Benefit Gig Network & benefit gigs in general
Nov 14 2006 13:51
We've fairly recently set up a regular benefit gig night in Norwich, and we thought it would be good if we could set up some kind of national network of anarchobenefit gig promoters.
This would mean:
a) We could organise tours
b) We could collectively share burden of expensive travel (i.e. US/Euro bands) or expensive venues - i.e. we all lend each other money
c) We could share information
d) We could raise shitloads more money for decent stuff
Righteous Promotions Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/riotouspromotions
Also, I think it is good to be an active part of the cultural life of wherever we are: it is good for us to be out there organising stuff. It's the strongest answer to crap that people spew about "Anarchist organisation: an oxymoron" etc.
I don't propose a massive organisation with meetings in london or anything like that: it is something we could form and organise exclusively over the internet.
What do people think?
Nov 14 2006 17:48
#2
I'm in the process of writing a guide to putting gigs on. I'll post it when it's done.
Nov 15 2006 11:04
#3
1300 words of guide written so far... there's more to it than I thought!
Nov 15 2006 12:26
#4
tbh mate fuck gigs!
have you ever taken home £5000 from a single gig?
I'll give you a one word hint:
techno.
Nov 15 2006 12:54
#5
Do you have information about putting on techno? Although a confirmed anarchojunglist, I've always seen putting on a big dnb or other dance night as way beyond the budget that I or my anarchist group has. TBH the reason I do gigs is because that is the thing me and my mates had some knowledge of. If we could be organising things that raise thousands instead of hundreds that would be well sweet.
(The gig thing still stands though)
Nov 15 2006 14:45
#6
rich wrote:
Do you have information about putting on techno? Although a confirmed anarchojunglist, I've always seen putting on a big dnb or other dance night as way beyond the budget that I or my anarchist group has. TBH the reason I do gigs is because that is the thing me and my mates had some knowledge of. If we could be organising things that raise thousands instead of hundreds that would be well sweet.(The gig thing still stands though)
I think you could talk to raw about it if you want to put on a v. big party, but the first thing to do is get in touch with the soundsystems in your area. I don't know the Norwich scene but just about everywhere is better than london (friendlier rigs and safer parties). look at squatjuice.org.
Putting on a night of dance music or DJs is infinitely better than putting on a band cos a) bands need decent eqipment to sound good b) all kinds of other shit you can't be bithered with, like vans and attention.
DJs are speccy wankers who will play for free just to get a chance to perform 
Logistically its so much simpler: one set of decks satisfies an infinite number of DJs, as does one soundsystem. They will play for free. They don't need special transport. there's less of them than several bands.
Oh the other thing i've neglected to make clear is the semi legal options; do it in an established squat, squat an unused building, do it in a field, do it in a pub - never shell out on a venue until you have a following and a decent buzz around you.
One of the best options if you have neither soundsystem or initiative is to simply compile some DJs, look like you know what ur dong and ask a bar if they'll let you have the door if they take the bar for a night. (wot i'm doing)
side point: What i've never quite got about the punk and indie scene is why they don't do more DJed events; yes the live aspect is what its all about, but 90% of the bands people really love broke up years ago. I'd rather pay £5 to go to a DJed night where the DJ might play Stiff Little Fingers than go to a band night that will have no dancing and i might not like. In fairness Indie does know this and has loads of nights.
Nov 15 2006 15:42
#7
I know some of the guys from a soundsystem in the area but they're a bit unreliable (understatement). There's pretty good provision of dj'd punk nights here in sunny norwich. I know quite a few djs - got quite a few contacts.
It's a whole new field really. I'll give it a closer look.
So how would I raise £5000 a night?
Nov 15 2006 15:44
#8
Quote:
side point: What i've never quite got about the punk and indie scene is why they don't do more DJed events; yes the live aspect is what its all about, but 90% of the bands people really love broke up years ago. I'd rather pay £5 to go to a DJed night where the DJ might play Stiff Little Fingers than go to a band night that will have no dancing and i might not like. In fairness Indie does know this and has loads of nights.
This is a little off topic, but I think the answer here is that watching bands perform live is a more memorable experience. If I want to listen to stiff little fingers all I have to do is stick my copy of inflamible material in my CD player, so why would I go and see some DJ who is bound to play five songs I don't like for every one song that I do?
I actually went to a punk DJ night on monday. The turnout was low. As far as I can tell, everyone who went was only there because they personally knew the DJ (that's certainly the reason I was there). And it was free entry. Regular gigs cost around £3 (£4 -£6 if the band is generally well known)and if the right bands are playing the venues are often completely packed. Lots of local bands are pretty well known and well respected within their local scene and many people do go to gigs because they want to see them play. There are a few local bands who I love just as much as I love some of the more well known bands that broke up years ago.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is that DJs are alright for some types of music, but pretty rubbish for punk and pretty much any sort of rock music, which is all about live performances. I don't think a punk DJ night would raise a lot of money, although sometimes at benefit gigs, we've had DJ sets in between bands, which has worked out fine.
Nov 15 2006 16:02
#9
rich wrote:
I know some of the guys from a soundsystem in the area but they're a bit unreliable (understatement). There's pretty good provision of dj'd punk nights here in sunny norwich. I know quite a few djs - got quite a few contacts.It's a whole new field really. I'll give it a closer look.
So how would I raise £5000 a night?
get the biggest names in underground techno to play in a huge abandoned theatre! Make sure the party lasts all weekend.Be sure to pay the license on your licensed bar!
And do it again on a regular basis.
The few events i'm talking about came from inside a well established traditon of squat parties, they aren't neccessarily possible at the drop of a hat! Start small.
Nov 15 2006 18:33
#10
The feeling of having £14,000 quid in your pockets is truly amazing.
Agree, one big well organised techno party is the way to go.
raw
Nov 15 2006 18:47
#11
raw wrote:
The feeling of having £14,000 quid in your pockets is truly amazing.Agree, one big well organised techno party is the way to go.
raw
All that Cristal, cocaine and exotic holidays afterwards felt pretty amazing too 
A good start may be writing a guide on how to go about putting them on, what the basics are. We would happily have it in our Organise section
And Tacks on here is organising one at the moment.
But yeah in theory I couldn't see why your idea is a bad idea.