DJ Jane Fitz sparked a debate across clubland when she posted on Instagram ahead of the Houghton festival, asking attendees to stop chatting during DJ sets. "A bit of talking is obviously OK," Fitz said. "But why would you stand completely still, where the sound is super loud, just to ask your mate about a new boyfriend or what they had for lunch? It's called a dancefloor for a reason."
The post has divided opinion within the club scene. Fitz described her original message as respectful, raising questions about how clubbers behave and what they expect from the dancefloor experience.
The conversation extends beyond simple conversation. According to the source, ketamine use and social media are also altering how people behave in clubs. DJs and dancers are weighing in on what role a club should play as a social and musical space, and whether the rise of phones, drugs and chatter fundamentally changes the dancing experience.
The debate reflects broader tensions in contemporary club culture. Fitz's call for quiet reflects a view that the dancefloor should be a focused space for music and movement, not casual socialising. Whether that position will gain traction remains unclear.