quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Ampz If you can't find a way to make 5,000 peaceful kids gathering to dance for three days a positive for your community, you're not the community I thought you were.

Wow.

OWNED

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You told me to look much farther. You told me to walk much more. You told me that music matters.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Ampz WEMF06? Why not? by Nicole Montreuil The wristband on my right arm says I've been to WEMF, the electronic music festival held last weekend at the Orangeville Agricultural Fairgrounds. You probably know it better as "the rave." And if you've heard anything about it, you've most likely heard the negative point of view. The noise of the bassline that kept some Mono residents awake. The acts of mischief. The stolen car. There's more to it than that. It wasn't just a bacchanal with a beat. For the 5,000 kids who travelled across North America purely for the WEMF experience, it was a celebration. The perfect weekend. They call it a subculture, this collection of crazy colour and synthesized sound. There's even an unofficial motto: Peace, Love, Unity and Respect. They weren't screaming obscenities and hurling the hatred found in gangsta rap or heavy metal. They were literally dancing the night away at a festival that bore more resemblance to the Woodstock we imagine than the Woodstock that occured, because at WEMF, no one died. That's right. It was a festival, one that brought 5,000 people to town. I called around to find out what kind of impact that would have on a local economy. The person I talked to at the local tourism board asked which festival it was, as though there's a way 5,000 people can have a negative economic effect. When I told her which one I meant, she said they had nothing to do with it -- that it wasn't their target audience who'd shipped by bus and car, and that the only store they could think of that might have seen increased sales as a result was the Beer Store. So none of the drivers would need to gas up before the long drive back to New Jersey or Connecticut, or stop at Tim Horton's before the drive back to Ottawa or Burlington? Festival organizers would have stats on how WEMF impacted the local economy, I was told. Destiny Productions said a conservative estimate was $500,000 over three days, something I was told was "unbelievable." Like 5,000 people wouldn't spend $30 a day or so over a weekend for gas, food, lodgings, cigarettes, and entertainment. They didn't all stay up on the Fairgrounds property all weekend. On Saturday, while the music stopped and others were resting, some of the ravers came into town for Buskerfest. They loved the town. They certainly spent money here. Yet there are those who want to keep WEMF from coming back next year. The noise, I'm told. The noise and the mischief. Funny, how when I talked to the OPP and the cops, they had precious few arrests to report. In fact, noise aside, the OPP seemed to think it was a well-run show. Five thousand people here and five arrests? You've had Lobsterfests worse than that. You've had Lobsterfests where the Orangeville Police drove their prisoner wagon to the event, loaded up by the dozen, unloaded at the station, and returned for another lot. I have that on good authority. Last week, I heard all about the traffic jam caused by the Highland Rotary Club's fireworks display up at that same Fairgrounds. The Rotarians had already scheduled a meeting to discuss ways to correct that for next year. It was a growing pain caused by moving a popular, familiar celebration into a new, more suitable venue. The same is true of WEMF. Orangeville taxpayers subsidized the Blues and Jazz Festival and the Rotarians' fireworks display to the tune of thousands of dollars. They didn't subsidize WEMF at all. Instead, Destiny forked out to rent the Fairgrounds -- something that may well make it financially easier to hold horse shows and the fall fair -- and to secure an off-duty OPP presence at the show. It didn't cost you a dime. It can only help. Neighbours complained about the noise -- said the bassline that kept us moving kept them up. But their windows were open. Their ears were perked, ready and waiting. Their complaints began long before the event did and by the time the first DJs began spinning, the clock was ticking on when those complaints would be lodged. I wrote about WEMF a month before it happened specifically so people would be prepared. So that they wouldn't be surprised by the noise, but rather equipped to avoid it. Some did. You turned on your fans and air conditioners. You shut your windows. You simply rolled over and went back to sleep. Thank you. If you can't find a way to make 5,000 peaceful kids gathering to dance for three days a positive for your community, you're not the community I thought you were. ~Ampz

Fuckn awesome man! Bloody brilliant! I really enjoyed reading that man.

Thanks.

Jem.

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TECHNO IS THE BEST NOISE ON EARTH.
Save Techno - Stop Minimal / Tech-House

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Originally posted by karim Are you kidding me? If you leave a bike, UNLOCKED in your garage and somebody steals it, is it your fault for leaving your bike unlocked IN A GARAGE?!?! C'mon. Somebody came ONTO her property, STOLE her car, and drove it into a ditch. Her "unwise" decision pales in comparison to what the car thief didn. Karim

Hey, I'm not saying what that dude did was excusable, I'm just saying it coulda been anyone. Obviously she woulda been pissed off no matter who took her car, but it just happened to be convenient for someone from WEMF to take it so that she had something extra to bitch about.
blah. don't yell at me.

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"Words are for those with promises to keep." -- W.H. Auden, Their Lonely Betters
"Ideology signifies the imaginary ways in which men experience the real world." -- Terry Eagleton (critic)

From the two stories you posted, I dont really see to much bad things. The Mayor and OPP know that a few bad things happened, but think for the most part it went off great and it was a nicely run event.

Theres always going to be some people that will have something to say, but their complaints arnt enough to stop the event, instead, they help to improve on things and make the event run smoother. It looks to me like they are seriously considering having WEMF back there next year. When they do the vote at the town meeting, sure some people will be there to put it down saying no, but I feel confident that more people will say yes, and bring WEMF back to orangville next year.

Maybe orangeville will have a list of things that need to be improved on or changed, and I know that WEMF organizers ALREADY have a big list of things THEY want to improve and change on also. This was the first year at this venue, theres still a few things to work out. That being said, 5000 people, 3 days, only 5 arrests? Need I say more?

It was probably to be expected that middle-class suburbia would have something to complain about. It's just more typical behaiviour from ininformed miserables who just need something to bitch about in their otherwise unsatisfied and lame lives.

not a bad article at all...

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"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people."

Second article is great.. well researched and well thought out.

Out of all the people that will be fighting adamantly in town council against having WEMF there next year, how many do you think will be local business owners? NONE. Fact is I never left the grounds all weekend and still put over $100 into the economy in food, beer and lunch before I arrived. I also saw many other people walking around in town that were going to WEMF, and this was at 12pm on Friday.

Second article is great.. well researched and well thought out.

Out of all the people that will be fighting adamantly in town council against having WEMF there next year, how many do you think will be local business owners? NONE. Fact is I never left the grounds all weekend and still put over $100 into the economy in food, beer and lunch before I arrived. I also saw many other people walking around in town that were going to WEMF, and this was at 12pm on Friday.

As for the lady that owned the stolen car, it's too bad that happened but she can't blame other people for her stupidity. And she can't put the act of one shithead on 5000 other people. The car was stolen because some little riff stole it and because she's an idiot for leaving the keys in it; don't blame the event that came to town that weekend.

Anyone who is complaining about WEMF had their minds made up well before the event even came to town; anyone from the city, venue and local market who was involved in it had no problem with it whatsoever.

Looking forward to seeing you all at Orangeville next year

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BRING ON CIRCA!!
www.djdennishahn.com

Last edited by Dennis Hahn on Jul-20-2005 at 18:28

quote:

Originally posted by Dennis Hahn Looking forward to seeing you all at Orangeville next year

quote:

Originally posted by Dennis Hahn Second article is great.. well researched and well thought out. Out of all the people that will be fighting adamantly in town council against having WEMF there next year, how many do you think will be local business owners? NONE. Fact is I never left the grounds all weekend and still put over $100 into the economy in food, beer and lunch before I arrived. I also saw many other people walking around in town that were going to WEMF, and this was at 12pm on Friday. Second article is great.. well researched and well thought out. Out of all the people that will be fighting adamantly in town council against having WEMF there next year, how many do you think will be local business owners? NONE. Fact is I never left the grounds all weekend and still put over $100 into the economy in food, beer and lunch before I arrived. I also saw many other people walking around in town that were going to WEMF, and this was at 12pm on Friday. As for the lady that owned the stolen car, it's too bad that happened but she can't blame other people for her stupidity. And she can't put the act of one shithead on 5000 other people. The car was stolen because some little riff stole it and because she's an idiot for leaving the keys in it; don't blame the event that came to town that weekend. Anyone who is complaining about WEMF had their minds made up well before the event even came to town; anyone from the city, venue and local market who was involved in it had no problem with it whatsoever. Looking forward to seeing you all at Orangeville next year

nicely put lol

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"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people."

2 many haters

A couple complainers; a few thousand lovers and who's voice gets printed? Same as always with the press and media....

Second article is great btw; very well written and researched.

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Last edited by Chris Allen on Jul-20-2005 at 22:57