DIVA sat down with founders Terri and Katie to find out more
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY AGATA NOWETA
While the papers might be telling you that queer nightlife is dying, G.IRL Events is telling a different story. Packing hundreds of queer women and non-binary people into venues across the country every month, G.IRL Events has been bringing the community together for four years now. Offering a safe space to let your hair down, meet others, and maybe even have a cheeky kiss, G.IRL Events is more than just a club night. It’s now grown into a community, creating a legacy which has spanned continents.
Ahead of G.IRL Event’s 4th Birthday Party extravaganza, DIVA sat down with Terri and Katie to find out more about how one idea sparked a revolution in the queer event scene.
How did G.IRL Events start?
Terri: Katie and I were quite disappointed with what was available in Soho. We wanted to create something that we wanted to go to. A majority of the spaces, especially in Soho, were gay male-centric, and there wasn’t a space we could go to that we felt safe or could meet members of our community.
Katie: It all happened pretty fast. Terri came up with the idea, and the first event came about within the space of eight days. We pulled together some flyers, and there were 250 people at the first one. It was a big indicator that this wasn’t just what we needed, but other people felt there was a need too. Our next event had an 800-person capacity, so it quickly snowballed.
Are there any moments that really stick out from the first G.IRL Events?
Terri: People were flying in from different countries because they didn’t have events like ours either. People came from Singapore, Brazil, and all over Europe. It proves that things like this are completely necessary all over the world, not just in London.
Katie: We see a lot of people who first came three or four years ago on their own, and now they come in this huge friendship group. They found their queer community.
At the moment, we’re seeing queer venues and events shutting their doors. Why is it so important to have nights like G.IRL Events?
Terri: Having G.IRL as a pop-up and taking over spaces is super important so that there are some spaces rather than none at all.
Katie: I think it’s important that these spaces adapt. With nightlife slowing down, we’ve had to adapt. We now do day parties, singles mixers and different kinds of events that suit different people.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
Terri: There’s been a natural decline in nightlife across the whole industry. Before, we would do a monthly nightclub event. Now, people want something slightly different.
Katie: We’ve shifted a lot more over the last year in terms of providing experiences beyond club nights. For example, at our upcoming birthday we have an outdoor arden, craft table games, free bracelet making, arcade games and an interactive DJ set where people can add their songs.
How does it feel to look back at the last four years of G.IRL Events?
Terri: While some things have changed, the core of it and what it stands for haven’t changed from the beginning. It’s still a super safe space. It’s really fun. It’s a way to connect with people.
Looking ahead to the future, what do you hope to see happen for G.IRL Events?
Terri: We want to innovate and change with the times. We want to expand into new markets. London is our home city, but we’ve taken G.IRL to Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool and Leeds. I’d love to go to Europe, America and Australia.
Katie: We’ve found that different communities have different wants and needs. I want to expand further into different styles of events away from nightclubs. Me and Terri have gotten older over the last four years so clubbing isn’t necessarily for everyone anymore. I’d love to see an expansion into more wholesome events.
You have your 4th Birthday Party celebration coming up. What can people expect from this evening?
Terri: It’s the one event of the year where we don’t have a particular theme. It’s just our birthday party! We try to give back and give out a lot. There’ll be crowd interactions and performers, hosts doing stage games and giving out prizes. We’ve filled the garden with free things to do.
Katie: It’s just a welcoming feeling. We want everyone to feel like they’re just turning up at a mate’s birthday party.
Get your ticket for their 4th Birthday here: girleventslondon.com/products/g-irl-4th-birthday-party
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