the longtime friends Laura Baginski and Susie Lee reconnected during their 30 -year high school meeting. While the two women have caught up with their career, their maternity and everything else. They explained themselves on how they missed out and had trouble finding a place that played music they loved and did not start late in the evening.
This long conversation is what inspired the duo to start Club of first BirdsA joyful dancing evening for “middle age” women, non -binary and trans people who want to go out, and also be in bed before 11 pm because they “have to do in the morning”, as their slogan indicates. The (mainly) bimonly event was launched in Chicago in February and extended to New York. Next month, it happens to
“These are only women who support women, creating a safe space to be absolutely ridiculous and dance as if you have not danced for a very long time,” explains Laura Baginski.
(Meagan shuptar)
As its name suggests, the night function begins and ends early – from 6 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m.
“I can no longer stand again late,” said Baginski, 49, former non -profit marketing director and mother of two young children. “There is nothing that talks about this kind of need for women our age. You can go out to dinner, you can take a yoga class, but if you want to get out of the dance, clubs do not open before 10 pm, which is out of the question for us.”
She adds: “You can no longer dance a lot with groups except during weddings or mitzvi bar, and that should not be the only place where you can dance at this age.”
For Lee, who knows stadium breast cancer, the start of the Birds gave him something on which to focus outside his own difficulties. “The diagnosis, chemo and surgeries have completely stopped my life,” said Lee, 49, who has been a make -upper for over 20 years. She fought against cancer five times.
“I was totally depressed,” said Lee. “Then we started the club of the first Birds on a whim and I changed my concentration to create joy and pleasure for others.”
Baginski and Lee organized their first party in February in a diving bar in Chicago called The Burlington on the evening of a blinding snowstorm. Despite the weather, more than 100 people showed up – many of whom did not know – ready to dance and sing with their friends in a sweaty room. Lee's cousin who goes through DJ Hbom (Heanan Lee) managed the Night soundtrack, playing the new wave of the 80s (Baginski and Lee's favorite genre), nostalgic pop records and female empowerment songs. Some party favorites include “poison” by Bell Bive Devoe, “like a prayer” by Madonna, “Turn Down for What” by Dj Snake and Lil Jon, “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey and anything by Britney Spears.
A word on the party spread quickly, so they upgraded in a place with greater capacity for their next party. They always had a waiting list of more than 600 people, so they launched another event shortly after meeting demand.
After receiving several requests from their supporters on social networks, Baginski and Lee decided to start celebrating on the road. They organized two events in New York in November, which both sold.
Although the event was explicitly created for middle -aged women, trans and non -binary people, people aged 21 and over are welcome – as long as they do not identify themselves as a man.
A participant presents himself and dances on music during a party of the earlybirds in May.
(Julie Dietz)
“There are enough space for men,” says Lee. “Women need safe spaces where no one is scary, striking them or making them uncomfortable. During several festivals, some participants even brought their daughters with them. They organized 11 festivals in Chicago this year.
When Baginski and Lee reflect on the apparently rapid success of the earlybirds club, they say that people connect because it allows them to take a break in their responsibilities – manage the house, raise children, take care of elderly and more – and leave everything on the dance floor.
“This is an age group that is not taken care of,” explains Lee. “We are invisible in the media and in marketing, which is stupid because we are those who (often) control money in our households.”
She adds: “(During the) pandemic, mothers had to take care of everything and there was so much stress. So, when leaving, it is something that was strictly strictly for middle -aged women. For the first time, people feel seen and heard. It's like: “Oh, wow. Here is my community of women who make me. »»
The following Saturday the presidential election, Baginski and Lee feared that no one will present to their group. But when hundreds of people came, it made them realize how necessary.
“In this current climate, a space like this seems even more essential and almost political, which we never wanted it to be,” explains Baginski. “Now it feels it as an act of resistance.”
Earlybirds Club will organize its first parts in Los Angeles on January 10 in Sardine in San Pedro and January 11 at The Virgil near Lake Silver. The entrance is $ 40. Ten percent of all products will go to two non -profit organizations based on, Rainbow services and the LGBT center in Los Angeles (More specifically it is Trans wellness center).
“It's not a scene,” says Baginski, adding that the event is “come like you.” Participants wear everything, from complete palette looks to pajama sets with UGG slippers. The only thing the duo does not recommend to people to wear is the heels “because you are going to suffer”, jokes Baginski.
“It is pure joy, great energy and great energy,” she adds. “These are only women who support women, creating a safe space to be absolutely ridiculous and dancing as if you have not danced for a very long time.”
