Minutes: 2002-2003/2002-08-29

Minutes of the RockSoc Committee meeting

29th August 2002

 

Present: Baz, Elizabeth, Oliver, Emma, Oli (from 2110)

 

Meeting opened 2041 (when the treasurer managed to drag himself away from the pool table)

 

1) Minutes for approval

The treasurer wished the following reaction to his reading a historical novel to be recorded: 'I think I might go to a tavern in Deptford' 'Don't do that, it's nearly the end of the book.' This had very little to do with the minutes.

 

The members of the esteemed local rock band 'Humanity' declared that the minutes were illegible and incoherent. How they formed this opinion, given that they were not at the meeting and had not read the minutes, is unclear. Jimmer said that they were misspelled; this is a more justified complaint. Baz suggested a spellchecker be employed; Elizabeth replied that it was the spell checker that was responsible for sentences like 'refilling the WUS box after recent unsuccessful wasps' in the first place. Baz suggested paying more attention; Elizabeth attributed her inaccuracy to the fact that she always seems to have a hangover after committee meetings for some reason.

 

Oliver pointed out a further case in which Oli's comments had been attributed to him.

 

The bout of Secretary bashing being over, the committee approved the minutes.

 

2) Treasurer's report

The treasurer reported that no money had gone in or out of the bank this week, stealthily or otherwise. He said that a bank statement showed that the bank account contains L468.24, and noted that we now owe Baz L920 (the WUS box having paid back all the money it owed him). Geared4 Have still not cashed the cheque and seem to have vanished off the face of the planet.

 

The account book was produced. Oliver said that it was still not up to date because he has been unable to sort out 'issues' (presumably the stealthy money mentioned last week). He has been keeping a new record as of this week and will attempt to resolve the rest later.

 

The Societies Syndicate has acknowledged that we have supplied the required information well before the deadline, but now adds to the list of things needed a copy signed by the Senior Treasurer and a covering letter explaining why ticket sales were so poor (because no buggers turned up, suggested the Secretary)

 

ACTION: Emma to write a covering letter to Societies Syndicate

Oliver to see the senior Treasurer

 

NB. Baz decreed in a presidential manner that this had to be done by next meeting WITHOUT FAIL.

 

3) Freshers' gig

The situation is as follows.

 

1)1st Contact agency is putting together a Metal Hammered supported tour, in which they offer a 4 band package to local promoters, who take all the risk and get 20 per cent of the profit. They will arrange publicity in Metal Hammer.

2) The amount of money to be put up by the promoter is L650+. RockSoc felt last week that it could not afford this. RockSoc has since approached Stan, landlord of the Boat Race, and Stan has offered to co-promote. The deal is now: RockSoc puts up L287 (including rider, flyers etc.), Stan puts up the rest.

3) If the gig does not break even, the gross is shared by Stan and RockSoc equally to partly recoup costs. If the gig does not break even, the agent takes none of the door money.

4) If the gig makes a profit, the promoters get all their money back and the remaining money (profit) is shared as 80 per cent to the agent, 10 per cent to Stan and ten per cent to us.

 

Thus, the maximum loss we could make is L287( if we sell no tickets at all), which experience shows is less than the loss we normally make when we put on gigs ourselves. Therefore, it seems the this package is likely to be better for us financially than putting on a gig of our own. The committee has therefore agreed to accept this deal.

 

Emma agreed to contact the agent tomorrow to finalise arrangements. Elizabeth pointed out that there is now considerable urgency as the relevant issues of monthly magazines will be going to press in the next few days. Emma also needs to find out the names of the bands who will perform in order that we can start our publicity.

 

There is one unfortunate problem with this arrangement. We had confirmed the band Geared4 for this gig, and we will have to let them down. We hoped to ask them if they would mind before agreeing to the deal, but they seem to have dropped off the face of the planet. We will continue to look for them and will offer them the November gig.

 

ACTION: Emma to contact the agency about the October gig IMMEDIATELY and mail the outcome to committee.

 

4) November gig

AR and Kevvlar are confirmedish for this gig. We intend to ask Geared 4 to complete the bill. Humanity mentioned in passing that they would be more than happy to plug any holes in the bill.

 

5) RockSoc calendar

As requested by Oli, the Secretary has brought a calendar to the meeting. It is a very organised and excellent calendar, runs up to next August, and has all relevant rock events on it, such as gigs at the Junction. More will be added as they become available. Things organised by RockSoc are all in bold so we can see them at a glance.

 

Emma was so impressed with the calendar that she took it away with her.

 

Two points came up. The first is that a WUS night falls on New Years' Eve. In all probability, the venue will be holding some more appropriate and profitable entertainment than WUS (which would lay an egg anyway) on this date. Ben needs to confirm this.

 

Also, a WUS date falls on June 18th, which is presumably during the Midsummer Fair. The venue has a permanent agreement with the fairground people to close except to them during this period, so we will probably lose this WUS too. Again, this needs to be confirmed with the management. If possible we could arrange some other entertainment, since this is May Week, traditionally a profitable WUS.

 

ACTION: Ben to speak to the management about these two dates.

 

6) Termcards

The printers are not the fastest people on the planet, so we need to start the process of printing them now. Emma will see the printer this week and give them the list of relevant dates.

 

ACTION: Emma to get the termcards printed.

 

7) Publicity

Emma's computer is now functioning (hurrah!); she will e-mail the WUS flyer to Elizabeth, who will print it, and to Oli, who will put it on the website so anyone who wants to print it can do so.

 

ACTION: Emma to mail flyer to Oli and Elizabeth

Oli to put it on website

Elizabeth to print it.

 

8) Bloodstock

Two cars are going to Bloodstock driven by Ian Campbell and Mark Barrett; all places in these vehicles have been filled. Pickup is to be around 9.30 Saturday morning, to be arranged privately among the people going.

 

9) WUS

Wus made a small profit this week, and the WUS box accordingly paid Baz back. Baz noted that he has the headphones and the setlist book. Elizabeth noted that she left copies of Paranoid and Warriors of the World in the drives when Oli took over, and they have not been seen since. She would like them back.

 

Ben gave the last 3 months of door sheets to Elizabeth, who has given them to the treasurer.

 

10) Oli's title

During WUS last, Mr. Oli Wade, up to now referred to by the title of Webmaster/ Web Ossifer, played some Nightwish. The assembled committee members noted this at the time and resolved to bring to the meeting today a motion that Oli's position on the committee be reamed 'Some Total Wanker' to reflect the set he played last week.

 

A vote was taken. In favour of changing Oli's committee title to 'Some Total Wanker' : 5 (including postal vote from Ben) Against: 0 Abstaining: 1

 

Oli is hereby mandated to amend the description of himself on the website by next week.

On the subject of the website, it was noted that the past events page opens with two error messages; it was further noted that this isn't very professional and Some Total Wanker was requested to cause them to disappear. Some Total Wanker requested that precise details of the problem of line lengths seen in the minutes be e-mailed to him.

 

ACTION: Oli to change the website so that he is referred to as 'That Total Wanker'

Baz to e-mail Oli about the line length problem seen in the minutes section

 

11) The committee abhors...

Oli

Nightwish

Baz's recent illness

Oliver wishes to abhor his own illness and states that he doesn't give a shit about other people's

Emma abhores the years she spent being frightened of spiders

 

The committee adores

Oli adores Guns 'n' Roses who he states were fabulous on Friday. The committee refers the reader to the answer it gave some moments ago. Concerning Nightwish.

Emma and Elizabeth adore bats, of which there are currently many in Elizabeth's garden.

 

12) AOB

Emma pointed out that RockSoc still has a Dec 7th booking at the Boat Race it can't afford to put on. The Calling want to take over this date. In favour: 5 Against :0 Abstaining: 0

The Calling to put on a gig at the Boat race that night instead of us.

 

Meeting closed: 21 20