Experience Isn’t Everything
And being a newbie is vastly underrated.
I’ve been going to raves for a long time. 28 years and counting to be exact. I have to admit, I wear the years as a badge of honor. And having spent my formative party years in Detroit I feel like I have lots of gold stars to boot. And yeah, that’s cool and all, but guess what?! There’s nothing more invigorating and exciting to me than a newbie at their first rave. Naïveté is vastly underrated. It doesn’t matter if you’re from Timbuktu and grew up loving music that you now find terrible. There’s never anything to feel embarrassed about or less than. Whatever your musical journey has been, you’ve now found your musical home and that’s what’s important. Raves are the act of discovery. Obviously of the music, people and party. But most importantly it’s the discovery of one’s self. Through all of your senses and then some you previously didn’t know existed. It’s more than okay if you don’t know what the track is or everything about the DJ. I’m not saying they’re not important, but you are too. This is a reciprocal exchange and without each party involved, the party wouldn’t exist.
I'm envious when people get to have their cherry popping burgeoning sonic moment. I’m incredibly happy for them, but so wistfully wish I could go back in time to regain that thrill. The high and rush when you hear music that sings to your soul or go to your first party is simply the best. You’re suddenly stunned by a new world of possibilities you never knew existed. I’ve found there’s less brand new moments as you get older, which kinda sucks. And yes, I’ve been to a gazillion parties and have been there to witness history and have stories for days. All of that is fundamental and fab. I wouldn’t give it up for anything. But you know what’s equally if not more important- your pure love for music. And your passion for the community that embraces it. I don’t care if you’ve been doing this for 40 years or just one day. The exuberance you exude on the dancefloor and the ethos you stand for is everything.
Experience certainly matters a ton and if you’re newer to the scene I suggest connecting with those decades ahead of you. You don’t need to agree with them, follow their advice or path in life; but there’s a helluva lot to learn through their experiences, good and bad. The “elders” learn from the newbies perspective too. It’s a cyclical exchange that gives and gives and gives. When it comes down to brass tacks, the enthusiasm and energy you bring to the dancefloor and to your community is what matters most. Optimism and excitement keeps everything fresh and lifts us all. It gives me joy to witness transformations in the scene. Well that’s a stretch, I’ll take a few steps back. There are definitely evolutions that aren’t for me. Some music isn’t to my taste and I’m not into parties which aren’t centered around music and have less to do with artistry and are more about showmanship. But there’s a huge upside to that- there’s something for everyone. And I know not everything is for me and where the door is if I don’t like it. When I do encounter parties that center around the values and sounds I hold so dear, I feel like Cinderella putting on the glass slipper.
It’s not about who you know, what you know, or where you go. The point of parties has gotten lost. The evolution of society and technology really fucked that up. Just know that if you can’t feel the music pumping through your heart and deep in your core to check in with yourself. You can unearth so much about oneself when you’re freely expressing emotions through body movement. Just live presently in those precious moments and enjoy them for what they are. And then perhaps what started out as your escape could become your reality of life.
wise words!