What has one of New York nightlife’s most iconic DJs, producers and bosses been up to since last we spoke? Quite a bit, it seems… and as always, there’s a lot more to come from Frankie Sharp! We catch up while both watching the live broadcast of the 2024 VMAs.
Thotyssey: Welcome back to the Thotyverse, Frankie! we can’t let a whole year go by without a Sharp Word.
Frankie Sharp: Hi Jim! Aw, that’s so nice to hear and Its so nice to talk to my favorite person. It’s such a pleasure.
I understand you’re just returning to town after a bit of time away! Is it hard to unplug from NYC nightlife for long stretches, or is it a pleasure, lol?
One of our other businesses is a boating marina in rural Illinois, and it is so different from our manic New York life that it’s so welcome and invited. And it seems to always come at the right time, when I need a break from the city. But really, my partner does most of the work as it’s actually his business, truly. I just go swimming in the river… but I have to, because I find ways of sneaking in Dairy Queen and Culvers frozen custard every day. The Midwest is very good at desserts.
Delicious! As you can see, you’ve left NYC nightlife in an entire state of disarray! Lol JK, but it’s been an interesting summer—and year—for the biz. A queer bar closed, and it looks like more will be closing before too long. people aren’t coming out and drinking as much, and the young’uns are really not even leaving the house. Commercial rents and drink prices are sky high, and now the drag folks wanna unionize!
And I hear the aliens are transitioning in the prisons, and the former president wants to eat my dachshund!
Yes, it’s been a lot! What are your thoughts about all this? Are we on a sinking ship? Or is this a temporary slump, or a time of transition?
There is a lot wrong with the city and how it “supports” small businesses. In fact, there is this false sense that the city (and the state) wants to support and nurture small businesses… and it’s just such a lie. Rents, insurance, taxes, costs of goods—and in turn, the cost of operation—is unreal. Where we are now is that venue owners are seemingly “in the business of” breaking even, so one wrong move and you can go under.
That includes booking talent that can’t fill a room. I ran into that. I still do. So I have to book wisely, and do so in a calculated manner. Every dollar counts. And the people on my events team… whether that’s a production at a small bar or large nightclub, creates a team. And that team promotes, and it’s our collective job to pull our weight. Not a lot of the girls in the talent pool can do that. And I’m finding people want to see other types of performances. Live music works really well for me these days.
Although, the SLA made it quite difficult for me to operate the way I wanted with my bar when I took over Thirst to make it Frankie’s Pub. But I have to be honest and say that also I saw the writing on the wall. I’m good at what I do because a big part of what I do is forecasting trends. Mark my word here: we will see many more bars that we know, love and tolerate by the years end, close. And definitely more by next summer. And there’s no shame in that. Industries change, and one’s fate can change in the blink of an eye.
Is it a sinking ship? I think it’s a changing of the tides, and a time for new perspective and new lands to be discovered and explored. I have ideas of how to navigate the change of the wind out on this sea of nightlife… but I get paid for those ideas, so Ill keep them to myself for now.
As for the young’ens, I think everyone is taking better care of themselves in general…. young’en and older. Social media really is pushing what was once unrealistic beauty standards more than ever as we all have excessive access to everything… but now with an emphasis on healthy living, attention to fitness and mental health, frankly I think people wanna live longer and look good doing it. With that ideology, the folks who I used to rely on buying 4-5 drinks a person now buy 1 or 2. that cuts the bar business revenue in half. And frankly, there’s just too many bars in Hells Kitchen. Sad but true. I hope the ones I love survive.
Having said all that, do you think you might ever go back into the venue owning or managing business again? I know you’re doing some stuff at Red Eye now.
I love [Red Eye owner] Daniel; we’ve been a cheerleader of one another for over a decade. And I love the rest of the ownership there. What good boys, I’ll support them forever. I only have my night @Donkey.nyc at Red Eye, which starts up again this week. And I did a version of DEMONS at Ice Palace in Fire Island, which the Red Eye boys own. DEMONS was bonkers. Fire Island is my favorite place on earth.
I think I’ll own something again, but not until Manhattan gets over this weird hump. I was offered a partnership recently in the Macri, Metro, Animal triangle in Brooklyn, but I don’t think its the right time… not yet. But Brooklyn would be the spot. But I almost feel like one more bar opening there might send Brooklyn over the threshold of oversaturation, just like Hell’s Kitchen.
I’m watching the VMAs right now, and it’s such good market research, speaking of young’ens. But Katy Perry is on winning the Video Vanguard Award, and she’s just dressed like Arca. I hope they call her out on that; queer people always get stolen from. I like Katy, though. She should go back to her “Teenage Dream” vibes. Okay, she’s kind of eating this performance.
I’m glad she’s finally having a Moment in 2024! So it’s been over a year now since The Q has closed, a briefly existing but very buzzworthy venue that launched a lot of nightlife careers. That closing was a very ugly situation and it unleashed a lot of anger about a some unsavory practices in the scene. You took them to court over a lack of wages and their refusal to acknowledge that you were an actual co-owner of the business, and that lawsuit is still happening! The wheels of justice turn slow. I know there isn’t a ton of stuff you can talk about re: the ongoing litigation, but what sort of update can you give us?
Also, have you kind of learned to live with this very stressful process, or is it still a daily struggle?
It used to be a daily struggle in the beginning. When you’re in a lawsuit, even if you’re the plaintiff, it feels like you are a walking target, a topic of constant gossip and an open wound… cause you are all those things. the feeling of being vulnerable to being attacked is palpable. It made me depressed and totally lost at times. But conversely, it’s been quite the learning experience. I feel more confident than ever, and I fear nothing anymore. Whether that’s competitors griping, or idle gossip, or anything anyone feels about me… I feel nothing towards it.
My ex-business partners at The Q still wants to fight for whatever reason, and in my opinion refuses to take responsibility and accountability for all of their mistakes, mismanagement and misconduct and just move on easily. I just hope to be financially whole for what I lost, as well as my investors, for the poor way we were treated.
Meanwhile I have faith in my brilliant lawyer, who has been my family lawyer for years. I have faith in my truth because I don’t have to try to remember lies and twisted narratives, I have faith in my employees’ and investors’ testimonies and their truth. I have confidence in my lawsuit because I’m a young person and I kept everything: every conversation, every email, every text… and I was an owner after all, with owner access to everything. I welcome a full trial… and I also invite, with open arms, the avenue for them to end this.
Chappel Roan is on the VMAs. I’m so gagged; she’s a dream. She will save pop music. She was supposed to do my first “Uncanny Valley,” my new party at The Stranger, but I didn’t strike a deal quick enough then she became $$$ like overnight, and way out of my market.
Well, maybe if you had one at Pieces she’d show up, lol!
I feel like the Monday drag show is really good at Pieces. She was there on a Monday, right?
Yes, “Queen 4 Queen” with Janelle No. 5, Beaujangless and Mo’Riah.Three times, I think! By the way, what do you think about this proposed nightlife union stuff? I’m not sure exactly what will come of that, but it certainly has got folks talking. Drag performers especially are voicing complaints about being underpaid by venues. Is this a good time for this pursuit?
Asking for your worth and what you believe is your rate is totally correct. Full stop. But, I also don’t have to hire you. If I think your rate is overhead or going to chip away at my bottom line and not bring in the revenue that I need to not only cover your rate but also keep the lights on… I have to consider that.
People’s ego is too wrapped up in all of that. Mine used to be too, because a change in income innately makes a person question their mortality–mortality of their career, and their direction in their life as a whole. So I understand the emotional components tied to all of it. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but I’ve been saying the industry is just changing and we’re all feeling that pressure. Transparently, I used to be able to charge $1000 for a three hour DJ set. ’cause I brought a crowd out of heavy drink buyers. But it’s harder to get folks to leave their house… especially my friends, unless I have a stacked lineup and stunty headliner. So my party rate is one third of that right now. Is that gut wrenching? Yes. Do I take it personally? No. Do I blame anyone else? No. I blame society, lol! Success in life is nonlinear; you have to adapt until the pendulum swings back.
Well said and true! One thing that people will no doubt come out for is your weekly Thursday party Donkey at Red Eye, which happens in the sexy Cockpit dungeon while Jarvis Derrell sings upstairs for accompanying event “Ghostlight!”
There are boys to cruise in a dark basement where anything goes, and then you can sing Sondheim upstairs afterwards… and then repeat chorus all night long? Yes, please. I only produce things that I have fun at. I like sexy scenarios and singing at the top of my lungs.
We took the summer off to give everyone room to go to Ptown and Fire Island, and now we’re back ready as every bumper car in the basement. Its like we’ve all been collectively edging and ready to bust.
Now that were back, I’m ready to DJ full time again. So I’ve become the resident DJ in the basement, which means all the classic kooky shit on the decks: Phantom of the Opera house remixes but in with the Waitress soundtrack. Sexy filthy fashion runway beats to cruise and bump a grind to, all while surrounded by my favorite gogos.
Also my favorite cutie Lucas Skywalker from “Mercury in Reggaeton,” who has made quite the name for himself as a New York DJ, is my guest DJ for our return–and it’s quite fitting. This party is hunks abound.
You also recently announced that mysterious new party called “Uncanny Valley” at an equally mysterious venue, The Stranger, going down on November 10! What’s this gonna be?
I’ve been working on “Uncanny Valley” for literally a year. I’ve been chatting with The Stranger for that long, but it just never worked out. It was gonna be a weekly Sunday, but then that didn’t feel right. Then it became a monthly… then summer happened, and I was pretty much in Fire Island the whole time. So now it’s going to be a monthly Sunday where there is a holiday Monday… and that feels just right.
“Uncanny Valley” is going to be an entire “Valley” to explore: four Soundscapes, six DJs playing techno in one room (Silencio), House on the main dancefloor (The Stranger), freeform–like, pop and all the bops–on the mezzanine, and there’s a hidden piano bar ran by my Ghostlight crew of Jarvis, Ty Evans and Yaz on keys. And like always, there will be a psychotic headliner performer that I’ll announce in the coming weeks. My advice is buy the cheaper tickets now… because when I announce the headliner, tickets will go up.
I’ve learned what is working in our industry and market is giving the crowd an experience: giving the crowd credit, applying their wants to your production, and giving them what they deserve. I’m so excited. Ive been waiting a long time to bring back a gnarly production like this.
Very very exciting! What else is coming up for you?
I’m working on a new supper club idea project called “IRL – In Real Life,” another thing I’ve been working on for ages with my business partner on it–jazz singer songwriter and man about town David Raleigh. I’m gonna do one and see how it goes, The idea is to do one every season. There will be a superstar chef featuring their style and menu–like Stacy Layne Matthews to giving us the only southern cuisine–while a string quartet plays through dinner. Then a kind of TedTalks, life-affirming inspired / inspiring speaker, and other wholesome surprises. Guests will check their phone at the door… and we’ll just be together… In Real Life. A real exchange not fueled by mania and ego and drama of nightlife… a return to the idea of a creative Salon.
Also Leggoh Johvera from OTA and I are finazlizing the details and deal on our Ball and Function “The Divine.” Those details are still under wraps. Ever since The Mansion in Times Square closed, we’ve been hunting for a new venue… and just found one that’s just right.
Also, it may be kinda boring since its not nightlife related, but it’s exciting to me–I got my real estate license to start selling and leasing in The Pines specifically. I’m gonna be in The Pines pretty full time anyways for another project I’m working on, so I thought it was a great way to make some dough doing what I love in a place that I am obsessed with. And I gotta pay for all this Schiaparelli… and I have three family weddings to go to in 2025, that’s a lot of Valentino!
Congrats on everything! I end (for now!) with… who are / were you feeling musically in 2024?
RAYE. She’s the one. and Billie Eilish’s lesbian era of music. And Chappel of course, but I wanna teach her backup dancers how to wield a sword correctly.
If anyone is uniquely qualified for that, it’s our Frankie!
Crossing swords, Sondheim, Southern cuisine… what else do you need?
All that you have to serve! Thanks again!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Frankie Sharp’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
PREVIOUSLY
- Frankie Sharp (3.17.2018)
- Frankie Sharp (11.30.2018)
- Frankie Sharp (3.22.2019)
- Frankie Sharp (8.30.2019)
- Frankie Sharp (9.19.2021)
Thotyssey 