A look inside the exclusive world of members-only social clubs

Popular members-only clubs such as Soho House are part of what's been called "the golden age of the private club." An estimated 3,500 private clubs in the U.S. now host nearly 2.5 million members, offering exclusive experiences for a price. Roxana Saberi peels back the curtain to give an inside look.
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[@blackout07blue]

Basically a country club without the golf course.

[@maxrobertson9008]

Or a top notch gym-spa.

[@briangriffin4937]

“I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” ~ Groucho Marx

[@NeilTruick]

I'm a member of the most exclusive private social club I know of. In fact, I'm the only member and we meet regularly at My House.

[@JamesRovira]

Cool, can I join?

[@elizabethhopkins7582]

Seriously how "exclusive" is a club that has franchises all over the place. Short answer -not very. You will never hear about the truly exclusive clubs and they like it that way.

[@christopherlopez2729]

I have heard of this place you are talking about...but I wont mention it...🤐

[@panam7472]

Sssshhhhhhhhh😁🤣

[@kelsilulu]

You didn’t used to have to be rich to join soho house but you had to have some sort of art or creative affiliation. My friend had a membership so I went one day to the one in Miami Beach. You weren’t allowed to take pics at the restaurant, and they had a cute little movie theater. Other then that, just go to the four seasons if you need luxury

[@edwardduarte7393]

I agree.

[@laupeter4594]

lol. exactly. these clubs are just trying to make money out of the public this marketing is just part of their agenda

[@TimoBach]

Their PR team is working over time. They are facing investigations from their public offerings and looking to go private and then boom… CBS news coverage 😂

[@NBportofino]

Interesting. I just got back from working out at the SoHo House gym. We’re there several days or nights a week and is where we hold most of our creative meetings. When we travel we use the Houses in those cities. It’s great. Typical country clubs are too stuffy for us and we aren’t golfers.

[@lucymooremusic]

not as expensive as I thought

[@chrisH-uv5wx]

If it’s similar to a country club model, there’s an initiation fee, monthly fee, and a minimum spend per month

[@mallorygraf8574]

These types of clubs have always been around and actually the monthly price is not that much if you live in a city and don't have a car. The price is somewhat equivalent to a car payment so I'd try it out for a year.

[@edwardduarte7393]

Soho House is not that expensive. I remember it was in the 1,500 to 2,000 range BUT you have to be a commercial director or published photographer. I have been there in WH and everyone in there is a musician comedian. You can't just buy yourself in. That is why there is such a long list.

[@christopherlopez2729]

The WH? the white house?

[@HeadoftheSeniorClass-en6qp]

This looks great! We'll be checking into it.

[@tonyapendleton7467]

Fast-growing would seem to negate 'exclusive'

[@nicholassimonds2658]

All the luxury designer clothing is exclusive. Those company’s have grown like crazy.

[@robd7934]

Seems like a modern alternative to stuffy old country clubs where golf is the main attraction.

[@Kevindevin7]

It’s the Equinox Effect, Equinox shaped these ultra exclusive-like clubs.

[@shttc900]

I love the lobby of SoHo House in Chicago.

[@bigkahuna1889]

Bus stations all over America provide the opportunity to sit and text, relax and drink, hooku, and people watch but there is no hefty monthly fee!

[@brianberman72]

U. R. F***ING HYSTERICAL 😅😅😅😅

[@kelsilulu]

lol not the best networking opportunities though 😂

[@mallorygraf8574]

😂😂😂

[@christopherlopez2729]

reminds me of a story of how a dude bought a first class plane ticket and he basically kept changing the date. so he could keep entering the airport and using the lounge and free bar and showers etc for the first class ticket holders.. he just kept switching the days and did it for over a year until they figured out his game..LOL

[@maurawhelan3530]

Hmmm sounds more British than American…

[@LH-yc5vy]

To get away from people...reminds me of the rich parents who have a lot of kids and then get mad when they have to stand in a long line of people at the airport. "Where did all of these people come from!? They can't all be going where we are going!". Imagine how all of the single people feel behind you and your large family. It seems that we are hearing people say "I hate people" more and more and yet some of those same people continue on to have kids. But, they want to stay away from people...

[@edwardolaie]

i have snuck into these clubs, its fun

[@Allinmyworld]

If i could afford it I would love it. I think social clubs will always exist at some level in society.

[@christopherlopez2729]

@ 03:29 "Where a person knows your name..." - Cheers...

[@miskittt]

Is this one of those places that I heard about from the movie, Sound of Freedom????

[@timallison8560]

so the under 40's that didn't want to go to the bar have essentially started going to a "private" bar. oh ffs. unreal.

[@colinmusic3878]

seems pretty cheap compared to a lot of other bills & loans people spend on all the time

[@Grantwallacemaliacortaija]

How many persons have an EIN or LLC and active bank to receive funds

[@oliviabrown261]

Economic exclusion

[@zdave6083]

Yeah.....so...?

[@jerryware1970]

They exclude in other ways too. Age, race, political ideology, etc

[@kelsilulu]

You’re excluded from luxury if you don’t have a lot of money anyway membership or not

[@cornishpasty4344]

I think the concept is interesting, especially considering the history.... However, I don't want to go somewhere that is inauthentic, fake, and posturing. It'll never, ever be inclusive. Good luck with that.

[@zdave6083]

Inclusivity doesn't have to be universal. There's room for exclusivity too.

[@jo8726t]

Where is a pic of an Elk's club? They look nothing like this! LOL

[@davidcattin7006]

LOL! So right! I'm an Elk's member here in small-town Indiana. We're a bit low on amenities ;o)

[@mandysimmons2769]

Do you get a MO jacket with that?

[@homoanalyticus]

These are modern coworkings. A social club would be discreet and require an invitation of a member before paying

[@dontgiveupplz]

Gotta love how they say “anyone can join” 😂

[@brentfisher6484]

Sounds like the 'neighborhood' of yor, without the neighbors.

[@aja369]

The ideal candidate is someone who has a lot of money and can afford all the things we have to offer.

[@takeaways9718]

Sounds like a diddy party 🥳

[@weston.weston]

I am very much a populist but I also like the concept of members only clubs.

[@user-sn2oq4qt7b]

Im very happy for this rich people.. may god bless them all more more more

[@jazzfan7491]

Sounds expensive

[@jazzfan7491]

Equinox with a restaurant, basically

[@rhoefferle]

Great way to get away from the riff raff

[@gathrightcrystal]

Not only do we see we are financing one. It's called the global music club 😎

[@laupeter4594]

to be honest, these self proclaimed clubs are not at the same pedigree as the traditional old wealth clubs, no matter how much money you have

[@irisbjones]

I know private clubs in NYC that charge 50k a year. Soho house is cheap comparably.

[@HalfGayHalfStraight-qw4qy]

I had my first gay experience in a private social society club in Chicago Illinois USA 🏆

[@AJAZZist]

Very gay

[@venom5809]

I would assume a true exclusive club would be one that no one knows exists. lol. These places are always sad to me, just buying friends.

[@melissam7067]

ugh. the entire segment was cringeworthy

[@zdave6083]

Not if you can afford it. This ain't the super rich we're looking at here. More like upper middle class. Backbone of civilization.

[@jeanneminton5226]

Especially that collapsed breast. Maybe spend money fixing that before paying for a club membership.

[@myballsr.hangin8155]

I’m spacial.

[@sankimalu]

🎶Spacial, so spacial… Spacial…🎵

[@pyootchnich]

4:08 here comes the bigotry. Let it wash over you.

[@jazzfan7491]

She forgot to mention these places traditionally exclude Jews

[@nicolem5626]

It’s cute.

[@providence9481]

Really… artists and creatives. 😏 ok

[@gathrightcrystal]

If they ask just tell them you're with the Russian 😎🚬 they will know it's me 😎

[@WilliamBenBrooks]

But how can artists afford to join? I guess it's for art snobs?

[@Quadrille763]

The one guy looked like a bum

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

Overpriced bars, provide a sense of exclusiveness. Next are the vegan bars. PS: build you own den at your home.

[@bensayles1541]

Ya…….no thanks.

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

Not pretentious at all right?

[@eddieg6436]

…..I would rather talk to my cat than the vapid, narcissistic, egotistical members discussing their Chanel handbags, McLaren supercar, or latest plastic surgery. …..my CAT is probably smarter as well.

[@zdave6083]

I've met enough folks wih those same qualities at all levels of society to know it ain't the exclusive domain of the. rich

[@MillionaireJoe]

I hate to bust your bubble but no one at any of the private clubs that I’ve been to are sitting around talking about what they have…none. They’re literally talking about the same things that everyone else talks about…Sports, family, politics, etc Matter of fact, most times I have to ask the staff if I wanna know who someone is. I’ve had entire conversations with CEOs of major corporations and had no idea. It was just a guy at the bar having a drink and talking about football 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@eddieg6436]

@@MillionaireJoe ……..I would rather stay home and read a book, over talking to some CEO (the boredom would be palpable).

[@Pj287.]

@@eddieg6436 😅 right. $300 to 400 a month for that. I’d rather spend the money at a lifetime fitness or something

[@eddieg6436]

@@Pj287. I mean, I get it, those people have bazillions of $$, and $400-$500 a month is nothing to them. But I’ve been asked to quite a few “very fancy” cocktail / dinner parties before over the decades…….and I was SOOO BORED I could die! I was like a cat being thrown into a swimming pool trying to get out of there (but after having a glass of Champagne, and caviar canapés of course!). I would LITERALLY rather watch paint dry then listen to people discussing the best time of year to go to Aspen, and St. Barths!! 🤷🏼‍♂️🤔🤷🏼‍♂️

[@fabbehn0190]

BLAH BLAH BLAH! $$$$$$$$$

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

Oh gee as long as you're down with the far left and queers, you're very much at home.