Is This Club In TREC KL Exclusively For Hot People? We Interviewed Them To Find Out
404 Club Not Found Kuala Lumpur has been generating buzz on social media for its entry criteria.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 07 Jun 2024, 01:13 PM
A new club in TREC Kuala Lumpur has been making waves after an Instagram post claimed that the establishment only allows "pretty girls and handsome men to enter"
The post published by Malaysia Food And Travel on 29 May described the club, 404 Club Not Found Kuala Lumpur, as China's No. 1 Micro Club.
"It's located in TREC KL and is considered the first micro club ever to exist in Malaysia! 404 Club Not Found KL [is] where your perfect night out is just a request away!
"This isn't your ordinary club. They're a space that shatters the mould, taking you on an avant-garde adventure through sights and sounds that push the boundaries of entertainment," read the post's caption, which garnered almost 6,000 likes.
So, how accurate is the claim that 404 Club Not Found Kuala Lumpur only allows entry for attractive adults?
In an interview, the club's spokesperson said the claim is true, and that it operates on an invite-only and reservation basis.
Speaking to SAYS, the spokesperson said that 404 Club Not Found Kuala Lumpur is the brand's second outlet outside of China, following the one in London, UK.
The club's concept is based on a trend in China called Ka Yen (卡颜), where Ka means 'block' or 'control', and Yen means 'appearance'.
The spokesperson explained due to the club's small size and its operation on an invite-only and reservation basis, the establishment has the luxury of controlling who can enter.
"If the club were large, we wouldn't be able to control visitors. However, because the club is small, with only 1,000sq ft in the main hall and 5,500sq ft for the entire space, we can be selective about who we allow through our doors," the spokesperson said.
He also mentioned that while the term Ka Yen originated in China, nightclubs in South Korea have practised the same concept for over a decade, often restricting entry to individuals older than 26 years old.
"We do not intend to offend anyone. This is our number one priority in our marketing campaign. We are a small club — a micro club, to be exact — operating based on a macro trend in China," said the spokesperson.
Elaborating on the Ka Yen philosophy, he said that most large clubs that can accommodate thousands of visitors each night have shuttered in China.
"Eight out of 10 of these 'electronic music nightclub factories' have shut down. Most nightclubs in China are getting smaller and smaller.
"The nightlife scene in China has transformed rapidly over the past three years. The huge 'nightclub factories' can no longer sustain their businesses.
"This has given rise to a new wave of clubbing experiences. Because our club is small, we can control who gets to party here. If we operate a large club, we can't control it because our objective would be to ensure the club is full to be profitable," the spokesperson reiterated.
"By operating under the Ka Yen philosophy, we get to create a topic... be the talk of the town. Since this concept is new in Malaysia, we have been extremely careful with our marketing," he added.
To add exclusivity to the club, the spokesperson said that 404 Club Not Found Kuala Lumpur does not stick to fixed business hours.
"We may operate from Thursday to Saturday on some weeks, and on other weeks, we might open on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This variability helps create buzz and engagement with our visitors, keeping us at the forefront of their minds," he said.
404 Club Not Found Kuala Lumpur pays extra attention to creating a lively and inviting atmosphere, meticulously considering everything from interior design to the arrangement of each table
To achieve that, the spokesperson said they would place the most playful and attractive visitors in the centre of the club. Essentially, they would conduct a vibe check, as Gen Zs would say.
"One specialty in our club is placing our DJ deck between visitors' tables. This arrangement prevents visitors from constantly looking at the DJ deck and not talking to their friends.
"When you are in our club, you won't be able to see the DJs easily because that's not the point," he said.
The spokesperson said 404 Club Not Found Kuala Lumpur follows the same design principles as other clubs under the brand, with none of the outlets' main halls exceeding 1,000sq ft.
The brand operates in over 30 cities across China, including Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen. The spokesperson mentioned that the first outlet outside China, located in London, frequently attracts Chinese nationals pursuing studies in the UK.
It is understood that 404 Club Not Found plans to expand to Singapore and Thailand soon.
When asked about the reservation process and the criteria for judging visitors' appearance, the spokesperson explained that the club employs a pool of agents to handle these tasks
"We generally do not allow walk-ins. But you can try.
"We operate largely on an invitation and reservation basis, where agents either personally know their clients or go through a vetting process for prospective visitors.
"The agents have been trained to conduct the booking procedure. All reservations and invitations are made via WhatsApp," the spokesperson said.
If you wish to make a reservation and to learn more about the club, visit their Instagram page here.
