Blog Electrofringe 2004
October 7th, 2004Well, in the past, every year I walk away from Electrofringe feeling two strong feelings. The first is how great it is to meet up with all the brilliant and talented new media and electronic artists who have got their shit together enough to get themselves to Newcastle. The second feeling I get is how the organisers need a kick up the backside to get their shit together to make this experience an all inclusive one. Not just a “we endorse this so go here” kind of vibe. I mean, why not include some of the local gigs, what about some of the artists who want to put on gigs at the same time so as to promote themselves not only as a supporter of Electrofringe, but also of Newcastle and the industry? Maybe I am still bitter from last years crushing miscommunication that led to us not being an “endorsed” gig.
This year is not much different. However I must admit I think Sound Summit benefitted from having a fresh organiser. The masterclasses were a major major drawcard. I would also like to see some effort made to include more women in Sound Summit, even if it means reverse discrimination. I dont care. Women need all the encouragement they can get.
Having said that, the nature of this music industry is that its full of people who are there solely to network, bullshit and crap on about how great they are. As a woman, I find that boring as hell.
I really find it hard to swallow having to listen to people rave on about themselves for long periods. If anything some men would benefit from ASKING QUESTIONS, rather than ranting about how great they are. Its quite possible they also might learn something. And truly, when I meet someone in person, I don’t want to listen to what they have done for a good half an hour, i would rather have a conversation about life, the universe and everything, then if they tickle my fancy as a good person. I will go check out their stuff by using the internet, or going to their gig, or ASKING THEM QUESTIONS.
October 7th, 2004 at 1:37 pm
Oh excuuuuse me! Women talk just as much shit as men do… You are so sexist!
October 7th, 2004 at 1:39 pm
yes but women are RARE at a place like Sound summit. I am just suggesting that perhaps this is a reason why
October 7th, 2004 at 1:40 pm
Maybe it’s because women think they are too good and high and mighty to goto Sound Summit.
October 7th, 2004 at 1:42 pm
no darlin, its YOU that think your too high and mighty to go to sound summit
October 7th, 2004 at 1:43 pm
No shit! I make no excuse about it.
October 7th, 2004 at 1:50 pm
I hardly think reverse discrimination is going to be the solution. I can certainly understand your frustration with the music scene seeing it’s such a boys club, but I’m also getting sick of girls using that as an excuse. Men are not holding women back, it’s not a patriarchy and women have access to everything men do. If anything, woman muso have an advantage over male musos since it is still a bit of a novelty so chances are as a women you’re more likely to get a break. But it all boils down to laziness or lack of interest.
As for men talking shit…what did you expect, you were at a music conference!! + that’s just the music industry, it’s full of egomaniac.
And just for the record, I know several female musos who talk shit all the time and tell me how hot they are right now.
Gender wars are so 90’s. Where’s the love?
October 7th, 2004 at 1:52 pm
Ohhh.. Sofie… YOU GOT SERVED!
October 7th, 2004 at 2:05 pm
i hardly think you can comment on this considering you ain’t a woman. But really i don’t agree. I do believe that nurturing a sense of inclusiveness for both sexes is something that is not exercised enough in this industry. Its easy for you to sit their with many male role models to base your understanding of what this industries about, but really, I do believe that its going to take a major overhaul to get women interested in this endeavour. I see so many women pick up the gauntlet only to throw it down again because they have had it with being treated a certain way by men. Guys pick on you, dismiss you, argue with you and then bitch about you until you get so frustrated you are happy to give the gauntlet away or throw it in the nearest rubbish bin. I promise you that it has taken way more guts and effort on my part to ignore the lack of inclusion and the mistreatment in this industry than you or your opinion would ever know about.
I really dont think either of you are in a position to argue with me on this point considering neither of you have been a woman dealing with this industry. However - you do see how irate i get when mistreated, perhaps you can take this as a sign that this is the only way i know to keep going keeping my self respect intact.
October 7th, 2004 at 2:26 pm
ah boohoo.
What needs to change here is women’s attitude towards themselves. If you keep speaking about women as the victims, that’s all they’ll ever be. It is this sort of nonesense that creates gender segregation in the first place.
I don’t know how you can say it’s easy for me because I have lots of “male role models”. My music role models may be male but what the hell does gender have anything to do with it? The music is either good or it’s shit. End of story! Besides, I have both male and female role models and until you mentioned it, the thought or them being different due to their gender never even crossed my mind.
I’d like to hear about these stories where guys picked on for being a woman. Please tell us.
October 7th, 2004 at 2:43 pm
sure if you care to come over i will relay some of my many horror stories about the kinds of things i have had said and done to me over the period of my life as an electronic musician. The fact that gender never crossed your mind is exactly the reason why its hard for you to see my point. To me, it was always a man standing up playing the music. I wanted to know where the girls were? Why werent they playing? What was wrong with girls? At university, the guys often would speak over the top of the girls in class, cross out their names on the studio timetable, and make fun of their music.
Dj’s are the same boat. ask any female DJ about their experiences and they will tell you a story about being discriminated against due to gender.
I will give you one example of an experience i had performing live electronic music at the strawberry hills hotel one night. I had a few guys come up to me that night saying pathetic things. For example the engineer asked me if i knew how to operate my own desk - or did i need his help? But the worst of all, was a punter. He came up to me, confused poor thing. He had seen my boyfriend help me set up, and now he was sitting down at the bar. He came up to me while i was playing live, and asked me how the performer was triggering all those sounds whilst sitting at the bar?
Imagine if you could that you were the only guy electronic musician that you knew existed in your neck of the woods. Wouldnt you be asking questions?
October 7th, 2004 at 2:45 pm
one more thing.
Don’t forget guys get picked on the same way but it’s easy for women to blame it on their gender. Maybe you’re getting picked on becuase the person is dickhead and he’s like that towards everyone. Or maybe that person doesn’t like your music.
I know I got picked on (and still do (Patrick!)) but I don’t say it’s because I’m a man.
Sofie, you know I love you, but seriously, you need to get over this boy/girl issue.
October 7th, 2004 at 2:48 pm
It’s all about love.
October 8th, 2004 at 12:43 pm
Well, in that case I think all the guys are loving each other. Giv, don’t you love Patrick and vice versa?