The words “iconic” and “legendary” are some of the most overused adjectives in New York nightlife… but who can argue that there are better words to describe Susanne Bartsch? She practically invented the concept of nightlife as we now know it when she combined the worlds of fashion and nightclubbing for some of the most memorable events of the 1980’s through today, including the long running “On Top” at Le Bain. And now her whole life and career are documented in a gorgeous new book… on sale now!
Thotyssey: Susanne, it’s an honor to finally speak with you! I know your weekly summer Tuesday party “On Top” at Le Bain in The Standard High Line just started up again… how was the premiere?
Susanne Bartsch: I’m happy to say, it was another magical night. Every season, you never know… things change and you go, “Am I still with it? Is it going to be okay?” And it was a great turnout. It’s like a reunion, in a good way. And it was very full of love and energy. It was fabulous. Season 14!
That’s incredible. Congratulations! So this next question may already seem a little dated now, but what did you think about this year’s Met Gala? Were you able to go to any of the after parties?
No. I think the Met Gala at this point is just too elitist; I’m not into it. I love that people are excited about it, and it’s a great thing how they raise money for the museum. But at the same time, it’s kind of lame. I was invited to three parties… I didn’t go to any because I just wasn’t in town, but I also wasn’t sorry to miss any of it at all.
Speaking of The Met… I’m looking at your new book Bartschland again–care of Cernunnos / Abrams Books–and it reminds me a lot of when one would go to the new hot exhibit at The Met, and they would have the big book that you could buy in the gift shop that’s the accompaniment of the exhibit–full of photographs, anecdotes, etc. That’s what your book kind of reminds me of.
I didn’t think of that. But that’s a good comparison… I’ll take it!
Tell us a bit about how this book came about.
I feel like it was supposed to come out maybe a year ago. I’d say two years, really, and it’s a little weird when you start something two years ago… a lot of changes. There’s new things evolving in my life, and they’re not in there.
I’d been thinking about doing the book before. A couple of times I’d been approached, but it never really ended up going anywhere. And eventually, it was right at the end of the pandemic that the photography museum had a dinner… They had a new restaurant that was going to open. I went to a dinner there to celebrate the restaurant and I bumped into their boss–the Abram’s guy, he curates books. He’s an amazing curator; he did the Tom of Finland book. He’s really respected and really cool. He walked up to me. He said, “Oh, Susanne Bartsch, I want to do a book with you.”
Then we had a drink a week later. And from there, it was his idea. I basically didn’t want to do a book just about me. I said, “Let me involve the community a little bit,” which is why I have community pages. It was very effortless, very organic, like how most of the things happen in my life… but a lot of work.
Bartschland certainly covers large chunks of your life, from your childhood in Switzerland to living in London and then New York, running boutiques. It’s described how people would be buying this cutting edge fashion at the shops, but then complaining that they had no where to where it all. That’s when you came up with the idea of hosting these fashion forward nightlife events where people could turn out in these artistic looks… and the rest is history!
Somebody was building [the club Savage] in the mid-’80s. [The space] was so wrong that it was actually good, and it was a few doors away from where I lived. I looked at it and I said, “This is perfect. I’ll have a club night where people can come and wear these looks that they buy from my store that can come for free.” And then I’ll sell tickets for people who are not [in those looks], you know?
[The club owner] said, “Oh, great. I’d love to do that.” But then he didn’t have a local license, and didn’t know if we could do this without alcohol. And a year later, he called me and said, “Oh, Do you want to do it tonight? I got the legal license!” I went down there and I just left my fashion business… because I was having issues with [early examples of] #MeToo stuff.
Oh, no!
Yeah. Could you believe it? But I don’t want to go into it… it’s long gone. I ended up leaving the company, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It was a magical thing, like all these other things that just come along. Just like how the book happened.
And I was basically doing it all by myself. I was hiring DJs and people. And the first night, the doors open, and Michael Musto and all these cult figures were standing outside, all very renowned. And I thought, “I’ve made it.” I had like one thousand people that first night. It was amazing. So it just took off like a rocket.
So, you didn’t really know much about the New York nightlife scene before you became such a big part of it.
I never saw club nights at all, it just came along. I once saw a gypsy lady in Switzerland when I was about ten years old and she said, “Oh, let me look at your hand.” And I was scared, but I showed it to her. She says, “You’re going to go to the big world.” I said, “What’s the big world?” She said, “America. You’re going to go to New York.” And I’m like, “Okay.” She was right. I never thought about going to New York, that too was unplanned. I came for a love affair; I never left. Now I’m in love with New York.
The book also describes so many of the great events you hosted over the years–perhaps most famously, “The Love Ball” originating in 1989, which was a massive gala party that served as a fundraiser for AIDS.
It was incredible to be able to do the Love Ball. I mean, it really came out of pain… so many people are dying. And the young people don’t know how it was.
There is also a large section of the book you described earlier as the “community pages,” that covers so many of the people you work and play with: DJs, club kids, drag performers… famous folks like Amanda Lepore, Aquaria, Leigh Bowery, Joey Arias, Kenny Kenny, Ryan Burke, Milk, Gottmik…
Yes, I’m one of the people who [brought drag out] from underground house. Amazing, yeah? I gave a platform to those people, and it grew into basically around the world.
In general, the book comes at a good time for young people who don’t know much about nightlife’s glorious past… or even it’s present, for that matter. It’s a strange time now, we have a whole generation of potential partygoers who are under-socialized thanks to the pandemic, technology, economic hardship, paranoia, etc.
It’s sad, really sad. But we have to keep going and doing the best we can and be correct and do the right thing. People actually have so many problems that are real problems.
There’s a lot of work we need to do, but hopefully we can all come together for Pride. Are you doing your big Pride “Boom” event at the Standard High Line this summer?
Yes. I’m definitely doing a “Boom.” That’s going to be on Saturday night. And I love that party because I can get people in free. We’re not charging at the door, and I love that. It’s really nice to have a place where people can come, and it’s not about how much money we make in. It’s a platform, a place where the community can come together and celebrate. So I love that.
You have a big book signing event coming up, too.
Yes, on the 4th of June at the Boom Boom Room [in The Standard]–early, like 9:00 to 12:00. And then “On Top” is the same night.
And as far as future events go, I know you always have something cooking. But for now I’m sure you’re focusing on the book.
Yes. And if the book goes well, I’ll go into each decade more [in future projects] because I have a lot more that’s not in there. And also, a couple of people say, “Oh, this should be a film.”
Definitely! Scarlett Johansson should play you!
But as far as movies go, of course people should also watch your 2017 documentary that’s been on Netflix for a few years, Susanne Bartsch: On Top. I loved watching your glorious wedding and relationship with gym mogul David Barton on that, and learning about your son Bailey who seems like a fairly grounded, non-nightlife person.
The kids are always the opposite of the parents! He’s laid back and private, unlike me and David who are running around all the time and all that. He’s an artist as well, really cultured. He’s a great musician with incredible knowledge and music talent. He’ll go somewhere, but he’s taking his time. And ironically, to be honest, I don’t really love being on stage. It can stress me out. But he likes being on stage.
The biggest gift is finding what you love, and then be able to make a living with it. It’s very important, and very special. So many people don’t know what that is.
You have done so many interesting things in your life, art and career. And you can see the love in all of it, for sure.
Yeah, I really do. I haven’t done anything [in the 9 to 5 world]. I was a hairdresser receptionist for a year… that’s it. I don’t mind a project that lasts for a few months or a year; I just know I have to know that it’s going to end, and go on to something new. You know? I just knew from a very young age that I need to be in charge of my own time, and I’ve managed it all my life.
The world is better off with you in charge! Thanks Susanne, and congrats on the book!
The hardcover edition of “Bartschland” will be available for purchase on May 28, 2024. Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Susanne Bartsch’s upcoming appearances and events, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and her website.
Thotyssey 