Today we’d like to introduce you to Colby Drasher.
Colby, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was 15 my dad read an article somewhere about how DJs were going to be the next big thing. Knowing that I was an outgoing individual, he asked me if I had any interest in becoming one. I said sure! I liked music, although at the time I knew virtually nothing about it. He said he would loan me a couple thousand dollars to buy some gear so I could DJ high schools/middle schools/non-profits/churches in the area. But! I had to promise not to take a dime for myself until the debt was paid. One year later the debt was paid.
I started buying CDs. A lot of CDs. I would go into Bullmoose Music in Portsmouth, NH and just buy whatever I thought looked cool without even listening to it. This might sound impractical, but it actually worked out great. I was exposed to all kinds of music/genres/sounds that I never knew existed. I remember one of the first albums I grabbed was Atari Teenage Riot- and at that age, with my limited musical knowledge, my mind was blown.
Then after high school I went off to college and dropped out of the DJ game to pursue songwriting and visual art. I started as a freshman at Quinnipiac University. I chose my college the same way I bought albums – blindly. Although, this time it didn’t work out as well. There was practically zero creative anything coming out of QU, so I started asking friends if there was an alternative school I should look into. Simultaneously I reached out to my philosophy professor at the time and told him I was at a crossroads. He recommended I attend a Native American sweat bath that occurred not far from the school. It turned out to be the best bit of advice I have ever received.
It was during this ritual at the base of a mountain where my future was revealed. The first portion of the ritual involved climbing on your hands and knees into a wigwam with eight other strangers. This was supposed to symbolize returning to the womb. Once all inside, someone began bringing in large bright glowing rocks that had been heating in a fire pit nearby for days. They were stacked into a pyramid shape in the middle of the wigwam and the door was shut sealing us all inside in the darkness. The heat was intense- scorching. At one point I raised my head to look out to the others and saw all but one individual clinging to the icy cold ground- the chief. He was sitting with his head raised high, enduring the most intense region of heat. When I tried to keep my head where his was I literally felt the fluids in my brain start to boil.
After several sessions of sweating the door was opened so we could go outside to cool off. I’ll never forget what I saw. The trees were sparkling. Yes, SPARKLING. I had rid myself of all toxins by sweating my body dry and was seeing more clearly than I have ever in my whole life. Minutes later we would all return to the wigwam for the final portion of the ritual. One by one the chief went around to each one of us strangers who had all come there for different reasons and did us the honor of contacting the ancestors. He relayed what they had to say to us. Sometimes these monologues were long; sometimes they were just a few sentences. But mine was very clear.
“You have come here to decide if you must stay or go. You must go.”
That was it. I applied for transfer to Emerson College and got in immediately. Arriving in Boston changed the course of my life.
I met new friends when I arrived over a decade ago, many of which I still have today. Two of them, TJ and Tanner used to work with me at Whole Foods in Brighton and one day a man coming through the register overheard them talking about opening a music studio/performance space. He ended up offering to finance the project. The whole thing seemed too good to be true (and in the end it was) but amidst the chaos a series of parties were held at the space. They were called Trash Hall. The spaces were pretty artsy and very queer. I was the DJ for the event alongside Nicky Romance. It was at those parties that I revamped my desire to DJ. And luckily enough someone was there to see it happen. The bartender from the Midway Cafe, Shamus, said if I ever wanted to host a party over there I would be free to do so. That party would become Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
Living in Allston, I had longed for a place where all my straight friends and all my gay friends could hang out together. I took that desire and expanded it to a space where EVERYONE could come and not have any pretenses – that would become solidified with the motto which came to me out of the blue one day not long after the party’s inception: “All are welcome who welcome all”.
I was lying on my couch brainstorming a name for the party right around the time when there were discussions of repealing the military “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. The name seemed perfect to appropriate under more positive contexts. Strangely enough, the first DADT at the Midway was held on the SAME day the bill was repealed (this was not planned). While working at Whole Foods I met a lifelong friend named Ian. He had recently come out of the closet and was also looking to get into DJing. I asked him if he wanted to DJ with me at DADT and was met with an enthusiastic yes. He started seeing a guy named Bryan who was just getting into drag and Bryan asked if he could perform. He was the in the first drag show DADT ever had. Ian and he are still together today and Bryan (Severity Stone) still performs routinely at DADT. My partner Nick has also been involved with the project since its inception as resident photographer and video artist. He helps me come up with themes and shoots down my bad ideas.
After more than seven years and close to 100 parties the project has grown bigger and louder than ever before. It has been host to dozens and dozens of Boston’s best drag performers, DJs, and even national artists. 2018 has been an incredible year for DADT with flocks of people attending each event. Back in 2011 queer culture wasn’t where it is today- especially in Boston. Large new generations of people are entering the queer stratosphere and are exploring their identity and sexual orientation. DADT has maintained its original ethos and is a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds to do just that.
The success of DADT has put me on the radar as a DJ that knows how to make people move. I have gone from playing clubs and bars with literally NO ONE there to playing to upwards of a thousand people. After getting a taste of the big time, I only want more. Ideally I’d like to play for 10’s of thousands of people on a regular basis- but I tend to dream big. Then again, dreaming big is what got me to where I am today so I guess I should keep it up.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Crafting and operating a nightlife event was something I kind of just had to pick up on my own. I didn’t really know how to do it initially so I had to learn from my mistakes. Sometimes this cost me money or happiness but it seems like those sacrifices are starting to pay off. I looked to my fellow DJs and promoters for advice, attended their events, and networked myself deep into Boston’s electronic music scene. Navigating the waters of social media and culture can be challenging because I have to represent DADT and its values at all times. In other words, I have to be mindful of everything I say. Which at the end of the day is probably a good thing.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Boston – what should we know?
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Boston is a party that exists to shatter boundaries between artist and performer as well as gender and identity. It’s also a place where you can come and not feel judged for who you are. Whereas with some clubs you might get stared down for wearing something unusual you are right at home at DADT.
DADT occurs the fourth Saturday of every month at Great Scott in Allston, MA from 10pm to 2am. Each event has a different theme and people are encouraged to get as wild as they’d like with their looks. The video projections, decorations, drag performances and sometimes cocktail menu all correlate to the theme. Events are always 21+ except for our pride event (18+) and the door fee is always kept mindfully low to not financially discourage people from participating. The music is a wide spectrum of electronic and flirts with top 40 and throwbacks often. It really depends on who the guest DJ is or what the audience will respond to that given night. I, Colby Drasher, am the sole proprietor of the event as well as resident DJ and MC for the evening.
I am most proud of DADT for the reason that sets us apart from other events. It is a warm and welcoming place that anyone can come to. We encourage everyone to have fun and feel comfortable while being who they are.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I would probably have to split this answer between two traits. One would have to be my outgoing personality. It has enabled me to feel comfortable performing on stage, talking to strangers and expressing myself. The second would have to be my fearlessness when it comes to trying something new. There was no guarantee that DADT was going to be a success; I had to believe in myself to make it happen.
Pricing:
- DADT 4th Saturdays at Great Scott / Door $10 all night long (unless otherwise specified)
- DADT: PRIDE at The Sinclair / $12 in advance $15 DOS
- Personal DJ Fee for private or public events is negotiable
Contact Info:
- Website: http://pleasedontaskdonttell.blogspot.com
- Email: dadtbooking@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/dadtboston
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/dadtboston
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/dadtboston
Image Credit:
All images by DADT resident photographer Nick Day.
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