A That's weekly series where we ask a Shanghai-based somebody to tell us 5 Things specific to his or her life. Sad news champagne swillers of Shanghai! Lord of Bubbles and Master of Misrule at Bar Rouge, CEO of VOL Group Mathieu Brauer is off to develop their brands back in Europe and North America. Here he reflects on the best (printable) memories from ten rocking years as the most successful nightspot on The Bund...
1. I rejected so many VIPs that I became the enemy of Shanghai's movers and shakers...
It was the first Formula 1 weekend in 2005. People were queuing on the street outside and in front of the building to get in. The Bund 18 lobby was full as well as the 6th floor lobby. For the very first time, I was praying we didn't have a disaster (floor collapse). I probably had to refuse more than 1,000 people each night that weekend. I rejected so many VIPs that I became (for a while) the enemy of Shanghai's movers and shakers. It took me a few weeks to contact all people who complained at the door.
2. We had the pleasure of hosting Quincy Jones, who stayed all night long, like Lionel Ritchie...
It was the beginning of May 2006, and Bar Rouge launched its first outdoor beach on the terrace. It took me few months to create, design and convince all the actors and authorities to set up a beach on a top of an heritage building. For the opening party, we had the pleasure of hosting Quincy Jones. We became good friends due to a funny anecdote. Alaska Glacier Water's GM in China came to visit me few weeks before. He wanted me to try his water. He started to tell me the story of Alaska Glacier water. Water made with pure icebergs shipped to factory, etc. I loved the story and I decided to switch water (Evian to Alaska). So when Quincy asked for some water, I told him the story. He smiled, looked at me and offered me more champagne.
Two days after, I received a call from Alaska Glacier Water Global CEO, who told me that he was very happy about my talk with Quincy. I was astonished and I asked him how he knew about the story. He told me he got a call from Quincy Jones who was impressed with my enthusiasm for Alaska Glacier Water. It turned out Quincy was on Alaska Glacier Water's board and was a shareholder. I was selling him his own water!
3. I had to prove through pictures that I was telling the truth. I was at the police station for two hours...
It was the F**K me I'm F****S party concept with David Guetta & Cathy Guetta in 2007. We were the first (and only) club in China booking David Guetta's main party concept. Both stars (David & Cathy) arrived quite relaxed at the airport where we picked them up. We were expecting big rock stars but in fact we met very friendly and open-minded people, who were eager to discover Shanghai and China. We drove them to their hotel. After a short break, David wanted to go to Bar Rouge to have a quick sound and spot check before his gig. Afterwards, we had a great dinner at Mr & Mrs Bund, where they both set up an appointment with a friend of theirs.
Just after the dinner, we (their friend and I) went up to Bar Rouge where Guetta had been rocking the place for 30 minutes already. Then, the crowd started to clap and go crazy. I was impressed, but I did not really understand why. In fact, it was for David's guest. He was James Blunt (I didn't know him). At the end of the night, policemen came to Bar Rouge because they wanted to question me regarding a flag that I was holding in my hands while David Guetta was spinning. It was a F**K me I'm F****S signage but they though that it was a political message for a free Tibet. I had to prove through pictures that I was telling the truth. I was at the police station for two hours.
4. I realized at this particular moment that we were famous all over the world...
It was the Moet & Chandon international event with Scarlett Johansson back in 2011. It was the first time that I had drunk 100 year old champagne. It was also the first global and international event that Maison Moet & Chandon had organized in China and it happened at Bar Rouge. It was a very private event with lots of beautiful people and VVIPs. I realized at this particular moment that we were famous all over the world because all the actors from all over the world knew us, from Chile to Japan.
5. He was smoking his cigarette with his nose, completely stoned...
It was the WorldWide Festival with Laurent Garnier, Gilles Peterson, Sebastien Tellier, Simbad, etc. It was one of the first electro and house music festivals organized in Shanghai. Gilles Peterson and his international DJ Crew were famous because of playing their tracks via their BBC radio program in Great Britain. It was a fantastic weekend. Laurent Garnier rocked the place until 8am. He didn't want to leave. I had to interview Sebastien Tellier (below) for our teaser and while I was asking him questions about the event, he was smoking his cigarette with his nose, completely stoned. This line-up really helped us to book more international DJs. Gilles promoted us nicely throughout his business relationships.
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