address
i had the pleasure of going to a night called ‘address’ last night and found it really inspiring so i thought i’d share my thoughts a) for future reference b) because they may be of interest to others and there are definitely good practices to share. as a night, i felt it really worked, provided a safe space, an environment to connect with others and was really inspiring.
so, in a sentence, address was a meetup / hangout based around what could be thought of as ‘an open mic night for DJs’. it is run once a month and there seems to be a floating crowd of attendees - some regular, some occasional. at this point, it’s been running for about a year - powered by a couple of brilliant volunteers (hannah & jacob) and a tiny bit of arts funding.
as it was DJ driven, it tended towards the ‘beatier’ end of music but I see no reason why the format couldn’t be replicated with other types of music (and maybe other creative activities?). i’m sure all the attendees and participants will have their own views on why the night works so well and i am making a mental note to ask people that to get other perspectives when i attend in future months, but here are some of the things i would highlight and why.
1) the door was open all night and there was a bit of explanatory text about the night setting out it’s ethos at the entrance. this sounds so simple but i am sure many people have experience of the fear of walking into a new space and the fear of not knowing what to expect and i think both the open door and the additional information really made a difference for me. Also, it sets expectations clearly - quite literally from the door (the same guidance was in a number of locations so no one could miss it).
2) i was welcomed when i came in. one of the hosts was on hand to say ‘hello’, ask my name and introduce me to a few other people who were around, and those people quickly engaged me in conversation.
3) the layout. in total there were three spaces. there was a practice room away from everyone else as a resource if people wanted to practice privately or with a few friends - it was sound insulated so you wouldn’t feel like you were being overheard and sound didn’t bleed in. there was the main ‘performance room’ - the door was open between this and the third space, which was a set of sofas and tables. the sound system in the main room was loud, but not so loud you couldn’t talk to people and hear comfortably in the seating area in the third space. as a consequence people flowed in and out of the rooms, had a bit of a dance, had a bit of a chat, watched someone on the decks for a bit, had a bit more of a chat. i’d imagine this takes a lot of the stress away for first time performers or those trying something new, as, in a sense, it’s only a small step up from practicing alone. people can hear and enjoy you ( or not :) ) but they aren’t just standing or sitting observing you. this broke down the usual ‘performer’ / ‘audience’ dynamic - allowing everyone the option to choose how they wanted to participate without any expectations. the layout absolutely enabled conversations and connections with a really good, and diverse, ‘soundtrack’ which made the conversations themselves easier. i should also say in passing, although i don’t actually think the quality is that important at a night like this, the DJs were consistently excellent!
4) diversity and inclusiveness were baked into the design of the night and foregrounded. in terms of getting on the decks, priority was given to newcomers and those less well represented in the general population, sets were kept short, spontaneous collaboration was encouraged and there was an emphasis on being supportive and non-competitive. clear expectations about the night being a safe space were everywhere and the night genuinely was diverse and welcoming. a number of people commented on how they love the music but hate the ‘generic club environment’ which, particularly for women, older people and others less well represented, can feel intimidating and exclusionary. ‘address’ clearly provides a welcome alternative.
5) everyone went out of their way to introduce themselves and engage in conversation. folks were constantly shifting seats and joining and starting different conversations. i am sure many of us were out of our comfort zones, but it worked. i’d also be keen to stress how pro-active the hosts, hannah & jacob, were as well - chatting, involving people in conversations, encouraging people to have a go on the decks and being supportive when they did have a go etc. i am sure that this was intentional and, again, i could see it making a big difference to the success of an event.
6) it ran from 6 - 11pm. there was a long window to come and engage and no expectation you would be there for the whole thing - although many were. the early start time in particular suited me personally. as a result, people could drop in and pop out through the night - people came after work, before going on somewhere else, and they felt comfortable doing that.
7) it runs consistently. second saturday every month, so you don’t have to think about ‘is it on?’. from talking to one of the hosts, some nights are really busy, some less so, but that’s all part of the fun of it. it works no matter what, because, at its heart, it is about people who love music playing music.
8) it was free and you brought your own drink. there was no financial barrier to entry and you were free to enjoy the night how you wanted, plus no one was making money off the night, so there was no pressure to be commercial and indeed musical risk taking was encouraged. success was measured purely in terms of people feeling included and having a good time. some people were drinking alcohol, some were drinking water, some were drinking coffee. they even provided free pizza - which i thought was a very nice and generous touch.
as i said, i think there is a lot that could be learned from ‘address’ about putting on a welcoming and successful event that encourages people to create in a safe space. i think it could work as a format for other music styles / art forms. although the road ahead is long, i hope that eventually i can apply the lessons in creating an event for experimental electronics that runs along similar lines. i hope you might find it useful too.