The point of sleaze is to bring the tribes together and celebrate the expression of sexuality. Boys and girls who might not go to Phoenix, might pop into the Phoenix room and discover they enjoy the music and the crowd.

then go to those news stories that are more important and discuss them. Stop bothering us.

I’m sure people would like day parties on the Sunday in Hordern or Dome or City Live. Share the costs.

Make Sleaze edgier, sexier.

Cater to all age groups which means 2 or 3 Halls.

Bring in big name DJ’s like the Trance/Harder Parties do.

I would rather NMG spend big $’s bringing in big name DJ’s who would have a following than spending $’s on big name artists who are on stage for 15mins. If a performer wants to perform for free let them but spend the money on sets, lights, DJ’s that we get all night.

Maybe that might get rid of the ridiculous crush in RHI where you cant dance , cant breathe all for the sake of a big star for a few songs.

But cancelling a party before its even properly promoted speaks volumes of how not in the know the organisers are.

It is clear they don’t understand how to run an event this size, otherwise it would be making money.

I thought to myself – wow, they’ve hit rock bottom – they’ve resorted to fear based marketing now to drive ticket sales…

Here’s what I wrote:

Headline of SSO this week is ‘Sleaze’s future in doubt’. New Mardi Gras really needs to look at what they’re doing from a marketing perspective.

The advertising, theme and music at sleaze is all geared towards a very specific type of partygoer. They’ve alienated most of that market (who have supported NMG for years) by offering cheaper tickets to younger people.

These other organisers running smaller parties more frequently throughout the year (very successfully) are sending a very clear message to NMG – you need to find your target market and create a party that appeals. Sleaze could still work, if it was smaller and targeted people that like that sort of music.

Why doesn’t NMG employ someone full time to run 4 – 6 smaller parties throughout the year? Start looking at what the gay community is buying – cheaper tickets, smaller parties.

If NMG want to have a big party that appeals to the whole community, with more young people in attendance, then come up with a theme and advertising that appeals to them. Change the music. Get creative.

With the plethora of parties running now, NMG needs to start thinking outside the box – if they want a volunteer to work with them, call me. Happy to help.

Needless to say, I protested – I was going to go to Sleaze but refused to when I saw SSO last week. I hope NMG comes up with some fresh ideas, otherwise they’re not going to last.

How can NMG compete?

NMG really need to re think there take on what they are providing, from all reports it was a good party, but being held in those small venues is really no different to any other night out really.

It’s seem that these parties have lost there magic that they have created, adding a buzz and a hype has been lost I feel by having the same thing over and over again.

I think Mardi Gras as an organisation needs to combine there talents with other successful party promoters and have them join forces with the party. For instance for Sleaze they could have used Dirty, Inquisition, Sweat etc all of the these could have helped have there own or combined rooms and this would have increased the numbers – alot of these smaller type parties have a tight loyal following and would leverage all benefits.

For the Mardi Gras party having music themed halls which is helped by some of the successful promoters will also help with cash flow, and help create a vibe once again ie Trance – Ruby, Toybox etc House DTPM etc there are so many great parties we should use these poeple and combine them for a massive celebration.

The straight parties such a good vibes, future music etc have been doing this for a while and they have sell out and very successful events, why cannot this work for our gay market?

They alienated their regular, older members by focusing on the youth segment – I know many mature regulars who did not attend
They removed the Horden and did spin on why this was a good thing which most people saw through
They then announce the smaller venues will be segregated by gender which makes the party seem even smaller
The poster advertising seemed to ignore the youth drive so that was a miss

If they wanted to differentiate they should have had the horden and dome and an outside area, kept a formula that has worked with great success in the past

It is sad to see party degrade to this but without the Horden this was not sleaze it was just another night at Stage 11

and to Anthony -See you at the Fox and Lion next year, I’ll buy you a slushie at the convenience store!

Now you’re complaining that you can’t get enough people? oh dear, I think its called Karma being visited on the organizational skills of the Mardi Gras Organization; tres contrare?!

Really? One could conclude that the community no longer supports NMG because of its lack of consultation, and spin.

Yes the Hordern affected numbers as some love the Big Hall.

Yes you got your younger and lesbian demographics meanwhile forgetting about the regular and older crowds who have always supported the parties but they found other places on offer.

It was a great move to get the younger and lesbian crowds interested in the Party but forgetting your regular punters was big mistake. If you had looked after both lots you could have had big numbers back.

The advertising/lead up was not appealing at all.

Where will Mardi Gras be held next year ? Fox and Lion and the Convenience Store opposite ?