The ups and downs of going clubbing

A crowded room full of moving bodies and music is exactly how many Utah State University students like spending their weekends.

“Clubbing is going out to dance clubs and dancing, meeting people and getting crazy,” sai Justin Arnall, a senior at Utah State University. “People go to dance, to release their energy and relax. They want to let their hair down and have fun.”

Often students feel Logan does not offer enough dancing options. For them, the 90-mile drive to Salt Lake is worth the trip.

“If they are going to get all dolled up to go dancing, they are going to drive an hour and do it right,” said local DJ Nick Thomas.

In Thomas’ opinion, Logan does not have an extensive dance scene because of the difference in music between Salt Lake clubs and Logan.

“In Salt Lake the music is dance music, meaning it has a higher beats per minute. People like to hear the stuff called techno or high energy,” he said.

In Logan, on the other hand, a lot of people want to be able to sing along to the music, Thomas said.

“In Salt Lake you can play stuff nobody has ever heard of,” he said.

The number and variety of people at the club makes a difference to many people, Thomas said.

“In Logan you will see the same 50 people every time you go dancing. People would rather drive to Salt Lake and see different people,” he said.

Arnall agrees that seeing a variety of people is a good reason to leave town.

“People go to clubs to hook up with chicks,” he said.

On second thought, he said, “People don’t go to clubs to hook up, but they go to see freaks.”

The appeal of going dancing is as varied as the types of music played.

“Going to a dance club for some means going to find girls or guys. They will just stand around most of the night,” Thomas said. “And a lot of people go just to dance.”

USU sophomore Laura Fischer goes dancing to dance.

  “I just go to dance, not to meet other people. I don’t like the guys there,” she said. “I just like to dance. I am a dancing fool, you might say.”

  For many students, clubbing is an event worthy of its own uniform.

  “In San Francisco there is a dress code – you can’t get in with tennis shoes and jeans,” Arnall said. “In Salt Lake I will wear throw-back garb, like ’70s sort of clothes. Like, I will wear a silk shirt with a fly collar. Then I’ll wear an older leather jacket. But your clothes have to be comfortable, you need to be able to dance in it.”

In Arnall’s experience, girls usually wear “as little as possible.”

“A big thing is plunging necklines and short skirts,” he said.

For Fischer, dancing clothes include “black pants and some kind of fun top, or jeans.”

Although different, Logan does have dancing options. According to Thomas there are the university dances, Cache Valley Fun Park’s country swing night, Beno’s and fraternity parties.

“When I DJ the frat parties is when I see the most people actually dancing,” Thomas said.