Nerdfest update

[Nick Cope]

Spoke to Chris from the Salmon.

Firstly, it’s gonna be called Nerdfest for all intents and purposes because firstly it raises interest from those currently outside of the inner sanctum of the underground London lords...! But another good reason is that pretty soon we’re gonna be looking at a monthly night offshoot where we’ll be DJing – that’s where the name Nerdfest will really come into its own. More about that later.

Nerdfest will be included on the SalmonÂ’s monthly flyer. WeÂ’ve missed the deadline for the new batch, but thatÂ’s okay, weÂ’ll be chugging along just fine for now. As for a dedicated flyer/poster that we can leave in record stores, other peopleÂ’s DJ nights etc, Chris will pay for whatever design we come up with.

I happen to have a very close friend who Peter Saville himself has said is the best graphic designer in the UK today, Julian House. HeÂ’s one a whole bunch of awards for his record sleeve designs, he does Stereolab, Broadcast, Primal Scream and God knows what else, I canÂ’t keep up. He even did last years flyers for the Salmon cos me and him DJ there... Anyway, I could have him come up with something, just a suggestion though, plus heÂ’s obviously super busy...

Back to the possibility of doing a DJ version of Nerdfest. Basically, I guess weÂ’d work a rotation of the regulars, which will probably grow at the same rate as the swap meet itself. No space for trading on this one, instead weÂ’ll have a prime night thatÂ’ll be open until around 2am. Probably a Fri or Sat, even Thursdays are good down there. However, although Chris is totally up for it, weÂ’d have to get at least 50 people down there for him to justify handing it over to us.

Now we can push for a weekend in May, since thereÂ’s a couple spare right now, or let our little scene grow a little more before we decide that weÂ’re ready for this. The first DJ version of Nerdfest will need to be really good if weÂ’re to make it regular... Maybe we should think about tying it in with a live set?

So does everyone reckon they can pull in a few punters for a night of heavy tunes? Really? If so, IÂ’ll start applying pressure for a date in May, otherwise we can do it in June/July. I reckon if we start at 8 til 2, we can spread that over 4 or 5 DJs. Personally, I like it when DJs swap over all the time, rather than play preset times, but whatever, IÂ’m rambling here!

One last point of business – the ad. Grandslam is the obvious choice. Who knows George the best? I know I don’t! We need to secure some kind of ‘mate’s rate’. Volunteers?!

Also, the Salmon has an account with a PR agency. TheyÂ’ll make sure some blurb gets to the listings etc. IÂ’ll start hassling some journos I know about putting in a little piece about the event maybe when things start to get a little bigger.

I can see the whole thing growing, but steady and in an organic fashion, I expect it to retain the intimate, community atmosphere it does at present. As far as IÂ’m concerned itÂ’s about having a good time and sharing the knowledge, so I think weÂ’re onto a good thing here.

N

[Dr Rubberfunk]

Sounds like you've been busy making hay while the sunshines! Top work!

Did someone say live set?

Chris did mention last week that he had 'big plans' ....

[Dr Rubberfunk]

Oh, and I might be able to help with the Grand Slam mates rates, but I suspect others will too ... ;)

[john stapleton]

I'll give George a call about the rate. Are you really sure about 'Nerdfest' as a name?

[Nick Cope]

Well we did kind of discuss it a few days back and I personally like it as it's catchy and draws interest from other people - us regulars make up or will make up the core of the monthly meets, so what does it matter to us? Also, it's good for the 'showcase' style DJ night that will stem from it... But I guess it's still open if people still widh to question it

[sermad]

Im sorry I dont like the name!

Why not speak to chris and sie about the possibilites of the vinyl vulture name having some link to this.

It would be good for the site, its an established brand and its a cool as f name!

just my two pennies.

[sermad]

I think getting rubber funk down would be ace. Ive had first hand experience of him tossing drums sticks in the air and people dancing with jiggy abandon.

I think 4 or 5 djs is a bit of a stretch. Also a lot of the people who come to the lords meet dont actually dj and Im concerned they wouldnt kind of know what to do when you have to keep other punters happy.

Im just thinking out loud here btw!

[ladyboygrimsby]

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Quote[/b] ]Quote: from sermad on 9:58 pm on April 16, 2003
Im sorry I dont like the name!

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I tend to agree with Sermad on this one. I don't think a night called Nerdfest is going to be drawing pretty girls who want to get jiggy and, let's face it, that's what most DJs want to be playing to, innit?

[john stapleton]

no, thinking about it, really don't like the name. I realise that as only an occasional participator in the event (so far at least) I don't deserve a full vote, but I'm not sure what it says to anyone outside this little bunch of posters on funky message boards. And as a weekend club night name, rather than a Monday night session...no!
Nick, if your man who does the Primal Scream/Broadcast sleeves is too busy, I'm happy to come up with something (I do all my own flyers in Bristol) - I'm better at retro-influenced photo-based stuff, though (which might be what's required for the night anyway..), so if you don't want a string of flyers based on old print ads or classic lp sleeves, I'm not the man...

[Nick Cope]

That's good enough for me. So someone think up a name and fast. Calling it Vinyl Vultures sounds good to me, that's also catchy. I couldn't care less where the whole meet thing orginated from - if calling it V.V. helps context the idea, then maybe we should do that, if that's cool with the site... As for the DJ spin-off night, no-one's twisting anyone's arms to spin and entertain people, just wanna make sure that everyone who's into the idea gets a turn entertaining folk on the decks... I guess its probably best to just decide on a name, get some blurb out and take it from there...
John, your offer sounds cool, wouldn't it be great if everyone sent you scans of all the holy grail covers they can think of? Nerds will spend hours drooling over the flyers alone!

[vibra]

I'd certainly be up for coming down and jocking a few discs! As long as it's not called :o Nerdfest :o Vinyl Vulture much better..

I'm hoping to make it down to the next of these shenanigans btw, sorry I've not made it previously but it's a big deal travelling 200 miles on a school night. But next time it is - it'll just be great to meet you all. :cheesy:

[formigo]

Y'all haters, Nerdfest is the illest name.

But since I'm in the Southern Hemisphere my toilet flushes backwards and I get a negative vote. Which means you gotta call it something else.

[jammin]

I don't suppose advertising it in holland will have much use?
but i'm willing to help out in anyway i can.
as for nerdfest !!! NAH.
maybe V.V is a bit close to home as well ?

anyway i'd be more the willing to drop in and spin some wax
when i'm on the island.

[Belson]

All sounds great, Nick.

Like I've said before, I've never really liked Nerdfest either - Vinyl Vulture(s) is cool in my book. I like it.

I guess an affiliation with SoulStrut would be out of the question - SoulStrut could work, and it is after all where the whole idea of this thing started. Not as much impact as V.V. but could be good for the DJ nights.

[Nick Cope]

Okay well does everyone like calling it vinyl vultures? I guess it would make sense to use the plural in this instance. Is Sie &amp; Chris cool with this? Who knows them? Anyone else out there who hasn't spoken, speak up!
We gotta decide v.fast because someone has to get a decent ad rate from George over at Grandslam and you know how early deadlines are for mags and listings etc...
I could also email Raj at Soulstrut and have his logo thing put on the flyer - ÂI think it's safe to say that the monthly meets (shame you dudes hate nerdfest!!) is an offline community built from both forums - just happens that V.V sounds cooler!
So now I propose that y'all get to your scanners and send them images of your most prized posessions over to John Stapleton! Any file types/size you prefer John?

(Edited by Nick Cope at 9:11 am on April 17, 2003)

[Matt Hero]

Nick, if using the VV name is OK with Chris &amp; Sie, then it IMHO is the name which best sums up the hole London meet thing best. Well, apart from something mentioning the word 'Wombles' (making good use of the things that we find) anyway.

I also have some very loose skills on the graphics tip too if required. And even looser skills on the decks too, also if required.

ps - I've got a goodie bag of wax for you for the next meet for that DLP you traded with me. I've not fogotten !

[fryer]

fryer here, i think if you want people top turn up you have to know they are getting something different and extra from the usual blurb newjazz r&amp;b lala. so you have to big it up in the title of the top of the head without even refining

&quot;masters of vinyl&quot;
&quot;world of vinyl&quot; sound like a records store
&quot;plastic knowlege&quot;
&quot; love of vinyl&quot;
&quot; UK rare record sociey&quot; hahah lame
&quot;masters of your genre&quot;

i dunno its hard &quot;vinyl vultures&quot; sounds to aggressive its not going to attract girls in short skirts. It has to sound more like we are the pinicle of record collecting so that folks want to come but we still we Âstill have to sound cool and not like a bunch of mutated record geeks who read 2000ad


(Edited by fryer at 10:01 am on April 17, 2003)

[fryer]

p.s i know those names are shit just a start

[sermad]

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Quote[/b] ]Quote: from fryer on 9:55 am on April 17, 2003
It has to sound more like we are the pinicle of record collecting so that folks want to come but we still we Âstill have to sound cool and not like a bunch of mutated record geeks who read 2000ad

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I love my 2000ad collection!! Rogue trooper is the daddy. :biggrin:

some names (it is early and I havent drunk any coffee)

plastic fantastic
world of wax
record group (as in book group)
vinyl junkies
waxin lyrical
wax on, wax off
bootin beats

er...coffee time!

[chrisvulture]

flippin great to see this taking off...any help we can give-consider it done....check yr email nick!

[Nick Cope]

You need some coffee dude!

I agree with Matt, Vinyl Vultures coins much of what we do there, waiting for old folk to die so we can pick through their collection etc!!

Seriously, I wouldn't worry too much about putting little girls off - the DJ spin-off will be on a busy night, on weekends, the Salmon does good business, loads of people, even thursdays are pretty busy. The majority of the DJs down there play Beats, Hip Hop, Funk, Dub - with the exception of a House crew cos they've had a loyal following for years - it's all stuff that's in the same ballpark as the majority of what gets played at the swaps...
Blurb on the listings and flyers will clear up any other wonderings adn like I said, DJ-spin off gets a built in audience, plus the 50 or so we need to bring ourselves...

[Belson]

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Quote[/b] ]Quote: from sermad on 10:16 am on April 17, 2003
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Quote[/b] ]Quote: from fryer on 9:55 am on April 17, 2003
It has to sound more like we are the pinicle of record collecting so that folks want to come but we still we Âstill have to sound cool and not like a bunch of mutated record geeks who read 2000ad

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I love my 2000ad collection!! Rogue trooper is the daddy. :biggrin:

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The first 20 or so issues - sorry but you can't top the Harlem Heroes.

Absolute bomb cartoon drawn by Dave Gibbons - I still have my 200AD issue one with the free frisbee flyer, signed by the man Gibbons.

Who said Nerdfest?

[Belson]

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Quote[/b] ]Quote: from Nick Cope on 10:36 am on April 17, 2003

I'm gonna feel like some newly formed school metal band, Spinal Tap anyone?!

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OOh Nick - now you've started me off on Tap!! How about some of the Taps previous band names.

The Originals
The New Originals
The Regulars
The Creatures
Lovely Lads
The Thamesmen

####, they're too good!

a mail to Raj @ Soul Strut for logo endorsement would be a good thing too, I think.

[Nick Cope]

Man, the Harlem Heroes were totally my fave strip in that comic when I was a kid, Ant Wars came close second...!

Couldn't believe it when I first clapped eyes on Rollerball - thought I'd died and gone to heaven! But that was before I saw The Warriors...

[Nick Cope]

The New Originals - Ha ha!, it's the same but different, like deja-vu all over again...

My flatmate Marta is in a band that changed their name last week from The Impssible to Scorpion Thunderbolt in the 21st Century - Right on!

[Nick Cope]

Sorry everybody, but Vinyl Vultures is out... They've been burned in the past over some dudes jacking their name for ill-gotten gains and don't wanna risk any more hassle - fair play - but that means it's back to the drawing board!

It would be nice to resolve this quickly and cleanly to avoid a schoolyard squabble scenario where we can't even decide on a name! Just remember that's all it is - a name.

How about the earlier suggestion of Vinyl Junkies?

I know that it may seem a little corny or obvious, but it is simple and to the point...

Maybe we should just stick to Lords of the London Underground? I dunno, what the fuck, it's just a name right?

[john stapleton]

there's a record shop in soho called vinyl junkies - best not to risk confusion perhaps

[sermad]

Boogie Juice

:biggrin:

[Nick Cope]

Oh yeah... fuck it, let's just call it Lords of the London Underground and put this baby to sleep!

[La Soul Fiend]

Qote from Belson:

&quot;.....now you've started me off on Tap!! How about some of the Taps previous band names. &quot;

The Originals
The New Originals
The Regulars
The Creatures
Lovely Lads
The Thamesmen

####, they're too good!


Word on word Belson!

&quot;The New Originals&quot; is just superb and has a somewhat quasi-signifcance I think on what we are about and what we are trying to achieve here. It's also frigging funny and I think fun must be a vital part of this whole deal.