Another UK Demoparty
category: general [glöplog]
wow, UK scene is like Mean Girls.
At least my one and only reason to not have ever visited a UK demoparty(=Sundown) is due to the very bad timing of the party because times shortly after yours truly summer holidays tend to be too hectic to do anything. If the party would be organized between June and August or in the Easter my chances to actually visit the party would be a lot higher and hence
So I'm just wondering whether lower, as in could be even more since I've heard a lot of nice things about the party, foreign people attending rates for Sundown are actually caused by the timing of the party.... so thumbs up for .waffle to actually go and make the party happen if possible! :)
So I'm just wondering whether lower, as in could be even more since I've heard a lot of nice things about the party, foreign people attending rates for Sundown are actually caused by the timing of the party.... so thumbs up for .waffle to actually go and make the party happen if possible! :)
who the fuck is devistator?
Wow, some pretty harsh words exchanged here! I thought we were past the "what have *you* done for the scene" stage for good! (However, rc55 probably didn't mean to make it sound like that).
I believe that the matter is clearly more complicated. People will travel to a demo party not just because of the individuals acting as organizers but for a number of other reasons completely beyond the control of the organizers (one of which is location).
I went, for example, to Evoke 2009. Amazing party but I have to say that I knew nothing *about* the organizers before I went there. I didn't (and still don't) know if they have made lots of demos themselves or have lots of high profile friends in the scene. And guess what, that doesn't matter one bit because we all had fun, watched the demos, drunk the beer etc.
I have the same impression about other parties. Assembly, ran by Abyss and Breakpoint by Scamp might be the exceptions to the rule. Clearly the personality of these guys is the catalyst. I don't see how Assembly would be a party to attract, say, so many productions that win scene.org awards if it wasn't for Abyss.
As for .waffle, my opinion of him is very high. His work, for example, for assembly tv was very professional and his enthusiasm is evident (I hope he does Asm tv again this year. If so I'll buy him a beer/hesburger). I think he would do a good job organizing a party, although some of the issues are, for the moment, just a bit beyond his control.
I believe that the matter is clearly more complicated. People will travel to a demo party not just because of the individuals acting as organizers but for a number of other reasons completely beyond the control of the organizers (one of which is location).
I went, for example, to Evoke 2009. Amazing party but I have to say that I knew nothing *about* the organizers before I went there. I didn't (and still don't) know if they have made lots of demos themselves or have lots of high profile friends in the scene. And guess what, that doesn't matter one bit because we all had fun, watched the demos, drunk the beer etc.
I have the same impression about other parties. Assembly, ran by Abyss and Breakpoint by Scamp might be the exceptions to the rule. Clearly the personality of these guys is the catalyst. I don't see how Assembly would be a party to attract, say, so many productions that win scene.org awards if it wasn't for Abyss.
As for .waffle, my opinion of him is very high. His work, for example, for assembly tv was very professional and his enthusiasm is evident (I hope he does Asm tv again this year. If so I'll buy him a beer/hesburger). I think he would do a good job organizing a party, although some of the issues are, for the moment, just a bit beyond his control.
Honestly chaps, you are really taking my comments very wrong.. I am just saying it is being a bit ambitious thinking that this party can replace something like breakpoint and that branching out to other people to help when it the time comes to scale up.. e.g. you need to build up gradually, you need to build a friendship with people who have contacts throughout the demoscene.. its just very ambitious to think this big first of all!
Navis: im sure .waffle is a great organiser, I just dont think he can assume he can do it alone without specialist help for other such things as compos etc.. hence what I suggested about help from others, maybe you can help? :)
Another thing is, looking back at demoparty history in the UK, sundown has been the most successful yet as when I was at Digital Symposium in 1995 it was in a refectory in a university campus and no sleeping was allowed so it was a 1 day event. Dejavu in the late 90s was also maybe up to 25 people max. So you have to consider the demand for a party in the UK..
.waffle: when I said "no offence" I really meant it, so maybe I should retract my last sentence in that post. sorry.
do you get what I mean now peoples?
Navis: im sure .waffle is a great organiser, I just dont think he can assume he can do it alone without specialist help for other such things as compos etc.. hence what I suggested about help from others, maybe you can help? :)
Another thing is, looking back at demoparty history in the UK, sundown has been the most successful yet as when I was at Digital Symposium in 1995 it was in a refectory in a university campus and no sleeping was allowed so it was a 1 day event. Dejavu in the late 90s was also maybe up to 25 people max. So you have to consider the demand for a party in the UK..
.waffle: when I said "no offence" I really meant it, so maybe I should retract my last sentence in that post. sorry.
do you get what I mean now peoples?
So this is why all British directors only make gangster-movies? :)
I was afraid it was going to blow up like this. My opinion matches Devistator's, and that's what it is - an opinion. By all means I'm not the person to say what dotwaffle can or cannot do, but I do have a pretty good idea about what makes a demoparty tick.
I cannot deny that my gut instinct is that if a Breakpoint replacement party is going to happen, it HAS to happen in Germany (or somewhere central in Europe) which is pretty much the heart of the demoscene these days, and is accessible by road, air or train for the vast majority of sceners. If dotwaffle was to say "I'm part of a team in Germany looking to do a replacement for Breakpoint!" - I would champion his cause relentlessly!
My point is, the UK just isn't the place for it. I don't need to go out and take a poll of people's opinions on this, it's pretty much a given. Dotwaffle is free to set up his own party and instantiate fantastic ideas, I've no doubt he'll garner some support - he's a very charismatic and hard working chap. But to replace Breakpoint - with a brand new, non German party? Awkward.
In regards to respecting the meritocracy; I have to say that I've never been much of a creator either. I do a bit of tracking, but that's it really. Maybe I should have been more clear on my point of being more socially involved with the UK Scene. It's not a temple of the elite, it's basically being more than just an acquaintance to the people in the scene, which is how you (dotwaffle) are viewed!
You have earned some respect, but genuine friendship is one of the most important things in the scene in my opinion, it's the element that converts interest into enthusiasm and then into active patronage. In turn, once you've earned the friendship of influential people, they will bring the numbers in because they want to share the experience with their friends. The competition aspect is not enough to attract people alone, you have to remember that the competitiveness is light-hearted and mega social, so your approach must be grass-roots.
I cannot deny that my gut instinct is that if a Breakpoint replacement party is going to happen, it HAS to happen in Germany (or somewhere central in Europe) which is pretty much the heart of the demoscene these days, and is accessible by road, air or train for the vast majority of sceners. If dotwaffle was to say "I'm part of a team in Germany looking to do a replacement for Breakpoint!" - I would champion his cause relentlessly!
My point is, the UK just isn't the place for it. I don't need to go out and take a poll of people's opinions on this, it's pretty much a given. Dotwaffle is free to set up his own party and instantiate fantastic ideas, I've no doubt he'll garner some support - he's a very charismatic and hard working chap. But to replace Breakpoint - with a brand new, non German party? Awkward.
In regards to respecting the meritocracy; I have to say that I've never been much of a creator either. I do a bit of tracking, but that's it really. Maybe I should have been more clear on my point of being more socially involved with the UK Scene. It's not a temple of the elite, it's basically being more than just an acquaintance to the people in the scene, which is how you (dotwaffle) are viewed!
You have earned some respect, but genuine friendship is one of the most important things in the scene in my opinion, it's the element that converts interest into enthusiasm and then into active patronage. In turn, once you've earned the friendship of influential people, they will bring the numbers in because they want to share the experience with their friends. The competition aspect is not enough to attract people alone, you have to remember that the competitiveness is light-hearted and mega social, so your approach must be grass-roots.
Ok, I have a solution to this: everyone brings their own bog roll.
I'm well up for another UK demo party. The problem we have is that London is too expensive for a venue, and getting anywhere far enough away from london to be cheap is going to mean 200 sceners stuck at a points failure in orpington. If that's all covered, it might just work.
I'm well up for another UK demo party. The problem we have is that London is too expensive for a venue, and getting anywhere far enough away from london to be cheap is going to mean 200 sceners stuck at a points failure in orpington. If that's all covered, it might just work.
Yes, the one true way to continue is a bigger than Sundown, more accessible party that isn't pitched as a replacement for Breakpoint.
isn't there a nice party venue in orpington?
i would suggest this:
Every ticket comes with free HappyMeal! (you still have to bring your own bog roll, though).
Broadway Media Centre in Nottingham is quite an attractive, modern and open venue. They already host events like the Radiator Festival. Plus Nottingham is easy to reach via the East Midlands Airport and the direct train to London St. Pancras (where the Eurostar arrives). Just my 2 pence after having lived in that city for 5 years.
Nottingham would be a great location and cheap for me to travel (as I live here, lol).
