Today I thought I would write about Bar Wotever, this wondrous amazing event I'm part of and create with a bunch of lovely people.
It started over a soup in Warsaw believe it or not. My then partner was a musician and tech person and had been part of what I did with my events prior, but sitting there in Warsaw (where we did a mega show/party for over 700 people, but that is a totally different story & blog) we talked about the lack of 'middle' stages in London. You know, a space where people know their skills and maybe have performed before but are not mega famous yet and popular enough to get people and agents to call them up and book them... A space that is pretty much open for newcomers too as well as l established acts and bands from other countries and cities without an 'audience' and fan base in London yet.
We drew up the frame of what we wanted Bar Wotever to be and become on a piece of napkin and tore it in two parts and kept one piece each... and went back home to London to find a venue.
And we did fairly quickly find one that was willing to open up for us. But only on a Tuesday as it was an 'odd' night, and they were not willing to let us have a 'better' more lucrative evening. Us Queers are given Tuesday Nights - to top up the bar takings on an otherwise tough evening to bring in customers too...
After our first year at that venue (Central Station in King's Cross) our event Bar Wotever was one of their most popular nights during the whole week! A few years after the start there our relationship broke up and the venue was concentrating more on dinner guests than show and created a table service platform on the stage where we had seen so many amazing acts, performers and heard so much amazing music.
Many of these acts & performers can be found on our youtube.com/woteverworld channel if you are interested....
But then, big leap and as mega luck had it that the owners of Royal Vauxhall Tavern had heard of us and wondered it we wanted to move in there instead. And the answer was a mega massive YES. Here we had the best sound & light system in town for a smallish medium sized stage and venue, already open for art and shows and very supportive to let us queers in.
It was love at First sight. and since then our home have been RVT. We kept the Tuesday nights as our nights, we kinda had got used to it and now we are stuck. Next year in March we will celebrate Ten Years of Queer Art & Performance as a weekly event!
So, what's the drive to do this week after week?
A - It is FUN!! Most weeks we have Amazing things happening on stage, in our Community News and around in the venue. The amount of people who have met, flirted and got off with each other at the space is amazing. Later this year I'm invited to another wedding for two people who met and fallen in Love at Bar Wotever. Every Tuesday is NEW - You never know what will happen....and who you will see or meet.
B - It is important!! The stories shared and heard on that stage have helped many to new insight and acceptance, we have had parents to Trans kids sharing their story and that talk (we video most our stuff and put up on youtube) is used widely to support other parents, teachers and carers. We talk about tough topics like mental health, religion, bullying and feeling low. We share shortcomings and success stories, through the year many have been inspired to higher education or new careers, as they have met other queers within their field sharing knowledge and support. Plus we provide a stage for new, fresh and upcoming artists. Many who start out at Bar Wotever and use it as a platform and 'school' to grow in are now out there in the London NightLife and Cabaret Circuit sharing their skills, and occasionally they return with new material to test or just coming back to feel the love from our very smart and warm audience. They know this is a space where people shut up and listen to what they have to say and share from stage. Respect is key.
On the 22nd July, we had the band Battle of You with us again. They came to us a few years back when they were still at Uni and did their third ever gig on our stage... Over the years we have supported them and encouraged them to play more and go wider and further and they do - they have a bright future ahead of them as they are smart and clever strong willed artists with an amazing drive. And on the 22nd, they stand on our stage as our only residential band hosting their own band night with three other invited bands... and we will hear and support them too...And so we go on and on...
Video from last time Battle of You played at Bar Wotever: http://youtu.be/YwBApOfMPM0
C - It is QUEER! It is Queer as we see Queer, open for all genders and sexualities with a respectful outlook and attitude. This is Queer Activism and Theory, this is about Gender and Sexuality in practise. You meet people who are like you or not like you and you learn and grow together.
At the moment we are a crew of around 15 people who help out regularly and look after various nights, stamp it with our own desires and dreams. The crew is organic and grow and flow as people join and like it and move away when time is not enough... It is not a set clique and we are always open for newcomers who have things they want to share and do, respect and stick to your promises and you can be part too.... And we are ALWAYS open for people who want to be on our stage and/or screen. Just email woteverworld@gmail.com if you are interested. Please include a short bio and links if you have... But do not worry if not.
This, or keep an eye out for our mega popular Open Mic nights (about every 6th week).
Tuesdays is our Queer Night and I have changed my whole week around this now... It is my Saturday and Party Night. It is by Far the best night in my week!
Come and say hi!
By Ingo
LOVE LOVE LOVE Wotever!!!
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