Androgyny.

For more than a year and a half, I have worked part time as an event floor manager of sorts for a woman named Natalie Zibung.

Nat is an event producer extraordinaire, working in the Australian film & TV industry for many years. She also co-hosts a radio show, is a humanitarian and the brains behind Lick Entertainment.

Born in 2009, Lick Entertainment produces events for the lesbian and bisexual community both here in Auckland and across Australia.
In terms of my own involvement, it all started out as a bit of a laugh and a way to earn a bit of extra cash on what I imagined would be a relatively relaxed Saturday night.
Oh how I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I have identified with and been a part of the LGBTQIA community for more than 15 years, and pretty much for all intents and purposes identify as a cisgender pansexual – but I’m married – helping out on the door at an event for girls…who love girls. The irony being that a lot of our guests are singles, some of whom are looking to ‘hook up’, and others who are seeking out that significant other. It makes for some interesting evenings!
Being married also makes it easy I guess to deal with women who come through our doors who are extraordinarily attractive and perhaps used to fluttering their eyelashes to get into clubs pro bono…and make them pay the cover charge. Better living, everybody.

Over time, I’ve learnt that it’s an incredibly empowering and uplifting experience to be a part of Lick Auckland, largely operated and hosted by…women. The exception in our ground crew is the wonderful photographer Jake Skipper from JVS Photography who has become a regular feature at these events.
As Natalie lives in Australia, it’s become much easier for her to rely on a local crew to run the evenings and occasionally when her schedule allows for it, she will make an appearance, much to the delight of her regular punters. She is most definitely a celebrity amongst the crowd on the evenings she does manage the flight over…but it’s tough going. This round, she clocked out from the bar at 1:45am and had to be at the airport at 5am to check in for her flight home. As they say, you can sleep when you’re dead!

The event ‘Androgyny’ was our first hosted at the popular music liquor kitchen Orleans in Britomart.
Heralding itself as a music venue serving Creole & Cajun food inspired by that of its namesake, Orleans is neighbour to popular haunt Racket.

Located on Roukai Lane, the interior is dotted with flickering candles and antique ephemera from the Deep South, with a fitout mixing antique pendant lights with exposed timber walls. On Saturday night the live band shuts up shop at 10pm and the restaurants furniture reorganised to a nightclub setting, freeing up the floor for dancing and loitering.

I’d got an SMS from Nat earlier in the day encouraging me to come along a little earlier than 10pm and offering to shout me dinner. After an evening and early morning of boozing the day before I could barely summon the energy to Google Orleans’ menu but let her know I would be there on time to meet her for a quick bite. I figured I could just share a drink with her, catch up and talk some shit. I also remembered that the last time I ate at Orleans as a carnivore that they served Kool-Aid.

I don’t usually drink when I’m working Lick parties as I think it’s important to remain clear headed in the event that something significant occurs…and I’m a hilariously terrible drunk. The most memorable evening we ever had was at Libertine when a fire alarm went off, and a bevy of buff, uniformed firemen showed up in their utility vehicle in response after the venue was evacuated – needless to say, this was another ironic Lick Auckland moment!

My friend Dave popped over to hang out and from the depths of my couch despair pleaded with him to help me out of my mess of a hangover by driving down to Burger Fuel and buying a couple of tofu burgers for us. Ooh, and a soy shake.

The Combustion Tofu burger at BurgerFuel is a certified vegan option, provided that you ask for it to be served sans aioli. Their spud fries are not pre-cooked in any animal products or fried in store that way either – they use 100% canola oil! Whilst their fries are traditionally served with natural or lemon aioli, they do make provisions for vegans and allow you to swap out your condiment for a vegan option. The relish and satay sauces made in their own Satellite kitchen are 100% vegan.
Soy shakes are vegan also, with the exception of chocolate as the syrup contains dairy.

I’m super grateful that I got to eat beforehand, as when I arrived Nat had been gracious enough to order up some nibbles before I arrived, fifteen minutes late no less.
The hostess brought out some crumbed shrimp po boys, and whilst the old me would have been hungrily salivating, 6-day old vegan me was horrified. I laughed and explained my new lifestyle change to Nat before admitting that I’d already eaten just in case and asking the General Manager to fix me up a jug of delicious sugary Grape Kool-Aid. After reviewing the menu, I was stoked to have already been fed, as most of the vegetarian options available on Orleans’ menu contained dairy, with the exception of the sweet potato gnocchi with basil which looked delicious.

The band dismantled it’s gear and our wonderful resident DJ Darnell got on the decks as the bar started to fill with punters.

In short? It was a success. Express magazine was in attendance both to photographically document and review the event.

The next Lick Auckland event is scheduled in February, after the annual Pride parade. Needless to say…it’s going to be a big night.
I will prepare by doing nothing until then x

Love,

Charli x