Lotus Magazine was a pop cultural blip, a publication that catered to a niche of a subculture. Independently published from 1996 – 2002, Lotus served the West Coast's underground rave community. It was a free magazine, half electronica rag, half semi-spiritual/environmentalist youth outreach project. This online archive presents a sliver of the material published in the magazine during its six years of bi-monthly publication. Some of the content is still relevant, and some of it's just silly. All of it's very, very earnest. Enjoy! – Safety Dance: Some Tips for Safe Raving, Fall 1999
By David Center
In an ideal world, all parties would be perfectly safe environments, free of dangerous pills, violent activity, and those out to take advantage of others. (Heck, in an ideal world the entire planet would be that way, but I digress...) However, anyone who has been a part of our global community for very long knows these real world problems can and do seep into our private utopias. But don't panic! Danger is not lurking around every corner, and with a little effort and common sense dancers can work together to minimize these threats to our health, safety, and property, and help create a more positive dance experience for everyone. Many of these suggestions are n common sense, but it is amazing how uncommon common sense can be at times.
To begin with, park in a well-lit area, remove any valuables from your vehicle, and be sure all your doors are locked. Nothing can ruin an otherwise wonderful night like finding your car has been broken into when you return to it in the morning. Some promoters in Seattle have hired security to patrol the parking areas at their events and this has virtually eliminated car break-ins and vandalism.
For safety reasons, nearly every large event these days has security searching dancers for weapons, drugs, markers, etc., as they enter the venue. Wait patiently in line and be respectful of the folks doing the searching. Remember, security's main reason for being there is your safety, not to give you a hard time.
Once inside, establish the locations of the emergency exits. Check your coats and bags in at the coat check if one has been provided. If this service isn't available at parties in your area, consider organizing a group to provide this service and contact your local promoters about working at their events. If there is no coat check available, get together with your friends and find a place to keep your belongings where one of you can keep an eye on them.
By far the most important thing required for safe raving is WATER, and plenty of it. Water is especially important if you choose to take any drugs. Keep it with you on the dance floor and drink some periodically even if you are not thirsty. Dancers should insist that promoters provide some source of FREE drinking water at every event. With the majority of ecstasy related deaths worldwide caused by heat exhaustion, it is at the very least irresponsible to throw an event where the only water available must be purchased. A drinking fountain or bathroom sink are all that are required. Dancers should be especially careful if the venue is unusually hot, or lacks ventilation. Take breaks from grooving to cool down and be sure to drink extra water.
If you get tired while at an event, find a place to sit down and relax, but take a friend with you. The good vibes that drugs like ecstasy create can unfortunately open the door for those who might want to take advantage of or manipulate others into doing things they don't want to do. Use good judgment and trust your instincts about the people you meet. If at any time someone at an event is making you uncomfortable, notify security. Remember, security is there to ensure your safety. If security refuses to help, inform the promoter of the situation. If the promoter will not assist you, seriously consider leaving the event. Why support someone who does not make the safety of the dancers at their party their top priority?
Drug use is the largest safety issue facing dancers at parties. Here, information is your best weapon. Groups like DanceSafe in the Bay Area (http://www.harmreduction.net/dancesafe), Mind, Body Love in Vancouver, and Ravesafe in South Africa (http://www.pcb.co.za/users/ravesafe) distribute "harm reduction" information at parties in their areas. "Harm reduction" refers to programs which accept the reality of drug use in our society and attempt to minimize the damage associated with it through the distribution of truthful information about these substances to those who have chosen to use them. If a similar organization does not operate in your city, go to these web sites and read the information they provide. Knowledge is power!
The most dangerous aspect of drug use at parties is that one never knows exactly what they are taking when they ingest a black market pill. This problem can be countered at least slightly by buying from someone you know and trust, and by always being cautious with new pills. Test kits which can determine the presence of ecstasy and ecstasy-like substances, as well as amphetamines like speed can be purchased on-line from companies like Pro-Test (http://www.protest.force9.c0.uk/homepage.html). These kits are legal to purchase and possess, and though they cannot determine the amount of a substance in a given pill or what contaminants may be present, they can at least prevent users from ingesting mystery pills which contain no ecstasy whatsoever. DanceSafe’s website also includes the Laboratory Pill Analysis Project, where US residents can send ecstasy pills anonymously to a licensed lab for ingredient analysis and adulterant screening.
Always avoid mixing different pills. When you ingest two or more different types of black market ecstasy, you are essentially turning your body into a test-tube! You have no way of knowing exactly what substances each pill contains or how they will react together. You just have no way of knowing what substances the drugs you purchase on the black market might contain. Let the DJ do the mixing! Avoid alcohol as well. Not only does it cause dehydration, which can hasten heat exhaustion, but certain drugs, like ketamine or GHB, can be lethal when combined with alcohol.
In order to avoid the possibility of overdosing, know your limits. Parties are NOT the place to push them to the breaking point. Not only are you risking everyone's good time by giving the police an excellent reason to shut the event down, but you are risking your life! Make sure your friends know if have taken any drugs in case a medical emergency arises. One of the clearest signs that someone is overdosing is that their face will turn blue. They may look pale and collapse, be unable to breathe, or complain of chest pains. Vomiting or seizures may result. If someone has stopped breathing or has no pulse, notify security and have them call the paramedics IMMEDIATELY. Ravesafe recommends that every event have at least one staff member trained in first aid and CPR, and additionally, that events over 500 people have a fully trained and equipped paramedic on duty who is experienced in the effects of drugs. While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, lay the victim on the ground and perform CPR, but ONLY if you know how. When help arrives, let them know if the person has taken any drugs that night.
At the end of the night, please be safe when driving home. There is nothing wrong with being too tired or messed up to drive--unless you get behind the wheel anyway. Find a sober friend to drive your car for you or take a nap first. Don’t risk the lives of your passengers or others on the road by trying to drive when you are not able to do so.
The most valuable thing that dancers can do to make these parties safer is to watch out for each other. If you see someone doing something unsafe, speak up! Check up on people who look like they aren’t feeling well. Offer water to those who need it. If someone looks like they are in a situation they can’t handle, or are being taken advantage of because they are too high, don’t turn away--get involved! We are all members of this community and should take our responsibility to that community seriously. You can make a difference. Start a group to provide a coat check at events in your area, or contact DanceSafe and put together an organization to distribute harm reduction information at parties. Be a part of the solution. We have to work together to demonstrate that we can police ourselves and make these events as safe as possible for everyone, or else the government may step in to do it for us. And more than likely, their cure will be worse than the disease--no more parties at all.
In an ideal world, all parties would be perfectly safe environments, free of dangerous pills, violent activity, and those out to take advantage of others. (Heck, in an ideal world the entire planet would be that way, but I digress...) However, anyone who has been a part of our global community for very long knows these real world problems can and do seep into our private utopias. But don't panic! Danger is not lurking around every corner, and with a little effort and common sense dancers can work together to minimize these threats to our health, safety, and property, and help create a more positive dance experience for everyone. Many of these suggestions are n common sense, but it is amazing how uncommon common sense can be at times.
To begin with, park in a well-lit area, remove any valuables from your vehicle, and be sure all your doors are locked. Nothing can ruin an otherwise wonderful night like finding your car has been broken into when you return to it in the morning. Some promoters in Seattle have hired security to patrol the parking areas at their events and this has virtually eliminated car break-ins and vandalism.
For safety reasons, nearly every large event these days has security searching dancers for weapons, drugs, markers, etc., as they enter the venue. Wait patiently in line and be respectful of the folks doing the searching. Remember, security's main reason for being there is your safety, not to give you a hard time.
Once inside, establish the locations of the emergency exits. Check your coats and bags in at the coat check if one has been provided. If this service isn't available at parties in your area, consider organizing a group to provide this service and contact your local promoters about working at their events. If there is no coat check available, get together with your friends and find a place to keep your belongings where one of you can keep an eye on them.
By far the most important thing required for safe raving is WATER, and plenty of it. Water is especially important if you choose to take any drugs. Keep it with you on the dance floor and drink some periodically even if you are not thirsty. Dancers should insist that promoters provide some source of FREE drinking water at every event. With the majority of ecstasy related deaths worldwide caused by heat exhaustion, it is at the very least irresponsible to throw an event where the only water available must be purchased. A drinking fountain or bathroom sink are all that are required. Dancers should be especially careful if the venue is unusually hot, or lacks ventilation. Take breaks from grooving to cool down and be sure to drink extra water.
If you get tired while at an event, find a place to sit down and relax, but take a friend with you. The good vibes that drugs like ecstasy create can unfortunately open the door for those who might want to take advantage of or manipulate others into doing things they don't want to do. Use good judgment and trust your instincts about the people you meet. If at any time someone at an event is making you uncomfortable, notify security. Remember, security is there to ensure your safety. If security refuses to help, inform the promoter of the situation. If the promoter will not assist you, seriously consider leaving the event. Why support someone who does not make the safety of the dancers at their party their top priority?
Drug use is the largest safety issue facing dancers at parties. Here, information is your best weapon. Groups like DanceSafe in the Bay Area (http://www.harmreduction.net/dancesafe), Mind, Body Love in Vancouver, and Ravesafe in South Africa (http://www.pcb.co.za/users/ravesafe) distribute "harm reduction" information at parties in their areas. "Harm reduction" refers to programs which accept the reality of drug use in our society and attempt to minimize the damage associated with it through the distribution of truthful information about these substances to those who have chosen to use them. If a similar organization does not operate in your city, go to these web sites and read the information they provide. Knowledge is power!
The most dangerous aspect of drug use at parties is that one never knows exactly what they are taking when they ingest a black market pill. This problem can be countered at least slightly by buying from someone you know and trust, and by always being cautious with new pills. Test kits which can determine the presence of ecstasy and ecstasy-like substances, as well as amphetamines like speed can be purchased on-line from companies like Pro-Test (http://www.protest.force9.c0.uk/homepage.html). These kits are legal to purchase and possess, and though they cannot determine the amount of a substance in a given pill or what contaminants may be present, they can at least prevent users from ingesting mystery pills which contain no ecstasy whatsoever. DanceSafe’s website also includes the Laboratory Pill Analysis Project, where US residents can send ecstasy pills anonymously to a licensed lab for ingredient analysis and adulterant screening.
Always avoid mixing different pills. When you ingest two or more different types of black market ecstasy, you are essentially turning your body into a test-tube! You have no way of knowing exactly what substances each pill contains or how they will react together. You just have no way of knowing what substances the drugs you purchase on the black market might contain. Let the DJ do the mixing! Avoid alcohol as well. Not only does it cause dehydration, which can hasten heat exhaustion, but certain drugs, like ketamine or GHB, can be lethal when combined with alcohol.
In order to avoid the possibility of overdosing, know your limits. Parties are NOT the place to push them to the breaking point. Not only are you risking everyone's good time by giving the police an excellent reason to shut the event down, but you are risking your life! Make sure your friends know if have taken any drugs in case a medical emergency arises. One of the clearest signs that someone is overdosing is that their face will turn blue. They may look pale and collapse, be unable to breathe, or complain of chest pains. Vomiting or seizures may result. If someone has stopped breathing or has no pulse, notify security and have them call the paramedics IMMEDIATELY. Ravesafe recommends that every event have at least one staff member trained in first aid and CPR, and additionally, that events over 500 people have a fully trained and equipped paramedic on duty who is experienced in the effects of drugs. While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, lay the victim on the ground and perform CPR, but ONLY if you know how. When help arrives, let them know if the person has taken any drugs that night.
At the end of the night, please be safe when driving home. There is nothing wrong with being too tired or messed up to drive--unless you get behind the wheel anyway. Find a sober friend to drive your car for you or take a nap first. Don’t risk the lives of your passengers or others on the road by trying to drive when you are not able to do so.
The most valuable thing that dancers can do to make these parties safer is to watch out for each other. If you see someone doing something unsafe, speak up! Check up on people who look like they aren’t feeling well. Offer water to those who need it. If someone looks like they are in a situation they can’t handle, or are being taken advantage of because they are too high, don’t turn away--get involved! We are all members of this community and should take our responsibility to that community seriously. You can make a difference. Start a group to provide a coat check at events in your area, or contact DanceSafe and put together an organization to distribute harm reduction information at parties. Be a part of the solution. We have to work together to demonstrate that we can police ourselves and make these events as safe as possible for everyone, or else the government may step in to do it for us. And more than likely, their cure will be worse than the disease--no more parties at all.