There's an adage, some optimist probably coined, which simply says, "When you know it's right, you know it's right." Judging from sheer numbers of their events, and "the experience" they employ for their patrons, it's "the right" time to throw parties for Black LGBTQ folks in Chicagoat least for the people at K Dock Media.
When shaping the story of K Dock Media, the chicken-or-the-egg question is something one might grapple with for a moment in terms of what came first: the party or the promoters.
In 2010 Tee Lam Dubois, the man behind the launch of K Dock, was tapped to collaborate with Crimson Lounge to throw a party at its "opulent" bar inside Sax hotel, for a sophisticated, upscale crowd. He decided to pull together a crew of collaborators usingwhat else?social media.
"When I thought about who I'd get to work with me to throw parties, honestly it was facebook that helped me find people," said Dubois, 30, who's one of now six members in the fashion-forward business collective. He handles talent and venue acquisition.
He added, "I looked on Facebook and saw who had the most friends and approached them, and then came K Dock."
That's just part of the story. The desire to provide partygoers of color an alternative with finesse and "class" is what brought them together, according to Dubois.
Before K Dock became, well, K Dock, a group of ambitiousand, perhapsopen-minded friends came together to throw its first White Party. The event will now have its third annual installment, and the members of K Dock have promised it will be bigger and better. Although they would not reveal the location, they confirmed it'll be near the lake.
The name "K Dock" is as extemporaneous as the formation of the business enterprise itself.
"We were on a photo shoot at Montrose Harbor [ dressed in all white ] to promote the first White Party," said Keán Ray, an educator and Ph.D. candidate who serves as head of operations and finance for K Dock.
"There, it was suggested that our name be 'K Dock' because it was the name of the dock we happened to be at."
"We decided we want to create an exquisite experience wherever one of our parties are held, added Rannon Harris, the business developer.
It's no secret the experience, however one may feel about it, has drawn crowds in the hundreds, maybe thousands, at venues such as Sawtooth, Dana Hotel, The Mid ( where media mogul B. Scott was the guest of honor ) , the monthly party at Lokal and even the 2011 Howard Brown benefit party at minibar called "Candyland."
"It's about setting new standards," public relations head David Dodd said.
"Why not provide nice things to our own communityour familybecause we're not just promoters?" Dodd said. "We always make new friends at our events and we're not just Boystown."
K Dock worked diligently to build its name and reputationeven winning a community-selected award for "best male promoters" by Windy City Black Pride last year.
Fashion stylist and frequent K Dock partier David West explained the allure, using a recent event as an example: "Last week's party [ at Red Violet ] was wrapped around corner. It's always a fun party with fashionable people."
In packed rooms, communities seem to demand elaborate parties meant for socializing and a dance move or two; however, sometimes even a two-step is difficult because of the amount of bodies amassed at one of K Dock's city-wide floating parties.
Last March, at K Dock's House of Blues party with co-collaborators B.BLYSS! Productions and High Society Ent. Group, the foundation room was the epitome of a K Dock party. The room was gaudy, decadent with spectacularly lit hues of golden drapery and Victorian-style furniture everywhere.
The more women-centered B.BLYSS party was upstairs and the K Dock men's soiree was downstairs, joined by a twisted, carpeted stairway with a chandelier to light the pathcomplete with the sounds of deep Chicago house, top-40 music and hip-hop.
"We cater to a diverse crowd," said DJ Sandra Suave, of B.BLYSS.
Her business partner, Tamara Allen, added, "K Dock is fun, professional and easy to work with. Everyone has their role."
Although the bumps for K Dock have been far and few between, it has been difficult at times. "We've received opposition from bars because we are Black or because we are gay," Ray said. "Some clubs are afraid to throw parties for African Americans because of perception."
" [ An undisclosed ] owner sat us down, [ who didn't allow them to hold their party there ] , and told us what establishments will fear."
Trisha Martinez handles event logistics, and has been donned first lady of K Dock. She told Windy City Times about trying to include straight women in gay spaces because of the safety it provides at times.
"I come and help change the perception for straight people," Martinez said. "Gay men come in all shapes and sizes. My friends come around and are amazed at how different the men are. It's an all around good thing."
The sixth member of K Dock, Tony Williams, handles the marketing.
Like the magnetic pull that brought the group together, social media is largely how they promote. K Dock uses email blasts, twitter, Grindr app pop-ups and Facebook, where people can find tons of info on the members and upcoming events like the June 16th White Party.
Harris said, "I want people to leave our parties and say, 'Wow! That was an experience.'"