The MALTMEN LUNCHEON

I was asked by Peter Hutcheson the Deacon of the Maltmen to speak about the Nine Trades Project and specifically my project working within the bars, pubs and clubs in Dundee at their quarterly Maltmen Incorporated Luncheon. The Maltmen are an association that is outside of the Nine Incorporated Trades but is invited to their meetings. Historically the Maltmen are a trade union similar to all the other trades. They associate together to protect the trade and the families of those connected to the association and trade. To be a part of the Maltmen you need to be invited into membership by a pre-existing Maltmen member. It comes down to a vote and then you are inducted if you are granted membership.

On the day of the talk Adam (my apprentice) and I were treated to a great lunch where I proceeded to talk about the project and introduce my own art background and practice. I spoke about the Nine Trades Project as a whole and went in depth regarding my own side of the project. Since I was speaking to many generations of publicans and people within socially activated positions I feel that I received a good reception to the concepts behind the project and also what I am trying to achieve as an art experience. There were a fair bit of questions about how we were handling the responsibility of filming in public locations, the legacy of the project, and also what we are expecting the outcome to be like. All in all it was very pleasant and focused feedback session with people that know the industry inside out. I think there was a genuine interest in the nature of the project.

During the luncheon Peter Hutcheson presented me with a Maltmen tie. It was a great gesture. I think I'll probably sport this new accessory for the Final Gather.

Here is a newspaper article that was printed later that evening in the Evening Telegraph. When we first arrived to the venue we were ushered upstairs for a photo. I was a bit unprepared and startled. I think the photo tells the tale.

THE DOGHOUSE - ROCK THE BOAT

The Doghouse has relocated to Ward Road from their original location on Browns Rd. The Doghouse put Dundee on the music map through introducing such acts as the Views and housing such acts as The Enemy, Love, Susan. Their new venue occupies a refurbished church. The outside and the inside retains the dogmatic feel of entering a space of higher power. The sound quality inside this venue is amazing! The Doghouse is predominantly a gig venue with a real emphasis on loving live music. As most gig venues around the world the patrons that come out to play KNOW music. This is not to say that if your itunes library is not up to scratch you’ll be stoned out of the venue. I would however suggest that you don’t mention Aqua or Take That in any form of communication.

MEETING THE LOCALS

Our first real night of filming was suppose to be the battle of the bands. Instead it turned into the battle of the brains with a complex four round quiz hosted by the Doghouse’s very own Sarah Hill. If you have never been to a quiz night before, this one is good one. The only way I can describe this is an interactive themed stand up comedy act game show with an amazing prize in the end. The majority of the crowd happened to be regulars which added to the heckling fun. Since Fiona (my apprentice) and I added a few questions to the quiz we were forbidden to partake. We would have completely lost anyways; some of these teams were stacked with big brains. Grand prize was a bottle of whisky with secondary prizes of a Dundee cake.

The team I was sitting with unfortunately won a Dundee cake but the real mission was to film some quiz action and to make friends with the locals. Luckily the locals didn’t mind us filming. We found out that night that not only is this a big gig/ alternative music/ rocker venue it is also home to a huge skateboarding community. I didn’t actually know there was a skate park in Dundee, but I do now. Some of the skateboarders range from professionally sponsored to gear sponsored skaters (so, they’re very very good).

LOVE LIVE MUSIC

We got to see some amazing acts during our time at the Doghouse. An Echo, Our Future Glory, and Delays played on the Wednesday. I forgot how much I enjoyed going to see live music. Becoming a pseudo adult with too much stuff to do really fills the schedule. It was great to see Delays as well. I’ve heard of them before and have listened to only one of their tracks . Adam and Sekai (both of my apprentices) were particularly keen in filming the gigs since they’re both music buffs. Adam also told me he has the Delays album. There was quite a buzz in the air before the supporting gigs started. With sound checks and roadies running around triple checking if everything was alright. Adam was given the JVC camera to hand hold and tape the action from the crowd. Sekai had the SLR camera and the audio recorder and I had the Panasonic HD. The gig was awesome I think we covered pretty much all angles and got some good footage of the sets and the in between waiting times. Sekai managed to get an interview with the band Our Future Glory which was quite cool. Though I think she almost had a panic attack before interviewing them she pulled it off with flying colours!

On Thursday Ruth (another apprentice)and I managed to see the band Millyseck and The Fire and I play. The starter band for that day was playing their last gig ever. Apparently the lead guitarist is moving to the States and the band has decided to de-band instead of trying to carry on without him. The lead guitarist started this band with his friends and the sentiment expressed is that if he was not a member of the band there would be no band. On a happier note The Fire and I was an amazing two part band consisting of a drummer (which also played the xylophone and a loud hailer) and a guitarist (which also played a strobe light). The music was fast, angry, polished and completely refreshing. It’s such a cliché when people describe liking the music because of the passion of the performers, but I was completely sucked in by the energy. Also we got two free EPS from the band.

JAGERMEISTER PARTY

Friday was the degree show at the Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design. After the hustle and bustle of trying to get at the art through a mob of humans, Fiona and I decided to attend Bobby Digitals birthday party at the Doghouse. We were invited earlier in the week with a disclaimer that went as follows: It’s my birthday come have fun. Bring the camera’s if you want or don’t. We’re bringing 12 bottles of Jagermeister and an electronic dispenser. Anyone that is bringing a birthday present is also bringing a bottle of Jagermeister. It should be fun. The invite was a Jagermeister card that allowed us free entry to his birthday. Bobby Digitals birthday was on the top balcony of the Doghouse. From the top you had an amazing view of the entire venue and the bands playing. By the time we arrived at the party all the Jager had been drunk already. I think the correct term to describe Bobby was "steaming". We talked to him for awhile had a Jager and then proceeded to tape Bobby have Happy Birthday sung to him on stage with other unmentionable acts occurring to him from all angles.

Another regular of the Doghouse Jamie did an awesome job taking the lead and doing interviews with both the video recorder and audio. It takes a very special person to have the gift of chat and boy did Jamie have it. Through the eyes of a regular we received an amazing snapshot of a venue through a community basis!

LIAM TAKES US TO WORK

One of the bartenders Liam took a shining to the hidden camera. I think through most of the bars a lot of bartenders responded very well to the hidden camera. I myself think it’s quite secret spy like and super cool. So an idea cropped up at the Doghouse where we were talking about good uses of the hidden camera. Someone suggested that a bartender should track their way to work via the hidden camera and the responsibility was handed over to Liam. The footage was awesome! He rode his skateboard to work where we tracked his route and then he gave us a wide shot of Doghouse before muttering “work, work, work… “

KEEP YOUR EARS PEELED OPEN MIC NIGHT IS COMING UP AT DOGHOUSE!

Thanks to Doghouse for letting us into your community. Loved the gigs, loved the people, love live music. Thanks to : Sarah Hill, Dana, Liam, Jack, Jamie, Bobby Digital, Vincent, Eddie, Douggie, An Echo, Our Future Glory, Delays, Mike Gilbert, Millsyeck. The Fire and I.

THE TRADES HOUSE BAR

The Trades House Bar lives on Nethergate Road in the centre of town across from the Overgate. You may remember it as one of the most beautiful bars you have ever been in. Honestly, cruise ships have nothing on this type of interior design. You may also remember the Trades as one of the best places to get a pint in town as well. The quality of the selection has not been matched yet. Not saying that I’m a beer connoisseur by any means I do have quite a cultivated set of taste buds.

WOOD/ STAINED GLASS/ MOSIAC/ MIRRORS

When you first walk into the Trades you may think that this place has been around for centuries. WRONG! The Trades have only been in operation for about 17 years, originally opened by Blair and Jerry Morrison. Blair and Jerry are famous Dundee publicans. They are known for reclaiming old spaces, giving them a massive facelift and then turning them into very successful pub businesses. Their list of loyal clientele follow them to every pub they open. The building that houses the Trades House Bar was originally a bank. Jerry and Blair completely refurbished the interior. Originally the wanted the bar to be called the Nine Trades Bar but the Nine Incorporated Trades did not approve of having their society name used for the bar. All of the stained glass windows depict different trades that were prevalent in Dundee’s history. Rumor has it that over £200 000 were spent on the windows alone. All the wood cladding were treated by joiners to create the hand carved look. Blair also told me that almost 80% of the work for the Trades House Bar was complete by Dundee trades people.

There is an engraved mirror in one of the snugs that details the old town hall situated in the square behind the Trades. It shows character depictions of the Nine Incorporated Trades Masters and gives a listing of their names.

Unfortunately the Trades have been sold off to Belhaven Bars. Fortunately the current general manager of the Trades House Bar, Bryan Farquar, was an old employee of Jerry and Blair Morrison and continues the legacy and vision of the Morrisons. I am told by regulars now that Bryan has done an exceptional job of retaining the exact feel and reputation that the Trades House has prided itself on for years.

FILMING MORNING TILL NIGHT

To be completely honest I had no idea how to approach the filming aspect of the Trades House Bar. The time I spent in January scouting bars left me with a very good feeling of the bar but I was not inducted into the group of regulars yet; at the time I didn’t even know if there was a group of regulars. The area that the bar is situated in made me believe that there was a lot of passing trade that comes through this venue. I was unsure if there was a community to capture. I was completely wrong.

The first two days I spent between 10am to 11pm at the Trades with my camera and tripod. I captured general space, pans, the density of the location, how the atmosphere changes throughout the day. I took this period to become a part of the furniture. I wanted to make sure that people were very aware of what I was doing and that my presence was a comfortable presence. Eventually I found out where the regulars hung out. I aligned myself with a few of them and suddenly the floodgates opened and a tsunami of stories began. Through these initial contacts I was introduced to more people with more stores giving me meaningful insight into Dundee.

Between 10am to 11am the coffee rush begins! This is a unique time of the day at the Trades where generally an older clientele take up 90% of the seats in the venue. They are impeccably dressed, suits, ties, smart blazers, tweed, silk scarves, paperboy caps, paten leather, and brogues. You can tell they come from a different generation, upkeep, and sensibility. I loved talking to them. They were treasure troves of knowledge and history. Everyone there at one point worked during the height of the Jute Mills. They were the weavers, the twisters, the knotters. They all had their own unique tales. Most of the stories began endearingly with “I remember…” I was told about the conditions of living where a family of six shared two room flat with a shared common toilet outside the flat, no electricity, no running water, and no complaints. It was a completely different world. There was nothing else to compare to. Life was just lived this way. I was also told that the jute mills were predominantly run by women because they had smaller and more precise fingers to do the fine work.

DUNDEE UNITED WINS!

On Saturday of our time in the Trades House Bar the Scottish FA Cup Final Championship was in full swing. Dundee United was playing Ross County for the title. As you can expect the entire city was going mental with expectation. An interesting divide was occurring not only in the Trades House but also throughout all of Dundee. Dundee is one of the only places in the UK, which has two football clubs situated across the road from one another. To make this more confusing the other team is just called Dundee. Though there is a great rivalry between the two teams there seems to be no animosity between the two sets of fans. Saying that though, on that particular Saturday the nervous energy was ripe with half of the city cheering nervously for Dundee United to win and the other half praying for Dundee United to lose. At the end of the day Dundee United won 3-0 and the town exploded tangerine with celebration. It was hard not to get caught up in the pride and happiness. I confess I gave a good whoop when that first goal went in. Fiona (one of my apprentices) need to find clever ways of getting people to explain what just happened with out giving too much away in terms of asking people how they feel about the game results. Our line thus became, “So I hear that Dundee is the sunniest city in Scotland; is that why everyone is wearing orange?”

That night we ended filming at 3:00am at Fat Sams (the official Dundee United sponsors), capturing the craziest night of clubbing ever. I think we body surfed from room to room struggling with a tripod and camera.

Special thanks to the Trades House Bar Staff for accommodating my team and I and lending your creative eye with filming! Thanks to: Bryan Farquar, Karen, Emma, Beth, Jerry, Brian, Mark, Scott, Alan, Jim MP, Brian and Jeanette.

FAT SAM'S - WELCOME TO CLUBLAND

If you didn’t know, Fat Sam’s is the biggest nightclub in Dundee (and perhaps all of Scotland). This massive complex spans about a city block and houses five separate spaces all with their own characteristics, feel, differentiating music genres, and bars.



For two weeks my team of trusty apprentices and I tackled the behemoth task of capturing the social space of Fat Sam’s. We documented, interviewed, reveled and danced till the wee hours of the morning every night; some would envy us, others would pity us.




Why is Fat Sam’s called Fat Sam’s?

We asked the crowd this question on several nights. Almost every answer came back… “Actually, I don’t really know.” Here are some of the more inventive answers.


Fat Sam is a nickname given to a really big American that happened to be friends with Ben and Jerry. If you didn’t know Ben and Jerry started the now world famous ice-cream brand. Well Fat Sam was very envious that Ben and Jerry were so successful that he moved overseas to Dundee to open the biggest club that he could.





The namesake of Fat Sam’s was originally coined from the historical reference to being Rubenesque. As most people know the term Rubenesque is derived from the seventeenth century painter Peter Paul Rubens that is known for painting fleshy and plump subjects. During Ruben’s time period being bigger was better. Wealth and status was equated to how well fed you were showing that you can afford to eat well. Thus Fat Sam’s is called Fat Sam’s to describe the wealth and status of the clientele that revels in this establishment.



Fat Sam’s draws the imagery of a jolly and happy man. He surrounds himself with a lot of friends. He is carefree and not fixated on his weight, living freely indulging on all worldly pleasures that come his way.


Fat Sam’s is called Fat Sam’s because there is a fat bastards picture on the wall of the club.




THE REAL ANSWER

Fat Sam’s the nightclub is actually named after a Bugsy Malone character. Bugsy Malone is a 1976 musical film based in Illinois. The film follows a gangster war between Fat Sam’s gang and Dandy Dan’s gang. The actors were played by children giving quite a strange juxtaposition between the occasional dark subject matter.




DID YOU KNOW

Fat Sams is open seven days a week pumping out the tunes and providing the late license for people to let loose and throw some mad shapes on the dance floor till 2:30am?



Wednesday is predominantly student night. A double-decker busload of revelers is shipped in this night from St Andrews. Drinks are insanely cheap and the music is a mix of top 40’s remixes and dance anthems that even the hardest of critics can’t help but tap a foot to.


Fridays and Saturdays generally see all the areas open in the club. Each room has a unique feeling catering to separate clientele groups. The main room has top 40’s and popular tunes re-mixed to a club sensibility. The first floor room plays hard house with the most insane tracking light system and smoke machine action. The room is set up like a dance pit with the surrounding area acting like a coliseum-esque viewing area, to view from and also to be viewed. Karma is on the top floor playing feel good sing-a-long, dance-a-long tunes. Get yourself a gin and tonic and belt out some Dolly Parton followed by a marathon of Abba songs. I have a feeling that most of the songs are requests to the DJ.

WRAP UP!
Fat Sams was awesome. It was great to film there. Our team and I were very careful with how we interacted and dealt with the space. We were very obvious that we were filming a project with matching t-shirts, giant light, reflector, tripod and camera’s. The staff were a accommodating with wearing cameras and getting involved with being interviewed and suggesting segments we can edit into the videos. The most amazing part was the amount of interaction that we received from the revelers. Almost every time we turned on the camera or the spotlight it was like moths to a flame! Everyone wanted to be on camera. My team sort of became the official club photographers and videographers. There’s something quite interesting that has come out of this internet social networking phenomenon where people desperately want to be documented as having a “good time”. It comes back to the argument that if there is no evidence does that mean it didn’t’ exist or never happened? I suppose souvenirs operate in the same way of memory and recall.



“FAT SAMS ROCKS! THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!!! WHOOOOOOO!”
-All the party people in Fat Sam's



Thank You to: Gus, Collin, PK, Norah, Adam, Elaine, Claudette, Beatte, James, Oliver, Kevin, Ricky, All the Bouncers and Security.