DJ Scooby arranged with Major Tom’s so that we could rock up with our records. The hope was that there would be a set of decks there, but the records were not for playing in Tom’s. Oh no!
We were swapping records with each other.
The hope for the event was to raise the profile of the station, engage with members of the public all set to the backdrop of a record swap.
Some went there with the idea of getting new records – this was not the point. The swapping of records was a background to the mingling; and boy did we mingle.
Having said that, Scooby came away the better for a limited edition Sun Ra box set and Admin Andrew woke up next to a new alarm clock (?).
We admit there were not the numbers we hoped for; but those there shared their passion of ’90s alternative music and conversation about Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin were heard as people started buying some of the records, because they had nothing to trade.
Obviously, all of the proceeds from the sale of the records went to the station.
We admit it was a bit of a mixed bag; but the goal was achieved. As in, the goal that we set out to run the event for. We raised the public profile of the station and we got to meet listeners, listeners who had the app on their phone and regularly listened to the station. In this case, it was a massive success – but we did not come away with a lot of new vinyl, which was disappointing.
I hope we have permission to put on another event like this – it was wholesome fun and we achieved the greater purpose.