if we are small and closeknit, we are easy for the government to destroy. if we are numerous and diverse, then they will have a lot of trouble on their hands. i think doing massive parties which include more randoms is essential for the future of the rave.
if the government really wanted to destroy the rave scene they could have already done so 5 or 6 years ago as their technology improved whilst the core of the scene was being weakened by the greater use of addictive class A’s, internal politics and dysfunctional behaviour.
I often wonder if these events are grugingly accepted (by cops and govt if not locals) in some areas because they (as yet) cause less trouble than townie venues!
its not as difficult as you may think for new entrants to find out about raves, particularly with boards like this.
most younger people find out about free parties through their college friends, or at record shops or discussions round friends houses.
Its a big myth this scene is “secret”. There has been 15 years of media coverage, and even wikipedia has an entry on free parties.
Medium size (3 rigs + chillout) parties, spread across the UK are as difficult to stop as massive ones; bear in mind even at those there are more ravers than cops!
A large event like a teknival is also fairly easy to stop now with cops having better comms and CCTV everywhere, the moment the large amount of vehicles hit any city or village someones calling the old bill even if they haven’t noticed – middle England operates on a permanent level of paranoia against “pikeys”.
And there’s danger within – I’ve been to the big early 90s raves (including Castlemorton) which people look upon with rose-tinted specs and although they looked fun they were a logistical and publicity nightmare. There were shitloads of rip-offs and robberies, violence (including rapes, gangs rinsing through a dance floor etc).
Look at Frenchtek where it took just one dysfunctional crew to wreck what was otherwise a really good party – unfortunately when you bring large groups together, particularly where there is a male-dominated group and a somewhat terittorial mentality amongst communities, there is always the real danger of violence.
Until we can evolve beyond that large parties are always more risky.
