Flyer Soziotope

The last print revolution has been fully displaced and superseded by digital networks like Myspace and Facebook since the 2000s. If the spread of the home computer including graphics programs marked the birth of the flyer among the general public, the Internet, as well as the miniaturization of the home computer into the smartphone, also marked its end as a widespread phenomenon.

Especially in cities like Berlin after the fall of the Berlin Wall, flyer culture propagated by the masses of potential venues was essential for getting ahead of the competition for the best audience. 

Old buildings were temporarily or fully repurposed before gentrification. Now it's difficult to find venues or even keep well-regarded locations altogether. Digitalization and scarcity are reducing the wide variety of print forms available. Regulations, rising costs, and pressure from the competition have led to commercialization and professionalization.

Improvisation is taking place behind the scenes. At the same time, globalization is creating new club culture regions. Ibiza is now missing out to Croatia in terms of winning over summer clubbers. Georgia and Bucharest are alternatives to Berlin and Barcelona. Cheap flights have opened up completely new markets.

Club culture and festivals have been a relevant tourism factor for many cities. International line-ups are outdoing each other. New generations of graphics designers are earning their stripes with innovative flyer designs.  

The material has a unique zeitgeist. Special paper and colors, perforation, embossing, and formatting but also distribution methods help well-managed clubs stand out from the crowd. The heartfelt idea of harmonizing form and function but also achieving a visual style that matches the music and its tone are the quality criteria for urban propaganda.

When it comes to setting the expected atmosphere for an event, they'll still fulfill their purpose. The big surviving clubs will certainly continue to produce them after the pandemic.

Will there still be flyers in the future? Whatever happens, these direct handouts are the most personal way to invite people. They remain difficult to control, and as a result, they help not-quite-legal events keep unwanted guests at bay.  

And the small, illegal, new, and improvised project locations will definitely do so as well. For mainstream and up-and-coming clubs, posting the event on Resident Advisor, Facebook, and Instagram is likely enough. For the rest, the treasure hunt continues.