What is Rave Party Culture?

[Dr Bunsen]

What is Rave Party Culture?

Whether you call it a free party, rave or teknival...

Rave party culture began in the late nineteen eighties in the United Kingdom as a result trends in popular music, commercial radio and a failing club scene. In an effort to find venues and distance itself from the main stream also because of a lack of affordable party venues, warehouses, halls and other often unlicensed locations became regular venues for the raves parties of the day.

In an effort to control rave party culture some police forces with the help of various government agencies successfully outlawed rave parties in parts of the country forcing electronic music events into licensed venues like nightclubs and theaters although some venues forbade the clothes ravers would wear as well the paraphernalia associated with the rave party scene. Early rave parties was generally homegrown and D.I.Y prevailed with a relatively small number of party people actually contributing to party's production and promotion.

As the police started to pay more attention to rave parties, keeping their location a secret became increasingly important to their success and organizers started promoting their parties by word of mouth concealing their location until the very last minute and only making them known to a small group of members or friends through private mailing lists, membership schemes and voice-mail messages...

A guide to Rave Culture (raves forum):

Stories and rants, Technical guides, The Law, Interviews and Party Reports.

Articles, Stories and Rants (rave forum).

. Far from the maddening crowds
. Dance culture fades as clubbing magazine Ministry folds
. Inside London's secret raves
. Peace and Reconciliation over the Stonehenge situation?
. Raves, Brighton and the government
. UK rave clampdown
. Growing pains in Byron Bay
. The secret life of ECSTASY
. About a rave in the forest near Ringwood
. Beach Bummers Boozy Bottleneck
. The summer party checklist
. 3 Brighton sound systems are unlawfully impounded
. Who Smashed Doris?
. Stop vandalizing parties!
. The ECSTASY of a police siren
. The good party goer's guide
. What is a free party?
. The guide to having a free party
. PLUR
. A layman's introduction to Barticle physics

Technical Guides (technical guides forum)

. The Sound System How To Guide
. How to Build a Sound System
. A technical foundation to building a sound system

The Law (the law forum)

. Legal aid and advice contacts
. The Criminal Justice Act 1994

Interviews

. Pan!k sound system
. Lab 4
. Headfuk
. Chimaera
. Chris Liberator
. Paul Shurey
. Tash

Party Reports (party reports forum)

. Queen's Day 2003 After Party
. Dutchtek 2002
. Midsummer moot on the Ridgeway
. Norwich party closes after negotiations with police
. Solaluna, Greece
. Solipse, Zambia, Africa
. Senseblender festival Belgium
. Wet Blankets
. Celebrity Moon, Haad-Rin, Thailand
. A Final Bash at the Elf
. Brighton Policing, not so right on
. Party Poopers
. Earthdance Groningen
. Technosense
. DC Haze, USA . Calm Seas - Koh Phangang, Thailand
. Exodus Free Spirit Festival
. Boom Festival
. Haze 2K
. Reading 2K
. The old British Rail offices Paddington
. Solipse Festival
. White Rabbit
. Mutant Bust
. Queensday at the Elf
. Good Mood Productions
. Black Sheep
. Boom Records Party
. Halloween
. Boom Festival
. Wijk Aan Zee Beach Party
. Alien Eclipse
. Welsh Caper
. Exodus
. Beach Front Party

[General Lighting]

The Rave Party Goers Guide:

1. A copy of this print out.
2. A road map (A-Z, AA or http://www.mapquest.com)
3. A (charged up) mobile phone.
4. Some snacks (fruit, bottled water, biscuits, etc)
5. Depending on the weather: suncream/waterproofs and warm clothes.
6. A blanket to lie on.
7. Some toilet paper.
8. A small spade or trowel to accompany the above!
9. Some rubbish bags.
10. A positive attitude.

Also remember to...

1. Respect any locals' privacy, keep the noise down getting there.
2. Bag your rubbish before you leave.
3. Use dead wood rather than living trees.
4. Park your car properly if you can avoiding obstructions.

And above all:

You are not criminals!
Going to a free party isn't illegal!
Don't let the judicial system make you into a criminal by breaking the law!

---

Some ideas...

www.multimap.com is also a good on-line GIS system. AFAIK it is useable throughout Europe

For indoor parties I would suggest bringing a torch (flashlight) instead of the spade. It is always prudent to check what lies ahead in a dark corner, stairwell or corridor before proceeding in that direction - derelict buildings often have have missing floor panels, bare live wires and other hazards; a further annoyance these days is that these areas are sometimes used as a toilet due to lack of or damage to more appropriate sanitary facilities. :(

it also come in handy should you drop or mislay any small items during the night....

Take care when exploring; particularly if attempting to climb to higher levels of buildings (stairs, ladders and duckboards can be hazardous) or get to the roof. If you find people around you expressing concern that you may be putting yourself in danger, it is often a good idea to listen to them and re-evaluate the risks, abandoning your attempt if necessary! sometimes the effect of party substances can make you attempt to "bite off more than you can chew". Be careful out there!

bank card in case of emergency
thermos :)
more than 1 pack o rizla
a chain to put keys/ wallet on
a sense of adventure!

[Manxy]

A gazillion lighters

A - Z/directions.
Travel card.
Bank card.
A tent.
Phone.
Something soft to lay on; pillows, cushions, duvet, blanket.
Toilet roll.
Water.
First aid kit.
Fire extinguishers.
Layers for the night if it's going to be chilly.
Change of clothes for the following day if it's going to be hot.
Camera.
Lighter.
Rizla.
Tobacco.

[Mariasupial]

These are my essentials, my m8s take the piss out of me for looking like I'm going on holiday for a month when I go to a party, but I'm the 1st person they ask when they need something!

Torch
Extra clothes / shoes
Suncream
Loo roll
Toiletries & 1st aid kit
Phone & car charger
Sleeping bag
Rail card
Camera
A-Z
Water
Vodka
Mixer
A vessel to drink the above from!
Bank card
Lighter(s)
Baccy
Rizla silver king slim
Rubbish bags
Note book & pen
Food
@rugs!!

[BioTech]

Everyone so far has failed to mention to bring the car. I'd be wary of letting any of you lot organise a trip to a party. (except GL as he has the cycle!)

On a more serious note though, I like to take a spare bottle of water and a towel to give yourself a quick rinse down before you leave to get rid of all that rave dust and sweat. Makes the journey home much nicer and helps refresh you a bit.

[Mariasupial]

Originally posted by BioTech
Everyone so far has failed to mention to bring the car. I'd be wary of letting any of you lot organise a trip to a party. (except GL as he has the cycle!)

I can't drive!!

[General Lighting]

about 4 years ago some of our crew retook a squat which had been previously occupied by someone from one of the local rigs.

the wall in his former room (in the attic) was covered with checklists written in black marker pen of items to remember when setting off (including van keys, gaffer tape, all sorts of leads and connectors) - this was a big wall in a converted office; every part the whole rig must have been on that list :D

Did a free party under the cumberland basin (bristol),with the animators us doing makeshift (hardcore tekno rig).were so spannered when we were loading up,got down and forgot the fukin table.had to put the decks on the boot of a car and set up round that.

Weed
Weed
Erm....
More Weed
Erm....
Wot We Talkin Bout Again????

Oh yeah n money for MD.
Shit six hits won't get me high no more,
so bye for now im gonna try to find some more.

Keep On RAVIN!

Keep The Spirit Alive!

Wanna Rave in Norfolk Let Me Know....

L8A

bring plur!
but seriously,
bring extra clothes
extra money (in case you lose the car. it happens to all of us)
shoes that don't hurt you!

Indeed,dont forget the money or you may find it hard to purchase substances etc...
Always plenty of Rizla's and lighters
Cigarettes
and most importantly a group of like minded friends who dont do your head in when you're coming down!lol

[sambo303]

bring rugs + friends...invaluable for entertainment