This has been a really interesting thread and made a nice diversion from work, but I feel like I HAVE to throw in my tuppence.
As far as I am concerned free parties, clubs, festivals, one dayers, beetle jams, Teknivals, etc are all representations of the same thing. If you get away from the commercial events/venues you’ll find one thing in common for all of these things – people have come there to listen to loud music and have a bit of a boogie (some people don’t actually dance but nod their heads/tap their feet), and probably get wrecked.
Whatever they’re into (music, drugs, outdoor settings, sweating heavily in a poorly ventilated room, being K’d out of their faces, whatever) it’s a bit of escapism from the grind of life and people will ALWAYS need escapism, especially if they are dissatisfied with their life.
Clubs will ALWAYS be around because they provide this escapism in a safe environment. You know when it starts, when it finishes, who’s playing and what the music will be like. You pay your money, find a speaker and off you go. Before you know it, it’s morning and a bouncer is forcing you out of the door by putting his boot up your arse.
By the same token, free parties will always be around as well because some people are dissatisfied with the codified rituals associated with clubs. Wandering around lost and wrecked looking for the mates you’ve lost, trying to decide if that girl that keeps looking at you is genuine or playing mind games, judging other peoples clothes/dancing style/gurning faces whilst pretending not to notice, etc.
To me, clubs vs free parties is another representation of an age old dilemma – Freedom vs Order. You may be able to have more fun with freedom, but if you fall, there’s no system in place to make sure you don’t get hurt.
I guess that was abit more than a tuppence. More like a tenners worth.
Hope I haven’t bored you too much :you_smart
