The JustCircuit Reservists: Sarge and Major speak with DJ Cap'n Kirk of Orlando, FL
Happy Pride Season and Gay Day Weekend, Circuit Family! Sarge and Major would like to report on one of their favorite events of the year, the Tidal Wave party during Gay Day Weekend. If you like wide-open water parks, super fun music and a big group of extremely happy men, then this is the party for you. We went right to the heart of the party and spoke to DJ Cap'n Kirk of Orlando, Florida for his take on “Bear” parties and more.
DJ Cap’n Kirk, aka Kirk Hartlage, has spun Tidal Wave since the party’s inception four years ago. He’s lived in Orlando, Fla. for over 15 years and has spun at nearly every gay bar, club and event in Central Florida, including the Parliament House, Revolution, Pulse, Southern Nights, Full Moon Saloon, Bear Bust and Central Florida’s Come Out With Pride. He also spins special events at Hamburger Mary’s where he’s also a waiter and floor supervisor. Kirk began DJ’ing while obtaining his journalism degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. His articles have appeared in both local and national publications, including Watermark, The Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Weekly, Instinct, Unzipped and A Bear’s Life.
DJ Cap'N Kirk
Sarge: You've probably heard that writing about music is like dancing about architecture - but for those who've not had the chance to hear you spin a party how would you describe your musical style?
Cap’n Kirk: In a word, fun. Or maybe another word: eclectic. How about gregarious? I’ve played everything from mainstream club vocals, to retro flashbacks, to tribal fuck beats. And a night with me will likely be a bit of all of that. My style really depends on the gig I’m playing, the crowd that’s there, if they’re dancing (or even supposed to be), whether the sun is up or down, and as weird as it sounds, what phase the moon is in. I’ve worked in the hospitality industry in one form or another for most of my life, and people’s personalities are at their extreme when the moon is full. The full moon makes people more aggressive and assertive; I love to play music that taps into that…though those opportunities are rare.
Major: Do you have any signatures that you'd say folks from the floor would say "That's Captain Kirk"?
Cap’n Kirk: Well, for starters, I pretty much always spin in my boxer briefs. One time I was spinning a happy hour after a particularly long and tiring day. A few feet from me was a go-go boy dancing in his skivvies while I was feeling weighed down with a cell phone, a wallet, spare change and who-knows-what-else in my cargo shorts. I figured, what the hell – when I spin at home I’m in my drawers. I dropped trou, never felt freer, and have never looked back.
As for my sound, some gigs I play the music is secondary to whatever else is going on. Maybe because I’m a first-born, or because I’m a Sagittarius, but at those gigs in particular I like to play the occasional track that makes people stop and really notice the music. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve played dance remixes of the “Wonder Woman” theme or even music from “The Partridge Family.” That first year we did Tidal Wave the weather was so awful it made complete sense to me to spin a mix of “Rock You Like A Hurricane!” But no matter the gig I always do my homework and think about what music will work best. Then I can decide what music to pack up, what to leave at home, and hopefully I can stay organized while I’m spinning.
Sarge: We've come to know you from bear events such as the annual Tidal Wave Party at Gay Disney. What other events would you consider the highlights?
Cap’n Kirk: I’ve played for Pride here, and I recently played the after-party for the Orlando AIDS Walk. I’m always honored to volunteer my talents to community events like that. That Pride event a few years back was Broadway themed, so I dug deep and found two hours worth of non-cheesy dance remixes from a number of musicals and shows.
Major: What are some of the artists and songs that first inspired you to want to spin for a crowd?
Cap’n Kirk: I first discovered dance music listening to a weekend radio dance show when I was a college freshman in 1984 Milwaukee. I remember being so enthralled by one particular song, so it became the first 12” I ever bought. It was – no lie – a kickass mix of a Hall and Oates track! I soon discovered similar radio shows coming out of Chicago at a time when House was being born…as was my addiction to dance music.
Sarge: What have you heard lately that you're looking forward to playing for a crowd?
Cap’n Kirk: Gay Day turns 20 this year, so you’ll likely hear me play some of the biggest anthems from the past few decades paired with compatible new tracks. For example: one of my favorite Gay Days moments was hearing the Hex Hector mix of Toni Braxton’s “Spanish Guitar” for the first time at a Colosseum party at Hard Rock Live. (It was made even more special when I saw Toni perform at that same venue several years later and she used that very remix in her tour.) Toni’s got a great new album out with some incredible remixes that I’m really looking forward to playing.
Major: Are you more comfortable in the booth or do you like to be out on the floor also?
Cap’n Kirk: When I’m spinning the dance floor might as well be in the booth, cause I’m likely dancing my ass off. If the music I’m playing doesn’t make me wanna dance, how can I expect anyone else to wanna dance either? Frankly, I have a hard time embracing any DJ who doesn’t actively get into the music he or she is spinning.
Sarge: Who are the DJs you enjoy listening to these days?
Cap’n Kirk: I’ve worked with Tracy Young behind the scenes for several years, and I’ve long loved her style. That Colosseum party I mentioned before featured Abel spinning, and he – whether with or without Ralphi Rosario – is someone whose music I really get in to. I may be a midwestern white guy with German/Russian/Prussian roots, but hearing those Cha-Cha beats makes my blood beat all Latin.
Major: How about a bit about your personal life? Tell us about your home life?
Cap’n Kirk: Chaotic, and not unlike a living jigsaw puzzle. I work at our local Hamburger Mary’s, teach group fitness at the YMCA (you know the music I bring totally rocks) and I am a freelance journalist. I’ve long seen DJ’ing as an amazing hobby that I’ve been incredibly fortunate to get some great gigs with and I’ve seen that hobby develop as a career. I have to thank David and Danny, the Tidal Wave organizers, for really helping make that dream a reality. Oh, and probably because I’m so friggin’ busy, I’m single. But I’m looking to change that. Seriously. Change that. My friends keep telling me I’m a catch and I’m starting to think they just may be right!
Sarge: What types of music do you like to listen to when you're not spinning, say in the car, at work, at the gym or just hanging out at home?
Cap’n Kirk: I’m usually listening to whatever new dance music I’ve gotten so I can decide if it’s something I want to add to my repertoire. When it’s not that, lately I’ve been listening to anything and everything “Glee.”
Major: What upcoming events will you be spinning if readers would like to hear you live?
Cap’n Kirk: During the Gay Day weekend, I’ll also be spinning at Eufuria during Saturday and Sunday’s Disco brunch at Hamburger Mary’s. In September I’m slated to spin the Saturday afternoon pool party at the host hotel for the inaugural Bear Bash. My goal is to start branching out to some of the other great bear weekends across the country.
Sarge: How have the 'Bear' events at Gay Disney evolved over time?
Cap’n Kirk: Well, this year, more than any year before, the ursine community has a full “schedule” of bear-focused events throughout the entire weekend. The bears have long met at 1PM on Gay Day at the Country Bear Jamboree in the Magic Kingdom. Until Tidal Wave started, that was close to being it. The weekend typically has events designed for men or for women…a few years ago there seemed to be a push to design events for GLBT families with children, but those have seemed to fall by the wayside. In their place now is a focus on the bears.
Thanks Kirk and thank you to our readers! If you're at Tidal Wave or Eufuria, look for the military men on the dance floor and come up and say hi to us!
For more information on Tidal Wave go to tidalwaveparty.com. We wish you all a safe and wonderful Pride season and summer! Until next time, Sarge and Major, OUT!