Meet Mark Baker
Meet Mark Baker. The ‘Godfather’ of fresh York City nightlife in addition to the International King of Clubs shares his amazing life story in addition to deep love of Indonesia as he prepares to open additional venues in Jakarta, Singapore, in addition to Bangkok.
Who will be Mark Baker?
I am originally by Brighton, England. I had a very unorthodox childhood – my father died of cancer when I was very young in addition to my mother was dealing with life the best she could. So, I joined Chippenfield Circus when I was eight years old. When the circus left town I went with which. which was the start of my illustrious career of travelling. Obviously an eight, nine, ten-year-old boy in an environment which was not always a healthy one faced many challenges. The circus was fraught with fun in addition to danger in addition to all kinds of wonderful in addition to terrible things.
When I was eventually dragged back by the circus, I resumed my education, nevertheless which did not work out. I was very worldly compared to the some other kids my age in addition to was considered disruptive in addition to influential. I possessed too much information! I commenced skateboarding at thirteen in addition to became one of the top ranked skaters inside entire world by the time I was fifteen. I hooked up using a group of guys called The Dog-town Boys by Venice, California of which Tony Alva was the lead guy. We did world tours in addition to were acting like rock stars. There was travel in addition to parties in addition to groupies. We did crazy things in hotel rooms. We were all having an insane time travelling around the entire world in addition to getting paid for which; which was great!
which all commenced to wind down by the early eighties. I went back to England in addition to tried to have a day job; selling insurance, something ridiculous like which! Brighton will be a town full of charismatic, wonderful, in addition to dangerous people. Not having a proper education or a normal childhood, I would certainly have ended up in trouble. So, I made a decision to try to get out. I met a group of fun, crazy guys by NYC, so I went to visit in addition to I never left!
I commenced working as a waiter inside eighties in addition to by the end of the eighties I had opened my own restaurant/club called Metro CC. The supermodel thing had just commenced in addition to Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell in addition to Elle McPherson were friends in addition to regular clientele. Celebrities like Robert De Niro in addition to Jack Nicholson, JFK Jr. in addition to some other colourful characters became regulars. which commenced my career in NYC, which was over twenty a few years of owning in addition to operating some of the top clubs inside city. We commenced to travel abroad to do parties in addition to events like Fashion Week, Gran Prix, in addition to Cannes Film Festival. All those international events were attended by a lot of the same people who came to our NYC clubs in addition to who made up the fashion, art in addition to entertainment network of which era. They were our friends, our gang, in addition to we protected their privacy.
What was a big life-changing event in your life?
The most life-changing event was landing in NYC. which made the difference between going downhill in addition to going uphill. NYC will be an incredible melting pot of madness in addition to genius. You’ve got every black sheep dreamer inside entire world there. Some make which, some die, in addition to some end up just trying to get by. nevertheless which will be true which if you can make which there you can make which anywhere.
Another life changer has been to make a permanent move by fresh York to Bali.
Why did you choose Bali?
Bali attracts a certain kind of personality. You have got to be an adventurer, a traveller, a bit of a pirate to end up on these shores. Bali has been a major influence in my life for many years. While I was still a waiter in NYC, I took a trip with my brother Allan, touring Southeast Asia on motorbikes; going to Thailand, sneaking into Burma, then on to Malaysia in addition to finally Indonesia. I had always dreamed of Bali. The second I arrived in Indonesia, in addition to especially Bali, I knew I loved which place; the people, the smiles, the landscape. which became my annual pilgrimage since 1985. I would certainly come to Bali every August in addition to sit up in Ubud overlooking Sayan terrace in addition to sit in blissful silence. which to me was my magic place; my spiritual place.
I have seen Bali go through so many modifications, nevertheless which remains consistent in one thing; the magic, beauty in addition to the spirituality will be still here. Despite the growing problems of garbage in addition to traffic, Bali will be still a magical place. I am very mindful of the pros in addition to cons of generating a business in Bali in addition to the impact which can have on the local community. We, in turn, do our best for the community in addition to the environment. which took 25 years of local relationships in addition to friendships without whose cooperation Townhouse wouldn’t have been possible. Bali includes a way of showing its karmatic side quickly. I understand in addition to learn more about the cultures in addition to language every day. I kiss the ground every time I land here.
What do you fear most in life?
Losing my health or my liberty. With those two gifts you can do anything you want to do.
What do you love the most about life, right at which point, at which moment?
Even after a morning, as busy as I’ve had, I love my life! I think since my father died so young of cancer, I have tried to fill every minute, every hour, of every day with as much as possible. I will not be on my death bed regretting I did not do enough in life.
Getting shot in addition to stabbed. Mostly by lunatics denied entrance to clubs in fresh York in addition to altercations I had to deal with inside clubs. One guy was aggressively abusing his girlfriend in a club. When I was escorting him out, his friends jumped me in addition to held me while he shot me inside head. His gun misfired. His pistol whipped me in addition to I needed sixty stitches in my head! which was in a nice club. Another time, a guy just ran across the room in addition to commenced stabbing me. I have lots of scars. Violence in addition to horror are part of NYC night life, along with glamour in addition to excitement.
What do you feel you have accomplished in addition to what do you want to do inside future?
I managed to make a living out of partying. I created which job by following my passion. I loved to skateboard in addition to became a world champion. I create total environments for people to network; 24/7, dine well, relax, in addition to dance crazy. I left NYC while still at the top.
I have brought which all here to Bali. Not just the club nevertheless the Juice Press, the Lounge Club in addition to the restaurant Canvas. I incorporated all our brands in addition to translated which to Bali by creating Townhouse. at which point we are bringing which to Jakarta, Singapore, in addition to Bangkok. We attract an international mix of unique people in our venues. which’s not for the masses. which will be geared to a chic, fashionable crowd of creative, intelligent in addition to fun people.
I would certainly love to have children. I would certainly give all the love in addition to attention I never got to my own children. I’d help them navigate through life using a guiding hand, as opposed to the rather nightmare scenario I went through in addition to which so many kids go through, without someone to protect in addition to nurture them. We did a lot of work with children in NYC in addition to I look forward to a bigger role in which area here in Indonesia in addition to later throughout Asia, wherever we have venues. I want to share the love by giving back.
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Meet Mark Baker
Meet Mark Baker