***Mate...I hope you dont mind me posting this here. Its not regarding Awaken parties inparticular but the scene in general. Just trying to spread the word***

I wanted to throw something into the mix here...my two cents.

I worked the gate at the last AWL gathering and noticed that quite a few people didnt come prepared to kick down the financial support asked for (some even refused to give anything), even though it wasnt a donation based party.

Throwing these types of events costs quite a bit of money for the focalizers, who seriously lay it on the line for us to have a place to celebrate together and for the DJs who invest their money into new beats for us to vibe to. The focalizers know their budgets...no ones trying to get rich off a party...their trying to pay for equipment, maintenance, gas to haul everything around, rentals, djs, etc so that we can all have this church to come back to to revel in joy and connection together. When money is made beyond the parties budget and you look at that amount by all the hours put into making it happen, promoters and djs are often the lowest paid per hour people.

While I havent been in this scene here for long, I have been involved in underground events for 15 years, and have seen promoters who throw great parties get burnt out and stop creating gatherings due to lack of financial support from the community. After losing money on multiple events, it becomes very trying and sometimes impossible to continue laying it on the line like that even when doing it for the love. I have also seen DJs who do it for the love give up due to how expensive beats are when trying to keep the rest of their financial lives in balance.

I would HATE to see that happen here, as the scene here in Eugene is sooooo amazing.

Lets all show our gratitude for what these people do for us with investment in a sustainable and balanced scene, no matter how good of friends you are with the crew or djs. If youre such good friends with them, support what theyre doing financially. Please come prepared to give to the cause...if you know you cant afford the amount asked for, talk to the focalizers before the party, ask if you can work staff for the event.

We are so lucky and should be so thankful for what we have here. It is a gift, not a right. I have been missing ths type of underground scene for years in San Francisco and New York, where the promoters shifted from outdoor family gatherings to club based nights in order to keep it sustainable. The Eugene area seems to be one of the last truly underground based dance communities on the west coast...lets keep it that way!

Its our scene...we all create it with our actions and intentions. Lets keep this scene here thriving! Show the love at the gate, please =)