OGAE UK AND LIVERPOOL
Ferry across The Mersey
Simon Bennett
John Bennett, Alasdair, Vaughan Staples and Euroclub staffer
liaising with Eurovision acts, and some contacts to draw upon. Post-pandemic, costs have risen substantially, and of course it’s not just the performance fee that we have to pay for – there will be flights, baggage costs, airport transfers, hotels, plus various other incidentals. Let nobody ever say that Eurovision is a cheap hobby!
Jemini and I’m delighted that, thanks to the contacts book of our very own Dean Asker, we were able to bag a performance from none other than Samantha Janus/Womack! The DJ line-up was also crucial to Euroclub’s success and we were therefore lucky to draw on the established OGAE DJs from across Europe, but also a number
the public, with the venue taking the commercial risk, and with OGAE being tasked with creating the content. A great honour for OGAE, but also a huge responsibility for the club. At the end of November, myself, OGAE UK President Vaughan Staples and OGAE International President Simon Bennett went for an initial meeting at Camp & Furnace. From the moment we walked in, we knew this would be something special. The enthusiasm of the team there – particularly Paul Speed, Jack Clarke and Greta Speed – was incredible. Although I think it’s fair to say that even then they were probably unaware of what hosting a Euroclub would actually involve! As we left the venue after that initial visit,Vaughan, Simon and I were almost in stunned silence at just how perfect the venue was, and the possibilities that lay before us in terms of putting on a Euroclub that would make the UK, Liverpool and OGAE proud. The first task was to get an organising team together.We had many applicants,
and it was a tough job selecting, but I’d really like to extend my thanks to the rest of the hosting committee, who did a fabulous job. Our initial planning meeting took place just a week before Christmas, but even then we were throwing ideas around about particular guests, DJs, formats etc.We were all clear that, as Sam Ryder said, while we were hosting, it was Ukraine’s party, and we wanted to ensure that Ukraine was well represented. PLOTTING The first two months of 2023 really seem to be a bit of a blur. It felt like I spent every evening and most weekends having multiple email conversations with the managers of Eurovision acts past and present, slowing plotting things on a giant spreadsheet (and in the initial phase – a large A3 piece of paper on my living room floor, plotting the various acts and their fees per night). Thankfully, after a decade of running London’s Eurofest, as well as involvement with a number of Euroclubs I had some experience of
I was keen to get a mix of acts from a variety of styles, with a mixture of familiar faces, and ones that hadn’t done a Eurovision party for a
of UK-based DJs in the OGAE community who gave some excellent sets, and I hope we will see them asked to
while, as well as ensuring a good representation
DJ at future Euroclubs.
of UK and Ukrainian acts. I was particularly happy that we were the first venue to secure the return of
Of course,
it’s not just about live
performances, and there was work to do for
the team, and our friends at Camp & Furnace, for everything
A message to our hearts with Samantha Janus/Womack
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AUTUMN 2023 l VISION
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