2009 – Issue Seventeen – London
The Introduction It is a critical time for the creative industries. The gloom and doom of the credit crunch, the redundancies, budget slashing, ring fencing, cost cutting - this vocabulary of financial misery is surrounding us. As Auden said, ‘For nothing now can ever come to any good.’ Glooooomy or what? But hold on a minute – isn’t this the language of 20 years ago? Following the 1980’s Black Monday, Dim Tuesday, Darker Wednesday, Very Gloomy Thursday and Could-it-get-worse-than-this? Friday, something extraordinary happened in the creative industries. A positive reaction. Bands from nowhere began making lots of noise, the new generation fashion designers back-lashed, artists took control – there was a renaissance in British creative attitude and the following decade became Cool Britannia. Blur, Damien Hirst, Pop Magazine, Alexander McQueen, Oasis, John Galliano, the Turner Prize, Isabella Blow, the Brit Awards, Portobello Road, St John’s Restaurant, White Cube and Moro. All over the place people took creative risks; the underground pushed its way into the mainstream and drove a stake into the heart of the Yuppie filled world of Neighbours, Wine Bars and Stock, Aitken and Waterman. It was a turning point in British Culture. With a little less in the bank, how does the creative future pan out this time around? This issue is singing with reasons to be cheerful. Trevor Beattie, our very own advertising guru, offers a uniquely personal take on why us creative types still have reasons to flash the odd smile or two. With the ever valuable commodity of hindsight, Gavin Newman signals where new music is coming from. Artist, and now feature film director, Steve McQueen is taking greater risks and winning with his celebrated film ‘Hunger’. We find fashion laughing in the face of tradition as the industry’s leading designers and commentators Manolo Blahnik, Stephen Jones and Natalie Theo shrug off the gloom and get creative on the catwalk. And we introduce new talent on the cusp of success with our very own ‘Creatives in Residence’ as they look forward to the New Year. For those of you who have not woken up and smelt the creative coffee, check out the calendar at the back of the magazine. Coming up in the Club this quarter are some crackling creative jump-leads: a Fashion Week of fun and frocks; a Comedy Night to punctuate the tears and Cabaret nights for the risqué. Also, of course, the very best screening room programme. When the cost of paper went up during The War, Penguin simply made their books smaller. Adjust, rethink, take risks and be creative. Welcome to 2009.
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CONTENTS Features
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Where I Work
Joanna Dudderidge photographs Michael Wojas. It’s Last Orders at The Colony Room.
I Am
One of our new Creatives In Residence, multimedia and performance artist Roxanne Borujerdi muses on herself in crisis.
10 Brilliant Things About The Upcoming Recession
Trevor Beattie makes sure we all know how many good things are coming out of these hard times.
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The Party That Never Stops
20 The Salon Presents...
What are they doing in there, those creative people? Only chewing over the path ahead for the art world in 2009. The Hospital Club’s Salon group email banter their way into the future.
22 Where I Work
Joanna Dudderidge photographs Zoe and Layo Paskin.
23 You’ve Never Had It So Good
Oliver Morton says the only way is up.
24 You’ve Never Had It So Bad
1940s Screen Sirens, Gangster ‘n’ Molls.
Gavin Newman counters the opinion that great creativity comes from great recession.
10 Steve McQueen and Hunger
26 Stop Press
12 Ockhams’ Razor
Calendars
‘British cinema could be in a much better state if only we could take more risks.’ Steve McQueen pushes the boundaries of art and cinema in his raw, unyieldingly hardcore feature, Hunger.
Illustration by Adam5100.
Stewart Who? introduces the Creative in Residence scheme and the individuals who The Hospital Club will be working with next year.
17 Where I Work
As Oscar Wilde said: ‘Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.’ What will the tightening purse strings mean to your wardrobe?
Where to be and when.
29 Members Film and Events Highlights
Joanna Dudderidge photographs Gareth Neal.
18 Never Mind the Handbag
Andrew Losowsky comments, The Man listens.
28 Speed Dates
14 What Are You Waiting For?
The best of The Hospital Club. Check out the website for full synopsis www.thehospitalclub.com
33 Concise Calendar
A concise list of screenings and events.
Duncan Cargill
Joanna Dudderidge
Oliver Morton
Andrew Losowsky
Gavin Newman
CONTRIBUTORS
Creative Director:
Roxanne Borujerdi
Stewart Who?
Trevor Beattie
Adam5100
Eric Smith
Duncan Cargill duncanc@thehospitalclub.com Editorial team:
Fabia Palliser, Stewart Who? Sub Editors:
Suzanne Clode, Oliver Morton Art Direction, Design and Artwork: topright www.topright.co.uk 01737 558 990
© The Hospital Group Ltd 2008. The copyright and contents of this publication are owned by The Hospital Group and no unauthorized copies of the whole or part may be made without express permission of The Hospital Group Ltd.
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a
Michael Wojas, Manager, The Colony Room Club in Soho.
Where I Work
The Colony Room Club first opened its doors to the art and literary world’s ne’er do wells on Dean Street in 1948. They closed for the last time in December 2008.
Photographer: Joanna Dudderidge, 07813 892744 www.joannadudderidge.com Graduate of The Hospital Club Mentoring Programme 2007
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By Roxane Borujerdi
amI I am I AM DANCING AS LONG AS THE MUSIC IS PLAYING
I AM VULNERABLE PARALYSED UNABLE TO REACT
I AM A FACTOR OF RISKS A BUTTERFLY EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING
Taken from the Performance: “Systemic’ speech” by Roxane Borujerdi For further information about the Creatives in Residence programme go to www.hospitalclub.com or contact Lolo loloc@thehospitalclub.com
I AM TAKING MEASURES I AM A MEDIUM A STANDARD A STORE
I AM THE LAST AND BIGGEST PIECE OF THE GLOBAL RESCUE PLAN I AM SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE CURRENT WORLDWIDE MESS I AM A TOUGHER QUESTION THAN IT APPEARS ON THE SURFACE I AM GOING THROUGH SUCH A NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT I NEED SUCH UNUSUAL MOVES
I AM ENDLESS GOSSIP PATRICIA’S HOPE WHISPER WISHES MICK THE MILLER MONDAY’S NEWS
I AM NOT AFFECTED DIRECTLY, BUT WE’RE ALL CONNECTED I AM BUILT ON A BIG “IF”
I AM BRUSHING THE CRASH BUYING PASTAS TURNING OFF THE TAP GOING FOR A WALK
I AM CLEANING THE OPERATION AND PLANNING TO COLLECT A FEE FOR DOING SO I AM PROVIDING BOTH A CARROT AND A STICK
I AM SOLVENT UNEXPECTED STAGNANT DEPRESSED
I AM CRAWLING INTO A BUNKER AND PULLING AN IRON SHEET OVER MY HEAD BECAUSE I THINK THE SKY IS FALLING
I AM LA TACHE LA MISSION HAUT BRION CHEVAL BLANC MOUTON ROTHSHILD
I AM AVOIDING MAKING BIG DECISIONS IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS I AM FAR FROM HEALTHY
I AM 3 TIMES THE DEBTS FIGURE I AM PREVENTING YOU FROM LOSING YOUR ROOF I AM DARK DESERT STORM WHITE CENTRE FALSE START WOMAN 3 NUMBER 5
I AM THE FLOW FROM SAVERS TO INVESTORS, FROM LENDERS TO BORROWERS, FROM ONE BANK TO ANOTHER I AM SLOWING SHARPLY AND EVEN REVERSING IN RECENT MONTHS I AM SHRINKING THE BUBBLE
I AM THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING UNRELATED TO WHAT I AM DOING I AM IMPERFECT CONTAGIOUS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AS IF THE ROAD WEREN’T HARD ENOUGH
I AM HANDLING THE SHAKEOUT INCREASING STRESS DEEPLY BREATHING ABANDONNING MY DREAMS GOING BACK TO MY BOAT AND WORK TILL MY FINGERS BLEED 5
I AM ANOTHER MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB I AM REMAINING VAGUE STRUGGLING THROUGH MY OWN CRUNCH I AM TRYING TO BE “SURGICAL AND SMART” IN MAKING CUTS
I CAN MAKE PEOPLE FEEL POORER QUICKLY
I AM PROBABLY NOT
BRILLIANT THINGS ABOUT THE UPCOMING RECESSION
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by Trevor Beattie
10 BRILLIANT THINGS ABOUT THE UPCOMING RECESSION. We’re all doomed. Everybody says so. Especially newspaper editors. Who are especially doomed. Which is probably why they keep whanging on about it. That their cold fear may become ours.
F
rom what I can gather, 2009 is shaping up to be quite a year. From crunch to crash. From crash to downturn. Downturn to recession. Recession to depression. Depression to slump. With love. From me. To you. If the blood raining from the skies fails to wash the pestilence from the land, we’ll just have to rely on the bitter tears of the financial services industry to do the trick instead. We’ll all lose our jobs, our homes, our marbles and our Woolies. And every last one of our grand daughters will get shagged by a stand-up comedian. From behind. In the Gents. At Ofcom. Still. Mustn’t grumble. Worse things happen at sea. And for me, recession is a chance for the zaggers among us to bloody well zag, while the ziggers persist in their obstinate desire to zig-a-zig ah. Or something. Yes, recessions can be awful. And true, people’s lives were, are and will be ruined by them. But sod that. Let’s pretend we’re on one of those SKY ONE Talking Heads TV shows with the crazy space hopper backdrops. I’ll be Jonathan Ross’s brother and you can be that bird off Big Brother and together we’ll contemplate…
Margaret Thatcher will not be Prime Minister. Taxi drivers will be unrecognisably transformed. Who in any normal year would be Satan’s servants will become borderline civilized human-ish. Where once was “Death’s too good for scum like that, I’d disembowel ‘em and string ‘em up next to that Ken Livingstone til they re-sequence the red lights at Holborn” will become “Dalston Junction? At this time of night? Certainly, guv. Not too warm in the back for you, is it?” In the blink of an eye. Petrol will fall to 1p a litre. Interest rates to -10%. And £1 will buy you half a Euro. All the more reason to shop local: Things will cost 50% less in January. 75% less in June. And should pretty much be FREE by the end of 2009. Gideon Osbourne will be melted down and the resulting oil used to heat the homes of a million chilly pensioners and the cockles of the hearts of those of us who reach for a blunt instrument every time he squeaks in public. Premier League football fans, club owners and human beings in general will finally come to their senses and (following the lead of Formula One) realise that the gormless, preening one-footed minted vegetables masquerading as sportsmen for an hour and a half each week aren’t actually worth it. Pay will be capped at £50 per week with free reading lessons thrown in.
Advertisers will stop throwing money at ‘celebrities’ and gamble their dwindling budgets on what used to be called ‘ideas’. Stirred on by a hungry nation and a particularly Barmy Army, England will win the Ashes. As part of swinging London Transport cutbacks, the female automaton on the Number 19 bus who announces “NINETEEN. TO. BATTERSEA BRIDGE SOUTHSIDE.” Five times a minute, every minute, 24 hours a day, will first be made redundant and then publicly executed. AT. BATTERSEA BRIDGE SOUTHSIDE. In an independent fiscal stimulus to raise the creative spirits of Covent Garden, The Hospital Club will reduce its annual membership fee to £10 per year for the duration of the recession.
Gordon Brown will, quite literally, save the world.
Trevor Beattie is Co-Founder of Beattie McGuinness Bungay. Marketing – Agency of the Year 2008.
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Photos supplied by www.boothbox.co.uk
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Starring Members & Guests of The Hospital Club's 4th Birthday Party
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A short story about how to take risks.
This year, Steve McQueen received the Camera d’Or in Cannes, the Gucci Prize at the Venice Film Festival and the acclaim of critics worldwide for his gruelling and highly disturbing film Hunger. The film is an interpretation of the prisoner Bobby Sands’ story, in what was heralded by the Guardian as ‘a powerful, provocative piece of work, which leaves a zero-degree burn on the retina.’
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Hunger by Duncan Cargill With thanks to: Gary Davy Thomas Dane Gallery Rob Carnevale Steve McQueen
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cQueen is a film maker who’s come along way since the early ‘90s when his work first appeared in exhibitions at galleries and museums. Yet another young, overrated, ambitious British artist? Time has told us: absolutely not.
In 2003 the judges were unanimous, he should win the Turner Prize. However, he divided critics and the general public. Detractors questioned the overt, luxurious silence, the lack of relevance in his subject matter, the plush safety of his narrative – what has this to do with us? Why should we watch it? The themes in his artwork concentrated on extreme, though sometimes undetectable, atmospheres and often forgotten history- the falling façade of a building, the secrecy of obsession, and the beauty of images which seem to have no message. In fact, all his art works – his video film which has been so comfortable within galleries – have been steps towards something more mainstream. The Buster Keaton-esque stunts in ‘Deadpan’, the revelatory nature of hidden obsession in ‘Retrace your Steps’, ‘Remember Tomorrow’ and the sheer beauty of ugliness in ‘Five Easy Pieces’ are the very pillars that have supported his journey to the big screen. This jump from projections onto white walls in the hallowed halls of the art world to Odeon Cinemas and tubs of Häagen-Dazs Cookies & Cream has proved a surprise for us all. Asked to comment on that transition, he is clear, “If you have
the opportunity to make a film, you’re very lucky”. The artist in him added, “I’m not in love with the 35mm camera any more than I’m in love with the paintbrush. It’s the idea I’m in love with.”
silence. “For the first two years I was going to make it as a silent movie and then Enda (Walsh, the film’s screenwriter) came on board”. He admits, “My situation was like a musician who doesn’t know how to write music, but who has the orchestration and the melody in their head and needs someone who can write music to translate it.”
Concepts aside, making a feature film was creatively challenging. “I had never worked with actors before, but I thought it best to be truthful with them and I think they found that quite shocking. But I always feel that if you show you are taking risks, people will go that extra mile. It was a great, great experience. “
Dealing with the army of talent that comes with production proved a new and refreshing experience. “It was fantastic in that each individual is an expert in their field and its great when you ask your producer a question and you get an answer back immediately and then you ask the production designer something and you get something back immediately it’s wonderful! All these people are there to help you make your movie and it gets to a situation where it’s not your movie, but it’s their movie too, so there’s a wonderful feeling where you feel we’re doing it. It’s very different to how I usually work”
What doesn’t come as a surprise is that, as with most directors, the idea for the film stemmed from a personal experience. “I think it’s one of the most important historical events of the last 27 years, so we have to look at it. I was 11-years-old. On the TV screen there was an image of Bobby Sands every night. My parents used to watch the 9 O’Clock News religiously, and there was a photograph and underneath it was a number that increased every day. It was a hunger striker, a man not eating.” McQueen attempts to explain its impact, “It was just one of those funny things that stayed with me. The maths didn’t add up! I didn’t understand the idea of someone who didn’t eat, but gets louder, and somebody who doesn’t eat, but could be heard. It was very strange.”
Artists who sucessfully translate their work to the big screen are few and far between. Of this generation other valiant efforts include Sam Taylor-Wood’s ‘Love You More’, John Maybury’s ‘Love is the Devil’ and Damien Hirst’s, ‘Life, Death and Damien’. It’s a step few take sucessfully, but when they do, audiences are enthusiastic for more. So for McQueen, what’s next on the horizon? More art or more film?
Dealing with this ‘loudness’ was a huge challenge for an artist who’s so used to communicating via 11
McQueen has no plans to repeat the experience. “It’s not like spending five years on a project then moving on to your next chick (film). I don’t know how directors do that. I’m not used to that. I don’t know how people can just move on; I’m still living this and it will possibly take a couple of years for me to get over it. I’m not interested in movies, I’m interested in real life.” However, his line between the medium and its ability to communicate is clear. “If an idea wants to be manifested in paintings or photographs, then that’s where it goes, it dictates the shape to me. It has to be like that. The medium can’t dictate to me, it’s the idea that has to dictate to me.”
In many ways, McQueen’s films are the antithesis to Hollywood’s habit of carefully repeating formulas in order to keep the masses happy. ‘Hunger’ wasn’t made to help sell popcorn or kickstart a series of novelty sequels. “My approach to making films is we’ve got nothing to lose – take a risk. It’s important to make decisions in life that you hope will be for the better – make the effort. If this film disarms the viewer, removes their barrier for a moment in time, then I‘ve got them and through that experience the film can have some power, some meaning, and hopefully make a difference. If, through entertainment, one can grab people’s attention, then it is great.”
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Adam5100 Ockham’s Razor
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WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
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by Stewart Who?
Creatives in Residence 2009
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hile The Hospital Club finds itself a little impotent when it comes to the rebels in Darfur, the Middle East peace process or the war in Iraq, we can shine a light onto the next generation of creatives. ‘The Creatives in Residence’ programme may have escaped your notice, or perhaps it sounded too official, worthy and weird for you to absorb. Many people experience a mental shut down when they see the word ‘philanthropy’. It’s understandable. Like ‘benefactor’ ‘chimney sweep’ and ‘Little Dorrit’, there’s something about the very idea of philanthropy that seems to channel the spirit and prose of Dickens. So, with the images of filthy bonnets and wooden mugs of gruel littering the collective imagination, it’s no wonder people glaze over when philanthropy is flung at them. We live in an age where time is a super-valuable commodity. We don’t have time to diet and exercise, so we get the fat sucked out. Peeling, steaming and eating vegetables takes forever, so we down vitamin pills. Many people’s fear of philanthropy stems
from the fact that if they even read about it, let alone involve themselves in it, they will lose valuable seconds, possibly minutes. Thankfully, The Hospital Cub’s Creatives in Residence scheme offers all members an opportunity to feel rosy, without taking away valuable Pilates/drinking/ embroidery time. You can also brag about the scheme to mates who’re patrons of other private members’ clubs, as The Hospital Club is unique in its commitment to fostering talent in this way.
dynamics of the scheme, a spy with kind eyes and a gentle heart. Bereft of such qualifications, I gloomily trudged to the inaugural Creatives In Residence Mentoring & Coaching Evening, to meet the finalists and the Yoda-like bunch who’d offered to guide them into the future. Philanthropic Manager, Laurelene Chambovet was joined by film producer Emily Man. They acted as caring parents, enthusiastic hosts and social ringmasters. Emily’s been developing film and theatre writers, directors and heads of department for over a decade. In addition to being a trained Executive Coach, she’s mentored for FirstLight Movies, the young film-makers arm of the UK Film Council and Athena, a project-based course in short film making for female producers run by Initialize Films. This wealth of experience shines from her like sunlight through a stained glass window. Fear of wooliness and misguided optimism were dispelled when Emily pointed out the pitfalls inherent to such programmes and the necessity for healthy connections between
To be honest, when it was suggested that I should write a feature about the scheme for this very magazine, I wanted to sob. Writing an essay on an Experiment to Investigate the Resistance of Brine Soaked Paper seemed thrillingly preferable. Why? There’s too much at stake and no space for cynicism, which is my lifeblood. The CIR scheme is like a baby gazelle, damp with amniotic fluid, staggering into the mean forest of life. It doesn’t need a careworn, rheumy-eyed hack kicking at its heels, sneering from the sidelines. The project deserves a sympathetic writer, delicately tuned to the
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the creatives and their mentors. She also explained the difference between a mentor and a coach. “In our definition, a coach is outside the discipline and a mentor is inside the discipline. So, a mentor is somebody who’s been in the same discipline that our creatives are in, for 20 years…and will give advice, introduce and structure things. A coach is about looking at your personal goals, working out where your barriers to success are and getting into their pool of resources - whether they come from an analytical, business background or a psychotherapeutic background.”
The last residues of my misanthropic resentment seeped away when the 2009 Residents took to the floor. As one might expect, they were by turns, nervous, eccentric, curious and energetic. Some of them naturally invite assistance (and perhaps a hug) as they seem gifted but shy; others have obvious confidence, burgeoning talent and a voracious hunger for knowledge and graft. continued overleaf.
Watching the creatives present themselves were their potential mentors/coaches who’d tentatively agreed to offer their services. Where had these wise, generous gurus sprung from? Well, way back when The Hospital Club spawned a fact-seeking survey, members were asked if they’d consider giving up an unknown fraction of their time to share their wares with the CIR finalists. One of the most surprising results from the survey was how many members indicated they’d like to be involved. One might expect that creative patrons of a private club might be selfobsessed, competitive monsters who’re terrified and resentful of The Next Generation, but it seems that there’s a sizeable degree of compassion out there. Who knew? The evening kicked off like a 12-step gathering (Artists Anonymous?) before swinging into a highbrow, romance-free version of speed dating. Emily kept a watchful eye over the proceedings, ensuring that each Creative got at least 5-10 minutes with every mentor/coach. Floating around this meet-andgreet was Victoria Brooks, a freelance advisor whose work with MediaTrust means she’s a queen of mentoring schemes. Asked for a definition of ‘mentoring’ Victoria admits, “It takes many forms, but
Japanese Noh theatre weren’t exactly nurtured or encouraged by anybody. Looking back, I can see why, but still….
essentially it’s about the bringing together of two parties; one individual who has experience in a particular area, and one who hasn’t, and basically creating a relationship that would not naturally exist… and formulating that relationship so that the one who is in the growth phase, if you will, can experience acceleration of growth.”
Emily admits that the most challenging part of such a programme is matching the mentor to the creative. “It’s almost impossible. Within an organisation like the BBC or HSBC, they have a unified goal, so the mentors and coaches have a very clear brief and know what it is they’re aiming for. In this process, you’re dealing with a group of creatives and then a group of mentors/coaches who don’t always know what they can give to the individuals.”
But isn’t the humiliating, arduous, skin-withering struggle part of ‘the journey’ that moulds a rounded and successful creative? “Absolutely. That’s definitely the case,” she bounced back, primed for my wary scorn. “But I think in the creative industries, a lot of people who’re successful haven’t actually struggled… and happened to have the right kind of connections through their families, via their neighbours, because they lived in the right area, because they happened to go to a particular artsy cinema that was on their doorstep because they lived in Hampstead...or whatever it is, cultural circumstances allowed them to fall into the right places.”
In previous years at The Hospital Club, and in many similar schemes elsewhere, creatives have a mentor foisted upon them. If the chemistry isn’t right, the relationship is pretty much doomed, so that’s why the introductory evening is set up to allow such pairings to blossom naturally.
She has a point, but it doesn’t echo my experience or background. Perhaps my resistance to this project stems from the fact as the son of an immigrant bricklayer, my cast of mentors were covered in cement, ash and Special Brew. My forays into contemporary dance and
As a coach, what does Emily bring to the table? “As a coach I bring a safe space for exploration, I’m non-judgemental, hugely curious. I come from a place of love and have experience in the creative world.”
Suddenly, and with some urgency, I want Emily to be my full-time mentor, but obviously she’s a very busy lady. I’ll have to make do with the ancient Nigerian who manages the Quick-Buy newsagent opposite my flat. He might not have much experience in the creative world, but he comes from a place of love, or at least a place where there’s lots of high-grade skunk. Either way, his toothless smile on a rainy Friday night can be quite inspirational. Throughout the evening, I grabbed quick, random chats with the young creatives. The 18-year old Alex Nikiporenko introduced me to the world of IDM (Intelligent Dance Music, of course) and seems keen to glean some fashion tips. Antoine Choussat of Eat Sleep Work/Play gave me a potted history of the business card and Simon Burrill shared his thoughts on the lack of imaginative fantasy in British films. At this stage in the game, it’s too early to predict what the CIR scheme will produce, but considering the glittering pool of talent and the sea of wisdom at their disposal, the possibilities are infinite and exciting. I’m hoping my Quick-Buy convenience store mentor can step up to my new found expectations, but don’t expect a show in the Turbine Hall for at least another 6 months.
Over the course of the year keep your eyes open for all sorts of events; showcase nights: theatre readings, live art performances and short films. Stand by for the Residency online, which is coming soon. Feel free to contact Lolo at loloc@thehospitalclub.com
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Where I Work
Gareth Neal, furniture designer, in his East London home and studio. Gareth, who studied at Buckinghamshire Collage, creates beautiful, contemporary furniture using a fragile, delicate technique, due to which the pieces appear to float. His first commission was from Sotheby’s.  Photographer: Joanna Dudderidge, 07813 892744 www.joannadudderidge.com Graduate of The Hospital Club Mentoring Programme 2007
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bviously, designers and high-street retailers want consumers to continue , shopping but many of us are finding alternative solutions to a tired wardrobe. Those who’re keen to get a fashion fix during leaner times are rocking up to parties where they’re encouraged to bring their old, unwanted threads and accessories to swap them for newer items. ‘Recessionistas’ are mixing affordable socialising with finding a new look at such “swap-shop” soirees. “Bring clean, gently used clothing that you no longer wear” suggests an advertisement for one such event in Dublin. A glass of wine, mini-manicures and makeovers are all available on the night and included in the £15 ticket fee. This may not seem to boost the coffers of the industry, but at least it keeps the frenzy alive. If not buy, buy, buy…at least swap, chop, eBay. Ironically, the fashion industry is always flagging up individual style and creative flair, which is what the consumer is forced into when rooting through the rails of charity shops or getting clever with a sewing kit. While luxury brands and established designers pare back their extravagant habits, customers become more confident in their own creations and jumble-chic ensembles. This creativity borne of necessity will inspire a whole new generation into clocking the fact that there’s nothing cool in being a human billboard for an established global brand - unless, perhaps, it’s your own. It might not be great for the likes of Louis Vuitton, but history has taught us that hard times deliver inventiveness and experimentation, the very backbone of the industry. It’s somewhat amusing to watch the fashion world try to affect an air of concern as houses are repossessed and people kidnap their own children to make a bit of cash. In glossy magazines, there’s been a slight change of vocabulary; rather than ‘splashing out’ £24,000 for an orange crocodile Hermès ‘Birkin’ bag, it’s suggested we should ‘invest’ in such items. Well, property prices are plunging, stocks are rather
people want to dream and get away – especially in the luxury goods world. So to a certain extent, it’s good that we have the occasional cris is because people react to it and against it. I just wouldn’ t want it to last for too long though, all this bad news is very distressing.”
shaky, but a signature handbag, well, that’s for life, innit? Unless you leave it on the nightbus (which you’re catching to save on cab fares). Swiss watch-makers, Patek Philippe, have cleverly incorporated this investment message in advertisements which read: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” Of course! So, that makes it okay to spend £50,000 on a watch.
Manolo Blahnik (The undisputed King of the Stiletto, who put the high into heel, greatest shoe-maker of them all)
a master of the home-made Margherita, finally made the iPod party mix I’ve been meaning to do and recycled a brilliant Seventies dress from my mum’s wardrobe. I’m verging on feeling smug! There are limits though, and I can’t do without new shoes around this time of year. Still, bartering down an extra 20 quid at the Jimmy Choo sample sale made me feel a little less guilty...”
“ I think when the rumours of Louise Roe recession began I did have (Fashion journalist and TV presenter) that feeling that, having been a struggling artist for many years, there wasn’t much that “ Without a doubt, times like In many ways, it really doesn’t suit a recession could throw at this break patterns and create the fashion industry to be suddenly me that I hadn’t lived through frission and energy in the seen as sensible. The real world is already! fashion landscape. Browns grim enough and one of fashion’s has always been a champion I’ve had to take it more of fashion creativity so it’s greatest strengths is that it gives us seriously recently – at the last an interesting time for us and an outrageous escape. We all know show out in India it was THE I’m particularly excited about it’s a fantasy world and people don’t subject on everyone’s lips the new wave of designers except of course for the artis currently hitting our stores.” really look like that - we’ve all seen ts we met and the curators Erin Mullaney behind the Photoshop curtain. and the seriously committed (Buying Director Browns Womenswear While the editors of Heat might and Browns Focus) buyers and collectors… and jump at the chance of snapping that is the crux; periods like this do sort out the passiona Kate Moss in a second-hand te “ My philosophy is this - it’s never from the avaricious. More shellsuit, we’d rather see her in too late to stuff a mushroom than that, by taking away the creativity can never be vintage Zandra Rhodes, falling out assumption that all the work crunched.’ of Claridges with her drug stash in will sell, the pressure to mak e Natalie Theo saleable work is also removed a Fabergé egg. Everybody seemed (Fashion Editor The Daily Mail) and you can look back over pleased to see Naomi Campbell previous recessions and see forced into community service, but what great creativity occurred “ The expression was born in the simultaneously... we do need we all applauded with ecstatic glee late 40s when the industrial the dole though so that it’s not revolutions were occurring… when she finished her court order just trust fund kids who are things are still great here we stretch and sashayed from the New able to afford to make music, are a first world country, we York City Sanitation Department art etc. I’m already aware that have a strong health care… spirit of liberation is bubbling depot wearing a full length, silver we are not struggling like up - even with this last show some other countries and we Dolce & Gabbana evening dress. I started to care less what should remember that. The Now That’s What I Call Fashion. people thought or made of Credit Crunch is not a Creativity Ms Campbell doesn’t do contrition it, and that is when more Crunch, play has to go on - it exciting work will get made… or moderation, and it doesn’t suit cannot stop. Imagination can it may all have to be done never be underestimated… I the industry either. on a strict diet of porridge myself used to, in my childhood, and potatoes but the next play with my favorite toy – a The Hospital Club scoured the few years could prove less box; it could be a plane, a boat, bleak than we’re being told a car… it was everything. many corners of the fashion to imagine them.” This kept me amused for long world to find out how those on periods of time, happy in my Natasha Law the frontline viewed the current (Artist and Fashion Illustrator own imagination, much to the ) climate, and what trends they see glee of my parents! Think of that childhood playtime and on the horizon. “ The credit crunch is a apply the same to today.” leveller. Suddenly everyone Stephen Jones “ The great thing about this sort is on the same page and (Couture Milliner for own line, celebrities of atmosphere is that it forces wouldn’t dream of spending and leading fashion houses) you to think differently. All of what we used to on frivolous , a sudden something that you unnecessary luxuries that took for granted might not be became taken for granted. Perhaps the wisest words on this there anymore – so you have Weirdly, I’ve seen more of topic come from the American to think of other options. In a my friends than usual, for author Gail Rubin Bereny who way you are forced to work out cosy nights in far mor e of your comfort zone, which intimate environments (our noted, “Above all, remember that makes it more exciting, and homes). For me, the credit the most important thing you can increases scope for novelty. crunch has meant becoming take anywhere is not a Gucci bag or a better hostess! I’ve looked French-cut jeans; it’s an open mind.” I’m also a great believer in up recipes online, become that when times are tough,
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THE SALON presents...
...an edited exchange of emails between its contributors in relation to a question posed by The Hospital Club. Not originally intended as an end in itself, the comments reflect some of the ideas discussed at The Salon. Susanne Oberbeck:
Matthew Stone: I wanted to let everyone know about a project we have been asked to tackle collectively for the Hospital Club magazine. The theme is “A positive outlook for creativity in the credit crunch” or some such! Optimism has taken hold it seems! We have two pages to fill by early next week. How could we do this?
Iphgenia Baal:
Brian Might:
What about creating a diagram/model of free trade that removes money? A bartering system between creative ideas, and the things we need to survive. How many chickens is a painting worth?
Todd Hart: We could do a fictionalized record of a salon conversation on the crunch and optimism. Then edit it so we all look brilliant? Or, make it look so despairingly bleak that the powers that read it feel more motivation to do something optimistic to save us.
Matthew Stone: The book “Art meets Science and Spirituality in a changing Economy” (1990) features ideas from artists, scientists, spiritual leaders and economists about the transferal from a competitive society to a more compassionate society. There is a lazy and boring tendency to reassert that every human action is selfish. Not true. We can logically argue that it is a personal advantage for individuals to help others.
The Chicken-Flowchart-Idea, I’m afraid, isn’t going to work. How many chickens is a chicken worth? Silkies are rarer, though I suspect that Rhode Island Red Chickens taste better? Are we talking about Chicken farmers or the malnourished? Which painting? If anyone’s prepared to swap one of my drawings for a Rubens, I’m ready. As for Game Theory, it was the brainchild of von Naumann, who was really quite something. The interesting bit is Minimax whereby von Naumann tried to show that the greatest success was most probable if one takes the course which involves the least possible loss (on this basis, as special advisor to the President, he argued that America ought to drop the bomb on Russia before she developed one for herself).
Gedvile Bunikyte:
I agree with Todd that it should reflect and represent the salon in some way.
Fiona Flynn:
Iphgenia Baal: We should do a critique of Game Theory, the idea America came up with during the Cold War, which mathematically ‘proves’ that all human beings are self-serving individuals. We should propose an alternative to Game Theory.
An easy-to-digest idea is a list of things we can all do. They’d be bitesized and we could each write one or two.
Olivia Hegarty:
Todd Hart:
Capitalism tries to isolate people, including artists, and make them compete. Not having much money is equated with social failure. The word altruism has a moral undertone. This means being an artist who works to inform, inspire and enlighten, rather than for monetary gain. This is the original purpose of being an artist if I’m not mistaken.
Mature individuals are rarely purely selfish and need to be conditioned to appreciate the joy of being altruistic (i.e. the selfish benefits that come from being altruistic). I wish this magazine contribution could show some artistic ideas which were genuinely optimistic or altruistic. Or merely discussing the salon as an example of optimism.
It is important to point out the difference in character of this recession and the last one. Compassionate economy is key - not a simple exchange of creativity for cash. We should discuss the motivation and intention to produce art, without being nostalgic. I like the idea of doing an attack on game theory. Definitely more powerful than a list.
Iphgenia Baal: I am not into the list idea. Magazines and newspapers stick to it because it’s easy, but why underestimate your reader? It is more interesting to put forward a complex idea.
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Interconnected Echoes - The Salon is a weekly meeting, social sculpture and discussion group hosted by artist Matthew Stone at The Hospital Club. It aims to provide a context and opportunity for open, sincere and optimistic conversations about the present and the future.
Olivia Hegarty:
Sohrab Golsorkhi:
There’s no point in being an artist if you don’t engage with the avantgarde. To do that, one must surely question, discuss and relate day-today joys and suffering to the bigger picture, as Todd says. Economic recession needs to be addressed with sensitivity. But you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. If we were consistently afraid of offending people, progress would never happen. The point is not to condone spending and capitalism from a lofty, comfortable, middleclass perspective, but like Sohrab says, energetically propose solutions, and envision a switch to a fairer, more compassionate value system which will occlude these hardships happening in the future.
The trouble with the idea of money-less trade is it still relies on desire, and a fluctuating value of things and ideas in relation to ones desires (the market). Money by another name. The thing to do is recognise that our system of free trade is not truly free. So rather than demonizing money per se, it is interesting to look at what the world would be like if we actually had free and fair trade. Altruism brought to mind a line from the Russell-Einstein Manifesto (1955): “Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new Paradise”. I admire this optimism in the face of disaster, but we should avoid sounding triumphant about the situation. Simply saying how wonderful an opportunity this is, when so many are or will suffer, could come across a bit crass. The difference between earnestly and energetically proposing solutions, and joy at having a monumental train wreck of an event to make work about.
Iphgenia Baal:
Laura Jung:
Olivia Hegarty:
What do we consider the role of artists to be in times like these? As Todd said, we are not economists or social scientists. We might be out of our depth proposing a new model of exchange? Then again, who better to dream up utopias? I found this in the Independent: “For a time it seemed that walking the shopping malls was more popular than walking the dog, but in a dramatic change for a nation of credit card junkies, the Bank of England has declared that Britons are going off shopping as a ‘leisure activity’.” We could try to think of where this desire is being directed now, and where it could ideally be directed?
Maybe that’s the wrong phrase, but just consider who funds this magazine, what it is for. Or don’t.
Laura Jung:
I have great empathy for people who are struggling, who seem to be unable to control society in the way they want, victim to the whims of bankers and politicians. Having said that, we need to remember that this is a time in history of greatly increased personal freedom, luxury, leisure and personal expression. I know it’s easy for me to say this sitting in my office, but it is important to remember where we stand in the grand scheme of things. We do art because we want to and because we enjoy it. Let’s consider the effect of making of art in that context, be optimistic about that situation.
The (corporate) art world seems to be most worried about not being able to sell their Bacons and Hirsts for 20 million. This should be an opportunity to rethink art outside its dwindling market value. To reassert its role in affecting people and effecting positive change.
Nicola Lane:
Fiona Flynn:
If it’s tongue in cheek, it’s not worth doing.
Iphgenia Baal:
Todd Hart:
Would I be a complete killjoy if I said people were over thinking too much? Two pages in a corporate art magazine. Surely this should be approached slightly tongue in cheek. Know your medium.
It’s utterly crass to “rejoice” at the recession and the misery that it brings. I’ve been completely crunched but I still regard myself as an optimist about humanity’s ability to solve problems, progress, and make the world a better place. 21
It seems to me that this correspondence is fascinating. It reflects the Salon because it communicates the process of thinking and conversation, rather than presenting a conclusion or sound-bite. Why package it? Serve it as is. Let the Hospitallers of Covent Garden read them as well.
Where I Work
Zoe and Layo Paskin, DJs, in their place of work; home to AKA and The End. After years of warehouse partying, brother and sister Layo and Zoe opened The End, a club in the disused stables, deep beneath the City of London. Â This year the award winning venue celebrates its 9th birthday.
Photographer: Joanna Dudderidge, 07813 892744 www.joannadudderidge.com Graduate of The Hospital Club Mentoring Programme 2007
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“You’ve never had it so good” When searching in my psyche to determine what the above infamous words mean to me; or how apt they were to me presently, I found myself milling over what is it in us that can determine whether one is an optimist or a pessimist. There are always two ways to view a problem; some see the challenging economic climate as scary as the prospect of going to Sarah Palin’s electoral campaign announcement in a bear suit; whilst others see opportunity in any eventuality, and have such conviction in their actions that no amount of scaremongering will deter their aim on the target of utopian success! Hold on, hold on Hold on, hold on Hold on, hold on Hold on, Won’t be long The only way is up, baby For you and me now The only way is up, baby For you and me now The only way is up, baby For you and me now The only way is up, baby For you and me now
Why is it that I feel pessimism and the “I told you so” mentality is so revered in this day and age? Media loves branding “the bad guy” and the sheer demonising and judgement that certain media tools (double entendre on the word tools there!) make is truly shocking. But not as shocking as the feverish and un-satiated appetite that we the public have for the downfall of others; allowing the opportunity to turn to one another with a smirk signalling the smugness gained by hindsight that the foolish could never know. Pessimism is being glorified, modern comedy is amuck with these self-righteous figures who do nothing but needle and make fun of anyone foolish enough to utter (in their oh so faultless opinion) an outlook or ideal that could be placed on a pedestal for ridicule.
by Oliver Morton
We are on the brink of a new age with America opting to embrace change. Are they making a bid to achieve that old adage of “the American Dream”? There is that feeling that they are looking forward, and as a great
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spokesperson once famously said “The only way is up, baby; for you and me now, the only way is up, baby” (Yazz, 1988) It was the British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillian, who first coined the phrase “You’ve never had it so good” where the austerity of post-war British life was slowly being shattered by consumer and public confidence. It is this optimism and confidence that, like the phoenix from the ashes, is the key to not only the economy, but the catalyst to creativity. In the 80s in the mechanical iron grip of the nation’s favourite Femme Fatale we saw an emergence of artisans that, from unassuming credentials; are the same people now making headlines at Sotheby’s and are paving the way for an innovative new breed of North London studio dwelling Y.B.As So do you live by the creed set out by Eleanor Roosevelt “A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping-stone to the optimist” or the words of Winston Churchill “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Do you see inspiration when others see only limitations? Do you fly in the face of adversity and scoff at the disbelievers who doubt your cause? Well right or wrong, inspired or misguided; life is one big risk; live for that moment, never say never and look forward not backwards; and remember, this my parting thought: “The only thing you have to fear is fear itself ”.
by Gavin Newman
Illustraton: ericsmithillustrator.co.uk
YOU ’VE NEV ER HAD IT SO
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Against a darkcore backdrop of economic doom, what more can us mortals do but turn to music for a little solace and inspiration? Music, the discipline of the arts that best captures social angst, her whimsical annotated layers allowing our escape from the humiliation of rifling through the neighbour’s bin for our next fish-bone meal…
T
he following article loosely documents how recessions have repeatedly served as the catalyst to every consumer’s worst nightmare: dreadful music. In doing so, we first dipped backwards to a time when even the rich might have worn a fingerless glove or drunk special brew from a gypsy dog’s tail. Most of the planet had to wait for the American stock market crash of 1929 to feel the pinch, but not us Brits. At home, we’d already been enjoying a decade of WWI, post-depression. But what did “music from between the wars” sound like? Surprisingly, the research we didn’t do returned no results at all, henceforth we concluded that music had not yet been invented. So our story really begins half a century later during the crippling recession of 1981 when unemployment rose to unprecedented levels and men started wearing guy-liner. Shakin’ Stevens, a man caught in a horrific denim space-time continuum, and Sam Fox, best known for leaving a bad taste in the mouth and a salty crust on the sheet, were pretty much all a man had in 1981. So unless you were gay, or a teenage girl, music held little relevance to the masses apart from perhaps a metro-curious fascination with why men began to appear on the box clad in gold braided pirate jackets and ostentatious frilly shirts, complimented by space-monkey hair-dos. For the common-woman, it was all about Spandau B and Duran D. These virile groups of young men made women feel like a million shekels. It no longer mattered who would
beat the other in a fight to the death because these were men who wore lipstick. They were unthreatening, they were sensitive, they put lemon juice in their hair. As these man-bands competed for shoulder-pad supremacy, another movement of hedonistic spunkmunchers were also greeting an unsuspecting public for the first time. Using new props like chains, leather and the moustache, Culture Club and Soft Cell in particular emerged as a serious tour de force. Even the stalwarts were reinventing themselves. As they fumbled into the unpredictable ‘80s, Blondie became Debbie, Weller hung up his Jam parker and MJ was masterminding his own de-pigmentation and surgical graft of his nose to his forehead. Whilst Bowie was writhing on top of his little “China Girl” and writing songs about red shoes, Freddy was throwing midget-waited gak parties. It was about the glamour, not about quality control.
lowest level since 1962. Erasure grabbed the top spot for five weeks and Shitney make her crack-fortune with ‘I Will Always Love You’. Bryan Adams reached numero uno with ‘Everything I Do’, the soundtrack to ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’, ironically, a film about a fascist forest goblin who stole from the rich and gave it…to his agent. It gets worse. TV personalities Nick Berry and Jimmy Nail both released records, tiny Kylie was already putting out her “Best Of” and Bart Simpson topped the charts outstripping ninety-nine real human beings in record sales, a sure sign to start handing out free frontal lobotomies at the nearest high street drop-in clinic. Few could disagree that this was by far the most uninspiring, genre-less period in British music history. And we all know that an era without a genre is like a monkey without fur. It’s like having nothing. In certain made-up circles, political leaders even considered holding music accountable for bringing England to her crippled knee.
Like a phoenix rising from a pyre, the stability of the late ‘80s bred an intense amount of new music. From gangsta reportage and electric boogaloo, to the power ballad; times had changed and peace reigned down upon us. But just when you thought things would never be bleak again, the 1990/1 recession kicked in. To think that we could regress this much was of course unimaginable but the reality was more harrowing than anyone could have expected as Mick Hucknall won British Male Solo Artist of the year. Popular music took a grotesque nose-dive into its own skanky hollows with record sales at their
Cue 2008. Over a decade of incredible consumerism and wealth has been and gone. From brit-pop, turbo-rock to spankpop and the meteoric rise of the digital era, fat-wigs took over the world with intense control and widespread corporatisation of the record industry. Whilst the Majors were busy schmoozing faceless radio playlist producers and ramming manufactured manure down our necks, they began to lose grip on reality, lose control of the digital sector and have been playing catch-up ever since with little success. The best
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place for bands to large it now was not through the traditional plugger channels, but through newly evolved networks like MySpace, where bands could freely promote their own music and interact directly with their fans. In turn, the actual volume and quality of new music shifted with unprecedented speed. As the Majors were busy blaming everyone and everything apart from themeselves for poor record sales, The Naughties produced by far some of the most creative talent of this century…until Northern Rock shot its load a year ago. From then, things have gone from glittery to savage in one stinking swoop. The close of 2008 saw Leona, Dido, Nickleback, Girls Aloud and Mick Hucknall’s Simply Red in the top ten of the album charts. You couldn’t have planned the script if you tried. So what have we learnt from our important historical research? Does poverty really bring out the creative in us? Apparently not. History tells us that in the face of poverty, we hide. The 1920s were so bad, there was no music. Glamour was king in 1981, a year that saw “the guitar” phased out by “the synthesizer”. 1991 without doubt, bore some of the worst music in the history of the world. As for 2008, nobody is safe from Louis fiddly-dee Walsh. There is only one solution. Stop buying music now. And in the future, if you get even the faintest whiff of an eco-slump, stop listening to music altogether. It may well be the only way to stop Mick Fucknall cashing in on the weak.
STOP PRESS
In mid October, the first ever magazine created especially for the iPhone quietly popped up in Apple’s App Store. Called PMc, it’s a fashion / New Yorker / social diary magazine named after and based around NYC society king and legendary snapper Patrick McMullan.
And it’s not very good. I wrote as much on my blog, criticizing everything from its design to its functionality. The medium shows potential, I wrote, but this wasn’t even worth the 99 cents they charged. And then something strange happened. The founder and publisher of PMc, a former music-industry systems programmer called Michael Prenez-Isbell, emailed me to say thank you. They were currently reworking their magazine, based in part on my criticisms. Both intrigued and giddy with my newfound power, I contacted Mr Prenez-Isbell and asked him a few more questions about live magazines, Joey Ramone and a secretive major deal or two in the offing. How did the collaboration with Patrick McMullan come about?
Patrick and I first met in Joey Ramone’s apartment in 1986. I can’t share the details, but use your imagination! [laughs] Legs McNeil, the guy who invented the term “punk rock”, was present, as was Arturo Vega, the Ramones’ artistic manager. Patrick and I immediately became friends. It was an interesting day [when we decided to make PMc]. I walked out of my apartment, and ran into Tommy Hilfiger. Then I ran into Patrick on the square in Greenwich Village. He said “we ought to do something, I see all these beautiful girls walking around and they’ve all got iPhones.” and I said, “Coincidentally, I’ve been working on something.” Patrick and I talked, and he said “my photographs make great content”, and that was exactly what I needed.
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When did the idea first come to you to make a magazine for a mobile phone?
It began almost two years ago. Laying out a mobile magazine was quite a challenge. We think that magazines are an art form, we’re creating for people who love the visual and aesthetic form of magazines.
When did you decide to focus on the iPhone?
Pretty much as soon as we saw it [laughs]. As soon as we saw the iPhone, we said “wow, we’re in Star Trek, let’s do this.” The resolution, the pictures - it all looks great on the iPhone. I’ve been in software development for about 20 years and I soon realised that this was going to be the best experience of my life.
I love the numbers on the iPhone, I love the fact that it’s in the hands of 20m people, I love that it’s something you can grab out of your pocket. You don’t have to carry a 700-page copy of Vogue, you can just flip through one on your iPhone. And thanks to Apple and the app store, we have a distribution channel. Our distribution costs are what Apple takes - 30c a copy. We have no paper costs, and our bandwidth costs aren’t very high either. Ours is an advertiser-driven model, and we’ve created a browser with advertising integrated. We hope to make that more seamless as time goes on, and to include features that make it more compelling.
How about having the pictures in the magazine appear live at 6am, right after the party?
How has the response been?
We’ve had a great response from advertisers. I can’t really mention any names but I can say that we are talking to, uh, how do I put this... a major publishing concern - one of the two biggest [laughs]. I don’t think I can say any more.
One of the things we built into the magazine is to have live feeds coming down with more content for the magazine. Think of it like an accordion. The more you’re online, the more your issue of PMc, or any other of our magazines, will expand with richer content. You may see different advertisements next time, you may see a new episode of one of three or four animated cartoons we’re planning, things like that.
Are you developing iPhone versions of magazines that already appear on the newsstand?
You... might say that, yes. OK, I will say that. How involved has Patrick been in PMc?
He is very much the creative spirit of the magazine, especially in the [forthcoming] redesign. He personally picks every one of the pictures we include. He and I hooked up after he came home at 2am from a party one night and ground through it. I think we were done at about 6am. He slowed down the process because I was there - he literally goes “that one, that one, not that one, that one”.
When will the live feeds begin?
Some time in the new year. We’re still working on a few business deals.
What are your next titles?
There are four other magazines we’re working on. The first one is called “After Party” and is going to be a political magazine. It’s bipartisan, oriented to what we call “constructive politics”, we’re going to have some of the best modern political writers working on it. We want it to be politics for the age of Barack Obama. So what’s the endgame? Is this your passion, or do you hope to sell up to Conde Nast as soon as possible and retire to a private island with Patrick and the remaining Ramones?
We’re… not dismissing any options. We love that we are getting to do our own titles. We see a lot of opportunity for growth. We’re capable of acting independently and also helping others run live on the iPhone.
by Andrew Losowsky
It’s pretty clear that, with the number of ad pages going down, environmental concerns and fuel costs, print magazines are struggling. The opportunity for growth is not in that arena. I’m betting we haven’t seen the last successful print magazine, but I’m also betting that there will be fewer and fewer of them.
And how have actual sales of PMc magazine been so far?
[Pause] On the low side. But our direct marketing just got rolling yesterday.
Andrew Losowsky is a US-based writer and editor and runs The Magtastic Blogsplosion www.losowsky.com/magtastic
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Speed dates
London & International
January 13 - 18 London Art Fair www.londonartfair.co.uk
A chance for collectors, investors, critics and everyday art appreciating regular folks to peruse the finest arty offerings from London’s many galleries. Since 1988 the London Art Fair in Islington has been drawing in the crowds eager to check out the latest contemporary and international challenging new art, and cutting edge photography exhibitions. Discover the new Damien Hirst and imagine the Daily Mail controversy headlines in advance. 23 - 25 Art & Book Festival www.wordsworth.org.uk
Courtesy of The Wordsworth Trust, a residential weekend celebrating everything Wordsworth, in the heart of Grasmere. Attendees can expect lectures, readings, workshops bringing to life the literature and visual arts. Organisers promise a ‘wonderfully eclectic programme’ and the chance to stay in the plush surroundings of the Wordsworth hotel as part of the wordy weekend package perfect for all luxury loving literati. 23 - 26 What You Got? - Rebel Icons On Screen www.barbican.org.uk
If you’re a rebel without a cause, or even if you’ve never felt the need to shoot at cute puppies with a BB gun or take part in a terrifying car related duel of death, The Barbican presents a series of films celebrating rebellious silver screen icons. James Dean represents the US, Zbigniew Cybulski from Poland, and France’s Gérard Phillipe are all represented in this season of handsome delinquent sociopaths. 4 January - 8 February Cirque De Soleil - Quidam. Royal Albert Hall www.royalalberthall.com
Spectacular acrobatics, très magnifique costumes and set design, and some super artistic clowning around from the legendary Cirque De Soleil performers, the latest show based on “the person living lost amidst the crowd in an all-too-anonymous society…a story of the one who cries out, sings, and dreams within us all” By the way, to avoid possible social embarrassments: it’s pronounced ‘key-dam’. 9 - 11 Lee Scratch Perry, London Jazz Café www.jazzcafelive.com
Lee Perry’s status as reggae royalty is indisputable. Sure to be the most dub-tastic gig of the year, the eccentric mad genius and music production pioneer will be landing his spaceship somewhere in the vicinity of the Jazz Café in January.
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8 Grammy Awards www.grammy.com
The U.S. music industry’s biggest party of the year, with more categories than the yellow pages. The ever present Gloria Estefan will almost certainly be there doing the conga, along with parades of hip hop stars trying to out-bling each other with outrageousness and egotistical tantrums. Hurrah! 8 The BAFTAs
Recognising the most talented crème de la crème of TV and film, and surely the best looking statue of them all that would look lovely above anyone’s fireplace, The BAFTA awards are a British institution. And this year there’s even a BAFTA ceremony for computer games in March. 18 The Brit Awards www.brits.co.uk
The Pet Shop Boys are this year’s Outstanding Contribution Award winners, which should add a bit of glitz and glamour to proceedings. Expect the usual array of guitar-playing ragamuffins getting inebriated and trying to get quoted saying something cheeky, and jokes met with stony silence from the crowd too busy tucking in to free booze to worry what the presenters are trying to read from the autocue. 22 The Academy Awards www.oscar.com
The Oscars shines its golden light on the lucky chosen few Hollywood players (and a few of those folks in the background making cool sound effects and nice sparkly costumes who always get skimmed over in the highlights). Rumour has it Ricky Gervais could well be picked to present the proceedings. Let’s hope he doesn’t get over-excited and upset everyone by doing the infamous robot crab dance.
March 17 - 26 & throughout April/May Dido, Queen Of Carthage - National Theatre
Christopher Marlow’s first play was a big influence on Will Shakespeare, telling the story of a powerful woman and her obsessive love for Trojan Hero, Aeneus. That cheeky cherub Cupid is involved at some point too. More heart-wrenching drama than even an omnibus of Hollyoaks could muster. 14 Elbow – Wembley Arena www.elbow.co.uk
February
A sharp graduation to stadium filling monsters of rock (well, of the sensitive, beautiful, introspective variety) for the Elbow boys. The Mercury Prize winners of 2008 continue their well deserved and hard earned rise with a date at the enormous Wembley Arena. Imagine being among thousands singing along to ‘One Day Like This’ with tears in their eyes. Yes indeed.
Berlinale/The Berlin Film Festival 5 - 15 February www.berlinale.de
Dates throughout March Dancing At Lughnasa – The Old Vic www.oldvictheatre.com
International celebrations of film don’t get much bigger than this, with around 400 screenings of the new, daring, experimental, and spectacular visual treats. Also, up and coming filmmakers get the chance to meet and learn from the pros in the Berlinale Talent Campus. Screenings of Police Academy 8 are as yet unconfirmed.
Brian Friel’s Olivier winning play is set in Ireland and returns to the West End for the first time since it premiered back in the early 1990’s. Five sisters, love, loss and dark humour. Plus Andrea Corr from The Corrs is in it, with her lovely face. You can’t say fairer than that.
Members’ Events Highlights
January
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Slumdog Millionaire Director: Danny Boyle Cast: Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla UK / India / 2009 / 120 min / Pathe Genre: Comedy / Crime / Drama
Jamal Malik is an 18 year old orphan from the slums of Mumbai. His life is on the brink of changing forever when he is one question away from winning 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”…cue the obligatory commercial break… oh, and also cue Jamal’s arrest as patently he must’ve cheated. Bugger. Innocent until proven guilty? Well, here’s the proof.
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Milk
5
Frost/Nixon
(preview)
Director: Ron Howard Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon USA / 2009 / 122 min / Universal Genre: Drama / Biography
So Frixon (What? And Brangelina’s snappier?)…Why was Dicky forced from office? The true story of another Whitehouse scandal. Fresh from the Donmar’s stage take a left at Broadway and via the guidance of Ron ‘Happy Days’ Howard. This film documents the interview, consequent battle of wits and the resulting unveiling of truth that took place in 1977. David, it’s over to you.
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Comedy
(preview)
Director: Gus Van Sant Cast: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin
It’s hilarious, really. Truly amusing, how many people think they are comedians. We showcase the up and coming UK talent and try our best to keep your sides splitting. A members’ favourite, if there is one. Comedy keeps the heart sweet.
USA / 2008 / 128 min / Momentum Genre: Biography / Drama
Gays in politics. Still very much a cold sore in these “liberal” times. But not quite as much as in 1978 when Harvey Milk, America’s first gay man publicly elected to office, was murdered, along with the city’s mayor George Moscone. From OAP’s to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became a hero for all Americans. Not just the Britney lovers. Gay royalty. And rightly so.
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14 Poker
The Hospital Club Poker Night is our homage to the wonderful world of gambling. From the beginners to the pros, from Blackjack to Five Card Stud, you can enter the “casino” and go up against the card sharks and the big slicks. But, after the first twenty minutes, if you don’t know who the sucker at the table is, it’s you.
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Acoustic night STEREO DECADE have already won both the Raw Talent 2008 and Havering Rock Band of the Year, opened the main stage at the London Freeze Festival and sold out London’s famous Hard Rock Café. With their wonderfully whimsical tunes and catchy lyrics, they’ll have you hooked from the outset. Brought to us by Trashed Management, run by two of our members, Ian Rendall and Sophia Lyons, who manage three bands and four of the UK’s top rock photographers and have recently been working this summer with legendary rock band KISS on their European tour.
February
16
02-04
Drinks tasting
A Deconstruction of Film Narrative by Mike Figgis
Booze lovers unite! This is a call to action: are you thirsty, wondering why your taste buds have yet to be satiated with grape’s sweet nectar (or the process of fermentation)? Well, look no further. Our wellstocked and well-versed bar and restaurant are organising a drinks tasting for members and their guests. The choice of tipple varies, watch this space to see what lies in store for February.
Shot in one continuous 93-minute take on four digital cameras all running simultaneously, Timecode offers one of contemporary cinema’s most audacious and exhilarating experiences. Paying special attention to space, light, sound, music composition, narrative, imagery, improvisation, drama, editing, direction, digital technology, camera movement and framing, Figgis will present and explain the fundamental building blocks of modern digital film-making while offering a compelling and inspiring insight into his own experimental and groundbreaking aesthetic. Course cost: £400 (50% discount for Hospital Club members).
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The Xbox Social Let your inner rock god loose on guitar, drums and lead vocals with Rock Band 2™! Get competitive for your chance to win an Xbox 360 and a copy of the game! Sensational singing game Lips™ will also be on hand for all you closet Karaoke fans...
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20-24
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Fashion Week
Celebrate Fashion week in the Hospital Club: expect parties, posing and fabulous collections from the Ethical Fashion Forum. And to make sure your fashion week starts with a bang, we’ll be kicking off with Back to Ours on the 20th, with the usual combination of delicious cocktails, delectable music and delightful company - this time with a fashion twist.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Director: David Fincher
Music Sessions
Cast: Brad Pitt, Kate Blanchett, Julia Ormond
If you’ve been missing our monthly Music Sessions in the studio, then we’ve got some great news. This year we’re partnering with the Mercury Music Prize to bring you some of the best in up and coming and established acts. Watch this space to see who’s first in our line-up.
USA / 2009 / 100 min / Warner Bros Genre: Mystery / Drama
It would seem that Benjamin Button has got every woman’s problem solved. He ages backwards. That means that all the eye cream and Vitamin E oil and chemical peels that society so diligently applies are pointless. Mr Button begins life as an eighty year-old and works his way to toddler status; curious indeed.
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Members drinks Just a little get together (you know how we like these) to keep things friendly and flowing. This is an opportunity for both new and existing members to come in and meet us and each other. New members should aim to arrive at 7pm and existing members are welcome from 8pm. Do come down and introduce yourself, whichever category you fall into.
Cadillac Records Director: Darnell Martin Cast: Beyonce Knowles, Adrian Brody, Jeffrey Wright USA / 2009 / 109 min / Sony Genre: Drama / Musical
If X Factor drove you to drink over Christmas, take a trip back to the glory days: Blues, rock and roll (not forsaking sex and drugs), and not a botoxed brow in sight. This is the true story of how a small music recording studio, Chess Records, in Chicago, began recording Blues with Muddy Waters and introduced the world to the legendary Etta James.
March
Members’ Events Highlights
hlights 14 27 Cabaret
16 Shifty
Liza Minnelli once said, ‘I’m going to be a great film star! That is, if booze and sex don’t get me first.’ Well, our cabaret night isn’t quite so finite; you can be a star, and still enjoy these cardinal sins. Make sure you book early.
Genre: Drama
Chris left the dubious neighbourhood he grew up in a long time ago. When he returns to the outskirts of London to check up on his old bezzie, Shifty, he finds the latter in some serious barney rubble. Dealing drugs and trying to hide his job from his family, Shifty needs help to get out of his desperate situation.
Cast: Carla Gugino, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman Genre: Action / Drama/ Sci Fi / Fantasy / Thriller
Director: Eran Creevy UK / 2009 / 86 min / Metrodome
Director: Zack Snyder
USA / 2009 / 163 min / Paramount
(preview)
Cast: Riz Ahmed, Daniel Mays, Jason Flemyng
The Watchmen
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Quiz Night There are many ways to show us how clever you are. One is the mental display counter that is The Hospital Club Quiz Night, where you can dazzle us with your aptitude, drink free beer and laugh at those who get it wrong. Think, pub quiz without the pub smell.
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Welcome to alternate 1985 America, where costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society and there is an actual ‘Doomsday Clock’. Out for revenge for the murder of his former colleague, a masked vigilante sets out to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes, recruiting a ragtap of retired superheroes along the way.
Go MAD! Make A Difference Support People in Need
Formed by original founders and volunteers of West End Cares and Theatrecares, TheatreMAD is the theatre industry’s new independent charity established to support those people facing hardship as a result of HIV, AIDS or other long-term conditions.
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West End Eurovision 2008 | Mamma Mia! Charity Preview Screening | After The Bell | The MAD Fringe | Flaunt It 2008 A West End Christmas 2008 | World AIDS Day Theatre Bucket Collections Appeal 2008
To volunteer or make a donation call the TheatreMAD office on 020 7395 7528.
www.theatremad.org.uk
Make a Difference Enterprises Limited, trading as TheatreMAD, is registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (Company No: 6315172) (Registered Office: 4th Floor, 80-81 St. Martinʼs Lane, London WC2N 4AA) (VAT No: 934 3758 03), and is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Make A Difference Trust, which is registered in England and Wales as a charitable company limited by guarantee (Company No: 6546586) (Registered Office as above) (Charity Registration No: 1124014), to which it gift aids all or most of its taxable profits.
designed with love by jampot-creative.com
TheatreMAD has enjoyed an exciting and successful first year of events. Hereʼs a flavour of what our supportive and enthusiastic audiences enjoyed in 2008.
Concise Calendar
Monday
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Tuesday
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January
Writing Salon 7pm (RR) Frost/Nixon 7pm (SR)
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20
14
03
08
09
10
Milk 7pm (SR)
Beverly Hill Chiuhuaha 2pm (SR) Australia 7pm (SR)
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17
The Spirit 7pm (SR)
Tales of Desparaux 2pm (SR) Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist 7pm (SR)
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24
Revolutionary Road 7pm (SR)
Bolt 2pm (SR) Punisher: War Zone 7pm (SR)
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21
Saturday
02
22
Quiz Night 8pm (FR) Rachel Getting Married 9pm (SR)
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27
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Book Club 7pm (RR) The Class 7pm (SR)
Comedy (FF) - time tbc
Doubt 9pm (SR)
Acoustic night (2nd) time tbc Creative Capital 7pm (GR)
Vicky Christina BCN 7pm (SR)
Hotel for Dogs 2pm (SR) Seven Pounds 7pm (SR)
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03
04
05
06
07
Gran Torino 7pm (SR)
Hotel for Dogs 2pm (SR) Outlander 7pm (SR)
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14
The International 7pm (SR)
The Secret of Moonacre 2pm (SR) Valkyrie 7pm (SR)
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21
Revolutionary Road 7pm (SR)
Bolt 2pm (SR) The Unborn 7pm (SR)
Writing Salon 7pm (RR) Che: Two 7pm (SR)
February
07
Friday
01
Poker Night 7pm (FR) The Wrestler 9pm (SR)
Milk 7pm (SR)
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The Good, The Bad & The Weird 9pm (SR)
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Bronson 7pm (SR)
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11
12
Poker night 7pm (FR) Defiance 9pm (SR)
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Drinks Tasting 7pm (FR) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 7pm (SR)
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Quiz Night 8pm (FR) Genova 9pm (SR)
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24
25
26
27
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Two Lovers 7pm (SR)
Book Club 7pm (RR)
Valkyrie 9pm (SR)
Creative Capital 7pm (GR)
XBox Social Guitar Hero 7pm (GR) Mall Cop 7pm (SR)
The Secret of Moonacre 2pm (SR) Curious Case of Benjamin Button 7pm (SR)
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03
04
05
06
07
Cadillac Records 7pm (SR)
Hotel for Dogs 2pm (SR) Gran Torino 7pm (SR)
Writing Salon 7pm (RR) Doubt 7pm (SR)
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Notorious 9pm (SR)
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FAQ About Time Travel 7pm (SR)
March
Thursday
Slumdog Millionaire 9pm (SR)
Flame & Citron 7pm (SR)
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Wednesday
16
17
Shifty 7pm (SR)
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12
13
14
Poker night 7pm (FR) Obsessed 9pm (SR)
Members’ Drinks 7pm (GR)
The International 7pm (SR)
Bolt 2pm (SR) Dance Flick 7pm (SR)
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19
20
21
The Damn United 7pm (SR)
Monsters Vs. Aliens 2pm (SR) Gran Torino 7pm (SR)
Quiz Night 8pm (FR) The International 9pm (SR)
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24
25
26
27
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Tyson 7pm (SR)
Book Club 7pm (RR)
Marley & Me 9pm (SR)
Creative Capital 7pm (GR)
The Watchmen 7pm (SR)
Monsters Vs. Aliens 2pm (SR) I Love You Man 7pm (SR)
30 Good 7pm (SR)
Members Event Pre-Release Screening Screening Children’s Screening
(SR) Screening Room (TV) Studio (ML) Martini Lounge (FR) Forest Room (GR) Games Room (BB) Bellini Bar (G) Gallery (CR) Club Restaurant (RR) Rocket Room (FF) First Floor (2nd) Second Floor
Members’ events and screenings are released for booking on the 20th of the preceding month. Free Admission. To book call 020 7170 9303 or visit www.thehospitalclub.com If you book and have to cancel please let club reception know so that another member can have your place. 33
Five Fantastic Years From The Basement
Maguffin/Sky Arts HD
Jonas Brothers
EPK & Live Performance.
Albums of the Year
Live performances and multiple live broadcasts. Nationwide Mercury Prize
Frock Me
Fashion & Music Series. Superbox/C4
Christmas Voices
Advent Music & Interviews. BBC Religion & Ethics/BBC One
Club Music Sessions
Members’ event
Strictly Come Dancing
It Takes Two. Daily Fanzine Show. BBC Entertainment / BBC Two
4 Music Specials
Including Coldplay & Pink. Eyeworks/T4
T4
Links & Music Days. Eyeworks/T4
The Hospital Club Studios are 5 this year and we’d like to take the opportunity to thank all our Clients and everyone who’s worked with us, for making this year the best yet. 2008 has seen everything from HD filming of From The Basement – Radiohead Special, live performances and multiple live broadcasts for the Nationwide Mercury Prize Album of the Year launch and pre-recorded shows for BBC & C4 in SD. To find out more about our state of the art TV studios, please call Anne Marie Phelan T 020 7170 9110 or just email studio@thehospitalclub.com