BBC Tree

In Which: Our Hero Blags His Way Into An Opening Ceremony, Watches Some Bands Trying To Be Professional, Decorates His Person With Sparkles, And Enjoys The Dappled Shade Of Inside Lighting.



I went to the BBC Norfolk Introducing 2009 opening party thing last night. It was a viewing of the videos in this year's festival in conjunction with Hot City Sounds which starts officially at the end of this week. It was at the Forum, where BBC Norfolk is based, in 'The Curve' which is the largest high definition screen of its kind in the known universe. Which is useful if you're showing a series of 3 pixel by 3 pixel cameraphone videos taken by a bunch of shitehawk bands in and around the wintry carparks of Norwich.

Although it was technically the first event on the calendar for this year, it was pretty underattended, as only bands involved in Hot City Sounds were invited, and a few people involved in the actual organisation of the festival. I would have thought that, since the whole festival is geared towards providing exposure to unsigned and independent bands from Norfolk, there might have been some attempt to invite someone who might not already know about all the bands that are involved; i.e. someone who isn't in one of those bands. For example, if anyone had bothered to ask for my advice, I could have happily recommended inviting some local dignitaries, the head of BBC Norfolk, the people involved in BBC introducing (they wouldn't have had to go far, remember, we are in the BBC headquarters after all), maybe even someone with a microphone that could have recorded something to play on air (as far as I know playing stuff on air = exposure). Even if it was just the crudding interns who are desperately clawing at any chance to get experience in the industry, it's better than no-one. Just something to make it seem important or like it might be worthwhile turning up to any of the gigs. To be honest, I haven't seen any advertising for it at all; no website, no flyers, no programs lying about at the Forum, and if last night is anything to go by, the rest of the gigs will be pretty badly organised and probably underattended. Why would you bother?

Having said that, there was the dubious treat of party poppers and sequins about, which everybody duly decorated my newly shorn hair with. Before we had pictures taken by Volume, the online magazine. I will post the pictures of that as soon as I get them.

They did also go to the effort of planting trees inside the Forum. Which I enjoyed, and took several shit pictures of on my 3 pixel by 3 pixel cameraphone.