I have waited 24hrs before posting this as I wanted to think about it
Let me start by saying that I have the greatest respect for any bocker that can do the high spectacular tricks and flips
It takes a lot of practice and a lot of courage so please keep this in mind as you read the rest of this post and read the whole post before answering
The Halloween Bock was started by The Invictas, The Hanworth Banned and a few independants 2 years ago with the intent of wandering round london in fancy dress as a bit of a laugh (Toddys original idea)
It is an opportunity for the less tallented bockers to get a bit of limelight and find out what it is like to be the center of the photo frenzy that the spectacular bockers get at every meet
My fond memorys of the first meet are of Jellys nose constantly falling off, Clives teeth refusing to come out, laughing till I was crying several times, Dancing in the forbidden lower bit of Trafalgar Sq by invitation and all who attended being flash blind for 2 days after
We did get asked to move from the south bank due to the other performers asking if we would go as they wern't taking any money due to us being so popular
The second year we were more numerous and basicly the same happened and we visited all the venues we did this year
We had our photos taken with both police and specials and they only asked us to move when we caused the pavements to get blocked with photo hunters (They even helped at one point later when it was just a few of us by supporting me )
Now the Bad bit
I'm afraid that despite enjoying myself this year the overwhelming memory will be of us being moved on from every venue that we normally use except one
At Leicester Sq I was told that we had been given a "Debock or leave Westminister within 15mins" by one of the constabulary
Due to us being moved on we lost a number of bockers that had spent a considerable amount of money on their costumes and it was only by luck that they had a good time anyway
I have thought about it and the only difference this year is we had Bockers that could flip and do big tricks this year (we had almost as many number wise as last year)
Now I do understand that there are places that you can protect and flip etc safely, but I saw Leicester Sq on sunday night and I would personaly say that it wasn't the wisest move in a crowd like that
Before anyone jumps down my throat I didn't see the flips due to my costume and it may well have been perfectly safe but I would doubt it
I have stood guard for flipping bockers many times in the past and when we had a small crowd at the paladium I like to believe we did it safely
On sunday night the police (or specials) obviously thought it looked dangerous and had a duty of care to ask us to stop
I have heard a lot of anti special (and police ) talk over the years on bocking sites but I would like you to put yourselve in their position for a moment
There were a lot of small children running about on sunday night (I had to avoid many) and a 6yr old hyped up on orange juice candy floss and Halloween can travel at amazing speed and could run out into the path of a flip
The PC's thoughts are of picking a kids brains up off the pavement
We are all perfect until we make a mistake and if flipping was a perfect science we could do it without anyone to watch our backs
Also be aware that if such an accident were to happen the person doing the flip would rightly be charged with manslaughter dure to doing something he/she knew to be dangerous in a public place (this could carry a big jail sentance) and the jury wouldn't be made up of people like us
So if you are in any doubt that you would be convicted go and explain all the circumstances to your parents and see if they would jail someone that had brained you at 6yrs
Sorry to put this spin on the night but there is sometimes a Flip or Die attitude at meets and although most meets the guys that can do spectacular stunts make the day sometimes it gets a little out of hand
Two things that could come of this
1----- Bocking wouldn't benefit from the press coverage of such an accident
2-----NO BOCKING signs are very cheap and the local council could easily stick them up at all our best venues (like no skateboarding signs)
A few people have said that the event could do with a bit of organisation it has been kept informal to keep the friendly feeling
We could make it a fancy dress only (no tricks/flips) meet but that would curtail a lot of peoples fun and I wouldn't like to do that
I have no problems with people doing tricks and flips as long as it isn't to the detriment of the local bockers venues and feel it makes the meet if it dosen't get the local Police's backs up
London is the main bocking venue for several clubs and we would like to keep the police sweet
I'm sure Locky and Q will agree with me that if a group of bockers turned up at Cardiff Bay or the Hoe (is "Hoe" right Q
) and proceeded to p*ss off the local bobbys that they have worked so hard to keep sweet they would be ever so happy !
Sorry it is such along post and I would like to assure everyone that I hold no one to blame in any way it's just that we want to hold the Halloween Meet for many years to come as it can be enjoyed by all levels of bocker
If anyone has any issues with the above please post on this thread rather than the main Halloween one (keeps that one happy)
And finally (yes really Finally
) I am posting this as The Hanworth Banned Founder not I repeat NOT as a Projump Mod so feel free to speak your mind (within the realms of good taste
)
Jason