By Julie Hawrishok
There is a subculture in Ottawa, filled with young ambitious entrepreneurs. They are trying to provide the city with a service seen in most cities across the country.
But the media are trying to thwart these people before they can even make a profit.
The Ottawa rave scene is not a new phenomenon. For over a decade, young people have held late-night dance parties for their peers in the city. They see it as a way to bring together peoplewith similar interests and musical tastes. International talent is showcased behind turntables and local talent gets a chance to hone their skills in front of large groups.
To parents of the mostly-teenaged crowd, the concept of raves conjures up ghastly images of drug-fueled orgies and leering sexual predators. They cannot draw parallels to their own escapades at discos in the 1970s or dance bars in the 1980s. There is not much difference, except recently the media have been unjustly labeling this scene as a danger.
Sure, raves may not be the most pristine example of pure living, but the problems faced inside a rave are not unique to this scene alone.
Earlier this year, the Ottawa Citizen printed an article warning teens of raves and drugs that are found at these parties. The article made exaggerated claims of drug abuse and debauchery and stated absurd facts, without any substantiation or evidence. Ravers, it seems, are the biggest threat to the security and integrity in the free world. The notion that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence has been lost.
The NewRO also ran an exaggerated segment around the same time as the Citizen article was published, striking fear into the hearts of already-worried parents. They were told their children would become drug-addicted monsters who would disobey authority at any moment.
Ravers are organized, fanatic and your very own family members might be one of them.
The broadcast did nothing except add to the moral panic and perpetuate the stereotypes of the rave scene.
Whatever happened to balanced, unbiased, non-judgmental journalism? Shouldn’t more than one side be interviewed?
The promoters who organize the all-night events are, for the most part, legitimate and professional. They hold “normal” jobs and seldom make a profit, or even break even. They throw these parties out of a personal love for the music.
They’ve even created a professional organization (the Ottawa Promoters Association) in an attempt to work with the city and police to make “rave” a less-threatening word.
The association worked with the City of Ottawa last year to create a bylaw that would outline certain procedures that must be taken, before a permit can be issued.
Yes, a permit. There is nothing illegal or sketchy about it. If only Ottawa media had picked up on that.
Negative coverage from mainstream media is bad for business. The scene is already suffering as venues are hard to find and the rising costs of booking artists, making flyers, renting sound equipment and other essential elements make it difficult for any promoter to recoup expenses.
But when the media offer one-sided takes on the dark and dirty rave scene, it only adds to the problems.
One local promotion company had a venue lined up until the owner saw media reports. That venue can no longer be used, as the venue owner now has a distorted idea, courtesy of the one-sided media, of what actually goes on at these events.
Event promoters don’t want any ill will or malice to arise out of their events, though with biased media coverage they are being made out to be the enemy. All they are trying to do is give the 16-25 year olds in the city something to do. What’s wrong with an entrepreneurial spirit?