VB2024 – A Personal Reflection.

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VB2024 – A Personal Reflection.

It’s Saturday afternoon, a few days after returning from Villajoyosa and the end of Vocal Booth Weekender 2024. The sun is still beating down and I’m lay at home on a sun bed, squinting to see the screen whilst Michelle lies beside me, watching some shit on her phone. Standard (yes, I love watching it too but that’s not important right now). Over the next few moments I intend to share my own personal reflection of the whirlwind that was VB2024. Thank you for taking time to read it.

Before the event

My opening words in this year’s programme hinted towards some tough times, well they weren’t hints at all, they straight up laid it out that I had considered knocking it all on the head (I’m talking about promoting VB, of course) at some points this year. Read the online programme here.

VB is a labour of love. Out the other side of it all now, it is a ridiculous notion to think that I would deprive myself and hundreds of others of the feelings VB brings. So let’s put that to bed here, the same as I did in the programme. The WHY is strong enough to keep pushing forward and we will be back next year and every year that people feel the same way.

I won’t bore you with the prep. I’ve shared those words time and time again. VBW is based purely on my vision and I handle everything associated with it from concept to design and realisation, website creation, marketing and admin. It is a year long task. In order to ‘protect’ myself somewhat in the last twelve months, I did step back slightly from getting too close to it all which made it feel like I wasn’t close enough and why there were times I felt that the magic had gone. This is all to do with my own personal, self development journey that I am on at the moment, focusing on not becoming too emotionally attached to ‘stuff’ and ‘living with intention’. It’s all a work in progress and there were ups and downs because of this. There’s so much more I could write here but it’s not that relevant to the task at hand.

 

Setting up the party

I was super eager to get the set up of the event ‘right’. Last year (2023) I was not at all happy with how the whole thing looked and felt. Despite it being a success, I knew VB2023 could have been so much better. However, seeing as I was dealing with the tragic news of losing our decorator the night before we began, a party was really the last thing on my mind. I was also dealing with my first ever VBW where I wasn’t drinking. I’ve not taken any drugs since 1997/98 and after starting a 100 day no alcohol challenge on Jan 1 2023, this first fully sober event was going to be ‘weird’ for me. VBW used to be my blow out and so VB2023 was a totally different experience. This year, still alcohol-free, I knew what to expect and so there were no surprises and not having a drink didn’t phase me in the slightest. Being around everyone else wrecked was totally fine. Anyway, back to this year…

WowDeco came and we NAILED the set up of the decor, both inside and out. The sound system is one I have slowly built since Covid and this year, with a new configuration and the help of Lutz aka Luther G, Sean Quinn and Dave Drummond aka Stoneheart, we had inside sounding Crisp Biscuit. Result. As the first tune played for the Pre-Party on Thursday around the pool I felt that we were truly ready for the party that everyone deserved.

 

The Event Itself

So many special moments to highlight. So many wonderful conversations. So many beautiful people. This was a VB of old and, whilst we hadn’t really ever gone anywhere as others have said, it felt like Vocal Booth Weekender was back. As I lay around the pool on the lazy Monday afternoon I looked around and was able to physically feel the love in the air. I felt connected to every single soul and we all felt amazing. I can’t even start to put it poetically enough but it was a Eureka moment. A confirmation of what I knew inside all along and a realisation of being exactly where I wanted to be with the party and with whom I wanted to be with. The rest of the event, well you’ve only got to read all the reviews and look at the photos & videos and listen to the sets to get a feel for VB2024. Thank you to my sidekicks Dave Tait, Lea Jones and my DJ driver extraordinaire Michelle Ward. A noticeable mention also to Silvia Zaragoza for the access to all the latest Pioneer kit.

A week later I’m still in somewhat of a daze. I found a wonderful graphic earlier which shared the description for Besotted. It spoke directly to me and how I felt after what seemed like a whirlwind holiday romance with the VB Family. It continues to play over and over in my mind.

 

Post Event Tweaks

I’d say VB2024 was 95% perfect. I’ve already got plans to make VB2025 even better and you know it will be. “Comparison is the Thief of Joy” is a very powerful phrase, however using victories to continue to guide us forward, we only ever strive to be better than we were last year. VBW is unique, you simply cannot liken it to anything else and you truly do have to be there to experience it.

 

The Future

Another revelation I had during this event is that yes, VB is all about Family but the Family is not a collective of people like I had always focused on before, but it is a collective spirit. Our VB faithful (some of whom have been attending for upwards of 13/14 years now) welcome all newcomers into the Family with open arms and those who are on the same wavelength fit in effortlessly; I genuinely believe that 99% of everyone who either came for the first time or returned for their second event fell in love with event all over again. The Spirit is strong right now and I know everyone’s motivation and inspiration is through the roof, our hearts are full.

Tickets for VBW always go on sale in February. This gives you time to get your Xmas bills out of the way etc. I highly recommend you get planning now, I’ll have the dates for you asap for VB2025 and will drop a note out to the VBW mailing list as soon as I have had a debrief with the hotel. With so many regulars returning who missed out this year plus every newcomer vowing to bring new friends, it’s going to be an interesting dynamic for VB2025 as we race towards that 400 cut off number of ticket sales. I’ll meet you by the speakers!

 

Useful Links:

 

USEFUL LINKS:

Streaming Gear I use and recommend:

Computer:

Mac Mini M1 2020 (upgrade to 16GB RAM) = https://amzn.to/3YSkcWZ
Elgato Stream Deck = https://amzn.to/3Jd08sU

Monitors:

1 x AOC U2879G6

1 x AOC 24B1W

Camera:

Sony ZV1 = https://amzn.to/41fSkgR
Logitech Brio 4k (x2) = https://amzn.to/3KYMbQx

Audio:

Wave XLR = https://amzn.to/3INhw7s
DJI Mic2 = https://amzn.to/3IKIDjf

DJ Kit:

Shure 55s Radio Mic = https://amzn.to/3Igp94w
DJ Controller = Pioneer XDJ-XZ
Technics 1210 Turntables = https://amzn.to/3Eqzyth
Stylus; Ortofon DJ = https://amzn.to/3xHmSL5

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