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| shy_sarah |
Tags: Manchester (M)
What a ride!
The Dystopia team have been plotting away on creating the perfect event since the inaugural success, always striving to be bigger, better, and giving the people of the scene more of what they want. The devil's in the details and we've all been striving to realise the wonderful shared vision of what Dystopia should be, an event that is not just a bit of "something for everyone", but one that provides everyone with everything they need/want and then more!
The dungeons were spectacular, and extremely popular from all the writhing I saw every time I stuck my head in! Well done to @Noise and @popi for creating such popular spaces. Yes, the last minute change of venue was a knock to the smoothness of the setting up, but with a team of people too numerous and generous to mention (you know who you are!) we were able to create a venue damn close to the initial plan. The garden bar came together spectacularly with a super-kitsch bar (inflatables for the win, Miss_D! 
), inspired choice of live musicians, and a rather captivating fire breather.
The transformation of upstairs into grandmother's tea-room was completed with the complimentary Hendrick's gin bar, though I'm not sure granny would have watched some of the films being shown there that got me all really rather flustered and rather slowed down my cocktail mixing skills 
I loved the little garden area/studio created and manned by @Mister_Chris and the decadent red room was a pleasure to perform in, especially when compered by someone as enjoyable as Des O'Connor. I even managed to fit in a quick lindy on the stage area after the performances, just before being told to clear off so they could take down some of the fantastical props from our many rather varied and unusual burlesque acts.
It's not unusual to find a great atmosphere back-stage at these events - I've met a lot of very lovely people through burlesque and was pleased to meet another couple of names I had only heard of in a rather cramped, intimate but most importantly supportive backstage room. Sadly as is often the case it's hard to catch other people's acts but I heard plenty of whoops and cheers and enjoyed both my acts, but I have to say performing with @Irrepressable_Red was a highlight of the evening - what fun! Apologies to the chap who evidently did not want to catch my apple 
It was a bit tricky to pick out faces in such a tight crowd...
After all the physical slog and fast-pace pre-event, and the pre-performance nerves once the doors opened, the euphoria that came at the end of the second half was so pleasurable, despite having had a mere snifter of gin (I only like the cucumber stuff) I spent a good hour walking on air.
Luckily the adrenalin kept pumping enough for the huge team effort of packing the venue down at the end - all that fabric came down a lot quicker than it went up! I felt bad that I left about an hour before the final pieces were packed away, but happy in the knowledge that I had given Dystopia all I had and then some. I can't begin to express how it felt to see everyone pitch in both before, during and after the event so I'll just have to hope you can guess.
The most gratifying, pleasurable and enjoyable part of it all though, was watching everyone arrive and enjoy what had been provided for them. Taking the occasional moment to survey the crowds chatting, playing, eating, drinking, watching and being merry was such a pleasure. Seeing the effort people had made for the theme was great fun too - I can't wait to see the pictures.
And I got about 2 months worth of exercise in 48 hours. Win.
| 5 Jul 10, 11:08 AM Belasarius UK(M), 8 yrs       |
Wow. It sounds like an extraordinary effort for amazing reward - and i bet you all feel good about yourselves and special too. Can't wait till it happens on a c_b'n'me wekend. My goal - to save women from nature (Dior) | |
| 5 Jul 10, 10:09 PM Irrepressible_Red UK(M), 5 yrs |
I'll shake my tail feathers alongside you any day of the week my love, you're an amazing performer. What fun! Burly threesome next time do you think? | |
| 6 Jul 10, 12:44 AM shy_sarah UK(M), 4 yrs |
Good god - logistical nightmare!!  Compliance for fun? Hell yes. | |
| 6 Jul 10, 9:32 PM Motley UK(M), 2 yrs |
Although I only saw the last three acts, yours was the one of the best I have ever seen! Flying fruit and some nice competetion in the act. And well done on the outfits. xx | |
| 7 Jul 10, 6:48 AM StanBWonderful UK(L), 6 yrs |
I missed all the burlequey loveliness  Is there any chance you could reproduce your routine exactly like you did it at the next U35 munch? | |
| 8 Jul 10, 8:29 PM shy_sarah UK(M), 4 yrs |
Hmmm...let me see...um... No. Tsk. Silly boy. Was that lovely lady of yours distracting you? For shame. Compliance for fun? Hell yes. |
