Giving us a Fever this weekend: gogo god Devan Meji! [Cover photo: Baird]
Thotyssey: Devan, hello! Happy Pride Month! You strike me as one of the most booked gogo boys in the city, do you get enough time to just just chill and have fun off the clock??
Devan Meji: LMAO, I wouldn’t say I’m one of the most booked gogo boys… where did you get that from!? Sure, if you say so! And yes, I do [find time to chill and kiki]! One of the things I like about working in nightlife is that I get a chance to do things during the day. Works for me.
You must be a good self-marketer because all I see is videos of you dancing in the bars, like every day! Actually, you have loads of great pics and video clips on the socials. You must spend a lot of time on the platforms!
Correct! It’s part of the job!
Can you share any of your origin story with us, like where you’re from or if you have any dance training?
Let’s keep it just in gogo scene, lol! I can tell you this: I’ve learned along the way, after all these years. Gogo dancing is a unique type of dancing.
What’s you’re favorite thing about the gogo world… and what’s your least favorite?
My favorite thing about gogo dancing is dancing! I love to dance. And my least favorite thing about gogo dancing is when it’s cold, and all I have on is a thong!
I’ve seen you out performing a few times and you genuinely seem to really enjoy not only dancing, but interacting with people. Are you a People Person, or are you just good at acting like one when you’re working, lol?
Lol, spicy questions! I would say both, no malicia. I do like to interact with people… but sometimes you’re drained, so you gotta pretend. But in my case, I do believe I have a personally that likes to interact with people generally.
Is it a crazy thing, maybe occasionally overwhelming, to have all this sexual energy in the room directed towards you… and all these grabby hands, etc.? Or do you always know how to deal with that?
I like sexual energy, actually! I love when people enjoy that part of themselves. And as a gogo, I believe it’s my job to try to keep a sexual energy in the room.
I don’t always know how to deal when people get too grabby. You learn in the moment at times… and sometimes it can get a little awkward, lol. You read the situation and make the decision from that. For me I like to communicate first, letting the person know.
At the end, what matters to me is we all have a good time and avoid any unnecessary drama!
Is there a particular song or artist that when it comes on it gets you lit and going, no matter how the night is progressing?
OMG, that’s a hard question to answer. Depends on the DJ, lol–and I personally am someone who doesn’t like to tell the DJ what to play. I think I’m pretty good at adjusting myself to whatever they’re playing.
This might be a harder question to answer, lol! Do you have a favorite bar or club to dance in?
I do! My favorite places are the places where I work at. I’m extremely fortunate to have people that I believe like my energy and what I bring to the table. Knowing that brings some of that confidence, I need to give my all.
So with drag queens in the city, there’s certainly a real sisterhood community. But there is also this unspoken (or occasionally very loudly spoken, lol) competition between them because there is about a hundred performers for every paid performer slot in NYC. Do you think there is a similar vibe throughout the gogo community?
YES! Definitely. As you said yourself, It’s a very loudly “unspoken” thing, lol. Many boys wanna dance! Lot of dudes wanna gogo because I think they find it easy and fun. Being a good dancer can be fun, yes! But it also requires responsibility.
Given that there is a lot of competition and maybe other distracting or divisive stuff in the gogo boy world, is it still easy to find friends there… or even more serious relationships?
I think so. It doesn’t stop me from making friends or meeting people. I honestly haven’t put too much thought into that. It just is what it is–it has always have been competitive; it’s not new. There’s space for everyone; it’s good to rotate around.
This Saturday, you’ll be dancing at “Fever” at Stonewall with DJ Galindo and Freeda Kulo! That often features group numbers from the dancers.
Yes! You’ll love it! The boys are cute and Stonewall is always a great a vibe.
Where else can folks usually find you?
Currently I’m usually at Hardware and Icon mostly. You can find me at Hardware some Fridays, and Icon some Wednesdays.
Okay, let’s end with: what is something about being a gogo boy that the world might not know about / understand… but should?
Anyone can dance!
Ha! Happy Pride, Devan!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Devan Meji’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
Thotyssey 