Shagtags

ShagTags were originally invented in the 1990s by a Leeds club promotor as a fun way of breaking the ice at retro student club night, self-titled "ShagTags".

The idea was later used by London's Popstars which spawned the Manchester club night Poptastic, and ShagTags spread throughout gay and student club nights across the UK.

What are ShagTags?

ShagTags are a way of breaking down social boundaries by allowing one person to contact another while within the confinements of a nightclub without actually needing the necessary bottle to stumble over one's own words during first contact with a potential sexual mate.

In other words- "If you see someone you fancy - leave them a message."

As each person enters the club they are given a numbered sticker to stick to their shirt.

This sticker then allows any potential mates, dates or stalkers to leave anyone displaying their ShagTag a message. The message is left with the ShagTag Board Operator(s).

The sender writes their message on a pre-formatted note which allows writer to include the number of the ShagTag recipient, a message, and the writer's ShagTag number. This note, like the sticker, is called a ShagTag.

The recipient's ShagTag number is then scrawled on the reverse in big numbers, by the ShagTag Staff and the completed ShagTag is stuck onto the wall with the large print number of the recipient facing outwards.

The recipient may collect his or her ShagTag and read the message, identified as their own by the fact they are wearing a sticker with matching number.

The message will then be read by the recipient, although it may have been giggled at previously by the "ShagTag Staff", and he or she can take it from there.

ShagTag Technology

In the late 1990s an animated large screen electronic ShagTag Board was created by Shlomp, the creative company employed by one of the club nights who used ShagTags.

This animated display didn't affect the way in which ShagTags worked; It was simply a device for attractively displaying large numberson a projected screen.

ShagTags Today

Although the original ShagTags night has expired, ShagTags are still in abundant existance throughout the UK and, less commonly, abroad.