As the ink dried on his new contract with the nightclub Roccapulco, and hugs and congratulations followed, the 34-year-old Nicaraguan club promoter looked happy.
Jorge Chamorro was back in the Mission, a place he left two years ago to work for the Mist Ultra Club on 11th and Harrison streets. There, he discovered, “Latinos just don’t go to SoMa.”
“I’m just glad to be back here, man,” Chamorro said, reminiscing later about the good ol’ days of booking some of the top acts at the Blue Macaw, a hot spot for young adults on Mission Street. “My heart is in the Mission. Here with my people.”
As he talked about the neighborhood’s “newfound synergy,” he also made clear his strategy. “Gay Latinos don’t have to travel to the Castro when they can go to the ‘hood to have a fun time. It’s a new beginning.”
For now, Chamorro has a contract to put on five to seven gay-themed shows, with the first one — Antares Pride 2011 — on for this Saturday night. It will feature an all-girl Peruvian band and a pageant to select Mister and Miss Safe Latino.
“We’re ready to kick off Pride. Latino style,” said Chamorro, a charismatic baseball cap-wearing man who grew up in the Mission.
Tony Orellana, Roccapulco’s owner since 2007, said he brought in Chamorro, who operates as the promoter of JC Events, because he wants fresh ideas to attract the gay community — one that likes to party.
“There are not too many locations that have those type of events,” said Orellana. “Having someone like JC [Events] would offer different choices, good quality of music, and diversity.”
Currently, Esta Noche at 3079 16th Street is the only gay Latino club.
Unlike promoters who base their event concepts on foods or colors of the rainbow — something he finds boring — Chamorro found the inspiration for his latest event by stepping outside and staring into the night sky. Antares is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius.
“I have a problem with promoters naming their club nights after foods — Azúcar, Mango, Dulce, I’m on a diet!” he said, sitting at nearby Caffeinated Coffee and munching on a glazed doughnut.
JC Events handles work for smaller San Francisco venues, mostly in the Castro, and business has been slow, Chamorro said.
But the promoter, who started in fashion design in his mid-20s, is accustomed to the economic ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
“I’m not a competitor, rather a businessman with fresh ideas — elements that are necessary to succeed as a company,” he said. “I mean, who doesn’t like to party with the gays?”
Landau is keeping it super real. Old days of Blue Macaw? Come on now. Mist was a garbage club too. I love M.Local but can we get some real community news on here. This has the potential to be such a great resource for the Mission and most times it is but this is garbage. I miss Cesars Latin Palace. Not sure if anyone on the writing staff knows about all that.
the good old days at the blue macaw? Blue Macaw has only been opened for like 3 years? What is with the artificial reminiscing?
Ink dried on your contracts? What is with the dramatic writing. He’s a club promoter not a professional athlete…. Jesus, this is an overly hyped writing style…. An interesting topic but poor writing. You don’t have to convince us this is interesting with hyperbole and dramatic descriptions…
I totally agree with Chamorro, I can’t stand the gay latino theme nights that are all food based (pan dulce, asucar, etc.) They are unimaginative stupid and quasi racist… Can you imagine an American themed party in Berlin called “Club Hamburger” or “BLT” ?
much prefer Antares to say- star…., booty call, and horsehung.