10 Craziest Things about Partying in Berlin [Berghain Confidential]

Berlin's techno scene is full of dark and surprising secrets -- and a few really delightful ones, too! So many people search "how to get into Berghain" but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the inscrutable door selection process (helmed by the enigmatic Sven), drug-fueled gay / LGBTQ+ parties (like Snax) go all weekend long and have a strict "no cameras" policy: what happens in Berghain usually stays in Berghain. I am here to offer a window into the exclusive club, and give people a taste of some of the craziest things I experienced there.

Why? Because I remember that I used to think I was "better than" folks who weren't partying at Berghain, and looking back I think that's a really toxic backwards way to look at others. Hopefully by sharing stories I can defuse some of the mystique that surrounds the club, to make it less of status symbol and more what it was originally created to be: a techno club for queer people to come together.

In this video I touch on the Funktion One sound system, the interpersonal culture, and yes, the secret ice cream shop!

PS: I would never name any individuals or break anyone's anonymity in the space, so I make sure to talk in general terms as much as possible.

[mysisterisafoodie]

Berghain is a real dystopian environment that honestly for me was a really dark place in my life. I understand some people glamorize it, but for me it was a negative space with a lot of encouragement to sink into that dark space. When really I wanted to be in a good place.

[revolutionunderground]

I cannot "thumbs up" this enough.
I can still see a bit of emptiness comes into your eyes when you talk about that period of your life. It's so nice to see and hear you are now better ❤️

[dave]

"I'm going to church on Sunday."
"Oh that's neat. What religion do you practice?"
"Hedonism."

Great video. I've been to multiple other clubs in Berlin but have yet to make it into Berghain. Even though the vibe has supposedly changed post-covid, I would love to be in a place that not only has one of the (rumored) world's best sound systems, but to be in a place that is so open, friendly, and where you're free to express who we all are as individuals ...sounds like an amazingly unique time. Someday! ...Trying again next weekend heh.

[sean_wave]

Berghain people will hate you for this. Please keep posting these videos!

[xavipanneton]

Losing your friends and having a solo adventure is a natural part of raving~❤

[bobbiedrinks]

omg im literally obsessed with you and these stories please tell us abt your first time there if you havent already!!! esp as an american (or possibly canadian??) and your first experiences in germany im so interested

[spencerwinston]

“He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher

[sneedle]

That was fascinating the bit about the deaf people. I really am gripped by the last two thirds of the video.
The most interesting stuff is not the prurient stuff per se, but more the stuff that I would not have guessed as someone with no experience of what's under discussion.

[chrmez]

9:06 This was my favorite thing to do when I was doing MDMA/XTC a few years back. Go to the club with friends and as soon as the drugs would start kicking in I would venture off on my own. They never seemed to understand it but I loved to just go away and dance on my own, or go to the chill area and meet new people etc.

[JohnSEKTR]

Can completely understand the "ditching" friends part..I would go to techno shows with a buddy and we already understood that we wouldnt be hanging out together the entire time...something very freeing of experiencing awesome music by yourself and meeting new awesome people to hang out with...eventually we would find each other but with new people we met. Then that little bubble would pop. People would go off do their own thing and you were back alone ...some of the best experiences ive had. Eventually I would go to shows alone ...but I was never alone once I got there

[luisk]

hahaha bro the pee monster story is 100% accurate, I watched this video a couple of moths ago and 8 weeks ago I entered Berghain and there was this guy... seeing him was like a deja-vu because your story was so good

[gabele]

The ditching of friends is so real haha.
The sweet spot is also totally correct.
Trust me, back in 2010/12, some djs turned the system absolutley too loud. I remember once vomiting from a chris liebing night because of the bass

[alex.smirnov]

I think there is a rule for DJ not to post their sets they've playing in Berhhain anywhere online. In terms of the techno subgenres, what's usually played on the main dance floor? Does the intensity vary during the night (if there is even a sense of a time of the day/night inside)? What's usually being played, for example, in the morning? during the day?

[Gelassenheitsspruch]

For me, Berghain is heaven and hell at the same time.

[persona]

Funktion one speakers have extremely low levels of distortion . Distortion is an addition to the original sound making it louder and harder on the ears .

[PopeCop]

Sounds like the kind of place that would have sucked the soul right out of me in my 20's. I do not feel compelled to visit it. Thanks for sharing this though, it's a very interesting insight!

[terilapsey]

I liked your stories. Interesting and entertaining.

[med.i.tations]

"cast myself to the wind" i love how you phrase things ❤ so naturally poetic / a storyteller 😊

[careysteinberg]

That ditching your friends thing is totally true. My friend had to explain it to me as I was offended at first

[forcastfascistfuture]

Wow number 8 was really surprising to me. Absolutely genius to be able to get the music balanced like that where conversation and penetration of sound can co-exist.