Call & Response

To find out about potential interest in my event, I sent a message via facebook to all my VIS COMM buddies;

"Hello Friend,

I'm just sending a message out to a few of us vis commers about an event I'm looking to host as part of the live project brief.

It will be something along the lines of 'Collage Club' (although that name is already taken) and it will be an evening in the college cafeteria where space and materials will be provided to have a mess around with making collage, either on your own, or collaborate with others there.

Would you be interested in coming to such an event? Do you have friends who would be interested?

What do you think would make the event more appealing? i.e. music, film, free booze, food, CAKE!?

Do you have any suggestions about the event such as location or day?

I'd appreciate a few sentences of feedback which will go towards planning the event.

I thank you!

Kate Prior, your fellow Vis Com student."


It churned out some interesting responses, I must say. (Highlighted are the juicy bits)

"I think it sounds really intresting and good fun! I think that the best time to do it would be around 4ish 5ish as many people are ready to leave college and will pass by it! I'd say a good day would be during the middle of the week as its allways seems to be quit empty!!

Defeantly have food and drinks!!
To intice people! The more the merry!
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I think good music on the stereo, not live, that would take the attention from the point.
free booze would obviously be great, but just cheap would be great, but drinks for sure.
I think objectives, maybe themes, or a competition element might be good, and motivate some good collaboration and work. maybe if you created a colour fanzine from work created at the event, that would give it an exciting output for the people getting involved.
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I would probably be interested in such an event and would definitely try and bring friends along.

I think free anything is always good at drawing in numbers, you just have to be careful that it doesn't devalue the actual event.

Music, particularly live, could give it a more fun atmosphere, especially in the cafeteria, which I have always found to have a somewhat depressing atmosphere!

I think giving the collage a theme and a final outcome could help, such as tying it in with an existing event in Leeds and having the final collage exhibited somewhere public, this would give it more purpose, which could make it more appealing to people.
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Yes yes yes. Although I would prefer some drawing like the lazy oaf thing, it worked well, maybe having a theme as well.

What do you think would make the event more appealing? i.e. music, film, free booze, food, CAKE!?

Free booze is always good and so is cake actually all of those things listed above!

I personally dont like the college cafe, its a bit to clinical, its not really a social place. Although if you want people to come its easier. I would say Hyde Park Social cos its free rental and I havent been there and it looks nice and its close

http://onecosmicsunday.com/images/hps_back_flyer.jpg

but less people might come, or Opposite cafe. just my opinion. Also take in to consideration the day because if its too near the deadline people might be too busy!
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CAKE! food, im not sure booze is really do able in college is it? unless its it like 8 or something stupid but yeah it sounds cool!
i would be interested in coming and im sure some of the other students would be interested. be nice to think of something to work towards perhaps, so its not just for the sake of doing it. maybe like the work goes into an exhibition?
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Hi! Yeah I would definitely be interested that sounds really fun.

As far as things to entice people I think music would be good obviously.. And I don't drink at the moment but I'm sure everyone else will be into the booze idea!

Hmm as for location, well last year when I was at Norwich someone hosted a paint throwing event in their garage.. that was pretty fun, if you know anyone with a garage.. hah umm.. or just someone's house. Or an empty space. But maybe you're not willing to negotiate with that.
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Is there an end goal? like make a series of works to hang in the canteen or is it just for fun?. Will there be a theme? sum kind of direction, so maybe a list of possible subjects just the get the ball rolling?
The location sounds good (will it be free to use), an as to what would make the event more appealing, free booze is at the top... but thats just me. cakes r good aswell, but music and films in the background are always welcome. Im sure ive got friends who are interested aswell so if their welcome. Will it be a recurring event? maybe coincide the event with a night out? so its like a pre party? but again thats just me.
Is it going to be open to every one? and if so how r u going to get your event into the public domain? Also how can u stop people taking advantage of the possibly free alcohol and free cake ... me basically, how r u going to stop me kate??? possibly BYOB? . Prizes for best? if so who judges? what happens to all the work after, can people take them home? Have you thought about sponsors? what about if you publicized a night out after, so call it the Wire collage club, then get sum money to help with the materials, or they could provide alcohol?
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ooh yeah that sounds well good, cake is an obvious choice! I'm actually poo at collaging but i'm well up for it, i reckon somehow getting a photocopier into the canteen (god knows how) would be really good for it, loadsa cut n' paste like! Maybe stuff like magazines and things with images to use, dunno, but it's a cool idea i like it! x
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free booze is always nice...or if you got enough people down u could open the bar?

I think if u provide alot of fun varied collaging materials, and work big scale it might make the activity accessible and dynamic.

Also a bit of music?
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Yes i would be interested in coming to the event!

Are you going to have it so anyone can come? Even non students of the college?

I guess maybe the cafeteria would be a nice place to have it, or wherever the bar is so people can get drinks. Also you can use the TV screens for stuff. I dunno about free booze but cakes are a good idea. Sponge cakes are dead easy and cheap to make, I've got cake decorating writing icing and nice little bun cases you could use. film & music is a good idea too, you could maybe theme the nights on different films??? Or make a collage in the theme of a film or ... i dunno.
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music, film, free booze, food, and CAKE!???????

saaands good to me but wots a collage? i cant remember, im sorry!

how bout photography club where u put your favourite photos of the week up ??????? u could make it anon so u could put well rare stuff up n have to guess whos it is, naaaa mean?
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I would definitely be up for a collage club!
I'm sure lots of people from LCAD would be interested in going, especially vis commers and graphics students!
Cake would be a brilliant one to have there - you could even get Melissa to make some of her amazing cup cakes!
Live acoustic music would be good. Or DJ's. There's a few musicians banging about :)
Location wise - possibly the mosaic bar? I'm not quite sure where would suit a 'collage club' maybe barakas or somewhere like that. I think day time on a sunday somewhere would be good as not a lot happens during the day!
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I think I would come and have a look at what was going on. But im not really sure how interested I would be would obviously have to depend on what was happening. One thing that springs to mind are the "Best Joined Up" nights that are on at the faversham sometimes. I dont know if you've been to one before, but its like a normal club night but in one room they have tables for anyone to draw on if they want whilst some artists make large illuistrations throughout the night that you can watch."