Josh Naud
You’re the co-founder of Hot Mess. Who’s the other co-founder?
Sean Stewart (pictured on the right).
When did you start Hot Mess?
The first party was in July of 2012.
Why did you start it?
I had moved back to Calgary after living in Vancouver for a number of years and Vancouver had this sort of alternative scene happening there where there would be these monthly parties and I loved going to them and I moved back to Calgary and there was not a lot going on. So I was inspired to start that up here because there’s not a lot of places to go.
Was it partially the need for that alternative and also not enough gay bars?
Yeah a combination of both of those things. In the last year we’ve seen three bars close their doors for good so there’s only really one place to go and dance that’s a gay bar and not everybody’s into that scene. So I wanted to create a place to go and dance that wasn’t just exclusively for gay folks but for everybody that plays different types of music and offers that alternative to the club.
You’ve been moving the parties around. Do you have a permanent venue now?
Yeah Local 522 is our new home. We shopped around after The Eagle closed down. We tried out the community hall thing and that was a nightmare. Then we approached 522 and they were super into it. They aren’t open on the weekends anyways so it just worked out well. It’s the perfect-sized venue and it’s just a good partnership.
You’ve done one there so far?
Two. We did one in November one in December and now our third one is coming up.
When is the next one?
February 23. We wanted to do it on the 16th but they had a wedding booked so we had to go for the weekend after.
So you book out the whole place?
Yeah we take it over we turn it into a nightclub.
They provide bartenders?
Yeah they do all the liquor stuff and we just take care of the fun.
That makes it easy.
It’s way easier than the community hall.
What were the challenges with the community hall?
Oh man. First of all it’s a community hall so we had to change a community hall into a desirable place to go. We had to get a liquor licence and buy all the booze and get bartenders. It was crazy.
How’s the reaction to Hot Mess been so far?
It’s been awesome. I’ve heard lots of good feedback from people. I think people are just really happy to have some stuff happening in the city something to look forward to a different place to go and a different place to meet people. What I’ve noticed is people who I don’t think usually go out are starting to go out. So that’s a good thing. I’ve noticed a really diverse crowd. We have some younger folks some mature folks guys girls straight gay in-between whatever. It seems like we have a really nice cross-section of everybody.
Nice that’s great.
Yeah that was my goal so I feel like it’s been achieved.
And the turnouts have been good?
The turnouts have been great. We’ve had I think 300-plus people.
At each one?
Excluding the community hall yeah.
So for people who haven’t been to one of these what can they expect?
Well it can be a little bit of a hot mess really. Good tunes good drinks attractive folks to hit on. And dancing. I think that’s the funnest part is the dancing.
Do you have DJs lined up?
Yes. Sean is the DJ and then Teddy Celebration who DJs at Commonwealth and HiFi I think he does that as well.
Is there any theme to the music?
All the way from the ’70s up until now but the next party is going to have a ’90s theme. It’s going to be all ’90s. It’s the first time we’re playing with a theme.
So try it out and see if it works?
Well the ’90s is the decade that I grew up in so there’s a lot of great memories of dancing to Unlimited and Marky Mark and whatever. I don’t think I’m alone in that. I think people want to throw on their Doc Martens and their overalls with one strap off and dance.
