Hi everyone, I am sorry to announce that I have decided to cancel VAMP for the foreseeable future. My (only) grandfather died a few weeks ago; my beloved feline overlord is on deaths doorstep (bitten by a snake yday, on top of serious kidney problems & hyperthyroid disease); my father (way away in Perth) is also dieing (cancer and kidney disease). On top of the emotional issues, all these incur large financial costs upon me eg. vet bills, travel & accommodation costs, helping my father financially... In addition to this my mother and (only) grandmother died a few years ago so my father is the last of my ancestors. Having donated 20 to 50 hours of my time each month (for a year) to making VAMP happen I am very behind on other projects (that generated my income) that I desperately need to catch up on. I have also been greatly distressed by the inevitable scene drama of auxillary relationships breaking up & people who seem to have no clue about checking up on facts, of seeking the other side of a story, who instead spread malicious gossip, in a sociopathic manner, about various people. From all that I am also suffering through a severe flare up of fibromyalgia (chronic pain, headaches, fatigue). On top of that the event Decades has just announced they are scheduled to occur at the Transit bar on Friday 21st as a night-time event instead of the long established Sunday afternoon event (which I enjoyed, supported & promoted). Hence a Vamp on Saturday 22nd would not be viable as most regulars go to both events and I expect would be too tired to come out again to a similar event, 2 nights in a row. So Id just be throwing another months worth of energy & time (worth $3 to $6000 to most people) down the drain for no good reason. I re-started events like VAMP late last year because it was then viable to put such events on and because a new venue (Magpies) had presented itself and because I wished for one event per month I could go to and dance without the stress of being harassed by the sociopathic morons who frequent all other events and venues I know of and so I could see people that I will rarely if ever see otherwise. Maybe, once all the drama of ill and dieing loved ones blows over, once Ive caught up on my income-producing projects, and if it looks viable to run an event like VAMP (with no clashing events putting their events so close to the VAMP dates that were announced a long time ago*) then I may tee up something for 2015, in particular perhaps, to facilitate gigs for a few bands that I am fond of & who are nice people (grateful & appreciative). With my very best wishes to all of you who have supported my efforts & donated your time and energy, in particular to DJ Black Temple, Kristen Leonard, Carly (Glitter Neko), Kerry, Millie, Rachel, the numerous guest DJs (including Evil Chris, Lily DuBois, Fahrenheit, Douglas Voodoo, Xerstorkitte), the bands (Orbis Tertius, Shiv-R, Dark Shadows, AR12, Marc Robertson, Second Sun), Jay & Rob V, to Joel (PA) and of course the venue Magpies and the friendly staff there, all of whom I shall miss. My apologies to anyone I have overlooked. Its been a lot of fun (and a lot of stress behind the scenes). As its unlikely Ill see most of you for a considerable time, I extend my best wishes for Xmas and a Happy New Year, xox, Robot. * Initially Chrome and Decades were a week apart from VAMP dates, being how I positioned it, out of respect for all, but theyve moved now to be a week before or be on the same weekend. Canberras small scene cant presently support so many similar events in such close proximity so it makes sense that those who have the need and drive to run them can do so without other events thinning the numbers.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 03:42:48 +0000