sundown 2006 ·
12 October 06

So I’m back from my first demo scene party. An event that lasted approximately three days and two nights located in Budleigh in, or near, Exeter.

The First Day

The event took place in a town hall, the premises themselves were well suited to a small party and seemed to have the right facilities to accomodate this particular party.

For me and Paul it was a bit of a long journey getting there. We left from Clapham Junction, having gained a lift from his dad and so were dropped off near the station. We had between us a load of cables, a very heavy laptop ad a sleeping bag for one.

We didn’t have to wait too long before the train arrived and we were on our way to Exeter St Davids. Unfortunately we wanted to play games or to play around with the laptop on the train. Our seats were unoccupied but the seats to nearest side were occupied by two old gentleman, it took some effort to get past them, and persuade them to get up to let us in.

We had drugs on our persons and wanted to use the toilets for their exclusive useage. Things were amde mroe diffuclt because we had two get past two old farts talking about the RAF and the like before we could use the toilets for things including drug abuse.

We never slept throught the three hour journey, this was helped by the fact that we were on the Lime. With a twist here, and a twist of lime there we were able to stay awake and alert for the entire travel. Eventually the two old men left and we had the space to take the laptop out. I played some Guilty Gear X 2 and tried to play Pro Evo 5 but we couldn’t get the damn controller working for that.

I was probably the only Asian in Exeter St Davids when we got there, it was a quiet town full of old people. We saw some youths, but this was a rarity in all honesty as the town felt like a retirement centre for the living dead. Paul and I called rc55 for directions as to where to go from the station, we were given blokey’s number as he was residing in a pub probably on his 400th pint, or so I wondered. We had to climb up a freaking hill, and just as we thought it was over we saw the pub sitting on another hill, which meant climbing even further. Paul commented that I was the only gay Asian in the town. A throwback to Little Britain, which was probably true, except the gay part – where gay means happy, okay? I have nothing against gay people, I just happen not to like it uppy the bummy. Not that I’ve tried it. You get the picture.

We met blokey and leblane in the pub who had just finished eating. Paul, lebaine and blokey went off to get the pints as I sat there, the only Asian in the pub this time playing with my phone while the others went to the drinks. Behind me sat an old woman and her daughter I think, the daughter, if she was, was in her 40s or something – like I said already, it felt like a retirement area. I expected to see copious amounts of wheelchair pushing going on.

As we waited, drinking our pints, lebaine decide to eat some more – we realised that this would be a regular feature as this guy could eat, and then some. Eventually rc55 arrived with his mate Tom. While they got their pints, Paul and I popped outside for a cig, and then I went off to the toilets to take some drugs.

After everyone had finished, we went off in seperate cars – Paul and I with Tom and rc55, blokey and leblane went off with Stavros. Stav was cool, the guy seemed to be on speed, as he seemed very hyperactive. He was sound as fuck though.

We took a detour to Tescos where the guys did shopping, which we were going to do then decided against it. Instead we disappeared to the toilets to take more drugs, we neeeded it after all having endured an early morning start and then the travel, I think we deserved it.

The journey to the town hall took quite some time, we never realised it was so far from the station. My only concern was how the hell do we get back. On top of which I actually considered walking from the station to the venue for the party. Seeing as we were taking quite some time to drive, this thought went out of the window with the geriatrics we had hidden in the boot.

RC55, Tom and others had already arranged the halls with chairs, a projector and some equipement. Throughout the journey they kept mentioning their industrial kitchen. Eventually we got to see the maginificant beast in all its metallic glory. It was like finding the holy grail in a sea of old people. It’s not a thought that I like to entertain for too long though. The old people that is, it could be considered perverse.

The set up took quite some to do. This was down to the network nto connecting as it should, the Internet not working as it should either. Only those in the center of the hall had access, everyone else around the center was fucked for connections. Eventually with perseverence and some f’in and blinding it was working fine, except the Internet kept crashing on the wireless which was driving a lot of people nuts. I can’t remember how it was sorted out in the end, I think some sort of wired ICS was set up, but things started working again and everyone one was happy.

We even went drinking down the local pub with leblane and blokey. It was a strange atmosphere, particularly for me as all the yokles were watching us walk in and order our drinks. I think they were shocked at the thought of people with youth coming in, it probably frightened them. Perhaps they thought we were the children of the corn out to get them. Perhaps we were, but we didn’t tell them.

The first day, with it’s hiccups went down okay, the opening ceremony wasn’t announced till about 12.30 – this was mainly down to a lot of key people not having turned up due to various delays and trouble getting into Budleigh.

The town itself was dead with nothing to do, and no where to really go. There were no clubs, no life and no atmosphere other than that of a dirty used nappy that hadn’t been gotten rid of for a good few years. The air was fresh, and that is the only good thing I can say about Budleigh.

rc55 seemed on edge, nervous and uncomfortable giving the opening ceremony speech. He delivered it in the end, without aplomb, but I think he was just a little unsure of what to say. I think had he been himself, and not worried too much about what to say, he would have been more relaxed and it would have delivered better. DIdn’t help that the mic wasn’t working properly.

Eventually everyone started dropping like flies, Paul and I had been on drugs all night plus on top of which my insomnia was in over drive, and I’d taken my meds which doubled my alertness. rc55 mentioned my eyes looked like they were going to pop out everytime he saw me. Ah, if only he knew.

As everyone went to sleep, I was the only one that was still awake, aside from a circle group that seemed ready to announce they were alcoholics bottom left of the hall near the kitchen. They too eventually went to sleep one by one as I stared with deep focus at the laptop watching films. I heard a comment about whether I was sleep from the circle, it was probably because I hadn’t moved an inch as the movie played. I then moved my hand and this was followed by the comment, “Oh, he moved” noting that I wasn’t asleep.

Paul went to bed pretty sharpish after the opening ceremony. He was on the drugs like I was, but I guess the day just took its toll on him. Like I said I stayed awake and watched films all night and all day.

Second Day

Saturday was a dry day. Paul and I woke up to drugs as usual. We went to the toilet again, together and got in the cubicle. We took our drugs and were about to leave, usually Paul gives me the thumbs up to say its ok to get out with him. However, this time was different.

As Paul opened the door I saw someones hand and arm, Paul walked out and said morning. I shit my pants there and then. It smelt a bit, but I felt it was the manly thing to do. I tried to close the door as someone pushed forward to open the cubicle. Bang, the door opened – it was blokey. “Oh”, he exclaimed. “Er” I replied. I closed the door and waited for some time before I opened it again. He was still there washng his hands.

“It’s not what you think”
“ok”
“We were smoking in there”
“I, er, believe you”

I told Paul what had happened and we cracked up. blokey probably thought Paul was taking it up the ass or something, the best I could come up with was “we were smoking”. Lame.

The problem we had was that Paul had completed his track practically, it didn’t help that the laptop wasn’t powerful enough for Paul to do much else with it. So we sat bored most of the day with nothing to do. There wasn’t that much of a party atmosphere though, it felt more like a work atmosphere. I don’t have any real suggestions or anything constructive to add to improve the atmosphere. For example, a suggestion by Paul, was to have music playing in the background, there was far too much silence in the halls.

Xwize, Paul and I went for a walk in the end to get some breakfast. No had woken up yet really so we had nothing better to do. We saw the beach front and the few was quite spectacular, with the light reflecting of the sea it was a sight to behold. It’s the only other thing I can think of which didn’t disappoint about the area. Where were the young girls? They were all in there 60s hip-hopping on their walking sticks.

At one point we felt like leaving, because we had nothing to do and it was so quiet in the halls. We didn’t want to go back to sleep as that would have just been rude. In the end we ended up walking and meeting Argonaut on the way to high street if you can call it that, and ended up in the pub again.

We drank and talked about Atari, Amiga and Paul and Argonaust ended up talking about a bunch of musically related technical stuff. We also took some drugs at the pub, which kept us going.

Eventually we went back to the venue, and were stuck for ideas on what to do. Soon after Darkus and his girlfriend arrived, which saved us planning and we ended up in the pub yet again. ONce more drugs and alcohol took its place right next to a pool table. Not that we took drugs next to the pool table. That’d just be stupid. Funny and shocking to the yokles perhaps, but stupid.

It was time to head back and the party was starting. We missed the entries for the graphics competition but were in time for the chiptunes compo. There was a mad rush though as Syphus and rc55 came out wondering why Paul hadn’t submitted an entry. I told them he was going to but they didn’t believe until Paul came out and explained he wouldn’t be entering.

The demo party, when it kicked off, was great though. The atmosphere picked up as people got more drunk. Meaty in particular was quite loud, but it was done with humour rather than annoyance of any kind. Paul was knackered and slept on the table. His elbow propped his head up and he listened to the entries as he snored through it. Everytime a competition ended and applause were heard he started clapping.

One thing I haven’t mentioned is the kiddie fiddler who hung around the party. He was some old git who didn’t do much but read some papers and hassle rc55 now and again. He did smash a plate though, and it wasn’t because he was Greek but because he was a clumsy fart. Whoever he was, he gave me and Paul the creeps.

As the party went on, the alcohol flowed like a river meandering into the sea. We eventually got some vodka, and that had everyone licked. I went into a trance for an hour, no one could talk to me or wake me up as I sat cross legged staring into the infinite space. This was the combination of no sleep for three days and drugs. It was Smash who woke me up though, as he walked by I caught him staring and he said, “What are you on?”. I woke up with a “what the fuck” as though I’d just been manhandled by a beast from the netherworld.

Aside from some problems with the compo machine crashing, the event ran well and I think it was a success overall. After the compos were over everyone went back to drinking and getting generally pissed off their tits. There were the few exceptions, mainly due to having to drive the next morning. In genereal spirits were high, in both the liquid sense and the atmosphere.
Soon enough everyone was crashing out, and Paul was the first to go, and I followed soon after. Fuck knows what happened after that.

Sunday

All I remember of the morning was waking up and taking some more drugs. It was the last few lines left, of the eight grams we had brought with us. All of it gone in a couple of nights. The rest of the day was spent voting for the entries and waiting for the final prize giving and results. This was delayed somewhat ash no one could find rc55.

It wasn’t too long by the time rc55 turned up and the prizegiving could begin. First up was DVS, then Gasman, Syphus (twice), Paul and then Smash and finally ASD (in some sort of order, though not explicit).

As soon as the presentation finished, everyone ran off to pack their bags, with some staying behind to help rc55 and his friends clean up the mess that we’d all left behind. By the end of the day the only people remaining were myself, Paul, Sol and Trace. The four of us hooked up to grab a cab to the station, which took around half an hour to get to. rc55 offered to pay for the ride, which was not really needed as he did organise the event, but we accepted two thirds of the cost of the ride and left it at that. It was a kind gesture on his part, but again, he wasn’t obligated.

I slept on and off through out the taxi ride, while Paul chatted bollocks with the taxi driver, and Trace and Sol chatted to one another. The driver was a bit creepy and spoke in a dialect only perverts can understand. We being of the non-perverse type couldn’t understand a fucking word he was saying.

We stopped off at a pub for a pub lunch before the journey home began. Trace and Sol weren’t leaving until the evening, but Paul and I had an early train to catch so we had to eat quickly and get out of there. We nearly missed our train because Paul wasn’t convinced our train had arrived. I had to pick up the bags to persuade him.

On the train Paul put his feet up on the seat in front, when some old fucker decided to poke his unwanted bastard nose in our business and asked Paul to put his feet on the ground. Paul obliged, but not before an insulting quip, and then dropped his feet to the floor. We would have rushed him had there not been a lack of drugs. Really.

Paul slept throughout the latter half of the journey while I tried to sleep but ended up waking up more times than I shut my eyes. This was partly due to Paul trapping my fucking feet with his so I couldn’t move an inch. I couldn’t move across to the other seats because they were occupied, so I ended up with dead legs, and tired eyes.

Paul’s dad picked us up from the station as Paul announced his unchallenged victory at the party. On the way Paul and I contemplated getting more drugs. Well contemplated is a lie as we went to the cash machine before we got to his dad. That night we did more drugs, and celebrated Paul’s win. We got fucked up.