The stress of putting on an outdoor rave

The stress of putting on an outdoor rave

19 June, 2007 | 2.38PM

• Section: Music News Topics: Industry Girl Blog
• Written by: Industry Girl

The countdown begins – it’s Monday and there are five days to go until my friend’s outdoor rave is supposed to go off.  The buzz isn’t settling and the 1000+ ravers who bought pre-sale tickets to the rave are anxious to find out where the hell the party was going to be. 

It’s been a while since this city has seen an outdoor rave and Jayden, my friend, was determined to throw it.  There is a slight problem… a detail, really. The fire marshals arrived this morning and said the outdoor venue was unsafe and if the rave were to happen there despite the warnings, Jayden would get arrested. 

Ok, so it’s a major detail.  It’s been a while since I’ve see a grown man cry and Jayden was damn near close to the waterworks.  He’s about $80,000 in the hole and counting.  His life was flashing before his very eyes.  The venue was perfect.  It was a venue that a promoter’s wet dreams were made of. 

So what if a kid accidentally fell off the cliff that was dangerously close to the planned location of the main stage, right?  It didn’t even matter if the stages were moved… the fire marshals said no and they meant it.

It’s now Friday and still no venue.  The party is supposed to happen in 24 hours.  My phone rings and it’s Jayden. 

Industry Girl: “You’re going to what?!?!?!”

Jayden: “It’s the only place I can do it. I’ve looked everywhere. I’ve been driving over 100 miles everyday since Monday looking for a new venue. That’s where it has to be.  I have no choice.”

Industry Girl: “What are they going to do with all the strippers?”

That’s right. Strippers. Jayden was going to throw the rave at a strip joint near the edge of the city. 

Evidently the strip joint had a massive parking lot and combined with the joint itself, it could hold 3000+ people. Desperate times call for desperate measures and this was a desperate man. 

32-hours, 7 stages, God knows how many generators and about 20 shiftless strippers later the music was banging and the glow sticks were in full swing. 

There’s a pile of clear heels somewhere but no one seems to notice. 

DJ Irene is finishing up her set and the Manufactured Superstars are gearing up to take the stage. 

It’s about 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a slight breeze it’s just perfect. 

Then it’s 3am. The Manufactured Superstars follow Irene with ‘Roadkill’ (check it out in the player below) and the crowd explodes. I guess it’s not too bad after all. It’s here. It’s happening. 

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