Doing It Ourselves

Abstract

One day I received a text message from a group of participants, I had not yet followed. Introducing themselves as the DIY-punks, they had heard about me from their friends in a neighboring city and were eager to talk to me: and so we meet on their regular spot—the beautiful white staircase that constitutes the entrance to one of the city’s municipal buildings. It is just after 5:00 p.m. and the sun is setting. The stairs, just as the building and the enclosing park, are empty, except for a few skateboarders in one of the park’s corners. Twice a week this group of participants gathers at this spot to discuss matters regarding the scene and to trade music and fanzines. The big discussion matter this day is an upcoming show with two international bands and six local bands. After having decided how the flyer should look, who is going to do the design, and who is going to print them, there is still the matter of how to pay for the whole thing. They discuss it back and forth without coming to a decision. They need to raise about US$200 in order to pay for the venue and the PA system. I suggest that I will lend them the money and if the show breaks even they can pay me back. If it does not, then they can consider it as a well-meaning gift. Camunk, who is the one who invited me, looks at the others then turns to me and says, “That’s kind of you Erik, but we cannot rely on outside funding, even if it is you, next month or next year you will not be here to lend us money.