By Julia Bachman, Staff Writer
Dance nights with DJs and live performers, battles of the bands, music lessons and a fully stocked juice bar – with so much to offer, “Everyone’s a Star At Paparazzi OBX!”
Paparazzi is a family owned and operated venue for people ages 15-20 who want to express themselves. One of Paparazzi’s goals is encouraging proper morals, good values and integrity while young adults have a good time. This under-21 dance club celebrates its grand opening tonight (Thursday, March 24). Located on the bypass near Kitty Hawk Road in the old Jubilee Theater space, Paparazzi is a place where young adults can be themselves, have fun and hang out with friends.
Dance nights take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The first 10 people in line tonight will get an exclusive Paparazzi OBX Opening Weekend VIP T-shirt. There is a little bit of everything for everyone at the dance nights with a broad music spectrum featuring multiple genres. People will be allowed to make song suggestions via a live Snapchat and Twitter feed.
Whatever the community wants, Paparazzi gives. The dance club’s goal is to give “the kids of today a space where they can be themselves, have fun, do the things they love doing while hanging with friends and being social,” owner Mike Beatty Jr. said. “A place they can have fun without the rules that society throws on kids today and the parental overview, but being in a safe place where there is going to be supervision.”
Beatty was looking for a way to expose young adults to different genres of music and open up a venue that provided a safe destination for friends to get together. After vacationing on the Outer Banks with family for years, the idea of Paparazzi was inspired by memories from when he was younger and hung out at a similar teen night club called H2O.
Influenced by music at a young age, he hopes to pass that along to younger people. Music was a big part of Beatty’s high school experience and he hopes to give opportunities like he had to OBX students.
“That’s what every kid needs – to find something they have a little interest in and then learn more about it, become passionate. The spark happens and doors open to everything,” Beatty said. “There are so many people that don’t have the opportunity to reach their passion. Some people don’t have the pathway and connections to reach their goal, the passion and desire to harness the energy in a positive way and create good art.”
Paparazzi OBX also offers recording sessions, music lessons and masterclasses (seminar style) with local teachers and top-tier musicians. Other opportunities include filmmaking, journalism, multimedia and broadcasting, as Paparazzi also features an online TV show called WHATSUPOBX. The Media Club is up and open for registration.
At Paparazzi, people can expect a festival vibe similar to a combination of Coachella and Tomorrowland in a small-town environment. With professionals brought in who have experience and passion, “We want everyone to feel like a star,” Beatty said.
Follow the club on Instagram and Facebook @paparazziobx
Junior Julia Bachman can be reached at bachmanju0420@daretolearn.org.
