Interview with Nicole Night: A Playboy Model That Makes Hearts Skip and a DJ That’s Making Beats Just Skip -By: Liam Sweeny

Allure. A word within it is the root lure. Some people have allure, and others walk around all day waiting to get hooked. When a woman has allure, she might find herself in a magazine (not us; we’re a paper) and be enshrined to catch and release all who turn the pages. But she isn’t made of paper and high gloss; she’s real and has to strike out in the world. What does she do?

Nicole Night found her way into Playboy, and beyond that, into a successful national career as a DJ, and beyond that, to a guest in our very own little corner of the universe.

RRX: You have two feathers in your cap that you are both a successful DJ and you’ve been in Playboy Magazine. And of course, there’s the whole allure of that, so I’m sure it’s frequently brought up. Were you a DJ when you posed for Playboy, or is that something you started after? And how did you get started on that path, was it kind of kismet, or were you working toward it?

NN: That’s a great story.  I was a quite young single mother, and because of that, I was always looking to maximize my time doing whatever I was doing.  I had become a stylist and esthetician and worked at a beautiful resort here in San Diego right out the gate.  

I was drawn to go out, because I was single, and found myself amidst a group of people who ran the night life locally.  While I was on a dance team as a teen in high school, my rough family drama of my youth never allowed me to focus on embracing that opportunity to the max.  

I found myself really wanting to go-go dance and the opportunity presented itself.  That, along with a multitude of other entertainment events from hosting on the red carpet, and local online podcasts etc., I remember telling my colleagues of our little local go-go team that I would pose for Playboy one day, and they laughed.  It wasn’t six months later that I got a couple of calls. One call, there was a woman whom I was mistaken for time and again that called to ask if I would pose with her, and then a headhunter for international had called as well.  I took both assignments around the time when the markets crashed, as my beauty business endeavors were also suffering, and was able to take care of myself and my beautiful daughter because of posing.  

I then go-go danced as I toured around the world.  I grew tired of that and found myself getting frustrated with listening to music – wanting to time the songs differently, so I set my sights on aspiring to DJ because I didn’t want to compete with the newer younger crop of beautiful go-go’s on the rise.  And that’s when the DJ touring began happening.  

RRX: You play in Vegas. When you play there, are you playing the casinos, or are you more underground, maybe playing parties or raves? Is there a big market for DJs in Vegas, as in a bigger market for y’all than for, say, a band? And since you play all over the country, maybe the world, are there any “rules of thumb” for playing Vegas?

NN: What happens in Vegas STAYS in Vegas!  I kid!  Vegas USED to have this dullness around it all, but now, say in the last five to ten years, playing in Vegas means you’ve made it.  I’ve had a very touch-and-go relationship in the last few years with touring, but I’ve played a few times at some high level places, and all of my friends and colleagues have had residencies at the hot clubs.  Playing in Vegas, big and small, is notable. And there are many ‘underground’ and ‘backyard mansion pool parties’ with the who’s-who as well.  It’s easier to bring a DJ than a whole band, but I’ve played at all types gigs several times in conjunction with other acts as well. 

I think the number one rule of traveling/touring and DJing is you don’t party when you’re working. So many people think you’re partying, and that’s not the case.  I don’t know about you, but I would look like hell if I drank all the time and tried to work while doing it. Plus, they’re hiring me to look beautiful and work, and health is wealth. When the gigs are done, it’s okay to have a couple, but I learned (the hard way once or twice) when you’re there for business, you’re not partying – you’re there to help the party have fun… and that’s usually best done with a sober mind.

RRX: Back to Playboy. When we think of Playboy, we think of the days of Hugh Heffner, and bunnies, and the mansion, and we come to something that is more than the nudity, and the provocative shoots; we have this sanctuary where the cares of the world can’t get past the doormen. What is it like for you, on the inside of that sanctuary?

NN: Oh man: I was there for many parties!  Attending, booked, modeling, DJing.  So much fun – and such debauchery!  But I think that whatever you’re looking for, you will find it. I tried to stay pretty green in those environments when the opportunities presented themselves.  I looked at what I did as a business much of the time, so I really treaded lightly around certain situations of attendees and their prying questions/insinuations and propositions, if you may (trying to really present properly here because it was opportunistic for sexual fantasies if you wanted those situations, I did not).  But it was definitely one of the craziest eras and experiences being there, at the mansion, at the parties – with all the different types of girls from Playboy.  Like I said, you get what you’re looking for, but my experience was nothing short of honestly glamorous… while I did have friends who had rougher experiences.

RRX: You are a DJ, thinking we established that. But you are also a woman DJ, which is a role that is underrepresented by women. I don’t want to ask if you’ve dealt with harassment by some of the male DJs, because I don’t like asking stupid questions. But I am interested to know how your experience as a pioneer has been.

NN: “Can you actually DJ.”

     “You only we’re booked because your tits are out.”

          “Can I take you out on a date?”

          “She must have slept with him to get the gigs.”

Those are ALL real questions and judgements that come from being a woman DJ.  I think I came at the forefront of an influx and really experienced a harshness that some women don’t experience as much these days.  Oh, and I dated a DJ who literally tried to make sure I never got booked after we broke up as well.  He helped me only to the point of making sure he shined brighter.  That was tough.  I learned a lot from that experience – which also set me up to see the man, who would end up being my husband, as a serious angel – which he is!