The Dance Floor and the Booth Part 3: Being in the Booth - Getting My "Foot" in the Door!

By Will Seagers

Hi Folks, Will here! As this blog's title might imply, it wasn't my foot that got me in many booths! It might have been some other body parts! Regardless, over the years they have worked their charms.

Back to the story. If my memory serves me, the year was 1979 and the place was Cherry Grove, Fire Island. My partner Tommy and I were on "The Island" having a ball on vacation... a slightly different experience for me, as I had worked the prior three years in The Pines as a waiter, bartender and lifeguard.

We started off our vacation in Cherry Grove at The Belvedere - that landmark Victorian guest house situated on the Bay. Our accommodations were acceptable. But, not being air conditioned and with unusually high heat and humidity as I remember, it was uncomfortable to say the least.

A friend in need! While out one night, we ran into a dear buddy that I made during my three years working on the "Island" - Dr. Bob. We mentioned our Belvedere predicament and he generously offered his guest room to us. We snapped up his offer! Bob was a legend on the Island and in New York's gay scene in general. People would drop by his place in the city and on the Island routinely for a quick "pick me up" B-12 shot to help with endurance through the long sleepless NYC and Fire Island weekends.

It was here that I met another of my sound engineer legends and best buds - Lew. Although he was a good-looking and very intelligent guy, the sparks never flew from my side. Although I knew for the first couple of years he wanted to terrorize me with his sizeable appendage! Our first encounter was an orgy that took place in Dr. Bob's bay-facing backyard. There were four or five of us, naked and aroused, watching a slightly younger guy sucking the daylights out of Lew's ten-pounder! The next thing I heard was Lew's request - "Why don't you suck it?" That was directed at me. I liked Lew but I didn't feel any chemistry. Plus, I was in the early stages of a relationship with my partner who was right there next to me... It was awkward. However, the rest of the guys all lined up, so Lew was fine!

That chance backyard encounter started a friendship. At the time, I lived in San Francisco. Lew flew out from N.Y. frequently to San Francisco for mini-vacations and also to ply his trade as a sound engineer. It was this part of him that I really took to. He soon found out that I had aspirations to be a "sound man." We spoke frequently and at great lengths about the principles of the audio world.

I visited Lew in N.Y. at his fourth story walk up apartment in Chelsea frequently. Being at one of the high points of my porn career, he loved taking me to many of the clubs whose sound systems he designed to "show me off." Although it was not one of his clubs, we visited Paradise Garage! Here, after a tour of the dance area, he took me to the booth to see its wonders and meet the legendary Larry Levan. Larry was cordial but totally preoccupied with his music. The booth was a technical marvel with its hydraulically-mounted platform upon which the three Thorens turntables were mounted. This platform not only served to isolate the gear from vibrations, but could be custom tailored to the height of each performing DJ! The sound was legendary and I soon made it to the dance floor to take part in the Saturday night ritual!

Although not "In Bed" with Lew - so to speak - that whole situation changed with with my next "beau" from the Pines, Michael. Our dreamy encounters in the Pines solidified into a real brick and mortar dance palace called Dreamland. That will be the topic of the next chapter! Keep those Capezios on and ready to dance!

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.

Will Seagers, recent photo