[Mikkel Paulson]

http://www.pirateparty.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2127
http://twitter.com/PiratePartyUK/status/24091970617

I think this is a great idea. What're the chances of getting something like this going here? We have our CaPT contacts, but I'm not sure if we'll get enough of them in the same place to do it up properly.

I have no experience here.

It's a long shot, but if we could get "Steal This Gig: On Tour" during election time, that could be some brilliant PR/rally material.

[Rintaran]

With a few of the right contacts, this is certainly possible. It depends on where you want it held, when you want it held, and what your budget is for both the event, and marketing. This is actually the kind of thing that I'm going to college for right now.

For an single event like this, you need minimum 3-months lead time. If you want to do a tour, depending upon the bands, you'll probably need a whole year lead time to get all the cogs in place. You'll also want to try to get a headliner on board. No offence to our CaPT bands (whom I really need to check out), but someone with name recognition is a big plus. Research has to be done in venues, merchandise needs to be created, flyers, posters, ticket sales (or give-away, there's a limited number regardless), refreshment vendors, DJ for between acts, etc. Again, it all depends on the size and style of the event. Getting sponsors for the events would be handy too, but as we're trying to alter patents, copyrights, and ensure net neutrality, that eliminates many of the larger sponsors.

During an election, it's possible to run this using only the CaPT bands, provided you can get them on board. More trouble is had in finding a venue, but you can squeeze it in. As a "political rally", you often get discounts at the venue site, so that'd be handy. But you'll note from the Liberal Bus Tour this summer, they used small-time local bands at their locations. That's because they're easiest to book on a limited time frame. If you wanted to do a tour, you'd want at least 2 bands at each locale, plus a local band as an opener for them (if possible). That would make for a pretty good gig, publicize the bands and the party, create local connections, and reduce the costs of paying for the transportation, lodging, and food for X many bands.

Much like the old parties, if you want this to go off, you're going to need to hire an event management firm (or form an event committee), that handles all of this stuff. I'd say hire me, but I won't be fully trained until next summer, and I don't know if I'll be ready to head up the organization of an event of this kind of magnitude at that time.

Also: The links for BrokeBricks and Hanoruto are non-functional.

[Mikkel Paulson]

Would you be interested in taking on a project like this?

[Rintaran]

At the current time, I really can't take on a project of this scale. I'm working on a bunch of events at the moment, and between those locations, school, and trying to find something that'll pay me so I can continue to eat, I won't have time until after I'm out of college.

I might be able to fit something in as a part of the curriculum, but that'd be up to my group, not me, and it'd be tied directly to the Children's Miracle Wish Network. Our culminating project is to run a "wish event" which is designed entirely by the group. As a part of that event, we will need sponsors. I don't have full details on it yet (supposed to be getting more this week), but it may be possible to tie the PPoC as a "sponsor" of the event, but that would probably require some sort of donation, and in exchange the sponsor tends to get recognition at the event in some manner. I'll let you know what the details are as I get them.

Ask me next summer about running a "Steal this Gig" concert after I get back from my trip to China (to meet my future father-in-law), and I will probably have a different answer for you. I'll also have the proper know-how for getting sponsors, the proper connections for booking venus and obtaining volunteers/staff/equipment, etc.

According to my text, there are 4 things that an event manager needs to know before getting started:

• The date of the event
• The location of the event
• The number of guests
• The budget for the event

Just about everything else can be worked out from that information. Note that the date could be a range of dates (for whatever is available), and the location just needs to be as specific as the city. The exact date and the exact location are things that can be established very quickly once an event manager is on the case.

[Mikkel Paulson]

Sure. At this point it's just a matter of throwing random ideas around, so there's no rush or even certainty that something like this will happen. We have more pressing concerns at the moment, and more immediate financial demands. However, please do keep it in mind if you're willing to get involved at some point.