Winterdaze Production Manager Abby Gee is ready for this season’s venue change for the ALSO Foundation’s annual winter bash – from the tit-freezingly huge Shed 14 to the smaller Shed 7 at South Melbourne’s Docklands. “Shed 7 has a warehouse feel to it but more of the creature comforts like inbuilt toilets – and sexy ones at that”, Abby’s voice is all production-manager-mode of efficiency: if you can’t use one venue, find another and get on with the show.
For the past year or so, the ALSO Foundation, the community organisation behind the party front has been trying to figure out where it’d best be heading if it’s to remain relevant for a population with an increasingly diverse understanding of their own sexual identities. Amongst this organisational backdrop, 25 yo and already an events management veteran, Abby has resolutely kept her eye on her role: successfully hosting parties that have hopped around a few venues – most crowd-pleasingly at QBH – in contrast to ALSO’s traditional source of income: the Shed 14 party base.
So the local perceptions of an organisation fumbling with its strategic focus was constantly at the threat of being symbolised by a party without a venue: a community without a need to come together anymore? But with a commitment and love for a job that coordinates an annual party calendar to raise funds for community projects, Abby has kept a grip on providing the spaces that bring people together for community celebration.
With a stable party base for the gay and lesbian community in the air, Abby’s clever ironic play with an atlas of location-based themes (Altered States, Japanese futurism, red light districts, and now UK Underground) has kept the queer-friendly crowd resonating to a deeper sense of belonging.
“I think it’s getting back to the days of a bit more community, and a more balanced gender: and the gay boys love it,” Abby suggests of the ALSO crowd’s vibe, admitting that the events are predominantly (“80 per cent”) gay and lesbian.
The theme London Underground allows for the return of Red Raw designer, Kat Rhodes. “With the theme going down the lines of England, I’m really into making it very sexy. Beefing up the pommy culture and looking at the London rebellion, incorporating the alternative London Underground feel,” says Kat. “I’m hitting on glam, punk and the guts of the Underground system.”
While the UK Underground theme provides a theme for performances and décor, Producer Abby Gee is reluctant to let that influence the music. “The back music room, especially”, explains Abby. “It’s a NY oriented sound – irrespective of the dj, and I wouldn’t be changing the music policy there. I’m not about to screw with a good formula.”
“I think the Deep Bitch Boys and Kate Monroe will turn up the UK twist to it: acid house, tech-house, the boys move around so much. And Kate Monroe has just played at the David Morales gig – we’ve had huge responses after the parties, Kate has been one of the most talked about.”
The Deep Bitch Boys (Peter McNamara and Nathan G) will be merging the best of two djs on a four-deck set. “There’s such a flow to their work,” Abby sounds excited. “They rehearse bits so that they can be spontaneous and mad on the night.” Abby sounds reverent about the conditions the boys work under: “Two turntables and another guy to synch in with, and keep the programming up without chucking in the stuff that’s easier – the Deep Bitch Boys make it look like all that’s fun!”
The ALSO Foundation presents Winterdaze on 9 June, 2001 at Shed 7, Atlantic South Wharf, Melbourne.
DJs for Winterdaze 2001 include David Smith (Syd: Arq), Deep Bitch Boys (Nathan G/ Peter Mc Namara), Kate Monroe (Syd: Milk & Two Sugars), Mish Donelly (Kiss FM), Brett Nickisson (Trade, Twilo), Sarah Bromley (Girl Bar), Buck Naked (Syd: Inquisition, Gas) Jude Tsai (Mardi Gras 01). Lighting Designer: Brad Wright (Syd: Arq), Costume Design: Marc Canevale, Scenic Design: Kat Rhodes (Red Raw 01), Producer: Abby Gee, Choreographer: Mitch Bartlet.
Tickets: $70 presale, $60 members and concession inc GST (+booking fee).
