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Alan D Miller is the co-founder of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). The NTIA was formed to promote the benefits and enormous contribution of the Night Time Industries, the entrepreneurs that create and innovate across the UK contributing £70 Billion per year in revenue and boosting employment, regenerating and generally improving our cities. The NTIA provides a voice to challenge some of the problematic thinking hoisted on to UK entrepreneurs in policy and by local authorities – and to provide concrete alternatives. Alan was CEO of The Vibe Bar for almost 20 years as well as being co-founder of the Old Truman Brewery, a 10-acre site in London with over 200 companies, ranging from recording studios to art galleries, entertainment spaces, restaurants, bars, cafes, fashion and retail. It has helped regenerate a significant area of London, creating a new cultural quarter – demonstrating in reality what ‘Place Making’ is all about. Alan sat on The Arts Council’s London Arts Board for several years and ran The New York Salon in NYC for a decade, a forum for inter-disciplinary, open debate. Alan produces and directs TV and film with his producing partners at Instrumental Pictures out of New York City. In the last couple of years, Alan has spoken to audiences in Stockholm, Toronto, Mumbai, Vienna, Zurich, Berlin, Sydney, Melbourne, New York, Amsterdam and Warsaw as well as regularly across the UK. He writes and comments both nationally and internationally across most media.
Hello, Alan. Talk to me about your current mood/feelings…This is a time where many can take the opportunity to consider what we want in the world – and what each of us wants to do to make it happen. I’ve been very inspired by how many people have volunteered to help in Britain, and in the US. I’ve also been saddened by some of the very shrill outbursts about our fellow citizens who choose to spend some time in the park for instance. Overall, it’s a time of reflection – but also of action – as many of us have been really busy communicating with government and others explaining what the ramifications for the economy and workers – all of us – of the lockdowns, payments, rent, relationships and how we come out of this in as best a way as possible.
It’s evident that Covid19 is affecting the hospitality industries. How do you see nightlife coming back from this?
Nightlife not only is the beating heart of our cities, towns and regions, our cultural and social identity. It also is a huge component of overall economic activity. In Britain it’s the fifth biggest sector all round. Over 70 Billion UKP per annum, employing huge amounts, especially of younger people. Night and daytime hospitality has indeed been among the first affected and indeed the worst.
Suggestions like bars and venues may not open up until December, along with social distancing demands within them, plus many other questions have not been thought through properly. Of course, as we all know, it’s “unprecedented” times – but we need an effective and sensible robust emergence plan. The Depression saw The New Deal, WW2 had the Marshall Plan; we need to ensure that enough businesses survive this period. Then we need to be able to emerge. It’s a huge set of challenges, from rent costs – The NTIA which I co-founded and I’m now Honorary Trustee, launched #TheBigFreeze campaign. Bringing together landlords and tenants. Arguing for a hibernation of all finance charges. No mortgage payments. Not added on later. No debt increases to get us through. An all round suspension. A hibernation. Until we all go back. That, along with proper provisions for freelancers, staff and businesses – namely that all is put on a freeze where no additional charges are made for this period. No institutions should be profiteering from this period. Yet banking and insurance have been – the guys we bailed out. The NTIA is challenging Hiscox Insurers with QC Philip Kolvin, for not paying out those who paid for business interruption. Ultimately, we need to ensure that we can get back to business, lighting up our streets and cities, and enough survive. It’s a major challenge.
Perhaps this will highlight the importance of nightlife culture to governments? Yes indeed. It’s no longer the case we need to start off with “bars, clubs, venues are at the centre of our communities”. All the shuttered special places we meet, socialize, fall in love and dance together are so precious. The government, local authorities and others are all abundantly clear now. In NYC now there is an Office for Nightlife and Ariel Palitz as Night Time Officer. Having helped out somewhat in talks re this, its brilliant that there are advocates here and in cities around the world now that can talk with government, mayors, councillors and the industry.
What perspective and advice can you share with venue owners, DJs, musicians and those whose income is being directly affected at the moment? Everyone is getting hammered, in the worst sense of the word. However, people are massively creative and innovative. We have already demonstrated in Britain particularly that we can influence the government and local authorities through being organized and clear in messaging and lobbying. Communicating regularly, clearly, using the press and the skills we all got being promoters, we can ensure voices are heard. This is a HUGE step considering five years ago we were all largely unrepresented. We know that in USA, entertainment is an enormous part of what Joseph Nye called “Soft Power” for America globally – the same is true for Britain and others. Our musical artists, rappers, MCs, DJs and others have global cachet. They embody how we understand ourselves at some level. That will only continue. We need to make sure our independent small clubs, bars, venues and festivals – as well as the entire ecosystem, of independent labels, radio stations, managers, designers, tech staff and many more are not all lost to this situation.
There are a lot of DJs who are hosting Instagram LIVE DJ sets. Boiler Room coined this concept years ago – is the Boiler Room format the future of nightlife? Lots are. There have been many issues with music rights and being cut off as well as quality. I don’t think in and of itself it’s the future. It is one part. But being together, sharing, mingling, meeting – is of such paramount importance to us as humans. It’s what MAKES us human. That will only be more desired again.
What message do you currently have for the UK Government regarding protecting the nightlife culture? Remember WE the People are generally decent, law abiding and good. Remember The Olympics and how brilliant it is when we are all together. DON’T fall in to the trap of some Think Tanks/ Wonks who talk about people as though they only create “Anti Social Behaviour” and crime. DON’T allow a negative approach when we come out of this to licensing. Licensing historically has always been to control and regulate ordinary people (as opposed to private members clubs that historically only a few were allowed in). We, ‘The People’ are the backbone of our society. Night time and Day time 24-hour industries is who we are. Please remember this and have it as a starting point for any discussion and consideration. We need far more 24 hour licenses all round in major cities.
Kay has been doing some work with a festival in the Middle East. There’s a bubbling underground dance culture there, which is rather fascinating, particularly as they enforce stricter rules when it comes to alcohol and drug use. Give me your thoughts on government restrictions, 24 hour licenses and drug use across different cultures…..I love visiting India and have spoken at events there. Sunburn Festival is such an incredible thing to behold for instance. So too are their other religious gatherings. Millions. They don’t have the ‘health and safety’ risk-assessment outlook of Britain! Yet alcohol and drugs as you say, are viewed differently in various regions. Ultra Festival goes across continents and handles these considerations well in very different authorities. Operators have to consider all of the local laws and regulations of course. More broadly, the War on Drugs has been an abject failure. Drug Testing has become more popular in recent years in Amsterdam, and now in the UK. We helped with daytime tests in Bristol. But until we have things legalized, with Treasury earning taxes, standards of contents (like alcohol and tobacco and food) and safe uses, this will continue to be a problem for everyone.
Lets’ go back to humble beginnings, tell me about wee Alan and your earlier life that led you to get into music and nightlife…I have always loved music. As a kid I loved SKA, the mixture of Reggae, Punk and Soul. Dances were a big thing even from a very young age and I used to sneak off to them. As well as being into contemporary music I was enormously lucky to have been introduced to classical music. I did not know that then. I fought it. I was told, as adults should tell children, how little I knew and why this world was so important. The decrease of music and the arts at school is a major blow. Knowing the canon in some form enables us all to stand on giants’ shoulders. Back in those days of Ska, Britain was very violent so often that was a part of the landscape. It’s something I always reference as today when people talk about “crime” and nightlife, they refer to stats that get conglomerated such as mobile phone losses. Acid House helped transform Britain to becoming a place where black white, straight gay, women and men all danced together and begun to live together. That has not happened in the same way in America of course, for many, many reasons.
I loved learning at school. I was often in trouble. I only realised the magic of the mind truly though, when I saw so many people I liked kind of fall through some cracks. Anyway, some teachers inspired me remarkably. I ended up doing quite well for my A Levels (and a course that changed my life and views radically) – and went travelling. It ended up being a 2 year journey. I wrote a book many years ago that captured some parts of some of it, although it was fiction Seven Days In A Decade. I promised myself not to write another one until I was truly ready. Anyway, I put on Acid House Parties in Australia, travelled extensively across Asia, worked on camps with kids in USA and then went to uni. I ended up staging large events in Liverpool with fashion shows, designers, DJs and performers. That led to me doing a lot of clubs and management in London. Denmark Street office above Acid Jazz and below Rebel MC and next to Frieze. We did the first ever Frieze event at Truman Brewery when I was launching it there years later…. I did a lot of UK Garage club events and worked with artists, DJs, producers and all this led to us at The Truman Brewery. We did a deal with the owners with a vision to create a centre for creativity, business, tech, design, fashion, music, arts….The Vibe Bar was at the heart of it. We brought in all the original tenants and made the magic happen.
The NTIA, how did that came about? It was seeing how the police were treating us in Brick Lane actually. Then talking with fellow club owners in east London , then across London and then Britain. I was so gobsmacked that after 20 years of creating jobs, great press and kudos for the area, for the council and for UK that we were now being treated as though what we were doing was a problem. It was unfair and degrading and simply wrong. I vowed that this needed to change. That we needed to have a voice and that we needed to make sure this could never be the new normal. As so many felt similarly , we were able to move quite quickly. But we were sure to have an approach that understood intellectually what was happening. That would ensure we got to the right decision makers. And that we would be able to work with the public who attended our places. It was difficult but also enthralling. It was an incredible journey and a strong antidote to the sadness for the end of the chapter in Brick Lane that we had spent so much time, energy and love on. We have had many many victories as well as sad losses. I was first Chairman for five years and recently handed the reigns to some really good people with more new people on the board. I continue to help in many ways. So much to be proud of right now with the work being done…
What’s been your career highlight? Oh I have been very lucky to have so many amazing moments and experiences. From putting an event on in Sydney Opera House and watching the sun coming up over the bay to then speaking to Sydney City Council almost 30 years later about what to do to help develop nightlife, in the midst of the Lock Out Laws. Doing the first ever online broadcast from Glastonbury Festival with Cleveland Watkiss, The Afro Celts and many more as The Vibe Bar – with the only 24 hour permission there! Hosting the BBC at Brick Lane during our Brick Lane Festival. Having both Eriksson do their flip phone UK launch and Diesel do their first shop launch with us at The Truman Brewery on the 5th Floor. Doing the first ever UK Garage Awards. Helping launch Gaia Live v first Internet Radio station with Mr C. Doing a show on stage at Royal Albert Hall with the band I managed and having my friend Lynne Page choreograph it. Having Japanese tour buses stop and take photos of the WW2 Boat we ran on The Thames while everyone was jumping and dancing! Standing with Manchester Mayor Andy Burnaham and The 1975 at Parklife with all the first responders and a minute’s applause to commemorate those lost and those that bravely responded. Helping get the first ever Night Time Commissions set up in London, Manchester, Glasgow and beyond. Helping Save Fabric. Helping create the position of a Night Czar, Ambassador and Adviser to different cities. Writing my first book. Doing my first radio show – now often on Soho Radio. Making my first music video. Directing my first documentary. I mean I’m so so very lucky…
What advice can you share to those who have dreams of opening up a venue? You have to love the idea of people. You have to want to do something special. You need to be utterly committed in every way. Be passionate. Be full of energy towards it. Nourish it. Remember, these magical special places leave indominable marks on people and the world forever. It is tough at times. But the feeling, the vibe as they say….
If I recall correctly, we met via Gary in Shoreditch House, gosh – nearly ten years ago. Do you want to share a little about Gary Fairfull, and why he is such an important figure, who spearheaded the Shoreditch that we know and love today… Ahhh….yes we did. Gary (pictured below) was a brilliant people’s-person. Wildly enthusiastic and enthusiastically wild! His events and particularly Gary’s Place in a rooftop penthouse in Shoreditch were the stuff of legend. Think of a bit of Studio 54 mashed up with Chicago’s The Warehouse and NY Paradise Garage but totally totally ‘underground’.
Final remarks…We need to remember that this world is our world. Nightlife when people think about the implications, goes to the heart of many things, from housing and transport to policing and quiet spaces. It’s about urban planning and designing the cities and countries of our future. This is an incredibly creative endeavour and we should all participate in it together. The NTIA welcomes all support. Lets’ make sure all our voices are heard. Let’s make the world the way we want it to be!
