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Underground > Gathering >

Barbegig - a proposal

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Mon Oncle Ignatius

15:29 / 18.03.06

It's been much thought about, but maybe it's time to do something about the idea of putting on a gig with a lineup of bands, DJs and probably others somewhere reasonably easy for people to get to - which probably means London right now.

I'm up for co-ordinating and organising this - but who's up for playing?

So far Burning Idiot Noise (Lord Nuneaton Savage and Fraely's band for those who don't know) and Morning Bride (Mono's band) are up for it - and I'd imagine Seth would be able to bring Hunting Lodge on board too. I might be able to convince my own Stella Maris Drone Orchestra to play too, depending on the size of the venue.

We'd also be looking for Barbelith DJs too - Flyboy? Who else does that sort of thing here?

And somehow I think Stoatie of this place should be MC for the night. It seems appropriate.

Sometime in the early summer - maybe June? - seems like an OK time to aim for, and I will be looking into interesting venues as well.

Anyone in? Would people be interested in coming along to such a gig?

16:03 / 18.03.06

Aha! of course. Maybe Dogs With Tits could play too.

17:53 / 18.03.06

Who else does that sort of thing here?

Autopilot Disengaged.

17:55 / 18.03.06

It might actually be worth starting a similar thread in Music in order to get peoples' attention.

Mon Oncle Ignatius

18:09 / 18.03.06

I wondered about putting this in music, though sadly I suspect it will be read more here. But Music could do with a boost - I will see about starting something there, even if only linking to here.

Regrettable Juvenilia

20:11 / 18.03.06

I'd be honoured to select other people's tunes and put them on in a chosen order in my own amateurish way...

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

20:20 / 18.03.06

I'd certainly be up for MCing. If there's beer.

There'll be beer, won't there...?

Mon Oncle Ignatius

20:27 / 18.03.06

Whisk(e)y too.

Playing other peoples records in a semi-coherent sequence is always entertaining, so welcome aboard Flyboy!

Mon Oncle Ignatius

20:38 / 18.03.06

Something else which occureed to me. Given the inspiration and connection for this event is Barbelith, an interweb message board - it might be fun to webcast the whole shebang so non-local Barbefans can tune in.

Does anyone have the tech skillz and hardware required for this?

I know people who do, but sadly they're not of this place as yet (as far as I know) - perhaps I can ask them nicely, but if we could keep this in house then it would be in the spirit of the thing.

Other questions:

Should it basically be a big party for Barbelites and friends? Or open to all - and if so, as an advertised gig, or an invitiation-only shindig?

Free or pay/contribute on the door? The former would be nice, but there will be expenses for all involved, particularly if we want to make this a special event rather than just a bunch of bands playing and people drinking* in a room.

Or is this being too ambitious?

* There is nothing wrong with either these things - but we could do so much more at the same time.

Tryphena Absent

22:05 / 18.03.06

I think a big party for barbelites, friends and acquaintances would be nice (with contributions obviously) and if the venue could maybe put some artwork up- if we could blow up some Jenny strips and some of Suedey and Bedhead's stuff that would be so hott right now.

I can think of a ton of non-barbelith people I could potentially invite to this. Maybe not posters but flyers we could give to people we know...

23:38 / 18.03.06

I wish to offer my DJ-ing services. My trusty box of 7"s is getting a little dusty these days, and I'd love to partake in such a night of glittering stars... May I, please? Alternatively/additionally, could I help engineer the bands? Cos, like, that's the sort of thing I do anyway.

I think Nina's proposal hits the right balance (a 'Non-Barbelite friendly' kind of thing). Expenses should be covered (or attempted to be) and maybe profits to Tom for hosting costs...?

Mon Oncle Ignatius

14:31 / 19.03.06

Mike: Engineering and DJing sounds good, especially if we can make this an all-night event (see below).

Nina: excellent suggestion on any profits going to Barbehosting expenses. I wonder if projections of various images would be good too as well as enlarged pictures etc.

Some more ideas on various aspects of the night:

*Funding

We could use invitation only flyers for admittance (maybe with a contribution element?) and/or borrow Seth's subscription model as used for the Hunting Lodge/Melt Banana show in Soton.

*Happenings

Does anyone here have any films they've made which would be suitable for projecting too - with or without soundtracks?

Spoken word or other performances could be good to include as well.

*Location

There's a great venue in Elephant & Castle which would be very good for this night. Two rooms - live stage and dance/chillout/second performance area - and owned by really nice people. I will investigate how much they might charge to hire out their space though - as I recall it's not cheap, but not extortionate either. There is also the considerable advantage that we could run a party there all night, or until the last person collapses.

Elephant is not a terribly salubrious area, but there is a tube and railway station right next door to the venue, and a host of nightbuses and taxi offices handy.

Mon Oncle Ignatius

14:32 / 19.03.06

Sorry, of course I meant Mike's suggestion re: profits.

Tryphena Absent

18:57 / 19.03.06

It Came From the Sea projects artwork onto the wall/ceiling and they already have some slides of barbe-artwork.

Perhaps a creation thread asking people to design flyers that we could print at home?

Goodness Gracious Meme

20:55 / 19.03.06

(Possibly) volunteers to cater, if it's a long event, be very cool to have some good food going on/add to the atmosphere/festivaleyness?

Also, anything else useful I can do, I'm in. No tech/musical skillz but have done a bundle of oranising/project-running stuff recently.

21:15 / 19.03.06

*If* this thing is going to be advertised (and you know what? It just seems like I've heard a lot of good things about these bands, I reckon you could sell a fair few tickets for a night with MB and HL and BIN), then I'll pretty much beg to be allowed to do the poster. As I'm (fairly) sure would McGyver, as I'm (pretty sure) would suedey. With a bit of arm-twisting if necc. That's, if there's going to be a need for posters.

(If anyone's interested, I'm thinking one sheet, broadsheet-sized, different one for each of the bands, collect the set!-style comic strip posters. Like, a Little Nemo-style comic page, but starring Morning Bride; a Luthor Arkwright-style comic page, but starrring BIN. Or whatever.)

Also, where are lula and mix, and are Planetman still going? etc etc. Only, I hear they're rather good live.

Mon Oncle Ignatius

21:17 / 19.03.06

Nina: Downloadable flyers are good. I've started the suggested thread in Creation here. Obviously there will be basic details to be established first, but ideas will be nice to have as early as possible.

GGM: Food is a really great idea too; there is a kitchen at the venue I'm thinking of, which might be usable in the event.I don't know if there any licensing issues attached to providing food at an event like this - but assuming it's essentially a private party, then I don't suppose it would be an issue as long as it wasn't being sold.

Donations rather than charges seems like the preferable way to cover expenses where possible.

This seems to be snowballing into something even more fun than first envisaged.

Mon Oncle Ignatius

21:32 / 19.03.06

If not posters, then there's always the possibility of designing and making a programme as a souvenir of the event, maybe?

When we first started doing the Drones Club, I designed menus and other folded A4 sheets for each night which gave a little run down of each act, presented running times etc.. These were placed around the venue so the audience would know a bit about who was going to be on, what the night was about, and would have something more than just a hangover left after the show if they felt like keeping them.

This then starts getting a little more expensive to produce, though. But we've got plenty of guerilla cyberzine experience knocking around here.

Tryphena Absent

21:45 / 19.03.06

We might have enough people interested that people could make little programs by hand if they had the time with a proposed text that they had to include somewhere. Then the room could be filled with little pieces of barbelith artwork, opening up the experience beyond the bands. They could be a little like the wandering notebooks and it would open it up so it would feel really interactive. If you didn't make one you wouldn't take one unless you also made one or if we were short of money we could sell them off for a pound or so at some point.

21:45 / 19.03.06

I like the dowloadable flyer idea too, in fact, I like that idea better. But yeah, it would also be nice to be able to produce some sort of art objects, whether that's something that's hung on the walls, like nina's idea, or something to pick up and take away, like your menus, Tango. Or something that can be both.

21:47 / 19.03.06

Aheh. Or, what nina just said. Something that's both.

Mon Oncle Ignatius

21:55 / 19.03.06

I like that idea of individual circulating programmes quite a bit.

Expanding beyond the bands is terrific, though for this event they should also be the mass around which everything else gravitates, perhaps. Assuming there is enthusiam and the skills available though - and there seems to be, in spades - it should be entirely possible to make this event work on several levels too.

Goodness Gracious Meme

23:16 / 19.03.06

Early request to Stoatie: can you reprise your James Bond tux look for the compering?

09:16 / 20.03.06

We played a gig the other night at which everyone got given a party bag, with sweeties, badges and a CDr wrapped up in the Riddler fanzine (which was just an A3 sheet). A fair old bit of effort but a lovely present.

You can count Hunting Lodge in for this. Oh good god can you count us in. Also happy to DJ.

09:33 / 20.03.06

Tango Mango, if you're talking about Corsica studios as a venue then there shouldn't be a problem getting the space, I'm also pretty sure the cost will be more than manageable.

If I'm wrong then apologies for threadrot, but the soundsystem there is reasonable enough, you'd justhave to time the djs around the acts in such a way that only one thing is happening in one room at a time. There's nothing more frustrating than dj-ing while everyone else is watching the band in the next room.

Also, if you're looking for anymore djs then I'd be very much up for it, can also get some flyer designs etc. sorted, we generaly sort our own when putting on nights so can photoshop my way to oblivion...

lord nuneaton savage

10:15 / 20.03.06

"a Luthor Arkwright-style comic page, but starrring BIN. "

OH FUCKING YES. Can I be wearing jodphurs?

Needless to say, we will be well up for this. I'll also add my voice to those offering DJing services, if required.

This is gonna be well exciting!

Mon Oncle Ignatius

10:36 / 20.03.06

Tango Mango, if you're talking about Corsica studios as a venue then there shouldn't be a problem getting the space, I'm also pretty sure the cost will be more than manageable.

Indeed, the very same. We've done two Kosmische nights there, and both occasions have been great events with nothing but the best of welcomes from the CS team.

..the soundsystem there is reasonable enough, you'd justhave to time the djs around the acts in such a way that only one thing is happening in one room at a time. There's nothing more frustrating than dj-ing while everyone else is watching the band in the next room.

Yep, that's what happened to me a couple of weeks ago, DJing for 5 hours to a mostly empty room while everyone but me got to watch the bands. So maybe we can have films running while the bands play in the other room.

I will report back on availability of Corsica Studios.

Regrettable Juvenilia

10:52 / 20.03.06

Arising from the flyer thread in Creation, to what extent do people think this should be plugged as a 'Barbelith event', and to what extent as a music night featuring three or more excellent bands (well, I'm only familiar with two of them, but benefit of the doubt and all that), which just happens to have been organised "in association with Barbelith.com" (say)?

11:10 / 20.03.06

Well, if we're going with the whole profits go to Tom for hosting costs idea then perhaps 'Barbelith.com presents (nite x)' would be the best way forward. Considering the relative visibility of the board in the meejah and web perception, then perhaps it would encourage more people than just 'lithers in the know to come along.

It's hard enough to get anyone to come to an unestablished nite in London as things go, so we may as well use every advantage we have.

Regrettable Juvenilia

11:32 / 20.03.06

Something like this, right?

Tryphena Absent

12:04 / 20.03.06

Can I just point something out.

After months of vetting applicants to this board I better understand the connotations of the word barbelith. Either this should be a public event without the board relation or this should be a closed event but pleasedeargod let us not use the word barbelith on random flyers and posters. A night surrounded by random people obsessed with The Invisibles (specifically an obscure red circle) is not my idea of fun. Maybe I'm a snob, maybe I'm realistic, you decide.

12:40 / 20.03.06

Agreed Nina, I don't think we should overstate the barbelith aspect, but I think the pluralist connotations of the site would encourage a greater diversity amongst the crowd. I don't think this should be a members only thing, particularly in terms of recouping costs as well as the exposure that this gives to a particular bunch of like-minded individuals. If that makes any sense...

It would be a shame to be merely preaching to the converted in a way. I think we all know people who would be interested in attending an event like this without necessarily having any interest in Barbelith, therefore using it as an identifiable point of reference wouldn't be encouraging the comic convention factor.

I think seeing the name in a new context would encourage a broader awareness of the site as more than a George Morrissey fanclub and more as a representation of the diverse cultural approaches available through the site. Maybe that's a naive approach, but I think its more likely to be seen as an offshoot of Tango-Mango's other involvements rather than an opportunity to bring the latest issue of Seven Soldiers out on the town with you.

12:42 / 20.03.06

Oh yeah, and Flyboy, something like that, a recognisible name encouraging a response to something less familiar...

Regrettable Juvenilia

15:19 / 20.03.06

I'll admit that the issue of what the word Barbelith suggests is one of the things I was tentatively feeling towards by bringing up the subject of flyer design. (I kind of feel that I should be cross-posting this in the Creation thread, y'know?)

Whatever Barbelith's media profile is, it is certainly lower than that of Plan B, so we wouldn't want the word to be any bigger, proportionately, than it is on that Kevin Blechdom flyer/poster. Yeah, Kevin Blechdom's a bigger name than our bands in all likelihood, but my point is, first and foremost this should be about the bands (not the DJs, I hasten to add, or not me anyway, lest anyone think I want to see my name in lights! - maybe other, more established DJing types if they took part, eg. It Came From The Sea). I think there are several strong arguments for this, one of which Nina has made.

Personally, I understand instinctively what Nina's concern is, and I share that concern, but at the same time, I understand that other people involved may want the word 'Barbelith' on there somewhere, and feel that it's a bit defensive to leave it off. A small "Barbelith presents" or "in association with..." may be a good compromise.

I'm sure some of the talented artists on the board could come up with something that would appeal to, you know, the right sort of people. Just look at the poster Nelson Evergreen did for You Slay Me - I'm sure either he, Suedey or Bed Head could come up with an amazing poster/flyer for this night, to say nothing of the prospect of having more than one...

Regrettable Juvenilia

15:22 / 20.03.06

NB please take "right sort of people" line with the pinch of salt it was intended...

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