It’s rare for a straight man to succeed in queer nightlife, but photographer, music curator and producer Vito Fun has more than made his mark in gays bars and clubs in NYC, Fire Island and Beyond for decades. Now as we rapidly approach the 51st Invasion of the Pines, Vito tells all.
Thotyssey: Hi Vito! Thanks for chatting today! So, summer is fully upon us! Is that when you thrive as a human, or do all the seasons have a place in your life?
Vito Fun: I think most humans thrive in the spring and summer. The spring is really a time of rebirth, the flowers changing, the days growing longer, the warmth in the air that turns crisp at night, it’s hard to not get excited. I have a place in my heart for all seasons, even winter time is grind time… git-r-done.
I read recently that you actually had your middle name legally changed to “Fun” so that you could accurately tell people that “Fun is my middle name!” Is that true?
I absolutely 100% changed my middle name to Fun when I was 21–please stop me and ask to see my ID, I’ll show it to you anytime. I created Vito Fun because I didn’t love myself… but full circle, I now love myself.
You’re well known in different circles as a photographer and a DJ. Do you consider yourself more of one than the other, does it fluctuate, or in your mind are you always both equally?
I think I’m both equally, and I think that stems from the need to participate in things. When I’m billed on flyers, I always ask that it says ‘music by Vito Fun.’ I never put the letters ‘DJ’ before my name because I don’t want to pigeonhole myself and I’m not a fuckin’ doctor. I would consider myself a creative. Creative people are modular and they switch things up when they’re excited about something new.
Where are you from originally, and were art and music always parts of your life?
I am born and raised in Brooklyn, and I grew up with very curious parents in a very
stimulating environment. My older brother was a DJ, and he was the coolest. But even more, my Dad was obsessed with new music. When we were kids, I would always ask him to turn on the oldies station and he was like “get that out of here, I don’t wanna listen to old music!” He is still like that today at 84… always craving something new.
Where do you live now?
I still live in Brooklyn. It’s hard to teach old dogs new tricks. I sometimes wonder if I would be the kind of person who would move from their hometown to the big city; I already grew up in the big city and I didn’t feel like I needed to relocate. I love New York City. The vibe is infectious, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
I understand that you started DJing at 12!? How did that come about?
Yes, so that makes it 35 years. I was really awkward when I was in sixth grade, and the only way I knew how to function at a party was to bring music. So I would queue up all my tapes and records, and bring them to house parties.
You also do music production and remixes… do you have a favorite track from that realm, or favorite moment from working on music?
So many memories, so many good things. I’m really proud of all the queer artists I worked with and I am super happy with all the work I did with the queens from RuPaul‘s Drag Race. But I think my remixes of Laverne Cox and Kim Petras stand out the most, that and “Less Talk, More Art.”
What are the sorts of people, places and things that you really like to photograph, generally? Do you prefer on site, spontaneous shots or more controlled studio work?
Very good question. What I most like to capture is people feeling free. Sometimes people feel free dancing on the beach at sunrise, and sometimes they feel free in a studio with hot lights on them. When someone feels free, it is effortless to capture that moment – I look through the viewfinder and see right into their soul.
You recently shot many of the stars of Drag Race Season 18 at 3 Dollar Bill’s finale viewing party, how fun was that?
Oh my God, it was amazing. Being in a room with all of those people was absolutely insane. So much ego and they were all so gracious to each other, you really felt the camaraderie. My friends work on the Werq The World Tour, and I can only imagine how crazy that would be riding a tour bus with all of those personalities 24 hours a day.
The Dark Question of the Era: will AI replace and / or destroy everything in your fields, or do you have confidence that human artistry will always prevail… and that AI might even provide useful tools for creators?
I think AI is a great tool that will eventually affect all forms of artistry. I think AI will do a lot of damage to consumer level art in the long run, but art as a luxury product will prevail.
There aren’t many straight identifying men who maintain long careers in queer nightlife the way you have. How did it come to be that you became a mainstay in this world, and particularly on Fire Island in general? What are the joys and complications of being a straight man in that scene? Have straight people in your life given you shit for that association?
Well, I’m a weirdo… and I never really fit in with the masses. I’ve always gravitated towards gay people because they make me feel like I’m home. I was also bullied and called gay heavily when I was a kid. I try to look at people as humans as opposed to black, white, gay, straight, Jewish, Catholic, etc. I don’t have a lot of straight men in my life, and the ones I do are more curious than anything.
Have you had any all time favorite people in the scene to work with as far as drag queens, other DJs, bar staff, etc.?
There have been so many over the years, Lily my dancer, MING, Corey Craig, Macho Job, Denton, Xtian, Werq Nick, Matty Glitterati, Max Rodriguez, Peter Napoli, Alexis Tucci, Bob the Drag Queen, Bianca Del Rio, Bill Coleman, Cazwell, Joe D’Espinosa, Dustin Schur, Denizen Extended Family, Cristian Andrew, Paddy Cecil, Boys of Fire Island, Jeffrey Sposaro, Iman Le Caire, Steve Sidewalk, Kevin Cuenca, Ryan Kenney, Dai Burger, John Blair, Anthony John, Tully, Shane Tate, Thom Ford, Alan Picus, Matt Currie, The Nightwives, Brian Glover, PartyLikeJoe, Ted Arenas, Peppermint, Jeff Eason, Guy & Robert, Holly Box-Springs, Tommy Greco, KOIL, Keo Nozari, Vourteque, Ryan McLendon, Jonjon Battles, James Anthony, Robert Zash, Beto Sutter, Kareem McJagger, Delicia Glam, Hector Fonseca, Mike Borowski, Trinitey, Larry Tee, Jonathan M. Lewis, Laverne Cox, BDSpitz, Asif Zaidi, GayCollegeParty, Acid Betty, Drew Zailen, Scott Nevins, John Marto, JRoc, DJ Redstar, Joey Israel, Jonny Mack, Brandon Voss, Hot Rabbit, Lady Gaga, Michael T, Lina, Tina Burner, Jon Tilli, Nuclear Family, Alex Ghenea, Alex Funk, Mathieu Blue, Someone From Berlin, Yamil Xtravaganza, Kevin Aviance, Kern, Lady Bunny, Josh Wood, Xander, Marsin Digital, Starbrite, Miss Ogeny, Tony Fornabaio, Stephanie Gayer Than You, Joe Fiore, Jason Relph, Sparber, lan Sklarsky, Anthony Lamont, Epiphany, Danny Tenaglia, Logan Hardcore, Pixie Aventura, Miss Rachel, Travisty, Bomba Zeen, Wolven, Vincent Cooper, Boyyyish, Glenn Friscia, Alaska Thunderfuck, BeatKitty, JJames Andersen, Musikdawg, Slokey, Michael Magnan, Thunderbird Juicebox, The Visitors Center, Kevin Graves, Corey TuT, MC Gadget, Mikey Mo, Occupy The Disco, Santiago Felipe, Nadine Coyle, Brian Rafferty, Nick Van Bremen, Steven Zor, Chris Ryan, James Dale, Michelle Joni, Wild Mike, ShareGurl, Andrew Werner, John Michael, Behbeh, Danny Echi, Snafu, ScumFrog, Mascari, Bobby Duron, Ronnie Brown, Pete Yacobellis, Darrell Thorne, Kurfew, Narcissister, Patrick Crough, Serving Ovahness, Ivana Hump, Lacy Maxwell, Mike Trillo, John Bas, Nina Sky, One Half Nelson, Greg Scarnici, Josh Machiz, Erickatoure Aviance, Jen Pussy-Lee, Jose ‘TheHopper’, Chandilier, Ricky Rebel, Twisted Dee, Paul Mandeltort, Mabel-Lean, Joe Gauthreaux, Junior Vasquez, Morabito, Houdini, Chad Hammer, Blair Prentice, Tinkerbell, Kyle Littlejohn, Ben Wild, Rusty Lazer, Defkon, Scotty Rox, Luca G, Turk-E, Corinne Engstrom, Angelique Ali, Costume Jim, Whitney Day, David Michael, Joey with the Mustache, Brenda Black, Jake Resnicow, Johnny Dynell, Tommie Sunshine, Cygon, Bumpy Nuggets, Sean Basil McGiver, Deryck Todd, Dawson, Monikkr, Todd Furey, Vicki Lake, Omomuki Foundation, Opera Gaga, The Father Figure, Susanne Bartsch, Shequida, Boardwalk Etiquette, Hard Hittin’ Harry, Shawn Paul Mazur, Dr. Brooks, Baker Manning, JJ Mack, Bootsie LeFaris, Amanda Lepore, Big Daddy, Adventure Dave, BoiParty, Wolfpup, The Doll, Kenny Kenny, Nandi, Ryan Chavis, Ray Perfetti, Misguided Spirits, Petti Cash, DJ Cassandra, St. Vezina, Kishti, Bubbles D’Boob, Susan Levine, OhRicky, Greg Bram, David Aldea, Porsche, Michael Formika, Nicky Da B, Leighann Farrelly, GayLetter, Erik Bottcher, Vivacious, Ian Ford, Krys Fox, Matt Aubel, Eddie Martinez, Erin Stacey, Jalston, 2Face, Paul Nagle, Adriana Le Glam, Early Ross, The Carry Nation, Steven Pevner, Alexander Kacala, Chauncey Dandridge, Ryan Skyy, Peter Lau, Maddelynn Hatter, BOFFO, DJ Ricardo, Robert Bonanno, Garek, Mariah & Bronwen, Trotter, Isabeau Vidal (Isa), Matt Tratner, TJ Mizell, Zeke Thomas, Roxy Cottontail, Jason Schabes, The Company Soundsystem, Gina Grado, Sean B, Lynda Garcia, Nando, Christopher Hardwick, Seth Gold, Sophia Lamar, Pebbles, Damian Minervini, Chip Duckett, David Hohme, Skittlez, Xris Smack, GogoPup, Rafael De La Cruz, Marco Ovando, Darren Kawa, Arden Fanning, Markus, Kristin Brady, The Cube Guys, Frankie Sharp, Remniqe, Steve Tech, Tyson Murphy, Vance Garrett, Aquaria, Marti Gould Cummings, DapperQ, Tony Simone, William Francis, Daniel Nardicio, Justin Blake, Sri Rao, Javier Pedroza, BarbieQ, Gene Harrison, Xavier Mazara, Dan Going, NYSocialBee, Chuck Attix, Eureka O’Hara, Marlon Gobel, Richard Burrowes, He’Bro, Guilty Pleasures, Sonny Alvarez, Papa Bear, DJ Steel, Larry Flick, Jackie Christie, Scarlet Envy, Vida, Cherie Lily, Boomer Banks, Tre Blaze, Charley Bisquit, Jes & Kristel, Vegas, Madame Vivien V, Sébastien Ra, Zach, Errickson Wilcox, Scott Silver, Asia O’Hara, Ezi, Nafsica, Yad1m, Cesar Ramirez, Chase…
Rest in Peace: Gil Neary, Zoe Murphy, Vinny Vega, Yentalbeats, Roze Black, Jess Marquis, Art Gager, Darrell, DJ Xavier, Eugene Edo, George Marchelos, Peter Rauhofer, King Ralphy & Hulio.
Blue Whale, Froot Falls, Pavilion, Limelight, Tunnel, Roxy, Reflections, Griffin, Don Hill’s, Sway, Remote Lounge, Feathers, Bubbles & Bass, Kostume Kult, GlamCocks, JunXion, Love Burn, Montclair Pride, Red Eye, City of Gods, XL, Bonnaroo, CitySoul, Our Wicked Lady, The Ritz, Lighting in a Bottle, Fun Tea, Middle Tea, 231 Bay, Monarch Rooftop, Club 57, House of Yes, Glinda The Good Bus, Mermaid Parade, Chelsea Music Hall, VERS, Metro Gala, Moschino, Gianfranco Ferre, John Varvatos, The Unicorn Palace, The Diesel Store, The Halloween Parade, Stonewall CDC, Duck Yeah, Burning Man, FIPPOA, Lollapalooza, NYC Gay Pride, G Lounge, the whole damned community… lord knows I’m forgetting somebody, lol!
Also I’ve been lucky enough to work through several owners on Fire Island and they have had the best crews ever. Eric Von Kursteiner and Andrew Kirtzman were like fathers to me. I have the utmost respect for them Special shout out to my amazing team now, PJ, Tony, Mario, Steven, David, Gustavo, Rich and the whole Sip N’ Twirl crew.
If there was one single track or song that could get a person off their ass and into the bliss of carefree dancing, what would it be?
That has to be a two-way tie between any remix of ‘Young Hearts Run Free,’ by Candi
Staton and ‘Happiness’ by Alexis Jordan. Dammit, both those songs make me cry every time I hear them!
What’s so special about Fire Island from your point of view, and how have you noticed the scene change or evolve since you started there?
Fire Island is the most magical place in the whole world, and my favorite place in the whole world. Walking around the dark, hazy boardwalk at night. Conversations with strangers. The sunsets. Hearing the relentless ocean pound the surf from your bed. The sounds of luggage wheels on the boardwalk, music coming from a far off house, the cars on the island really adds to the mystique!
I’m a born and raised city kid, and I’m always looking over my shoulder. I remember my first weekend on Fire Island having these distinct feelings of not having to look over my shoulder and not worrying about everything or anything… even walking through the Meat Rack at night.
One thing that has definitely changed is feeling like it has reverted back to the 70s. Sex- wise, PrEP has changed the whole island. When I was coming of age, people were so afraid of sex, and there was this fear instilled in us by the previous generation. We all know friends who have passed from AIDS. But now there is no fear. Friday nights have become an absolute ghost town everywhere except for the underwear party, because everyone goes to the sex party. Even people who wouldn’t go to a sex party 10 years ago go now. It has always been an extremely sexual place, but now that is multiplied by 100.
You have a long-running party out there, which currently resides at the Pines’ Sip N Twirl on Saturdays (7pm).
This is my twentieth year of doing Fun Tea (formerly Middle Tea) in Fire Island Pines. It is an absolute honor to have such a long standing residency.
What else is coming up for you?
I am DJing the Coney Island Mermaid Parade after party at Salt & Sizzle on June 20th, and DJing for Tony Simone with CitySoul on Pride Sunday at the parade!
To conclude, what’s the best advice you maybe wish you had gotten while starting out in your multifaceted career, that baby DJs and photographers and producers today could really benefit from?
That advice is paired with a generational difference. I feel like kids today see only the
highlights and not the struggle; social media has really made that a thing. Don’t be afraid to suck, suck and suck some more. How do you think people get good? No one goes 0 to 100 fast. Also, it’s never about the gear, it’s about your final product. You can have the absolute best gear in the world and suck. Make it work with what you got, and make it work on your budget. Get creative.
Find your friends who are not afraid to tell you that something is great, or that something sucks. Let go of your ego and listen to all the feedback.
Lastly, figure out how you learn and follow through. Do you learn from a book, from YouTube, from being hands-on? Really lean into your learning process.
Happy Pride, Vito!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Vito Fun’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkTree, SoundCloud, and his website.
Thotyssey 