Live n’ Learn

Have I mentionned my whole idea about Events = Politics? At this moment I’m on a 3 way phone conversation with Fringe coordinators discussing what’s been said to who about the Fashion theatre crew, and we’re doing a deft but exhausted verbal dance that is indeed the definition of politics.

Dealing with all the different artists and organizations during fringe and in the planning stages has been nuts, but the vast majority have been easy, self-organizing, understanding of the technical and financial limitations that affect all artists and most definitely affect indyish and the Fringe, and a joy to work with (What is Indie; Spins and Needles; Hip-Hop Karaoke and the staff at Lambi especially have been fantabulous pros and sweethearts). So are we experiencing multiple miscommunications with this one group because of bad luck? Or is somebody being manipulative? Is this an innocent misfiring as happens so often, or are we now beyond the margin for error and in the land of “Ahk no you can’t be in there messing with the 8 thousand dollars worth of equipment without permission and with no one around!”

Hmm iiinnnteresting. 2 days left of the 11 day fest, exhaustion is high and patience for excuses is wearing thin. The gang of us in the fringe park daily are still friends (of course!) high fiving eachother happily and running on adrenaline, but we are all feeling we’re beginning to be stretched a bit thin by now by this one squeeky wheel gettin all the grease. The fringe crew, pushed into dealing with this one group every day of the fest when they have over 100 paying companies that should require their attention, are understandably over the whole fashion theatre Seditonaire idea, and want to cut their show, regardless of who is coming or who’s involved (there are some great actors in the show, nice and talented people who maybe have been subject to some miscommunication - unintentional or otherwise- as well, not to mention some wonderful, community-orineted indie designer boutiques like my firneds at General 54, le Marche Mtl and La Gailliarde). While I completely understand the Fringe creaw’s feelings at this point and throughout, I’ve been quietly negotiating for days with them (who are not at all unweilding, actually, once you get past the natural bluster and bravado) to try and smooth over rough patches, assume no-one’s-at-fault, and try to keep the focus on the actors who’ve worked hard and the indie designers and boutiques excited to show their work. But I may have done as much as I can at this point (sound booths are sacred in this type of gig, ya know? between unions and rental contracts something going wrong in this area can wipe out whatever small amount of money has been made toward balancing out in the debt of what’s spent to pull a big non-profit fest off.. not something to take lightly and start pokng around at 10am with no one official in sight and the poor volunteers watching the site a bit bulldozed). So right now I need to rush down to the tent for one more round / showdown (potentially the best unadvertised show of the fringe) and we’ll see who and what’s left standing for tommorrow’s final celebratory afternoon. I know the Fringe crew have been working hard to put together a fun showcase of stuff for that aft either way, whether we get to see the indie fashion on stage theatrically or not. So… we’ll see! I’m still hopin it really is all something we can clear up and be happily surprised by what the Seditionaire’s have put together. I love the concept behind what they do, it’s why I wanted to give them some of my Indyish time at the fringe, but if it can’t work out, c’est la vie, you know? We keep livin and learnin.

In other news- and much vidoe and blogging on this coming soon - our first night of Assembly2.0 shows went well last night! It’s was a fascinating mix, made bit odd by the mixing of crowds for the Freddy V show which had been double booked into our venue, but with whom I decided we should share the night instead of getting all “prior contract-y” and “screw you guys” about it. Sharing the space, though potentially awkward, was a nice caring vibe, and I giggled a lot with Freddy’s cool friend who sat with me at the door, and with Preach his manager who’s a great person, and with Freddy himself who’s a heart throb, aside from being an appreciative and charming, respectful dude.

We’re gearing up for a night of twice the fun Assembly2.0 times tonight. Come find us at Lambi! We’ll discuss politics… I have a feeling we’ll have more thoughts to share on that subject soon. Cheers for now. r.