This blog completed one year of existence this July 2009. Thank you all! It has been quite interesting to see the project evolving in content and audience, as I monitor progress with a metric application.
About 5,000 people from 83 countries have visited GlobalRaverBlogspot in this first year. Though the majority are accidental hits, about 1,000 people are regular visitors interested in global electronica issues. These are modest figures when compared to mass media blogs, yet these numbers are on the rise!
I'll say more about you, your cities and interests in posts to come. This time around I list the most popular posts after a year of blogging:
1st) Pac Man. This is a regular hit about the famous urban legend involving a Nintendo executive's quote about how ravers resemble the pill-obsessive behavior of Pac Man. Video games are indeed popular among ravers.
2nd) Silent Raves. That's the new iPod-based crowd phenomena, which I contrast with synchronized Walkman parties. Again, a very young segment of readers reaching my blog through goggling "iPod".
3rd) Hippies in India. In that post I discussed the beginnings of the hippie scene in Goa. Why Goa? Check it out. The post is still there!
4th) First Hippie in Goa. If combined with the 3rd place, hippies in India would be the top issue in the blog. For a reason, a good chunk of my readers are Indians interested in how global cultures (from beatniks to psytrance music) have landed in the country of Gandhi.
5th) Joe Biden and Rave Law. This one became a big hit during the U.S. Presidential elections, as I discuss how Obama's Vice-President authored a lousy law criminalizing any rave-related concerts in America.
Thanks again for reading my blog regularly! Stay tuned for more posts reviewing this first year of GlobalRaverBlogspot...
18 July 2009
03 July 2009
How to Find a "Rave Party"
People often ask how they can find rave parties in their towns. I've come across this situation when visiting new scenes in Europe, India or California. I recently saw the question at Yahoo Answers, and decided to organize my practical advice to newbies and travelers alike:
The best way to find out about secret parties is to know someone who belongs to the scene. Usually someone at school is a rave fan. But you need to be discreet when asking around. There is a negative prejudice against raves, specially in America. Moreover, even rave insiders are wary of the term, which became a tacky designation these days, an indication of naive outsiders and poly-drug abuse.
Instead, ask for "underground parties" that play "techno" or "electronic dance" music "kind of rave". It does not hurt to perform a bit blase' ("cool"), to suggest that you are already a bit of an insider, just from a different city or scene...
Another way to connect with a local rave/club scene is to ask to junior DJs at mainstream clubs, or record aficionados browsing in record stores. Those kids handing out fliers outside main clubs can also be very helpful sometimes. As you see, this may take some investigative efforts, which, in itself, is already part of the fun.
Finally, there are a few websites dedicated to rave parties. They may contain hidden links to calendars organized by region. Google them, and carefully look for very discreet links placed at the margins of the website. Remember, too, that ravers typically drive hundreds of miles just to get to a good party. So, if you don't know the local scene, make sure to gather some information about if the party is any good before going. In these situations, better go with friends, so you feel more comfortable.
More importantly, party safe. Rave culture is a wonderful space to meet really nice people and to have a great time. But, as a site of experimentation and liberation, people often get out of control. As such, "make freedom your foundation, through the mastery of yourself." (Socrates)
The best way to find out about secret parties is to know someone who belongs to the scene. Usually someone at school is a rave fan. But you need to be discreet when asking around. There is a negative prejudice against raves, specially in America. Moreover, even rave insiders are wary of the term, which became a tacky designation these days, an indication of naive outsiders and poly-drug abuse.
Instead, ask for "underground parties" that play "techno" or "electronic dance" music "kind of rave". It does not hurt to perform a bit blase' ("cool"), to suggest that you are already a bit of an insider, just from a different city or scene...
Another way to connect with a local rave/club scene is to ask to junior DJs at mainstream clubs, or record aficionados browsing in record stores. Those kids handing out fliers outside main clubs can also be very helpful sometimes. As you see, this may take some investigative efforts, which, in itself, is already part of the fun.
Finally, there are a few websites dedicated to rave parties. They may contain hidden links to calendars organized by region. Google them, and carefully look for very discreet links placed at the margins of the website. Remember, too, that ravers typically drive hundreds of miles just to get to a good party. So, if you don't know the local scene, make sure to gather some information about if the party is any good before going. In these situations, better go with friends, so you feel more comfortable.
More importantly, party safe. Rave culture is a wonderful space to meet really nice people and to have a great time. But, as a site of experimentation and liberation, people often get out of control. As such, "make freedom your foundation, through the mastery of yourself." (Socrates)
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