aren't you running for office or something? is this considered campaigning?

So I read all of the events that are going on for this event and while I agree that the music part of it is lacking, as a whole it doesn't seem like a bad introduction to what Worcester can offer culturally. Duncan, Have you looked at all the things going on?
The Art and Historical museum, Higgins armory, Ecotarium, various galleries, plenty of events for kids, the new Worcester baseball team the Worcester Tornadoes...it doesn't seem too bad to me.

We spoke yesterday about the 18-34 demographic and this may not appeal to the teenagers or single males, but for a family type event it seems fine. You have played First Night shows with a few bands, that is a night that tries to have a broad appeal and does a good job representing the diverse talent in Worcester, but of the tens of thousands of people that attend First Night, how many go the the "rock" shows?

I am all for helping out with a well planned event that has an appeal to the younger say 18-24+ crowd. I hate to say it but Danimal does a good job w/ Localbazooka and it grows bigger every year. Something along those lines but with less crappy music would be great...A lot of work, but great none the less. I am on the Cultural council w/ Rob Ledoux and Bob Jordan and can tell you how to go about applying for some state funds. Let's get an exploratory committee together and brainstorm.

Hey Duncan- when did you create art? I don't remember seeing you up at WAG gallery, nor any other for that matter. Oh, also I was wondering if I could get some event planning lessons from you, as you seem to know what the right and wrong ways of planning events are. If Wake up Worcester doesn't know how to put on an event, then who does? You? Show me then, if you would be so kind. In closing, a critic is a critic because he (or she) can't do what's being criticized. Get a life man.

Isn't Duncan one of the ones who started the Networking Events which have become very popular and well attended? And didn't I see you there Barry? ;-)

I agree that there is a place for all of the culture in Worcester. I love jazz and I like the jump swing that the Red Riders do. I love Higgins Armory and Mechanics Hall and Union Station, I really do.

I think they have the wrong bait on the hook as far as attracting the audience they need to attract if they ever plan on growing the Worcester cultural scene.

I agree Pete, Erin is a very pleasant and approachable person, I met her at the Mixer at the Dog. I believe that Erin means well however it doesn't change my opinion of this event. The constituents you speak of are not going to provide the awakening they are looking for. An awakening implys that they are reaching out to the sleepers not the constituents right?

You are right about getting involved in programming and I think it's important to stress to people that anyone with a project can get it happening with the resources available through the city. This is a blessing and a curse in my opinion. Worcester is a first come first serve community that perpetually produces sub-quality, good-enough style events. Over the years so many events have been so homogenized and boring that I truly believe that citizens don't believe there is anything contemporary happening.
In Worcester, good enough is a mantra and I think it sucks. Hold Worcester up to other cities doing similar things and see how it stands up.

"Skunkwork projects"? Thanks, pal. Perhaps instead of blogging all day, you might consider actually creating the events YOU think would be BETTER in Worcester than what's being done.

I love the NetMix thing, but it's stagnating and becoming a regulars club. Wake Up To Worcester is something I helped in designing the postcard / advertising for and have rounded up ANT! artists to have a presence at Union Station on the Saturday of this arts week. I'm creating a scooter meet / weird vehicles / bands / artists event in Worcester at Ralph's on Summer Nationals Weekend Saturys, July 2nd. I'm working on 'zines, comic books, scooter events, arts events, and YES, going to these networking events to further plug away.

Perhaps some people at these NetMix things should try actually making a connection and try helping me out or doing SOMETHING other than just complaining. I've stopped complaining and now I'm DOING.

Buck, my comment was directed at ANYONE who keeps chiming in saying that this event sucks, that event sucks, those people don't know what they're doing, bla bla bla.

I'm working hard to DO stuff. I've wasted enough time complaining and these blogs, these websites, these other sites where people can feel free to fester and dig at the same wound and not DO anything are pretty much a part of the problem, more than any attempt at making anything better.

I have nothing against you personally. You make some great points. But once your points are made are you out there doing anything?

It's just frustrating when the peanut gallery you stir up does nothing when they could all be doing something.

Oh... sorry about the e-mail box full-age. I guess I've just been busy DOING things, and not spending quite as much time as others all digitalled-up, eyes glued to their computers, pod-casting or whatever.

PS. I would be happy to talk about this with you in person. Maybe tonight at Tuckerman?

well first off, the Networking Mixer in not a project of mine the way you may think it is. Facilitating a way for people to get off message boards and meet face to face was my only objective. If it sucks, then the people who choose or don't choose to go suck. There isn't much that I do that can change that. I promote it to the circle of people I know and I created a few websites that I promote it on.

I can't tell if you're putting something I am involved with down as a reflex to me putting something you're involved with down.

anyway.

I take time when I write something like this. I realize who may get insulted by it. I try to stay objective and offer some sort of alternative if I am being critical. For you to tell me to create an event of my own is not the answer. I don't want to create one of these events. I said that already. It doesn't interest me in the least. I would spend my money at an event though. You want my money don't you?

remember that time I said "You don't need to be a chef to know when food tastes like shit."?

While I do agree that people need to get out and DO something. You are forgetting that people not going out is the symptom of the "DO-ers" not "DOING" anything anybody wants.

As far as duking it out. I don't want to do that either. I will however continue to share my perspective on events like this. I am no expert, I just know how to build websites and I like to talk about this stuff.

Doug. I love the flyer. It is funny how differently conversations go in person. I think we are all doing the things we can. I do think that open public criticism about other people's projects is not very helpful. And that a simple phone call to the people that are planning this would have been a lot more constructive. But, that's not my call to make. And I am glad that everyone is interested enough to voice their opinion, however it is done.

I wasn't dissing your projects as skunkworks, Doug. It was more an observation. But, up until recently, wouldn't you agree that you haven't had the support of city government or many businesses to get them off of the ground?

In fact, I think it would be good if you shared how you've taken your projects from "skunkworks" to where there are now, with the support of local people. From talking to you recently about how you are navigating the power structure, I think that these are lessons that we all need to learn from.

btw: http://worcester.typepad.com/pc4media/2005/05/beer_label_desi.html
I wrote that b4 I read this thread.

As far as the netmixer, if you have suggestions on how to grow the attendance without taking away from the natural networking that occurrs, we are all ears. Ie... we aren't interested in adding programming to it. However, I am still very pleased with it. The 50-60 people that come out every month are the people that are getting SHIT DONE. Of course, I'd like to get more people there that get SHIT DONE, but we can't do it alone. So, all ears. This is really what each and every one make of it.

Shows what we know!
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May 12, 2005

City on Wake Up call

Weeklong event spotlights Worcester culture

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
bkush@telegram.com





WORCESTER