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One of Sydney’s iconic venues has a new board and is set to do more for the GLBT community, General Manager Michelle Mancini tells Katrina Fox.
It all began in 1956 when the Taxi Club was a single terrace with a garage for taxis. Now it comprises four terraces and a plethora of in-house entertainment.
But not only has the building itself had a revamp recently, the board has also undergone a makeover and is now made up entirely of members of the queer community.
These include trans president Joanne Norman, drag entity Sandi Bottom, representatives of the bear community and Mature Aged Gays (MAG), and Secretary/General Manager Michelle Mancini, who’s a trans woman.
“Last year the club came close to amalgamating with another club, which would have meant the loss of another gay venue,” she tells SX. “A lot of members weren’t happy about that and a group of dedicated members and staff got together and virtually took over the board and management team to ensure the amalgamation didn’t happen.”
While the Taxi Club is renowned for being a haven for the GLBT community, none of its previous board members were queer and its fundraising efforts went to causes in the broader community.
Now the board is determined to look after its own, Mancini, who’s worked at the Beresford and the Flinders Hotel during the past 15 years, says. “In the past we wouldn’t be supporting charities like the Luncheon Club; it’s mostly hospitals and other places, which are also worthwhile charities, but we need to look after our community.”
And that includes the older generation, who feels very much at home at the Taxi Club with its entertainment that’s geared to suit different tastes.
“We’re bringing karaoke back, with Shano Bear,” Mancini says. “Sandi [Bottom] has been doing some cabaret shows in the restaurant and that’s been successful so we’re looking to expand that at the weekends.
We’ve got poker, bingo and trivia during the week and we’ve just started a gay recovery every Sunday morning from 6am with Justin Scott on level two, the nightclub.”
The recovery will play the kind of music the venue is best known for. “The Taxi Club has always been known for its handbag and camp tunes and we’re trying to stick to that, and Justin’s planning that for Sunday mornings,” Mancini grins. “When you’ve been out all night you don’t want to hear ‘doof doof’, you want to know the words!”
One of the great things about the Taxi Club is it welcomes everyone – it’s a beacon for the trans community, from drag queens, transvestites and transsexuals, to transgenders and other sex- and gender-diverse people, especially on a Saturday night. “All members of the community are welcome; no one looks down at you here,” Mancini says.
The club is operated similar to an RSL in that visitors are required to be members. “If you live within 5km of the venue you should be a member or signed in, and if you live outside, you can sign in as a temporary member,” Mancini explains.
And at just $11 a year membership, which gets you $1 off drinks at all times and a complimentary bottle of champagne on your birthday – not to mention the pokie machines, glittering chandeliers, disco balls, live entertainment and restaurant – it’s surely a bargain. “We’re very excited about getting it back to being a community club,” Mancini says. “Eventually we’ll do more fundraising for the community too.”
The Taxi Club is open 10am-2am Mon-Fri and until 6am at weekends. The restaurant is open 7 days a week 6.30pm-9.30pm. Visit thetaxiclub.com for more info.
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