PAGE 6 Q-Notes ■ December 1986
Home At Last?
High School Parties Launched Charades Deejay
Second in a series about deejays at
Charlotte gay bars.
By DON KING
Editoi
It's only natural that a dance club
deejay's background would include
spinning records lor high school and
country club dances. But when Lin Ben-
field was doing that in Martinsville, Va.,
for his teen-aged peers, he had no idea
it would become a career,
Benlield, 31, has been the deejoy at
Charades since its brief stint as a non
gay dance club earlier this year. His
primary spinning job before that had
been at 2001 VIP in Charlotte.
"The first time I ever saw this club was
when I was living in Richmond," he
said. "I was visiting in Charlotte and a
friend told me he wanted me to see a
place called the Odyssey (former name
of Charades), that it would blow my
mind.
"So we went, and I had never seen a
club like it. It overwhelmed me. I would
never have believed for a million years
that I would ever have been spinning in
that booth." *
At that time, Benlield was working as
a marketing representative at Kings Do
minion, a theme park near Richmond
where he deejayed occasionally for
staff and patron parties in addition to his
regular work.
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His spinning days had started when he
worked as a high schooler at a Martins
ville radio station as a staff announcer,
and was asked to play records at pri
vate parties.
"I was probably the first mobile disco
in Martinsville," he said. "I bought just
enough equipment to get by. There
were no nightclubs in the area and I
saw no future in it."
After earning an associate degree in
education from Patrick Henry Commu
nity College, he went to Virginia Com
monwealth in Richmond and gained a
bachelors in mass communication, con
centrating on broadcast news. It was
while he was in Richmond that he saw a
large dance club for the first time.
"That was really exciting for me," he
said. "It created the same excitement I
had felt the first time I visited a radio
station. I liked the idea of instant feed
back that you get playing in a club —
something I hadn't had playing records
on a radio station."
After three years at Kings Dominion —
his first job after college — the park was
sold and Benfield's job was phased out.
With friends and family in Charlotte, he
decided to move here, and worked for
an advertising agency for a year. When
the agency, too, was sold, he got a job
working as a part-time deejay at 2001
VIP playing beach music during the
week in Razzie's, then playing in the big
ballroom on Sundays.
When Ronnie Matthews left, Benlield
became the lead deejay,
"It was like playing in Charlotte's top
dance club, and that was quite an
honor. I was devasted when they were
sold, too, even though I knew they were
having financial problems."
Benlield moved to Myrtle Beach and
got a deejay job with a new club called
Polos, But the club didn't do well, so it
was on to the gay club, Off-Shore Dril
ling Co.
"That took me through the fall of last
year," he said. "But I really get de
pressed at the beach during the winter,
and about that time the club was being
sold; so I moved back to Charlotte, not
knowing what I would do.
"I worked at the Treehouse for about
two months, getting hired on the
strength of my experience at 2001. Then
Steve Freeman approached me about
working at Charades. Steve had talked
to me first when Odyssey became the
teen-age club Weekends, but I had
turned him down because I was at 2001
at the time that it was doing well. But
when this second chance came, I
jumped at it.
"I'm the happiest
I've been. It's a great
opportunity.
"Gay people are
much easier-going
than straights about
their music. People
who come to gay
clubs are more in tune
musically and not as
concerned with
whether they've heard something on
the radio or know who's singing it.
They're just out to have a good time.
"That was one of the most frustrating
things about working in a straight club:
you had to be so careful about what
was played because, if they didn't rec
ognize something, they wouldn't dance
and would complain. In a gay club, the
crowds are just out to have a good
time."
For the future?
"I'd like to have my own entertain
ment complex. With the background
I've been able to gain in clubs, and with
my marketing and promotions back
ground, I think I could make a go of it.
I've never ended up exactly where I
thought I was supposed to, anyway. I'm
sure I won't be playing at 80 years old."
BENFIELD
Are Aquarians Stupid?
Geminians: Incestuous?
A special little Christmas gilt from Q-Notes that you might want to cut out and
read to the next cruiser who asks whether you're a sexy Scorpio or a lovable
Taurus. Those offended by mildly offensive words should read no further.
Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18: You have an inventive mind and are inclined to be
progressive. You lie a great deal. On the other hand, you are inclined to be careless
and impractical, causing you to make the same mistakes over and over again.
People think you are stupid.
Pisces Feb. 19-Mar. 20: You have a vivid imagination and often think you are being
followed by the CIA or FBI, You have minor influence over your associates and
people resent you for your flaunting of your power. You lack confidence and are
generally a coward. Pisces people do terrible things to small animals.
Aiies Mar. 21-Apr. 19: You are the pioneer type and hold most people in contempt.
You are quick tempered and impatient, and scornful of advice. You are not very nice.
Tauius Apr 20-May 20: You are practical and persistent. You have a dogged
determination and work like hell. Most people think you are stubborn and bull
headed. Taurus people have consistent problems with body odor and a tendency to
fart a lot.
Gemini May 21-June 20: You are a quick and intelligent thinker. People like you
because you are bisexual. However, you are inclined to expect too much for too little.
This means you are cheap. Geminians are known for committing incest.
Cancel June 21-July 22: You are sympathetic and understanding of other people's
problems. They think you are a sucker. You are always putting things off. That's why
you will never make anything of yourself. Most welfare recipients are Cancer people.
Leo July 23-Aug. 22: You consider yourself a bom leader. Others think you are
pushy. Most Leo people are bullies. You are vain and dislike honest criticism. Your
arrogance is disgusting. Leos are generally thieves.
Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22: You are the logical type and hate disorder. This nit-picking
is sickening to your friends (if you are lucky enough to have any, for you are a
bastard). You are cold and unemotional and sometimes fall asleep while making
love. The only good things Virgos make are bus drivers.
Libia Sept. 23-Oct. 22: You are the artistic type and hove a difficult time accepting
reality. If you are a male Libran, you are most likely gay. Chances for employment
and monetary gains are excellent. Most Libra women are good prostitutes. All Libras
! have venereal disease.
Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21: You are shrewd in business and cannot be trusted. You willl
achieve the pinnacle of success because of your total lack of ethics. You will never
have a friend. Most Scorpio people are murdered.
Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21: You are optimistic and enthusiastic. You have a
reckless tendency to rely on luck (since you lack talent). You are most likely an
alcoholic or dope addict. Most people laugh at you. Everybody laughs behind your
back.
Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19: You are conservative and afraid of taking risks. You
don't accomplish anything and are lazy. There has never been a Capricorn of any
importance. You should avoid standing still too long as a dog might think you are a
tree and piss on you.