Well, what follows is a practical guide to organizing your own rave. But before I get started, there are a few issues I need to address. I’m not sure how it works in the US, but in the UK we have something called the Criminal Justice Act of 1988. This was introduced as a direct response to the rise of rave culture in the late 1980s. What it did this act was to give the police the power to shut down any meeting they deemed dangerous or anti-social.
You should be aware that any gathering held on public land or on land you do not have permission to use may be closed and all equipment may be confiscated. I have been to several raves that have ended this way and very often the police involvement turns into chaos, fights, riots and arrests. I remember a rave a friend organized under the M6. The police blocked about 200 of us under this bridge and proceeded to arrest people left, right and center. In the chaos I saw a young lad get bottled up and several other people got a good kick! So be careful out there!
THE ESSENTIAL
The place
You have several options for the venue and some very important decisions to make that could make or break your rave:
1. Do you want to rave outside?
The first problem you have is permission. Do you have permission to use the land you are interested in? Do you mind!? Most outdoor rave-worthy land is owned by a farmer. Farmers are notoriously weird when it comes to these kinds of events; some of them will be accommodating and others will shoot you if you step on anything on their property, so take it slow! Most farmers understand one language: money! Put your hand in your pocket and pay the man for the privilege. Or work out a deal where you charge per car (but charging for admission is another area to be careful about, and you’ll need to find trustworthy people who don’t mind missing the party to take responsibility for this).
Some of the best raves I’ve been to have been in the Lake District under clear skies and when you get to that sunrise at 3 or 4 in the morning it can be a great place to be. But there are obvious caveats: the main one is rain! If it’s going to be wet (and that’s usually when you don’t want it to be), then you need to protect your gear. That means covers, tarps, and some kind of scaffolding to keep those covers in place.
Wind can also be a problem, so if you’re going to be raving outside, think about using the natural relief of the land to protect your setup from the worst.
You should also check the input and outputs; especially if you’re going to have a lot of cars involved. What looks like good terrain can quickly turn into a quagmire after a bit of rain and a few cars get added to the mix.
2. Do you want to be delirious inside?
If you have a tidy indoor venue, then you’ve already eliminated a lot of the problems associated with the damn British weather. But you’ve opened another box of problems!
If you have a suitable venue available to rent, all the licences, gate control, security and staging are greatly simplified, but you may have rules set by the police and venue owners. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend using a proper venue for anything other than a proper club night. But we’re talking about proper raves here, so…
3. What are the other options?
The best option is a privately owned building… Not a house! I’m thinking more of a barn or disused storage space like a warehouse. If you can get permission to use something like this, then you’re a winner! As long as it’s weatherproof, it can protect your ravers and your sound system from the elements; but it doesn’t have the usual bureaucracy associated with using a proper venue.
The best rave I’ve ever hosted was at an old church! It was completely empty except for a few hymn books. It still had the huge stained glass windows in place and gave the whole night a gothic feel.
Whichever place you choose, you face a brush with the law if you don’t have permission to be there, and even if you do have permission to be there, then you still have various other issues to worry about. If there are neighbors nearby then they have rights and may be the biggest problem you will face as most people will pick up the phone and call the old bill right away. Do not forget that the Police have the right to break up the party whatever the circumstances. Thanks to Margaret Thatcher for that!
music and lighting
Once you’ve got the place tidy, you need to fill it with things that make people rave. How far you go with this is entirely up to you, but there is no limit. Some raves I’ve been to had huge tents filled with hanging fluorescent decorations and crazy characters walking on stilts! The only limits are budget and imagination. However, there are essentials you won’t be able to rave without.
1. The sound system
The most important part of the equipment is the sound system. Without that there is no party! If you don’t have one then you’re going to have to hire one. The best way to hire a sound system is through word of mouth. There will be people who have organized raves before you, just as there will be people who organize raves after you are gone! So ask, where do you get your sound systems from? What size are you looking for? They are truthful?
You’ll have to dip into the piggy bank, but there are often sound system owners who are sympathetic to your cause and will rent you a sound system for a decent price. If you are lucky, you can hire someone to take care of everything. Otherwise, you’ll have to purchase the system yourself, set it up, and get it up and running. If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t bother! Pay someone else!
2. The music
You need a DJ! This is the easiest part AND the hardest part of the night to organize! You have to decide what music is going to make people go crazy and you have to plan a night of perfect musical balance, flow and style to make the night a great success. You also want to make sure you have enough DJs to cover the entire night, but not too many DJs or you’ll have conflict on your hands!
When people find out you’re hosting a rave, word quickly spreads and before you know it there will be people you’ve never heard of asking for sets. It’s really up to you who and what is played, but you may have to step on your toes in the process.
Once all the DJs show up, you have the added pain of organizing their schedules and the order in which they play. Someone will be unhappy to play first, someone will try to play longer, someone will be too mad to play, and someone will show up with a box of records saying that his uncle’s milkman told him he could play for half an hour. My advice… treat DJs like animals! Be strict but not aggressive. Tell everyone what the script is and if they don’t like it they don’t play. Try not to change the set times and keep everything running as planned; but remember… this is your night! Don’t let the DJ dictate you!
You may need to rent decks and a mixer if the sound system guy hasn’t provided them. Try to borrow them mostly (may require giving a DJ the main set, but that’s how it works!). If a DJ wants specific equipment other than two high-quality turntables and a decent mixer, then he’ll have to bring his own!
3. The lights
The lights are also very important and some people go to town on this department. As with the sound system, you need to know what you’re doing or it could get tricky! If you have the budget, go crazy! Get lasers, traffic lights, strobes, lightning, the whole nine meters! It all helps create the rave experience.
If you’re holding the rave in a location that has no street or natural lighting, you’ll need flood lights for certain areas, such as the front entrance and socializing areas. These are not essential, but they enhance the experience for everyone.
If you feel that you do not have enough knowledge of the above area and would like to know more, please visit: avforums.com [no affiliation].
the other bits
1. The generator
The generator is one of the easiest things to fix. Most people know someone with a generator of some description; however, make sure it has the power to do the job. If you don’t know anyone who will lend you a generator, then every town, city or village has somewhere nearby that will rent a generator for you. If you can’t find anywhere, try hss.com [no affiliation]. They allow you to order and pick up at a fairly reasonable price.
The size of generator needed will depend on the size of the sound system, lighting rig, and anything else you’re planning that needs power. You should be able to get a good indication of the necessary size of the parties involved in these various areas. It may make more sense to hire multiple generators for different needs. So if one goes wrong not everything is affected!
Another tip for the generator: opt for diesel, it’s cheaper! And get a lot on standby.
1. Air Conditioning and Heating
Depending on the location, you may need to rent a heater or air conditioners to enhance the experience for your ravers. If the venue is small and crowded, then air conditioning rental is essential and will prevent someone from passing out from too many delusions.
Likewise, if you’re planning a winter rave, the venue may need additional heating, and renting a heater could be another necessity.
ADD THE MAGIC
In addition to the lights and sound system, if you have the budget, why not get all the extras that enhance the rave experience? You can opt for smoke machines, fireworks, jugglers, magicians, MCs, etc. The sky really is the limit!
MARKETING ADS
Hmm. Now this can be an area where things go wrong! Too much marketing and you might get overwhelmed. If the place can’t keep up, then you’re in a world of trouble. Decide what you’re trying to accomplish, and then decide your level of marketing from there. If you want a low-key event with just friends, just spread the word and let everyone else do the rest. If you want your event to be huge, print out some flyers and do some internet marketing on sites like Facebook and MySpace.
But never underestimate the power of the vine! Don’t overdo it or you may end up in a world of trouble!