News From 2005

Why are we here?

We all came with different but similar hopes for Last Night. Here are some of the broad variety of reasons we are involved in this do-it-yourself event:

• self-reliance
• new exciting experience
• fun and a good time
• free-expression
• empowerment
• blowing minds
• revolution
• political involvement
• developing alternative community
• showing the power of the people
• seeing more whimsy in our town
• developing DIY culture
• community
• great music
• bone-shaking percussion
• and a rollicking good time

Are we really going to do this?

We asked ourselves this question early on at the first meeting. Talking about whether we wanted to have a do-it-yourself Last Night parade and hoohaw, the vibe was less like, "Sure, okay," and more like "Yo, hell, yeah." The enthusiasm was inspiring.

The number of groups who've told us they were committed to participating in the parade has steadily grown. And as we get closer to the date, the pace has increased. The event has a life of its own beyond the few original un-organizers. And that is as it should be.

Starting out

After some discussion, we arrived at a staging place and time:

Meet 5pm New Year's Eve at the Saturn Cafe Lot

We chose to make the parade early in the evening (rather than closer to midnight) for several reasons: 1) Shortly after sunset is the traditional time of the First Night procession, 2) lower ratio of drunks to the rest of us, 3) lower ratio of law enforcement to civilians, and 4) it gives parade participants a chance to make other plans later in the evening.

Self-reliance and responsibility

We've talked a lot about security and safety. To that end we are still seeking an experienced group to help with that. We were interested in contacting several volunteer groups that some un-organizers know from other events.

Additionally, safety is a concern for the stilters and firedancers within the parade. We want to make sure there is an adequate perimeter for spectators and other parade participants.

We were concerned about any litter or mess that the parade might leave behind. So we planned to create a Sweeping Tail that cleans up after the parade. We still need people to help organize and participate in this.

We are not asking the city for extra sanitation support, so we ask parade participants and spectators to not burden downtown businesses and take care of their business before they leave home if you can. After all, we each want to take responsibility for ourselves, ya?

How about outreach to other folks in the community?

We want to target our recruiting efforts to groups doing awesome stuff (bicycle folx, drum bands, political groups, clowns, pirates, street theater performers).

There are still segments of the community we feel are not represented. Where are our Samba bands? Political groups? Marching bands? Art cars? Zombies? Wacky fashion designers? Pirates? People of color? Kids? Where are the children?

We'd still like to see a coalition of the homeless marching proudly. Here is an important part of our town that is invisible most of the time -- how about at least one day of the year our homeless citizens can march proudly as members of our community.

People with connections to different groups are encouraged to talk to the people they know and see if they can get a commitment to participating in the parade. Also, people can make (and have made) fliers and handbills tailored for groups they'd like to see in the parade. Check out the Last Night fliers and handbills in our download section. Feel free to print and distribute them.

How about the drum-dance thing?

After some discussion, we have potential sites (and alternates) for the all-live acoustic hoedown after the parade. This will be a central location near the heart of downtown and should be a fun way to end our first Last Night DIY new years celebration. The parade will lead us all to the secret location of the drum-dance celebration.

Is there still a chance to get involved?

There is a lot that still needs to be done. And we need lots of help. Here is a quick list of critical Last Night needs. Email us as soon as possible if you can help.

• people for the parade's Sweeping Tail that cleans up after us
• people to operate Art&Revolution's Giant Puppets
• experienced group for safety and security
• lawyers and legal support (you know, just in case)
• an experienced videographer to document the parade
• still photographers to document
• people to play in the Trash Orchestra (no previous percussion marching band experience necessary)
• Last Night banners

Check out this list of 7 ways you can get involved.

You can post to the email list and keep the discussion going. Or you can hop on the Last Night discussion.

The Last Night Un-Planning Meetings: A Recap

The un-planning meetings we've had so far have been exciting. Great to meet all the un-organizers of Last Night, ordinary people who've decided that we want to make this happen.

First Last Night Un-Planning Meeting: Discussed (Oct 29): intros, publicity, what this is, stuff happening, developing plans, after celebration, a sweeping tail, giveaways, what if the city hosts their own procession? police liaison.

Second Last Night Un-Planning Meeting: (Nov 19) Discussed: intros/check-in, next steps, outreach, safety and security, police/city liaison, documentation

Third Last Night Un-Planning Meeting: (Dec 5) Discussed: intros/check-in, starting/staging point, starting time, who else is in? outreach, revised media guidelines, legal support, safety, police/city liaison, documentation

Forth Last Night Un-Planning Meeting: (Dec 17) Discussed: intros/check-in, what's happened so far, updates, who's in, outreach, safety and security, documentation, legal support, and next steps

Fifth and last Last Night Un-Planning Meeting: Thu Dec 29 at 6pm, location TBD.

Trash Orchestra Build and Practice Days

The Trash Orchestra Build and Practice Days have been great! We've built our instruments and practiced a good bit. We now have more trash orchestra instruments than people to play them. So there are openings in the Santa Cruz Trash Orchestra.

At first, we found that we were good at making noise, less good at making it sound pleasant or interesting. But with a little practice and some planning, we are sounding great. Or at least, great for a bunch of amateurs pounding on trash!

We'll be having one big practice the day before New Year's on Friday the 30th of December. 6pm to 8pm at the fish in front of the Cooper House and Cinema 9. Be there at 6pm sharp. Join us and bring a friend! This is your last chance to practice before the Last Night parade. We have a trash percussion instrument for you.