I do understand how the UK has a different history than the US, which might very well affect the way the government handles the festivals.
I'll tell you a bit of a story about Chicago... Around the year 2000, the mayor of chicago, Mayor Daley was having some problems with his children being found drugged out at raves, so the story goes, he really cracked down on the city because of this...taking it out on everyone for the problems he was having with his kids... it even became scary to throw a small house party, because if you had a DJ, the police were more than likely to fine everyone, house owner, DJ, party-goers... everyone was at risk... The entire situation was very bleak... I remember one of the first thing that people coordinate with the government that helped to turn it around was a music art exhibit that was done on the Red Line subway train... they set up turntables and a DJ played the entire city route, from the north side to the south side... admittedly there were some sound issues because the power would cut out at various stops, but overall it was a success. A legal rave on a subway train, sponsored by the government. Then the government started to sponsor a once a month event in a skate park on the south side. Every month, during the day on a Sunday, kids would skate their hearts out, next to adults that would dance to the sweet house tunes. Through this process of slow build-up, the government began to realise that if done properly, it can work. It sounds like a sappy story, but its true. The Moyor of chicago is still Mayor Daley, but the outlook for the electronic music industry is much brighter. If you compare government policies as a whole, the UK and USA governments are very similar. The US has been fighting the rave and electronic music industry movements for years. Thank God it was finally beaten out of the legal process a few months ago, but prior to that, the past five+ years have been frightening for everyone involved in the electronic music industry. Many of us feared for our jobs, our music, and our way of life. I'd love to finish this thought and continue to debate this, but I have to run for now... Let me know your thoughts, and anyone else's thoughts on this... Jodie -----Original Message----- From: robin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 10 May 2005 14:03 To: 313 Org Cc: Svagr, Jodie Subject: Re: (313) Chicago SummerDance Schedule firstly the below was sent to me privately but i've checked with jodie and it's cool to go to the list. On 10 May 2005, at 12:56, Svagr, Jodie wrote: > I don't agree with you on this at all... I've lived in all three > locations, Detroit, Chicago, and now the ~UK... and I've witnessed > what happened in Detroit and Chicago during the planing phases of > getting these festivals off the ground. In both cities, people said > exactly what you are saying about the UK. Both cities were having > huge problems with the government and police stopping electronic music > events. Both cities were in a crisis... and the people in the > electronic music communities thought that eventually it would become > impossible to throw events... but through a LOT of hard work by the > people in the electronic communities, the government started to change > their opinions on things. > > It takes is a lot of planning, hard work, and knowledge, plus > determination and persuasion, and eventually you end up with what has > occurred in Chicago and Detroit. Both cities are very proud of these > acomplishments, and they should be. firstly i'm not trying to take any credit away from the people that made this happen. big respect is due. thing is tho the situation in the UK is definitely more locked down against this kind of thing due to the fact we had the massive rave explosion of the late 80s early 90s. it's even enshrined in law (and yeah i did go on the marches in london to protest). the UK is definietly a different kettle of fish compared to the states in this regard. even peaceful protests (like things like critical mass) are completely swamped with police these days. dance music is even more frowned upon. i went to movement last year and was amazed (and pleasantly surprised) by the relative lack of police at the event. i'm not complaining, i think this is a good thing. (also i think this isn't even a european/US difference, Queen's Day in Amsterdam had very few police when i went....the ones there were just to make sure people were ok). > > "never happen in the UK though. there'd be a sea of yellow jacketted > riot police with sticks and dogs as far as the eye could see in > anticiptaion of any trouble." > > If I had a dollar for every time someone from Detroit or Chicago had > said this, I'd be very wealthy, now look at where things are in those > cities... who knows, maybe England will change as well. > > :) > Jodie the government are unlikely to go back on the way things are in the UK imo. i do see what you say above and my attitude may seem negative but i've seen how police handle electrnic music events in the UK over many years (i was even told my car rregistration was marked as a free party attender in police databases!). the way i see it tho the more heavy handed the police the more likely the trouble. the way it seemed to be at things like Movement (last year at least) seemed more fair and not something i expected to see in the US. enough rambling now... robin... > > > -----Original Message----- > From: robin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 10 May 2005 12:09 > To: 313 Org > Subject: Re: (313) Chicago SummerDance Schedule > > > > my reply to the original email never got to the list before. > > this would be amazing to have in your home town. > > never happen in the UK though. there'd be a sea of yellow jacketted > riot police with sticks and dogs as far as the eye could see in > anticiptaion of any trouble. > > Movement (in the same way as last years) would never happen in the UK > either. > > and i dunno the answer to alex's question...doh > > > robin... > > On 10 May 2005, at 11:57, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >> >>> FULL LINEUP! >> June 15 – Paul Johnson / Maurice Joshua >> June 22 - Jeff Mills / Mike Dearborn >> June 29 - Lego / Jesse De La Pena >> July 6 - Glenn Underground / Craig Alexander >> July 13 - Ron Carroll / JM3 >> July 20 - Mark Grant/ Oscar McMillan >> July 27 - Superpitcher / Mazi >> Aug. 3 - Andre Hatchett / Joe Smooth >> Aug. 10 - Marshall Jefferson / Jesse Saunders >> Aug. 17 - Ron Trent / Rich Medina >> Aug. 24 - Farley "Jack Master" Funk/ Terry Hunter >> >> errrrr, wow! >> >> I have a question though. >> >> Has anyone ever seen that Andre Hatchett dj? Matt maybe? Anyone? >> >> What does he play? Is he the gut who used to dj with Ron Hardy alot? >> Does >> anyone know? >> >> Thanks >> >> Alex >> >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> --------------------- End of message text -------------------- >> >> This e-mail is sent by the above named in >> their individual, non-business capacity and >> is not on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. >> >> PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP may monitor >> outgoing and incoming e-mails and other >> telecommunications on its e-mail and >> telecommunications systems. By replying >> to this e-mail you give your consent to such monitoring. >
