From: pashdown@javelin.sim.es.com (Pete Ashdown)
Subject: Re: Some questions on rave making
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 21:36:55 GMT

takeuch@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Travis L Takeuchi) writes:

>        1) In your opinion, what would you consider as a perfect rave?

Lights and music that amaze, craze, and daze me.  Friendly people who smile
back instead of turn away.  Dancing till the sun rises with a good variety of
music.

>        2) Which are more difficult to hold: outdoor or indoor raves?

Outdoor definitely.  You've got to worry about power, bathrooms, people
sneaking in.  What I'm doing this weekend is a mix.  Main floor is outside,
other crud is inside.

>        3) Is there something we should look for in a sound system or
>        will any generic sound system do?

Go to your local performance shop and rent something.  It is stupid to buy
your own system when it is cheaper to get the latest and greatest.

>        4) How long should it last?

See above.  I've wanted to go until dawn, but nobody here is used to it.  The
first went until 4:30, second to 2:30, third to 3:30.  I'm hoping that with an
ambient room this Saturday, it will go to 5:30.  We'll see.

>        5) Can we get away with a simple light show, or is something
>        more elaborate required?

Depends on what you call simple.  A color wheel would be boring.  All of the
lighting I have done has cost under $200 a show and has always been better
than I would have expected.  Computer slides are cheap, so are rentals of some
fairly good lighting equipment.  Fog is an option, but use it effectively,
don't smoke the people out.  Due to a change in plans, the last rave I did
didn't have any fog and I think it was better without it.  The laser looked
better on the wall than in the air and there was a "clean" feeling to the
whole thing.

>        6) We have one D.J. in mind. Should we consider using more
>        than one?

Heh heh heh.  Depends on if they are tuff-enuf to last seven+ hours.  I've
gotten used to it, but it was exhausting the first time I tried.

>        7) Advertising: How long before and how much should we do?
>        Any suggestions for good advertising locations?

We've stopped advertising to the general public.  Relying on the mailing list
only (I'd like to get some comments from the alt.rave people I mailed our last
flyer to).  When we started, we hit up the coffee shops, the clubs, the record
shops, and the university.  Plastering them wherever we could.  I used to make
around 800 flyers and it was a huge pain in the butt to distribute them.  Now
I make 200 flyers and we get bigger crowds.  People get a thrill off something
that is hard to find and completely underground.  You also don't get any bozos
who are there to cause problems.

>        8) Admission: What would be an appropriate admission fee? Or
>        better yet, how would we calculate the price of admission?

Don't expect to make any money yet.  I've thrown three and I still haven't
covered the cost of the music, although I've made back the immediate
investment, so I don't mind.  We've always charged $5, but our cost has never
been over $800.  So base it on how much you've spent and how many people you
expect to show up.  Try to COVER your cost and not make a profit.  If you
shoot for profit, you'll fail.

>        9) Security: how much should we have?

About 3 people per hundred.  It also depends on the space you are using.  It
is generally a fairly peaceful crowd.  Last one I did, there wasn't any
security.  I just forgot about it.  It wasn't a problem either.

>        10) Merchandising: Is it necessary to include this in a rave?

You will make a LOT of money back by selling glow products.  I've got the
address around here somewhere if you're interested.  Diffraction glasses are
also good.  T-Shirts is stretching it, but if they look good and creative
rather than commercial, I don't see why not.

>        11) Refreshments: Where can we get recipes for some good smart
>        drinks? Should we include alcoholic beverages?

Smart drinks are easy to make and really popular.  As for alcohol, it depends
on the laws in your state.  Behind the Zion curtain it is a big no-no to have
alcohol served after 1:00 and without a license.  So we generally allow people
to bring it in, but give them a cup to use so there isn't any problem with the
law.  Alcohol is generally frowned upon by the California rave scene, but
outside of there it is practically impossible to interest anyone in a
non-alcoholic party.
-- 
	   "What state is Salt Lake City in?" - Ticketmaster Agent

DISCLAIMER: My writings have NOTHING to do with my employer.  Keep it that way.
Pete Ashdown    pashdown@slack.sim.es.com    ...uunet!slack.sim.es.com!pashdown
Newsgroups: alt.rave