Image by hanspetermeyer.ca via FlickrIt’s Monday morning, July 11. The “morning after” Vancouver Island MusicFest. I should be working on other things. Like every summer for the past many years that I’ve volunteered, the week after VIMF really is the-week-after-VIMF. There’s a glow, and an exhaustion, that colours everything I do.
It's not the music
Let me make this perfectly clear: the music is NOT what draws me to this event. I always manage to hear something that completely surprises me and reminds that this is a pretty amazing musical event. This year it was the MarchFourth Marching Band. Thank you Doug Cox (guy who organizes the music at VIMF) for doing what you do.
As much as I like (most of the) music, what really keeps me coming back to VIMF is the cultural/social experience: the people who come to relax, unwind, take a 3-day vacation from the rest of their lives in the middle of the Comox Valley. I feed my soul by wandering through this crowd of smiling faces doing my thing. I’m taking pics, interviewing people I don’t know, reconnecting with friends I only see at VIMF. I’m surfing a warm crowd of people who are “opening,” relaxing into this moment.
Dipping your toes in it
VIMF is an institution – in my life, and in my community. The “festive atmosphere” shows up far from the festival site, as downtown merchants offer “festival specials,” cashing in on the vibe and the 1000s of visitors. Still, there are people who’ve resisted the pull. I hear comments about “not liking crowds,” or “it’s too noisy.” Or whatever.
It can be those things. And it can be hot and dusty. And full of strange people. Mostly what I’ve noticed is that people are curious. They risk the noise, heat, crowds. They dip their toes. Maybe they slum it for a half day or an evening. Go a little deeper the next year. They find ways and means to enjoy the rich social/cultural feast of VIMF without being overwhelmed. And the VIMF crew is always helping to make it easier to "dip your toes." This year there were even free earplugs for those of us who don’t want to have some “hottentotten musik” (if you know my Dad you’ll know the reference) blasting through our brains at full volume.
Why do I ♥ VIMF?
Because it works. Because it charges my batteries. It helps me keep the faith that it is possible to organize and deliver complex social confabulations in a way that feels good. There's a bottom line. And there's a need for safety and security. That doesn't mean we need to have a regimented, locked-down experience.
 Image by hanspetermeyer.ca via Flickr |
| This is an out-of-date shot of just a few of the faces who make VIMF come alive every summer. |
So... Hat’s off to the the VIMF crew! The 2011 version was a good one. I talked to lots of people about their festival experience. I watched the myriad Facebook and Twitter comments. What did I hear? That people are talking about this as the best VIMF they’ve experienced. That you’re consistently doing new things to make participants’ experience safer, more comfortable, more environmentally friendly – and generally, overall “friendlier.”
ps.
If you weren’t here this past weekend, you could have followed some of the action, had a hint of what it’s like, by searching and watching the #VIMF tag on Twitter. I posted a SayZu interactive word cloud about here: http://ht.ly/5AE8d You could also follow the posts to the VIMF page on Facebook. Thanks to all of you who used these media to share your experiences about what is consistently one of the most beautiful moments in the Comox Valley calendar.
hanspetermeyer
11 July 2011
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