NORMIE
Discorder Magazine
April-May 2021
CORP
ONLINE 4 NOW... IRL SOON? The raddest, hottest, most sincere
fosterers of virtual “safe spaces'' you ever did see,
Normie Corporation’s Haina, Pao and Vinson are equal parts aesthetic wet dream and raging talent. They each bring forth
a range of skills that come together to create online dance parties with a uniquely welcoming and inclusive environment. Reminiscent of the pandemic-born digital event eminence that is “Club Quarantine,” Normie Corp is existing in a similar vein, platforming loads of local QTBIPOC performers at each event. Although a sentiment surrounding Zoom events is that
they are a fleeting bandaid fix to our COVID-induced party deficit, Normie Corp (respectfully) does not care. They are
exuberantly making due and making parties happen for as long as we aren’t allowed to dance, breathe and sweat in enclosed spaces. As long as they have a wifi connection, and as long
as they have cute fits with nowhere but Zoom to flaunt them. They are new and growing, but already beloved in our local queer and BIPOC community. We discussed recent collaborations that sent new followers flocking to their platform, the neoteric benefits of virtual dance parties, as well as plans for how Normie Corp may change shape in the unpredictable — albeit, promising — future. Normie Corporation has shown that beautiful, vibrant, community-nurturing, low-barrier events are more than just possible, they are too valuable not to create. They said themselves they “have not been gatekept by anyone or anything” in their virtual endeavours — the hope is that attendees feel the same way. Welcome without limitation. The pandemic has pulled the curtain on arbitrarily constructed barriers and virtual dance party initiatives like Normie Corp are spotlighting that in their own right. Needless to say, Normie Corp is changing how people party 4ever, and post-pandemic, it’s not goodbye, it’s c u l8r...irl. <3
Yo u r v e r y f i r s t I n s t a g r a m post aptly stated that “normie corporation™®© was born out of ~reminiscing~ the days and nights of dancing with friends.” How did you come to form this plan for virtual dance parties?
It was pretty much the only viable option for us at the time! We had our first meeting at Wreck Beach and at the core of it was this longing to put on a cute outfit and dance with our friends. We chatted excitedly about hosting events after the pandemic was over, whenever that would be. Throughout the meeting, we all agreed that online parties were the new normal and it would be a good practice simulation for event coordination. Shortly after our first meeting, events irl were shut down and we decided that it was now or never. Your individual exec photos and bios on the Normie Corp IG are amazing, iconic, so hot and so wonderful — but they don’t happen to mention the intricacies of how you all know each other. What’s the backst or y ? Additionally, what talents and skills are you individually bringing to Normie Corp?
Honestly, we met through partying. This is something that we are
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“Normie Corp”
extremely passionate about and we hope it shows LOL. We saw our skills as an opportunity to start a new project — Haina is a fashion savant and a wizard with photoshop, [she] is our Executive Manager of Aesthetics; Pao does event management and audio tech at her day job, so she’s our Executive Manager of Technology; Vinson handles communications and manages talent so he became the Dutchess of Human Resources. Even though we all “specialize” we have made a concerted effort to learn each other's skill sets so we can become more well-rounded employees for Normie Corporation. It’s clear that the heart of Normie Corp’s efforts is by marginalized folk and for fellow marginalized folk (inclusive to everyone, of
