All tomorrow's parties
This Vancouver group promotes a very different kind of bash
Michelle Miller
Tired of the shallow consumerism, homophobia and sexual harassment (and assault) that seemed unavoidable in Vancouver’s mainstream bar scene, a group of young queer friends banded together in November 2007 to throw safe-space dance parties. Under the name the Fuck Off and Dance Collective, they now organize parties that aim to be approachable, accessible, affordable and inclusive. Here are their tips on how to host your own such event.
- After teaming up with a group of like-minded people (ask members of other community groups you’re involved with), find a venue that works in terms of physical accessibility and safety for queer, trans, and gender-non-conforming folk. Make sure you have control over de-gender-regulating the bathrooms.
- To keep costs down, rely on free advertising via social networking sites and word of mouth, rather than paper posters. And instead of using professional security, hire members from the community to monitor intoxication levels and make sure no one is driving (or biking) home drunk.
- Decorate with style and safety in mind — project Buffy episodes on the wall; suspend foot-long, glitterpainted papier-m‰chŽ phalluses from the ceiling; bring in a make-out booth. Expect people to get laid at your party, but only if they want to. Provide condoms, female condoms and latex gloves by the doors (on the way in and out) and hang posters reminding partygoers what consent looks like.
- Charge admission on a sliding scale so that you don’t have to turn anyone away for lack of funds.
- For music, hire emerging DJs from the community. Encourage them to combine soul, reggae, '80s rock and queer favourites like “It’s Raining Men” and “Cannonball” to set the mood.
- Lead by example: dance your ass off. It’s a party, remember?
