What is a Free Party?

[Dr Bunsen]

What is a Free Party?

by Derek Williams

A Free party also known as a rave, a doof, ateuf or a teknival depending on the context is an all night or longer event, where people go to dance, socialise and have fun in an uninhibited way. Consider them temporary autonomous zones or TAZ...

The venue could be anything from a disused warehouse or office block, to a forest, a field or a beach. At night expect dark areas lit only by coloured beams of light and strobes, although production values vary and you might find just about anything, even expensive lasers.

The crowd is mostly young ranging from 18 to 25, although there's no age limit and there are plenty of older party goers and a few younger ones too.

Something I like about free parties is the way a conversation about living in an old van on a traveler site can be followed by a conversation about Microsoft's Windows NT operating system. Despite what you might have been told, there is no stereotypical free party person.

There are some common features though, a friendly and outgoing personality, an 'up-for-it' attitude, a love of music and a communal atmosphere. And you won't find a dress code at a rave although rave clothing and raver wear have become established fashions.

Drugs are a feature of raves and free parties of course, although their use is generally limited to substances deemed more "social or recreational" rather than the harder drugs. And while it's true that there is drug use at raves, it's not the problematic type of hard drug abuse often seen amongst the socially excluded, in particular hard drugs of addiction (heroin and crack) simply aren't a part of the scene.

A big requirement of a good free party is that it shouldn't be motivated by financial gain. Entry should either be free, or at most require only a small cover charge to meet the organisers' expenses. Also in this context we understand the term "free party" to mean "free" in the sense that you're being welcomed into a space without limitations imposed on expression or behaviour by the organisers.

A true free party will keep going until it there are simply no more people left in attendance, the organisers decide they've had enough or the police decide to stop the event. It's not unheard of for parties to last whole weekends or longer.



Who runs Raves and Free parties?

Real free parties are organised by enthusiasts rather than people trying to make money. Enthusiasts working together form sound systems with members bearing responsibility for different aspects of a party from power, to maintaining sound and lighting equipment, Dj'ing [sometimes performing live], running the bar, painting back-drops and decorations, and so on. Essentially each person contributes what they can to help shape the wider group effort.

Sound systems are clearly the driving force behind the free party scene. Often they collaborate to stage bigger events offering a choice of different music, areas and better facilities. Given that each system has it's particular style, ideology and following, these events are generally more varied, often attracting larger crowds.

Should I pay to go to a free party?

Having said that free parties organisers may or may not ask for a donation on the door, they will let you in at a discount if you look poor or ask nicely enough. Some parties however are entirely free, since it's possible for organisers to cover their costs by running a small bar or a [record] stall. Overall though, organising a party is an expensive business requiring a lot of time, energy and effort. If you're asked for a donation, be generous!

Also, once inside consider volunteering to help out as well. There's always something you can do, from tidying up at the end of the party, to lending a hand with some carrying and fetching...

Where can I find one?

Free parties, teknivals and squat parties aren't hard to find, it's just a matter of finding people who are already in that scene. Parties kick off every weekend in London and all over the world. Just keep an ear to the ground for the sound of dancing feet...