Meeting w/ city councilor/fairfield comm center re: all ages

[tylerp]

So I don't know if anyone read through this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1892

...where I tried to dig up a venue for the Brain Fever show, emailed Garry Oak Room and essentially got a response saying that young people go to shows to commit illegal activities and wreck the neighborhood. Then I forwarded that email to a dude at Monday Magazine and the City Councillor in charge of Fairfield, Pam Madoff. So now they and someone higher up at the Fairfield Community Association are going to have a meeting with me during which I hope to voice my concerns over the difficulty in hosting all ages shows in Victoria, especially at community centers. And someone from Monday Magazine is probably going to be covering it.

There are a number of issues I want to bring up, focusing on:
1) It's hard enough as a young person to organize a community event, are there ways of making the process easier rather than exclusive and geared towards people with different ages, backgrounds, and economic status (such as "family events" which they seem to care most about)?
2) why are young people discarded as being unlawful hooligans rather than community members? is there any way to change this perception using all ages shows as a positive catalyst?
3) why wouldn't community centers want to shift their programming to include young people and the activities they're interested in?
4) is there a way for community centers and young all ages show promoters to work together so that the burden of elevated security costs, damage deposits, and rental fees aren't all on the shoulders of someone who may be relatively young and not have that kind of money saved up just so he can throw a show for his friends' bands?
5) is there any sort of agreement that can be made in terms of rental times, screening of security volunteers, etc so that the community feels more comfortable with all ages shows?

Community centers really should be more available for this. We've been putting shows on in houses, cultural centers whose constitutions surely don't mention anything about needing to foster the young community of musicians in all ages shows, catering/conference centers, and a lot of other places that are a little silly and quite expensive. All ages shows are community activities, right?

I don't really know what will come of this, maybe nothing, but it's a good opportunity to use while the higher-ups in the city and community are taking notice. You can probably tell that my focus is on the bad image that youth in Victoria and all ages shows have, not specifically hardcore shows, because that's what was attacked in the email I received. And also because it was a lot easier to do a show when I was 17 and in high school.

I have a lot of material to bring up but I was wondering if anyone could help. I need as many simple questions and points as possible to defend all ages shows as possible in community centers and worthy of sympathy/help. All perspectives help.

I also need a list of Victoria residents they can contact - all ages show promoters and band members. Name, email address, and phone number. I want to make it clear that a lot of people have the same concerns that I do. We just want to keep doing all ages shows and right now there's a hole in accessibility of affordable all-ages venues.

[grind/bro]

Give them mine if you want. Will go to bat.

[kay]

Give them mine if you want. Will go to bat.

[Andrew]

One thing I've wondered is how much these halls spend on repairs each year? I have a hard time believing no holes get put in walls, no toilets overflow, etc. at wedding receptions and family gatherings. Accidents happen, but it seems vandalism is always a key point to why halls don't get rented to do all ages shows.

There was (and again might be) a committee formed around Seylynn Hall in North Vancouver to do all ages shows specifically at that hall. I don't know how they ran it or what obstacles they overcame (Danzig might know more about them), but it seemed to work for years to provide all ages shows. It can be done with the cooperation of the community.

Good luck with your meeting Tyler. Wear a tie.

[Crucified]

Give them mine if you want. Will go to bat.

[cadaver]

I think it could be helpful to mention that hc/punk shows, aside from being all-ages and youth-centered, also strive to be welcoming to all genders, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc. Not only is this a valuable part of our scene, but it could also be seen as a positive contribution to the community.

Putting on shows is challenging and fun, and keeps us busy. My own experience with promoting shows (as a shy & inexperienced young person) proved to myself, my family, and the community that I was capable & responsible in ways I never even knew, which wouldn't have been possible if no one had rented to me in the first place.

Good luck on this, Tyler. Sounds like a great opportunity.

[dalamar501]

When I have time I have a lot to say on this matter as everyone knows (see other times where I brought it to city / arts scan survery / monday mag interviews)

Um yeah i guess will think of some simple questions later.

[xWillBrattx]

People should start doing shows at the Gary Oak Room again. That way I won't have to go so far. Same goes for Adam Christie.

[Jordan f.]

probably wouldn't hurt to bring up that a number of the bands playing "our shows" have members who promote drug free lifestyles. I don't know how you'll be able to explain straight edge to them hahahahha. But it might help a bit.

[stumped.]

maybe try getting ahold of the some of the older guys like Willa or Bubba who grew up with a punk influence and ask them how it affected their life in a positive way?

[stumped.]

maybe just ask bubba...

[Tambro]

Give them mine if you want. Will go to bat.

[Crucified]

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

older guys like Willa

[grind/bro]

...can we even say that name on the board anymore?

[PaulyHC]

I would love to be a part of this discussion

[ZACH ATTACK]

Give them mine if you want. Will go to bat.

I'm in a stable relationship, have a steady job, and a kid. I'm basically a family man. They'll eat that shit up.

[tylerp]

so I guess they want me to come in this monday during a "community voices" section and prior to that, write up a letter tonight. it's going to be a good one. will post it here when I'm done.

[Token]

Can't wait to read/hear the feedback!

[stumped.]

tight!!!

[ZACH ATTACK]

What is this community voices section? Is it something that anybody can attend? It might be in our interest to have as many of us as possible show up and present and organized front. Also, it's probably worth mentioning that anybody has been to both all ages show and bars or clubs knows full well that the amount of illegal activity that happens at all ages events pales in comparison to the blatant drug use, assaults and sexual violence that happens at bars frequented by adults who by all means should know better and that the cost to the community makes any damages caused at all ages events look like a piss in the ocean. If this has gone as far as city hall use our currents and future voting power as leverage. Most of our old enough to vote, and those of who aren't will be eventually. None of us will vote for candidates with an anti youth agenda or who have shown themselves to be unwilling or unable to work with us. And if there is a way of doing it without coming across as combative make it known that we're willing to use whatever means we have to to keep the all ages community thriving. Cops shutting down house shows and venues unwilling to work with the all ages community is nothing new to us and yet we still haven't gone away. If anything we have a thriving community that will continue to thrive with or without cooperation from the establishment.