this is sad news, and not the first time I have heard a story like this – even on the free party scene fake “donation collectors / door crews” have occured and there are constant arguments over cash on both free and commercial scenes.
Sadly it always seems that crews are stitched up from within (presumably your tickets are made in such a way to prevent any old random with a scanner and inkjet forging them)
the only consolation I can think of is that at least violence wasn’t used against the crew or punters.
The party scene is littered with reports of incidents where at a popular club or event a security crew is overpowered and the acrid smell of CS gas fills the dancefloor, as a gang tries to muscle in, or where a promoter falls to the floor with a round or five in their neck or chest, or claret p*ssing out of a stab wound, often simply out of envy that that event is doing better than others.
A relative of a work colleague (who used to set up teenagers’ discos) was very nearly killed after attempting to recover a debt from a former business partner; the case involved Scotland Yard and the Old Bailey, made two local papers in Reading and London; at every point “raves/discos” were mentioned – hardly good publicity for urban music…
its particularly sad to hear this has happened to a crew which comes across as one of the most socially concious London party crews – were it not for the distance and risks involved with regular journeys to “Londonistan” by a lone male (stuff like getting jacked, not terrorist paranoia!) I would have definitely come to one or more of your events (unfortunately most of my friends arent that into psy-trance!)
if I still lived in South London and had free time I would have turned up at your doorstep by now to help out…
I will make sure this post stays prominent and see if I can send in a donation somehow (paypal is blocked at work)
Some advice – when hard cash is involved or when you start becoming successful trust no one
Not even your best friend or your relationship partner (unless you know they have a normal, paying job and no need to stitch anybody up).
Don’t skimp on good computer and paper records to keep track of your spend and budget, as boring as financial paperwork is…
Tickets and their designs are as good as cash.
perhaps next time have “rolling designs” i.e keep changing the layout every few events? And be careful who has access to computer files with design elements. Encrypt them. Copy them to those USB keyrings. keep the keyring under your pillow or in one of those safe things. Don’t leave them on a communal PC which everyone in your circle of friends has access too, particularly if you invite randoms round after partying…..
Many people, when they see large amounts of money, become like a character in a cartoon film where the pupils of their eyes are replaced by £££ signs…. they hatch all sorts of plans to make that money theirs. Even those who claim to be “anti-capitalists”/ hippies etc” I’ve seen loads of positive ventures go pear-shaped because of this, one person simply nicks the cash or rips off the rest, particularly when the rest of a crew is doing well and becoming over-optimistic. Human nature, which must always be guarded against.
best of luck and if there’s anything else PV can do to help you let me or the other mods know…
