[Dynagroove] THe long awaited dynagroove writeup!

[zorica stancevic]

i always wait until cade writes his review because he is going to cover
most of what i was going to say. yes, i am cheating a bit....

i liked that cade changed it up again at the venue. i think that the djs
have been in a different place each time he's run there!!! and those
tvs...its like positive and negative attraction.  the night started out
with everyone staying "out of the light" and as the night progresses
people just seem to get drawn to it, or maybe it just gets too crowded to
avoid it.

dennis and cade started off the night well- i love when cade gets into a
disco groove. then on came dan x. i am not sure if it was that i wasn't
ready yet, or the large empty space in the middle of the floor that wasnt
getting filled...or that dan x isn't a mover and shaker behind the
decks...or that i was anticipating the jamanta crew too much.  the tracks
were great, and there was nothing specific about his set that i didn't
like, but maybe i just wasn't ready to get into a groove yet, so to be
honest i was a little bit bored. that being said, i think he should be
brought back because i never just try anything once and dismiss it...and i
would like to hear him again.

then came jamanta crew...i just LOVE these guys. they are fun, they have
energy, they make fabulous fucking music, they get the crowd going, and
they even participate on the dance floor!!!! i had to leave during their
set (water and beer run - thanks for helping out jason v!!), so i missed
the majority of it. i swear i came back to a different party, i dont know
if all the alcohol hit everyone or drugs kicked in, or what, but it was
like people were in a daze. it was kinda creeping me out. i came back just
in time for the lights to get turned on with an internal "oh shit, please
no..." however, i know that the venue owners and cade know how to handle
the police at this venue, so, i quickly calmed myself down and was not
disappointed in the result. the sound came back on and the lights went off
and there was a definate renewed energy. it was like it was even better
because everyone almost felt it was almost over.  i heard there were sound
problems during their set and knew that would, in the end, bum cade out
because he prides himself on the good sound at his parties.

then, finally, justin long closed out the night....i'm just too old
because i was actually waiting for the bpm to drop slightly so that i
could keep up with my dancing. my head kept bopping along, but my poor
feet hurt too much to move that fast!!! unfortunately, everything came to
a screeching halt a little bit too early and just as justin was dropping
one of my favorite tracks. *sigh*  he rocked it out again - proving that
his position as a dynagroove resident is well deserved.

i think enough people have commented on personal responsibility at
parties.  i believe that most of us are old enough to know our limits. 
please be kind to yourselves and don't exceed those limits, outside of it
generally ruining everyone else's fun, it is probably the one of the worst
feelings in the world to know that someone was hurt or injured at your
event or on your way home from an event. look out for each other.

and, like, seriously...i consider the general enjoyment of house music as
being in god's house (sacriledge i know!!!) and having said that, who
shits in the back corner of a church?? or pukes?? that's just unfortunate.

cade makes me laugh because he always seems so surprised at how stressed
he gets at each event, but there is always something stressful that
happens!!!

since this was an anniversary party...i made a visit to LA in 1999 where i
meet these two guys from this little chat room called "vrave" and all
their friends. that first visit, i got sucked into working the door
"because i wouldn't know anyone" at this little party called motion...who
knew that 8 years and so many parties later, i'd still have the priveledge
of helping out. i am very proud of being a part of dynagroove. i feel like
its allowed me to be a part of the larger LA house scene (seriously, i
couldnt imagine anywhere else where i would have felt the support and love
to actually throw my own parties!!!) where i've meet some awesome people,
sweated a lot of nights away on the dance floor, and heard music that has
blown my mind.

building off cade's thank yous, i'd like to personally thank all the
partygoers/dynagroovers - you all are the most fun to see laughing,
hugging, smiling, clapping and grooving on the floor - it just makes the
whole night seem worthwhile - and the following for all those times they
sat at the door with me, offered to help and went on change, beer,
alcohol, ice and cup runs with me....amy, fab, deanna and fabian (and
fabian for all those kick ass fliers that i was happy to help pass out),
there are many others over the years, but those four have been my
constant.

and then cade, your life is never quite the same after you meet him - he
already knows that i thank him. i'm glad he reconsidered retiring...i
can't wait for the next one!!!!

i think i've wasted enough time at work now,
zoki






*** Cade***
> Whoa.. Where to begin?
>
> This past Dynagroove was the most stressful event I have ever put
> together.   With a lineup that was a logistical hell!  Who is to open?
> Who is to close?  What time does Jamanta crew go on?   I must have bounced
> back in forth on who played what time.  I have to thank Dan-x for stepping
> up and being OK with playing the 11:30 to 1:30 timeslot.  Most Chicago DJs
> would never play that slot because in Chicago it is like opening.  In
> Chicago the parties don.t really start till 1 or 2 AM.  So Dan-x really
> made my life easier by agreeing to play that slot.
>
> The Party.  Over all it seem that most everyone had a GREAT time.  There
> was a definitely a dyna-energy in full force.  I was constantly being
> stopped and given props which are a great ego boost. Lol!  Dennis The
> Menace once again came through with the last minute opening when things
> fell behind for me (see TVs below) and rendered me unable to play exactly
> at 10.   Gotta give the boy props he can drop it and at the last minute.
> Some DJs (That like Voldermort shall not be named) need to have their set
> planned and programmed before they play.  Not Dennis.  He is ready to bang
> with an hour notice.  I came on next and played for an hour.  Had an OK
> time with it. I am back on my disco kick which seems to come in fazes
> about every 8 months lol.  By the time I got off there was a decent crowd
> but still had that .No Mans Land. that seems to form at the beginning of
> parties.  It is that gap between the DJs and dancers that slowly desolves
> around 12 AM lol.    Dan-x went on and immediately showed us what we have
> been missing all these years we never had him play.  The .No Mans Land.
> gap closed quickly and the party in my mind officially started.   Dan
> played that mix of old to new but none of those stale old tracks.  He
> played 2 different versions of .Pressure. which is a sick ass track by the
> Freaks with Diz on vocals.  I got it a week ago but I wish I would have
> had it for solid gold!  The track is sick and he played a version I had
> not heard yet, funky as all hell.    Dan is one cool cat and has some
> definitive skills on the decks/cdjs.   He must be brought back ASAP.
> Jamanta was up next.  What can I say about the Jamanta crew other then
> talented, fun, nicest guys in the world, sweet, funky, banging, panty
> wetting (I was wearing mine had to take them off because I got so wet),
> foot stomping, bouncing around type of guys.  The started to play and I
> was amped.  I was standing next to them bouncing and I see Farron making
> the circular motion with his hand.   I am like .Oh yeah farron is feeling
> it.  and he starts looking at me and doing the motion stronger.  And I
> raise my hand in salute and he grimaces and waves me over.  Finally he
> yells to me .The sound system is not on you have no master!. opps..  Ran
> over to the sound guy and he turned it up.   Jamanta bouncied and boogied
> and proceeded to get the people bouncing and boogying with them.  Is it me
> or are they a blast to watch?  Prztz and Droors are cool cats.
>
> The Police.   This is just speculation but around 1:45 AM a crew of about
> 12 people fronted by a girl came to the door and pretty much demanded to
> be let in for $100.  Claiming .Oh there is only 3 more hours left in the
> party..  They were persistent and pretty much expected me to just let them
> in.  I told them .forget it.  I had a high overhead and if they are not
> will to contribute to my and my crew.s hard work they could leave..  I am
> sure I was not the nicest person to them but I was a bit insulted and
> stressed.  They left in a huff.  20 minutes later the Police showed up
> because of a .noise complaint..   Now there have been at least 30
> different types of parties at this venue 4 or 5 of them being mine.  None
> of which ever got a noise complaint.   The police rolled in and I met them
> at the door.   They informed me that they received a noise complaint and I
> rolled my eyes and said .Let me guess it was a female on the phone?.  The
> cops radioed in and we got confirmation that it was in fact a female who
> made the call.  I then informed them that we had just kicked a female and
> her friends out for being rude.  They nodded and asked me what was going
> on.  I informed him that my friends from Brazil who were a pretty well
> known band were in town and we were celebrating their arrival.  I showed
> them a flier and pointed out the Jamanta crew.   They said they wanted to
> come in and check things out.    We came in and they asked for lights so
> we turned them on.  They told the Jamanta crew to cut the music.  Then
> they asked me to come back out with them.   We arrived outside and the
> head officer was onsite.  We walked over to him and again I explained what
> the party was.  I then asked him if he knew a cop that was in my Jiu Jitsu
> class.  He smiled real big and said he knew him and then asked me .So you
> could break my arm or something if we wrestled?.  I informed him I would
> never in my life harm an officer of the peace he laughed and said .oh yeah
> right..  We made some more small talk and he said .OK turn it down.  If
> you want to kick someone out again give us a call we will take care of
> them..  I thanked them and ran back in screaming .Turn the music back on!
> Turn it back on!.  I saw Justin Long and his face just grinned and he hit
> play.
>
> Let the party begin.. Again. Justin tore ass all over the place.  It
> seemed like after the cops left the music got louder, the dance floor more
> crowded, and the dancers funkier.   Justin dropped it like it was hot.
> Banged the night away, moved us, and then to top it off started switching
> out with Dan-x again!!!  They switched out till we HAD to end around 5.
>
> The difficulties.  Other then the logistics of figuring out a line-up
> there were many more difficulties in this party.  1 week before the party
> I got a call from a venue that they could no longer host the event.   Now
> this is kind of a big deal but the even bigger deal was that I was in NYC
> when I received the news and I would not be back in town till 3 days
> before the event.  So I mad the rushed phone calls and pretty much begged
> the Soto venue to let me run.  They were nice enough to let me run but not
> for a very good price lol.  They next speed bump was my visuals guy.  He
> called me 2 hours before the party to inform me he could not do it because
> his elevator was broken and he did not want to carry his TVs 3 flights of
> stairs.   That.s 9 TVs 60#s each.  Yuck.  So I told him I would come do
> it.   So I rushed over there only to see that a different elevator was
> working.  I asked him why he didn.t use that one and he said he did not
> even know about it.  So I helped him load and this put me about 1.5 hours
> behind schedule.  Not a good way to start the night.  Obviously the police
> being the next difficulty luckily overcome.  Sound system was not up to
> par in my opinion.  Although it sounded OK it just did not have the power
> that I wanted.  I wanted to have the bass hit a little harder and feel
> some vibrations inside your body.  It just was not there in my opinion.
> Also the problem with the beginning of Jamanta.s set was not good.
>
> Other problems worth mentioning.  People peeing in the corner, people
> puking, people taking there cloths off and shaking there money makers
> around.   Do you know what it is like to ask a grown male to please pull
> his pants back up?  Silliness.  People shitting in the allyway.  People
> parking like morons and blocking others in.  That couple having sex in the
> corner.   Ok well maybe that was kind of cool.  But the venue owner was a
> little spooked.  My overhead was just ridiculous.  Highest I have ever
> had.
>
> And then the big problem.  I have always prided Dynagroove because of the
> caliber of people it pulls.  I always feel that Dynagroove pulls a
> responsible crowd that never gives me or the public a problem.  I sell my
> events to the venues by saying that it is an older crowd mostly drinkers
> never had a problem beyond the occasion fellow who had a few to many.
>  	This all changed at this party.  After overcoming so many
> obstacles only to have the event end in a sad way.  Never in my life would
> I think I would have to shut off the music and call an ambulance.
> Dynagroove is just not that type of event.   Most people know I am 100%
> sober.  I have never been drunk or high in my life.  Hell I have never
> even smoked a cigarette.  I never look down on people who do whatever it
> is they do as long as it is done in moderation.  Although I do believe
> there is a line and when that line is crossed there is nothing but
> problems.  Unfortunately that line got crossed on Saturday and a big
> problem landed in my lap.   The way I see it if Cocaine, GHB, Speed, K,
> Nitrous, and other hardcore drugs arrive at your party the probability of
> there being a problem increases.  Like every scene these drugs exist in
> ours.  I am not ignorant enough to think they are never at my party but I
> honestly feel the Dynagroove crowd is a bit above these things.   People
> do like the fact that we don.t body search at the door nor do we stop you
> from doing other things once inside the venue.  I would hate to have to
> implement any sort of rules or start searching.
>  	I never again want to see someone pass out on my dance floor
> unless it is from exhaustion.  I never again want to have to have someone
> carried out.  I never again want to have to check for a pulse.  I never
> again want to make sure someone is breathing. I never again want to have
> to stop the music and call an ambulance.  I never again want to stand over
> someone who is unconscious and explain to the paramedics/police that I
> have no idea what it is the person took.  I never again want to see one of
> my dancers loaded into an ambulance and taken off.
>  	People all I ask is that you be responsible.  Don.t keep pushing
> yourself.  The music was good.  The party was good.  Put it in cruise
> control and just cruise. And dance the night away
>  	I would like to thank the nurse who was at the party for helping
> out and keeping everyone calm.   Whoever you are you were a godsend and I
> am not a religious person.  I have spoken to the person that this happened
> to.  They are fine.  I believe they understand that they made a mistake.
> Hopefully they have learned from this situation and can move beyond it
> all.  Sometimes these things are wake up calls.  This should be a wakeup
> call for all of us.
>  	I have also spoken to the person who brought the stuff to my
> party.  They too have expressed remorse.   But from now on they are
> searched before they go into my party.  As well as everyone who is with
> them.   DON.T BRING THAT SHIT TO DYNAGROOVE!
>
>  	The venue owner is pissed and kept tell me .sorry cade last one..
> So another solid venue down the drain.  Another place I will drive by and
> shake my head and say aloud .Man we used to do good parties in there..
> Long live the soto warehouse it will be buried next to Hollywood sound
> stage, Spanish kitchen, sunset and orange, and the Taco stand.   But who
> nows I have been known to be persuasive here and there.
>
>  	OK. So.  The party ended late.  Around 5 I was ready to go till 6
> but obviously we could not continue.  Although the party for me was very
> tuff and stressful I am getting a feeling that a lot of people had a lot
> of fun!  This to me is good news.  I could see a lot of people laughing
> and dancing and claiming their dance space.  I received many emails
> telling me how they thought it was a great event some saying best of the
> year some saying best in 5.  This makes me warm and fuzzy inside.  Kinda
> like getting in the hot tub after snowboarding for 6 hours.    I swore to
> myself on Sunday morning that Dynagroove was done after watching the
> ambulance leave.  But after the warm and fuzzies I am already looking to
> squeeze another one in before the summer.
>
>  	I hate for this email to seem so negative.  It was a good party.
> I think it will be the party everyone says .remember that Dynagroove where
> the cops could not stop it!.  I was getting high-fives and handshakes for
> a job well done all night.  This is always a good feeling.   The dance
> floor energy was very high and the music was tits.  SO I can.t really
> complain.
>
>  	I know most of you think of Dynagroove as Cade.s event but it is
> really not.  It is your event it is for you with a flavor of Cade peppered
> on top.   But even more important are all the people behind the scenes
> that lube the moving parts.  Zoki, Sara, Anneliese, Melanie, Dennis,
> Caden, Jason Valdez (ice run thanks), even Lynsey and Nancy who pass out
> fliers for me even though they do not like the .hassles. of Dynagroove
> *wink*  Those are the real people you need to be high-fiving and
> thanking..  Besides most of them are hot girls so it gives you an excuse
> to talk to them. *grin*
>
>  	As someone who 48 hours from writing this was going to announce
> their retirement of Dynagroove, I must thank you for making me feel so
> good about things that it prompted a quick change of mind.  I thank you
> for dancing.  I thank you for paying, I thank you for your smiles, I thank
> you for your support, I thank you for your concerns, I thank you for
> looking out for all of us.
>
>  	Let.s look out for one another.  Lets be responsible people.
> Let.s just keep it going.  LA where the underground lives up
> beeeyatch!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> All the best
> Cade
>
> PS -  whoever shit in the alley I hope you have hemorrhoids for making
> have to clean it up!
>
>
>
>
>
> -------------------
> ~It is my great accomplishment that you all underestimate me~
> http://www.dynagroove.com
> http://www.myspace.com/dynacade
> cade at dynagroove.com
> _________________________________________
>
> View the Archives:
> http://mailman.newdream.net/pipermail/dynagroove/
>


-- 
"If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide." -
Mahatma Gandhi