The Dream Machine : It's been/going to be one hell of a week...

[lynchhim]

...so, we're nearly there.

yndi halda have got their US visas, thank fuck.

For a moment there, I thought it wasn't going to happen.

Their gig in Portugal was AMAZING.

Then The Early Years played their first show in 9 months at Sonic Cathedral last Thursday supporting Spectrum ( Sonic Boom, Spacemen 3 ).

It was awesome.

Just got back from their show at Truck Festival on the Sonic Cathedral stage.

Again, they blew everyone away.

A particular highlight for me was seeing Chapterhouse play.

I really didn't want to come back to London.

Particularly considering that some fucker tried to break into our hire van last night as it was parked on Fellbrigg Road.

It was on the corner of Fellbrigg and North Cross Road and someone fucking took a crowbar to the back lock.

Nothing was stolen, but I am now waiting to hear back from the hire company to see how much excess I have to pay.

Motherfuckers.

So, to business.

THE DREAM MACHINE is going from strength to strength.

There are so many great people coming down offering support and help.

Thank you all so much.

As most of you know, there is bugger all money in music, unless you sell a shitload of records, and I'm talking millions here, or you play your ass off and get good guarantees for shows.

So far, I have been covering the rent on the shop using my own rent money.

Yes, I know it's stupid, but I don't have any savings and it was the only option at the time.

Hopefully, by now, those of you that have ventured down to THE DREAM MACHINE, can see that there is something positive going on, in and for the area and that it is something worth keeping.

So, with this in mind, I would like to make a proposition to the good people of East Dulwich.

In order to keep THE DREAM MACHINE alive, we need to pay the rent.

My suggestion is this.

We find 75 people in the area who are willing to contribute ?10.00 per month to cover the rent.

That way, the rent on the shop will always be covered.

Any money made through sales of records and cds will go back into the pot for things such as purchasing new stock and getting bands and musicians we like to come and play in the area.

Dare I say it, but in years to come, we might even be able to set up a little label ourselves.

Believe me, this is completely meant to be a community project and not a scheme to fleece people of their hard earned cash.

Right now, I am taking on the whole responsibility of covering the rent and to be honest, we're not going to make it through sales.

So, a consortium is required.

A group of like minded individuals who wish to keep something vibrant and exciting going in the area.

The rent is due on the 9th of every month, so we have 18 days to get this all sorted.

The launch party ( and I do hope it is a launch party and not a wake ) is going to be held on Monday 28th July, that's next Monday.

Tickets are ?6.00.

We've sold about 20.

The hall is ?140.00.

I'm getting the pa and lights for nothing

I would like to be able to pay the bands something for their efforts.

I'm doing all the organising, running around and lighting for free ( oh, how I dream that one day I will get paid for all this ).

What I need from all of you is :

a ) to buy a ticket to the event ( remember that any money we make over and above our costs of putting on the show, goes back into THE DREAM MACHINE ).

b ) to seriously consider the idea of becoming part of THE DREAM MACHINE FAMILY and commit to ?10.00 a month to cover the rent.

I should mention that since I had this idea five people have signed up, so there's only 70 more people to find.

I know we can do this.

See you down the moshpit.

Adios.

x

[*Bob*]

As one of the more interesting posts, I'm surprised this one doesn't seem to have picked-up any responses - even along the lines of 'you what?'

The Dream Machine is a record shop. I get that bit.

You manage some bands. I get that bit too.

What's in it for everybody else?

[paragon]

I'll give you ?10 for a 50% equity in the business. I once bought a few records so my expertise will drive this business forward.

[lynchhim]

Essentially, they get to have a record shop and the opportunity to create a music scene in the area.

Otherwise, it's just me on my own feeling anxious about whether or not people are going to come in and buy records and I can make the rent, which I know is part and parcel of running a record shop, however, that's not what I'm particularly interested in doing.

As you point out I manage bands and to be honest with you, I need to spend more time doing that than waiting on the street handing out flyers to people that cover the whole spectrum of politeness from kind, considerate and caring, through to downright bloody rude and obnoxious.

If East Dulwich wants a record shop and music scene ( one that can attract amazing international artists from all walks of life ), then it needs to get off it's arse and do something about it.

But, ultimately, that's up for the group to decide.

And if the group decides that it doesn't, then THE DREAM MACHINE will simply end up being a three month art installation.

I am completely up for suggestions as to how this can work.

If people want shares in it, then that's a discussion that can take place, but this is NOT being run as a profit making organisation.

Mainly because THERE IS NO PROFIT.

If we ever got to that stage, then we would all discuss how we spend that profit.

Someone came into the shop at the weekend and signed up to the ?10.00 a month idea and also discussed the possibility of creating a charity.

I'm up for any suggestions as to how we can keep this beast going ( other than get loads of new stock in, which I know would solve a number of issues, but there's no budget to do so yet ).

Or maybe the ?10.00 a month idea would work as a membership fee.

Perhaps, whoever signs up gets 50% off certain items or reduced ticket price for the shows we put on ?

I look forward to hearing your suggestions.

[citizenED]

Best of luck with this, Lynchhim. Can you tell me where I can get tickets for the launch party - been down twice last week and the place was shut. thanks

[lynchhim]

Tickets are on sale in the shop.

The shop is open from Wednesday - Sunday ( I'm trying, I'm trying ).

I had to close early this weekend because of Truck and there wasn't any available to cover on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

But, please do come down tomorrow as I'll be there from 10am all day.

Yes.

[lynchhim]

Actually, I'll be down this afternoon NOT 10am as I've got shitloads to organise for the weekend and next week and I need to be on the phone and on a computer, none of which I have down the shop.

So, this afternoon from 2pm THE DREAM MACHINE will be OPEN.

x

[Keef]

Sorry I couldn't help out Saturday, I hope you got my message. Things have been, and will continue to be absolutely manic for the next few weeks (gigs and rehearsals), but I am keen to offer some help when things calm down a bit...

[lynchhim]

No worries.

It'll work out somehow.

Any ideas on backline that I can borrow ?

[*Bob*]

I'm admiring the 'build it and they will come' philosophy, but I'm still none the wiser as to what 'it' is.

What does the record shop have to do with the everything else you want to achieve?

Surely you don't need a record shop to create a label, manage bands and book them to play in local venues, create a vibrant local music scene etc?

Surely the record shop (which you currently can't pay the rent, or staff properly) is just an albatross round your neck?

[Keef]

Borrow for what / how long?

[lynchhim]

It's for the launch party on Monday.

I need to get my hands on :

3 x Guitar amps (pref Vox AC30/Marshall/fender twin)

1 x Bass Amp (pref Fender/Ampeg)

1 x Drumkit (kick-drum, kick pedal, snare, hi-hats, 1x rack-tom, 1x floor-tom, stands for ride and crash cymbals)

2 x separate Keyboard stands

I've got a drum kit but need another cymbal stand.

I'm getting all the PA and lighting for nothing.

If you can spare anything for Monday, then that would be a big help.

[Jamma]

Erm, shouldn't you have thought about all this before opening the 'shop'?

[lynchhim]

Have you been down the shop yet ? ( When it's open that is )

[Keef]

May I suggest you contact Davide who is a local. If you look in the whats on section, he runs the Timewasters Club up at Dulwich Hamlet, and he may be able to help...

I use a Marshall with 4/12 cab, but I'm not sure what is happening Monday yet, which is why I'm not sure I'll make the party or not (so will need to buy ticket on the door if I can make it).

[*Bob*]

Is this like a Fight Club thing?

The one rule about The Dream Machine is that you're not allowed to talk about The Dream Machine.

[lynchhim]

Quite the opposite.

The one rule about The Dream Machine is that you're encouraged to talk about The Dream Machine.

Although I hate rules.

[lynchhim]

I should think about a lot of things before I actually do them, but I rarely do.

[*Bob*]

I've noticed that some of our high-posting forum blabbermouths (Keef, Sean 'The Fence' Mac, possibly Mockney too (judging by the amount of Peruvian nose-flute electrogabbahouse he has on vinyl) seem to be involved, but they're all weirdly silent as well.

[SeanMacGabhann]

post of the day there *Bob*

I have tickets for the gig on Monday, and have helped out in the shop, but not sure about this subscription business - I'm digesting the concept - all the better to find the EXACT centre of gravity from where to post

[Jamma]

If this bloke, who has already proved himself something of a numpty when it comes to business (and I mean that in an affectionate way, I find his chutzpah inspiring), signs up 70 loonies willing to join him I'll put up the rent money myself.*

*Note - said for dramatic effect, may not actually put up money at all.

[*Bob*]

I'm still not getting the concept of an unprofitable, occasionally-staffed record shop.

However, if it does work out, I might - with the help of the good people of ED - open a bank or something.

[Strawbs]

I can totally see what he is trying to do, he is trying to run the shop with the help of the community particularly in the financial sense and on the surface I dont think its a bad thing.. I think if it worked it could be a really good thing so long as everyone felt involved and a sense of ownership (and I dont mean in terms of shares in the business)..

I think what is missing here though is the shop needs to be generally something that impacts each person in the community and that we couldnt do without and probably a lot more people would put down their cash (or not I guess)..

I put my name down to help but didnt hear back, went down on the weekend to take a look and unfortunately it was closed..

It seems most people think its a great little store (when its opened) and are happy to help man the store but not necessarily to bear the financial cost to keep it open.

[*Bob*]

Strawbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

I can totally see what he is trying to do, he is trying to run the shop with the help of the community (ie get people to staff it for nothing) particularly in the financial sense (and get them to pay the rent as well) and on the surface I dont think its a bad thing.. (not bad for who?)

I think if it worked it could be a really good thing so long as everyone felt involved and a sense of ownership (what are they owning, other than the 'chance' to give up their time in order to not sell enough records to cover the rent?)

I think what is missing here though is the shop needs to be generally something that impacts each person in the community and that we couldnt do without (So perhaps not selling records then, which lets face it is a superniche market)

I put my name down to help but didnt hear back (rrright), went down on the weekend to take a look and unfortunately it was closed.. (rrright)

?

[laineski]

Listen, bottom line is that it's meant to be a place that inspires people.

A place that will helpfully encourage people to believe that yes, if they do want to be a musician and make music, and then record it and make a record to sell in shops, then they can actually do it right on their bloody doorstep.

I've done numerous projects in the past based around the simple principal of everyone mucking in to help, but bugger me, you lot are a difficult bunch.

To be honest with you, having two kids, managing and tour managing bands and running a shop, is just too fucking much to deal with.

Thank you to those who have supported the idea so far.

Well done those of you who have convinced me of what should happen next.

You've made my mind up.

I hope you enjoy the designer baby clothing/wine bar/estate agents it will end up becoming.

I'm off to America.