Dear People (The Dream Machine is moving)

[LegalEagle-ish]

That Markeddie guy's a bit of an aggressive little runt innit.

[Freddy1929]

I walked past the dream Machine last night, loads of people outside, what a buzz!! It was always interesting to see the place develop over the last months, though I couldn't venture down as my Zimmer wouldn't let me, and I think the music was too modern for me (I know, I know - but the Beatles are modern to me - I am that old!)

Back to Dream Machine - with all this corporate nonsense we have now it's nice to see something 'off the wall' 'out of the ordinary' 'independent' what ever the latest jargon is, become popular.

Good luck at the Half Moon, I may come along, what with my free bus pass, and the pubs access I'll be able to come for a pint.......

[red devil]

Having a Zimmer is no excuse these days Freddy!..watch out for the groupies though

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/zimmermaniaDM_468x322.jpg

[lenk]

markeddie Wrote:

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

> Lenk... were you one of those kids at school that

> stood in the corner doing extra homework revision

> whilst all the other boys were having fun playing

> football?

>

> What did it sell? Weirdo. Maybe you should have

> made the effort to have a chat and find out (find

> it strange you couldnt figure it out tho what with

> all those CD's and records). Probably to busy

> standing in the corner thinking people were

> talking about you.

>

> Go and be socially inept somewhere else.

I think you dropped this... *whoosh*

When I went in there it was full of unsaleable mid-90s also-ran indie and Pole 12"s. And you wonder why they closed.

[Jeremy]

I went in there a couple of times, but the selection was pretty limited. I think for a second hand record shop to work, it needs a lot more stock.

Having the shop manned by volunteers is not unusual in the realm of second hand or specialist record shops. But asking for charitable donations to pay the rent is new to me, and I would have been surprised if it had worked. The new format of regular gigs plus record fairs seems much more suitable (also the Half Moon has something approaching a proper PA, and of course a bar).

[Ging]

Ever heard of the concept of community-based space? A vibrant den where people could sit down and share friendly & open company, interesting ideas and listen to good, honest, varied sounds from many different times and cultural places? Where any band could come in and arrange a gig, regardless of experience, technical ability or style? Where anyone could step up and participate in an impromptu jam? That was just a few facets of the Dream Machine in its East Dulwich incarnation. Venue, rehearsal space, meeting place, small institute of musical education, not to mention a very cool front room. It was all of those, far from being a mere record shop. And most of all, a place to have fun. On top of that, run by some top-notch people whose main goal was not to make profit, but to give something good to the area and share their passions with like-minded people (and attempt to pay the rent in the process!).

The idea of donations was a great one as it encourages people who use the space to invest in their community. I happily gave money over and will continue to do so because I believe in that ethic, and I can only hope that, soon, another place in which a similar community spirit can thrive pops up here, one in which people still dare to dream beyond humdrum existence.

I've long been bored of shops and pubs. The fact that they act as poor substitutes for community spirit greatly saddens me. What communal establishment can one enter on the Lane without feeling immediately stifled and devoid of inspiration?

And I think you'll find the DM held 2 gigs a week, sometimes 3.

[Jeremy]

Ging - I do think I 'get' what they were trying to do (i.e. foster a music scene and community). It's just that the idea of donations clearly wasn't a good one, because it didn't work - at the end of the day, most people don't like giving away their money.

I know from experience that it is possible for a place to offer the things you mention, while still breaking even because they have good stock which people want to buy.

[*Bob*]

Ging,

I don't disagree with anything you say, but if it's not sustainable - then it won't last.. in which case no-one gets to benefit.

I spent a good third of my life humping flight cases around, so I've seen my fair share of rehearsal rooms / hangouts / impromptu venues. The ones that lasted all had one thing in common.. that overheads were largely taken out of the equation. The truth is that bands never have any money, people promoting bands rarely have any money, and people who aren't directly connected with those bands (shagging them, etc) hardly ever want to part with theirs.

Occasionally the council could be badgered into providing somewhere, and usually that meant a somewhere that no-one else wanted, but that had its benefits too. The money that came-in from the bands and supporters just about paid for the 'leccy to power the amps and hopefully keep a fridge running, but coudn't cover anything else.

[TheDreamMachine]

*Bob* Wrote:

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

> Ging,

> I don't disagree with anything you say, but if

> it's not sustainable - then it won't last.. in

> which case no-one gets to benefit.

>

> I spent a good third of my life humping flight

> cases around, so I've seen my fair share of

> rehearsal rooms / hangouts / impromptu venues. The

> ones that lasted all had one thing in common..

> that overheads were largely taken out of the

> equation. The truth is that bands never have any

> money, people promoting bands rarely have any

> money, and people who aren't directly connected

> with those bands (shagging them, etc) hardly ever

> want to part with theirs.

>

> Occasionally the council could be badgered into

> providing somewhere, and usually that meant a

> somewhere that no-one else wanted, but that had

> its benefits too. The money that came-in from the

> bands and supporters just about paid for the

> 'leccy to power the amps and hopefully keep a

> fridge running, but coudn't cover anything else.

Exactly.

That's why we're moving.

Hopefully see you all on SUNDAY 5TH APRIL over at THE HALF MOON.

We will have a record fair all day ( hopefully with some new stock which we could never afford to buy because all the money went on the rent ).

We will have a special screening of a music documentary ( I've got something very special lined up ).

We will have a band ( or two ) playing in the evening.

Full details will be announced very soon.

Thank you to everyone for all the support you've shown.

See you on SUNDAY 5TH APRIL ( kids welcome ).

Onwards and upwards.

Love

THE DREAM MACHINE

xxx

[Jeremy]

Unfortunately I'll be out of the country, but hope it goes well and I'll definitely be along to check it out some other time.