Notes from 'Alternative Christmas Party' planning meeting

In the Champion of the Thames, 1st November 2006. Taking part in the meeting were:

• Dorée (Gothsoc)
• Simon (Rocksoc)
• Nick J (Rocksoc/WUS)
• Haydon (CUFS)
• Lupie (CUFS)

It was noted that there's probably a Church of Noise that week, which gives us a full week of alternative events:

• Monday 27th November: Alt Xmas Party (Gothsoc/Rocksoc/CUFS)
• Tuesday: WUS (Rocksoc/guest DJs)
• Wednesday: Rocksoc Xmas Quiz, hopefully
• Thursday: Church of Noise
• Friday: Gothsoc pubmeet

This is primarily Gothsoc's big event - we'll publicize as something like "Gothsoc in association with Rocksoc and CUFS".

Following the highly successful Halloween WUS, Nick and Simon agreed that we'll split on-the-night cost/profit 50% between Gothsoc and Rocksoc. Additionally, Gothsoc will fund publicity.

Door cost was agreed to be £3 for Gothsoc and/or Rocksoc members, £4 otherwise.

There are 4 floors (but 3 distinct areas since the balcony/gallery area is open to the dancefloor):

• Main dancefloor, plus balcony above (Gothsoc to provide relatively mainstream goth/deathrock/EBM DJs)
• Basement bar (Rocksoc/WUS to provide commercial/classic metal/rock DJs)
• Lounge bar upstairs (CUFS to organise as a chillout area)

Haydon can probably get burlesque performers for free entry/bar tab rather than actually paying anyone. The backup plan is to have table service in the lounge bar area.

Nick pointed out that the Soul Tree bar can be expensive. However, the more we pay to hire the place, the more drinks discounts there will be - the most expensive option for us (i.e. cheapest drinks) is to have discounts throughout the night, costing no more than £500. All present agreed to go for that.

Haydon explained that Soul Tree have their own door security who will be told to be very alternative-friendly - cross-dressing goths, etc. should be no problem. At the same time, they'll turn away people who seem excessively drunk and not alternative-friendly, which is good to know.

Publicity

Dorée and Lupie will produce publicity materials - the initial plan is to have a colour, photographic poster (Dorée is happy to model, Haydon knows a good photographer) but have Lupie's line-art on black & white flyers.

Promotion

We can hopefully cross-promote this event at WUS, and WUS at this event. Also we'll do the usual postering/flyering of pubs, colleges, etc. Haydon also knows a fetish'ish artist who will promote the event, and so on.

Further organisation

Simon was asked to set up a temporary mailing list. This is now set up, <list-altxmasparty at rocksoc.org.uk>.