NEWS: Herald Sun - 21/12/08 'Rave partygoers in drug overdose shock in Melbourne'

[the_ketaman]

I find it so strange that I NEVER see any G related casualties at sydney raves. I went to X-Qlusive in Sydney(Amazing night) and didnt see anyone too wasted on anything for once. Usually I see someone who's had a bit too much of the old E or maybe someone who got a speedbomb and is having an anxiety attack but never do I see anyone having problems on G. Now this isnt to say that it doesnt happen but its obviously a lot bigger in Melb.

Am I just missing it or do just as many people do G in sydney as in Melb?

 

[claire22]

Having spent the last ten years doing just this, I have to say I disagree completely. Part of our success can be measured by the number of party goers who, after being assisted by RaveSafe, end up joining the team and therefore abstain while attending events. Indeed, most the long term RaveSafers are ex users or these days only use on special occasions. For some of these volunteers, this certainly wasn't always the case.

We don't give the big 'Don't ever do it' rant, but rather offer a range of worthwhile services generally seen as being valuable by punters and officials alike. Among other things, we provide a lush and comfy space, have teams doing crowd spraying, give HR related advice/info for those requesting it, and offer one on one assistance to those needing it.

I believe its all about approach. Sure, some people aren't open to being told, but unless someone needs urgent medical attention, we don't push any message. More often than not, we find people are interested in learning how to reduce the negative impacts that drugs and alcohol can have on their lives.

fair enough, i wouldn't know about every single persons reaction. just coming really from my experience (i wouldn't really listen to anyone, let alone some random @ a party, when i was 16-20)

 

[js2k6]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-age-apologises-to-hard-kandy-pty-ltd-20081226-75ej.html

The Age apologises to Hard Kandy Pty Ltd
December 26, 2008
Hard Kandy Pty Ltd

The Age incorrectly linked Christmas Kandy to the rave party held at Festival Hall on Saturday, 20 December 2008. The Age unreservedly apologises to Hard Kandy Pty Ltd.

...and so they should!

it kinda shows how much the media in this country check their facts before publishing anything.

hooray for common sense!

 

[hoptis]

Bolded the parts relating to drugs.

Sensation for New Year
Article from: Herald Sun
Cameron Adams
December 26, 2008 12:00am

MELBOURNE'S newest New Year's Eve player has spent $4.5 million making sure 2009 is welcomed in with style.

Dance party Sensation, an institution in Europe, had its Australian test case at Telstra Dome and passed.

Sensation CEO Duncan Stutterheim said the event had already sold 34,000 tickets in Melbourne.

The capacity is 40,000. Sensation's personal best is 36,000 tickets sold to an event in Amsterdam.

"It was a bit of a risk starting Sensation in Melbourne," Mr Stutterheim said.

"But the first week we went on sale we sold 11,000 tickets, so we were confident from then on. The first time is always the hardest one."

Multi-millionaire Mr Stutterheim has spent a fortune on advertising everywhere from TVs at gyms to The Footy Show grand final.

"We invested more (in advertising) as ticket sales went better," he said.

"We want to set this up as an annual event for the next five years.

"We don't want to be just for the dance community. We want to make this a mainstream event.

"It's not just for people who love house music, it's for people who like to go out on New Year's Eve."

The twist for the event is every patron is asked to dress all in white.

Sensation's target demographic is about 29. Expensive VIP tickets, in Telstra Dome's corporate boxes, sold out in two weeks, as did a swish four-course meal option.

The event has sold 45 per cent of its tickets to those outside Melbourne; most punters coming from Sydney. But 200 will fly from Holland to Melbourne to see in 2009.

Sensation is emphasising the spectacular Cirque Du Soleil-style shows, rather than DJ talent on the night such as Fedde Le Grand.

"You don't see DJs in our ads (because) the strength of Sensation is that you're part of the evening. You are Sensation."

The event will use more than 1000 staff, with 80 of the crew coming from Holland. The organiser has defended the cost of tickets, starting at $141 and reaching $200.

"I think we're... quite cheap considering the money we're putting in," Mr Stutterheim said.

"We're spending $4.5 million on each show. Our production is exactly the same as a Madonna show, but it's eight hours instead of two."

Melbourne dance promoter, Future Entertainment, bowed out of the New Year's Eve market five years ago. Since then it has dominated New Year's Day with the institution that is Summadayze.

The event, at Sidney Myer Music Bowl from 9am to 11pm on January 1, sold out its 22,000 tickets months ago.

Future's Mark James says the event signifies a change in culture where New Year's Day becomes as important as New Year's Eve.

Future spends months, and millions of dollars, luring some of the world's finest DJ and live dance talent for the event. Its line-up includes Underworld, Ferry Corsten, Calvin Harris and Eric Prydz.

"People come from far and wide to go to Summadayze. It's become a bit of an institution," Mr James said.

Sensation and Summadazye will have anti-drug policies in force, with searches, sniffer dogs and medical teams on board.

"We tend to think our events are more festival or concert-based, so we attract an older crowd," Mr James said.

"But in this day and age it can happen anywhere, any time, any place - from a dance event to a football game.

"But we're fully set up for every medical emergency. We go over the top, we do whatever we can to work with the police to discourage any drug use whatsoever."

"We don't want drugs at Sensation," Mr Stutterheim said.

"It's so stupid for people to take that many drugs, we want to focus on happy mainstream people having a good time."

Like Summadazye, the Falls Festival sells out each year. Organisers now run mirror events over December 30 and January 1 at Lorne and Marion Bay in Tasmania.

Organiser Simon Daly limits the Lorne tickets to 15,000, and they sold out in minutes this year.

Punters can camp on site or buy daily tickets for a bill that includes Franz Ferdinand, the Hives, Santogold and the Kooks.

"It's... a small festival by most standards, but the programming befits a bigger festival experience," Mr Daly said.

"It could be anywhere in the world but both sites, Tassie and Lorne, are really beautiful."

Of the tickets sold for the Tasmanian event, 26 per cent have been sold to Victorians.

"The challenges ahead for festivals like us is to keep improving yourself, keep delivering something new and different," Mr Daly said.

"The key to a festival being strong is the headline act needs to be the festival itself."

Herald Sun

 

[basix]

fuck these lying cunts of promoters saying they don't want drugs at their events, they 100% depend on drug users attending their events otherwise they would all be out of business, they know it and so does anyone else who's ever been to a rave . I realise they have reasons for having to say it but I'd have more respect if they didnt make comments like these.

As for the latest G blowouts it sucks that it casts a bad light on parties, but let's be realistic, people are going to keep taking G no matter how much people tell them not to. The approach of "just say no to G" is the equivalent of abstinence only sex education and is guaranteed to fail miserably, prohibition clearly doesnt work for any other drug so why will I can't see ghb being any different. Sticking our heads in the sand and preaching abstinence doesn't work.

I don't have a solution, I think ideally people should educate themselves and take whatever drugs they choose to, unfortunately not every drug user will, and G's small margin for error makes it possible for otherwise mostly responsible drug users to blow out on. I haven't been involved in the scene for a few years now but I'm sure I will go to raves in the future and may choose to take G, and no amount of 'anti G' sentiments would make me think twice about it.

 

[Crankinit]

fuck these lying cunts of promoters saying they don't want drugs at their events, they 100% depend on drug users attending their events otherwise they would all be out of business, they know it and so does anyone else who's ever been to a rave . I realise they have reasons for having to say it but I'd have more respect if they didnt make comments like these.

But let's be honest, the scene is struggling enough as it is, how much more trouble do you think promoters would have putting on parties if they didn't at least maintain the illusion of being anti-drug? It's like clubs, they all say they do everything possible to prevent drug use, have posters in stalls, occasionally search people or kick them out, but you go there and 3/4 patrons are on some illegal substance or another, often sold by people associated with the club, you go into back rooms and DJ's and industry people will be smoking or doing lines. They can't come out and say 'yeah, everyone here's off their tits' because the place would be shut down in 10 seconds, it's all about maintaining an image to the authorities.

If clubs or promoters were serious about keeping drugs out of these parties, it would be easy to send security through the crowd, grab the munters and drag them out. It's not hard to know who is and isn't off their guts, but they don't because they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[js2k6]

But let's be honest, the scene is struggling enough as it is, how much more trouble do you think promoters would have putting on parties if they didn't at least maintain the illusion of being anti-drug? It's like clubs, they all say they do everything possible to prevent drug use, have posters in stalls, occasionally search people or kick them out, but you go there and 3/4 patrons are on some illegal substance or another, often sold by people associated with the club, you go into back rooms and DJ's and industry people will be smoking or doing lines. They can't come out and say 'yeah, everyone here's off their tits' because the place would be shut down in 10 seconds, it's all about maintaining an image to the authorities.

If clubs or promoters were serious about keeping drugs out of these parties, it would be easy to send security through the crowd, grab the munters and drag them out. It's not hard to know who is and isn't off their guts, but they don't because they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.

fucking spot on.
the illusion has to be there. at least make it look like you don't want drugs in the event.
i know one club owner who liked the fact that most people at his club were using drugs, meant less problems with fights and such.
but he still had security checking the toilets and kicking people out for snorting shit off the toilet roll holders.
and if he smelled you smoking weed inside. out you'd go.
but on the same token he'd have a pill or two with us inside.

and this is a metal / alternative club...

i'll admit most of us ravers do love our drugs.
but theres people in every other subculture and genre love it too.

like bubble for instance. it has a reputation.. and its rep is probably quite accurate.
but you see they allow uniformed police to come in and walk through the club looking out for dealers.

now thats at least doing something. it probably would be better for a club if people were drinking a lot. they'd make a killing at the bar.
but still. no matter what genre you're into.

this is melbourne, in fact this is australia. and the majority of people are all for taking some form of drugs.. or at least have been at some point.

stigmatising the entire rave scene cos of a few juiceheads is fucked. and it just sucks so bad that we're gonna lose out.
how long til the scene goes underground and you have kids blowing out, and overdosing, and not having the medical staff there to help them out.

but the venue really does need to project the anti drug image. it's a business. and it needs to have a license. and in todays political climate, especially after xqlusive getting that nasty wrap in the media.
they're doing anything they can to keep their permits.
and good on em.

think about it. xmas kandy cancelled.. $35 per ticket for entry alone. times that by how many people were going.
with such a loss of revenue. i hope they sue the arse of the age for defamation and lost revenue

 

[Mr Blonde]

fair enough, i wouldn't know about every single persons reaction. just coming really from my experience (i wouldn't really listen to anyone, let alone some random @ a party, when i was 16-20)

Maybe you're misunderstanding; the RaveSafe people don't go around finding people to give them a lesson in drug use, but rather are there for those who do want to or are having a tough time, as well as providing the services that PD mentioned.

I'll be helping them out soon, and as someone who is very interested in harm reduction it sounds very worthwhile.

 

[claire22]

Maybe you're misunderstanding; the RaveSafe people don't go around finding people to give them a lesson in drug use, but rather are there for those who do want to or are having a tough time, as well as providing the services that PD mentioned.

I'll be helping them out soon, and as someone who is very interested in harm reduction it sounds very worthwhile.

oh jeez i was gonna say, lol! my mistake, sorry.
that's a good idea, do many come up & talk?
where is it set up? only @ raves im assuming by the name
are they spreading to clubs? they are just as bad with the bickie popping, seen very bad things go on in clubs over the years

 

[Mr Blonde]

^ They are at raves and major festivals, not in clubs as far as I know.

Phase Dancer will have an idea of how many people visit, I haven't been out yet but it's my first time soon.

 

[claire22]

just in victoria? or other states as well?

 

[Mr Blonde]

Other states, I'm in Brisbane and I believe they do it in most of the states and territories. Their water-sprayers were a life saver whenever I was at festivals up here.

 

[claire22]

Oh yes the festivals get goddamn hot, the summer ones especially. Bris would be terribly hot though, Melbs bad enough!
I haven't been to one in about two years, its sad, I used to go to gods kitchen every year.. aww
I miss my crazy days.....sometimes

 

[ayjay]

Having spent the last ten years doing just this, I have to say I disagree completely. Part of our success can be measured by the number of party goers who, after being assisted by RaveSafe, end up joining the team and therefore abstain while attending events. Indeed, most the long term RaveSafers are ex users or these days only use on special occasions. For some of these volunteers, this certainly wasn't always the case.

Full marks to Rave Safe - but pity Herald Sun didn't link to you in their article. Instead - it's some bullshit private rehab/detox centre. Rave Safe is a government funded service - it's sickening that you don't get a plug in media that is talking about your core business.

 

[lil angel15]

I find it so strange that I NEVER see any G related casualties at sydney raves. I went to X-Qlusive in Sydney(Amazing night) and didnt see anyone too wasted on anything for once. Usually I see someone who's had a bit too much of the old E or maybe someone who got a speedbomb and is having an anxiety attack but never do I see anyone having problems on G. Now this isnt to say that it doesnt happen but its obviously a lot bigger in Melb.

Am I just missing it or do just as many people do G in sydney as in Melb?

The G scene is more entrenched into the Melbourne scene but don't think for a minute that there isn't a strong G scene in Sydney. There's a certain day club in Sydney where there is no shortage of G whores blowing out on the back couch and on the floors each and every week.

I guess because G is more freely available in Melbourne it allows those less experienced or knowledgeable to access it, whereas in Sydney, it's still restricted to specific circles who know a 'little' more.

 

[ActiveA]

Lol, there is a lot of G in Sydney. Trust me.


I actually use G, not often, once or twice a month usually. Its great stuff, i love not having a hangover but still having the feeling of a very euphoric drunkenness. I usually take it at parties because i don't drink.

I'm young, and even I know how to dose myself. Its all the fucktard people out there who figure they'll just take whatever is thrown at them who ruin the fun for all the safe users.

 

[phase_dancer]

that's a good idea, do many come up & talk?
where is it set up? only @ raves im assuming by the name
are they spreading to clubs? they are just as bad with the bickie popping, seen very bad things go on in clubs over the years

At most events the RaveSafe base is a hive of activity. You might want to get out of the sun (or rain), have a drink (we give out free water), pick up some info or simply have a rest. At larger events especially, some people make the RS base their rendezvous point.

At present, our group only attends events in Qld. We started off in 1999 attending club events in Fortitude Valley, then moved onto doing doofs and big one day events. At that time we also did a few events in NSW. It's a bit of a long story, but atm we don't send teams into clubs. We realise there's need for intervention though, and we're currently developing a new strategy for club and indoor events.

While we're called RaveSafe, we attend a variety of music events from reggae to rock to punk/alternative to psytrance etc...basically anything that has a need for our services. As for the heat; on hot days we have teams that roam the crowd with backpack and handheld sprayers cooling people and offering free drinking water.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of many of our Team Leaders and Peer Helpers, RaveSafe is a respected name in Qld, to the point that even underground event promoters see it as a responsible acknowledgement of what's really going on. That doesn't mean promoters can't project an anti drug stance, but by employing groups like RaveSafe, organisers are realistically admitting they can't control what every patron does, or every outcome thereof. Any respectable promoter acknowledges the need for a safety net, and along with medics and security, RaveSafe forms part of that.

We live in a world full of red tape. Organisers who attempt to avoid bits of it by failing to acknowledge what's really going on are irresponsible to say the least. Pretending the situation doesn't exist at all, then claiming to be astonished when something like this hits the headlines, displays nothing but a lack of concern for patron wellbeing and a failure to provide duty of care. It also tends to raise obvious questions like; is there a hidden agenda....?

Full marks to Rave Safe - but pity Herald Sun didn't link to you in their article. Instead - it's some bullshit private rehab/detox centre. Rave Safe is a government funded service - it's sickening that you don't get a plug in media that is talking about your core business.

Thanks for the comments ayjay. In the past, we've had media coverage on several issues, and feedback was nearly all favourable. Still, when all is said and done, for us, less sensationalism equates to smoother running.

 

[static_mind]

Thanks for looking after us doofers phase and the ravesafe team.

 

[hoptis]

Organisers deny not enough security at NYE dance party Sensation
Article from: AAP
Simon Mossman, AAP
December 29, 2008 05:13pm

Updated 7:51pm: ORGANISERS of a New Year's Eve dance party are not concerned about security levels despite overdoses at a recent rave.

Up to 40,000 revellers are expected to pack Melbourne's Telstra Dome on Wednesday night for the inaugural Australian edition of international dance event Sensation.

But independent security consultant David Hedgcock said the 50 security staff cited by Sensation organisers was not enough.

"It will be logistically impossible for only 50 security staff to physically check all IDs, search bags for drugs, weapons and alcohol, check for drunks, and monitor crowd behaviour,'' he said.

"Security at the entrance gates will be under extreme pressure to process patrons as quickly as possible, otherwise unmanageable queues will result.

"This is a recipe for disaster. If I were a parent of a son or daughter attending this event, I would be extremely concerned.''

But Telstra Dome spokesman Bill Lane said Hedgcock's concerns were unfounded and that there would be "well over 200" security staff on the night.

Lane said Hedgcock was "talking a load of rubbish". and insisted that "anyone found in possession of durgs or alcohol won't be allowed in".

The concerns come after more than 30 people suffered life-threatening drug overdoses at the X-clusive rave at Festival Hall on the weekend before Christmas.

A bad batch of the killer drug GHB, also known as GBH or Grievous Bodily Harm, was blamed for the emergency.

Mr Hedgcock said at least 400 crowd controllers would be employed on a normal nightclub licence for a crowd the size of Sensation.

But organisers and venue management said security levels for the event were "adequate'' and anyone caught carrying drugs would be refused entry.

"We have made it no secret that drugs are not welcome at the event,'' Sensation spokeswoman Erin Jamieson said.

"People will be searched. If they are silly enough to try to smuggle drugs in, they risk getting caught.''

Telstra Done's Mr Lane said venue managers had studied other Sensation events in Europe and were happy with security for the Melbourne show.

"We have an adequate number of staff to cover an event of this magnitude,'' Mr Lane said.

He would not reveal exactly how many security staff would be employed.

Emergency authorities said on Monday they were happy with the event's organising and planning but warned that revellers faced a massive police presence aimed at cracking down on drug-taking.

As well as the Sensation crowd, as many as half a million people are expected to flock into Melbourne's city centre for other events on New Year's Eve.

Victoria Police will deploy 600 uniformed and plain clothes officers and sniffer dogs around the city and key venues.

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Don't blame me if ravers overdose, says dance party organiser
Mex Cooper
December 30, 2008 - 3:06PM

The organiser of Melbourne's biggest New Year's Eve party said he could not be blamed if party-goers overdosed at the Telstra Dome event.

Sensation dance party organiser Duncan Stutterheim said it would be his "biggest nightmare" if any of the 40,000 ticket-holders overdosed, as did 12 ravers at a dance party at Festival Hall last week.

Take a sneak peek inside the Sensation dance party at the Telstra Dome as organisers of the event face mounting criticism.

He warned party-goers not to take drugs and said he had done everything he could to prevent substances being smuggled into the venue.

"There's a lot of discussion about (drugs) and I think it's funny - in Dubai or Russia I won't have this discussion. So you can blame the organisers of the event or let's flip the coin, maybe it's also the country where the drugs are," he said.

"It's not my responsibility to organise a show and put on a nice show and I'm getting all these questions about drugs, hey I'm not making drugs, we're making a show."

Mr Stutterheim said people affected by alcohol or drugs would be refused entry and 220 security staff would actively search the crowd, including with the use of security cameras, for anyone using drugs.

"Don't take drugs, don't use it, don't experiment," he warned party-goers.

Telstra Dome chief executive officer Ian Collins, AM, said every person would be searched on their way into the venue.

He said the $4.6 million party had been planned for 18 months and had the approval of Victoria Police.

"We haven't left any planning undone and we just hope our planning is more than adequate for the evening," he said.

Security consultant David Hedgcock told Radio 3AW Sensation was a "time bomb waiting to go off".

"The rule of thumb is two (security staff) for the first 100 and then one per 100 so 200 is only about half the security guys they need," he said.

But Mr Collins questioned Mr Hedgcock's motivation and said Sensation would attract a more mature crowd than a normal nightclub.

He said the event, which will feature music, lasers, fireworks, jugglers and acrobats, was a cross between a dance party and a Cirque du Soleil show.

Mr Collins said crowd members, including VIP ticket-holders who paid up to $350 for dinner, were expected to arrive and leave at different times throughout the party which will run from 9pm to 6am.

Mr Stutterheim said nearly half of the $135 tickets to Sensation had been sold interstate and he expected many revellers to be aged between 25 and 44.

The Dutch dance-party entrepreneur said the party's mandatory white dress-code was a tradition stemming from the first Sensation party, held a year after his brother's funeral where mourners wore white.

"As a small tribute we did one Sensation part of the night dressed in white and 50 per cent turned up in white and the year after 100 per cent and now eight years later (all around) the world people still wearing white," he said.

Mr Stutterheim said organisers would make about $1 million from this year's event but he hoped to stage Sensation dance parties in Melbourne for the next five years.

The transformation of the Telstra Dome from football ground into a giant dance venue was nearly complete this morning with the inflation of a giant white "Oak of Love" that resembled a science-fiction tentacled creature as much as a tree.

Wires dripped from the ceiling holding lights and lasers while the studious sound of construction workers filled the venue that by tomorrow night will be pumping with DJs including Fedde Le Grand.

The Age