Midsumma Media Wall

Midsumma Event Registrations now open Read »

Midsumma Arts and Event Developer Forum - Sun 31 July Read »

Fringe Furniture Registrations close Fri 29 July Read »

Northside Leather Bizarre - Sun 7 Aug Read »

MIFF - Film Festival till 7 Aug Read »

Equal Love Rally and Mass Illegal Wedding - 13 Aug Read »

Burlesque Hour Loves Melbourne - till 14 Aug Read »

Take Care {out} There calling for short films - by 16 Sep Read »

Call for Monologues - Looking for Articles from Female Writers Read »

MCV - apology ends anti-gay ‘stoush’ in Tas! Read »

Season 2 Performances:
La Prima Opera - Ovation: Tue 13 Sep
Denise Drysdale in Concert: Thu 6 Oct
Hard Knocks to Local Hero! with Jonathan Welch AM: Thu 17 Nov
A Very Merry Gaslight Christmas: Tue 6 Dec

Where: Gasworks Theatre, cnr Graham & Pickles Street, Albert Park
When: 10:15am: Complimentary Morning Tea, 11am: Performance
Bookings: www.gasworks.org.au (no bf) or 03 9699 3253 (+bf)

One of the queer highlights was the Big Gay Cabaret held on Sunday night, where we were dazzled by our amazing singers: Kaye Sera, Tina Del Twist, Dolly Diamond and Constantina Bush. This event was hosted by the beautifully talented Le Gateu Chocolat, who melted everyone with his warmth, care and love for entertaining.

Now, get your diaries out because next year the festival’s expanding to 10 nights! Thursday 12 July to Saturday 21 July 2012.

The ALSO foundation is looking for films between 30 seconds and 15 minutes. Be it a shaky, handheld iPhone or a fully produced short film, the emphasis is on the creative delivery of a message.

The deadline for submission has been extended to Friday 16 September and entry forms can be downloaded from www.takecare.org.au or direct from the ALSO Foundation Level 8, 225 Bourke St, Melbourne or by calling 03 9660 3900.

Some of Melbourne’s major players in leather and fetish join up to provide a charity auction with a twist. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the venue, leather and fetish enthusiasts will be selling their pre-loved gear to those seeking a bargain entry point to the leather and fetish lifestyle, or enthusiasts looking to add to their collection. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Laird event without a BBQ, to be hosted by the team at JOY 94.9. More info: www.lairdhotel.com.

To register to attend, see www.midsumma.org.au. Please note, these times may change if there is more registered interest in one category than others. See you all there!

11.30: Coffee and networking at Hares and Hyenas
12.00: Introduction to the day
12.15: Marketing & Publicity: The dos and don’ts. JP Bolton – Publicist, JPPR
12.40: Grant Writing – Getting funded
1.05: Producing Your Own Event: Things I have learned… Luke Gallagher – Executive Producer
1.30: Break: Networking opportunity & Meet the venue operators
2.00: Visual Arts submissions Vs. Registered Visual Arts Exhibitions. Rat Simpson – Visual Arts Convenor, Midsumma
2.15: Production Requirements: What do I need and where do I get it? Paul Yarnall – Production Coordinator, Midsumma
2.30: Ticketing: How does it work? What does it cost? Tom Lambert – Box Office Manager, Midsumma
3.00: Question and Answer with Cara Dinley – Artistic Director, Midsumma and Monique Thorpe – Festival Administrator - Midsumma
3.30: Coffee/drinks at Hares and Hyenas

Ali Hogg, Convenor of Equal Love Melbourne said today:

“I think it’s important to celebrate alongside the New York newly weds who have waited so long for this basic right.

“August 13 marks the seventh year of the homophobic and discriminatory ban on marriage equality. We will not let that date pass in silence.”

Equal Love encourages all supporters of equal rights to join us at the next Melbourne rally.

Rally and Mass Illegal Wedding

Saturday 13 August, 1pm State Library of Victoria.

Midsumma Event Registrations now open Read »

Midsumma Arts and Event Developer Forum - Sun 31 July Read »

Melbourne Cabaret Festival - till Sun 24 Jul Read »

MIFF - Film Festival opens 21 Jul Read »

Burlesque Hour Loves Melbourne - till 14 Aug Read »

SheBar - Sat 23 Jul Read »

Equal Love Rally and Mass Illegal Wedding Read »

Call for Monologues - Looking for Articles from Female Writers Read »

MCV - a black and white issue! Read »

The presenters on hand to answer your queries at Midsumma’s Arts and Events Development Forum to be held at Hares & Hyenas on Sunday 31 July at 11:30am will include:

• JP (of JPPR, National Publicist for Hairspray the Musical, Liza {On and E} and Billy Elliot the Musical)
• Luke Gallagher (directing credits include ZANNA DON’T!, The Naked Drag Queen and Marketing Director of the 1st Asia Pacific Out Games)
• Rachel Simpson (Head of 2011/12 Midsumma Artists Working Group and Board Member)
• Midsumma Staff – to share their expert knowledge!

More info: Arts & Events Development Forum

The comedian says it’s about time Australia followed other countries and jurisdictions in ending discriminatory marriage laws:  “We live in the greatest country in the world. Our lifestyle is second to none. Yet we are far behind other countries like Canada, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and Sweden when it comes to recognising that same-sex couples fall in love and want to commit to each other,” Bartram said.

Where: State Library of Victoria, Swanston St
When: Saturday 13 August, 1pm
Info: www.equallove.info 

Midsumma congratulates the Melbourne International Film Festival on its 60th anniversary. The festival opens tonight, Thursday 21 July, with the Australian Premiere of The Fairy and runs until 7 August. Some films in the 2011 festival that appear to be queer-themed include: Attenberg, Beauty, Beginners, Circumstance, Fruit of Paradise, Happy Together, Norwegian Wood, Old Cats, She Monkeys, Three and Tomboy. Check out the festival program at miff.com.au.

Where: Glasshouse Hotel, 51 Gipps Street, Collingwood
When: Sat 23 July, 9:30pm till late
Info: shebar.org

Ola Latino’s first time ever Gay and Lesbian Latin Night - all welcome.
Guest appearances
Brazilian Dancers
DJs spinning latin and retro
Free champagne on entry between 9 and 10pm
Latin dancefloor, Latin drink specials

Where: Glasshouse Hotel, 51 Gipps Street, Collingwood
When: Friday 22 July, 9pm-12am
Info: myglasshouse.com.au

A colourful tribute to Melbourne’s iconic drag queens who sing live, responding to the theme of equal marriage rights. Who says today’s cabaret can’t have political bite, and be fabulous?

When: Sunday 24 July at 8.30pm
Where: Grand Hall, South Melbourne Town Hall
Tickets: $50

Check it out at www.melbournecabaret.com

Midsumma Event Registrations Open on 15 July Read »

Midsumma Arts and Event Developer Forum - Sun 31 July Read »

Market Your Show Like a Pro - Advanced Training Seminar Read »

Win Tickets to Burlesque Hour Loves Melbourne Read »

Call for Monologues - Looking for Articles from Female Writers Read »

MCV - DT’s Changes Hands: AGAIN! Read »

Argonauts Trivia Night - Sat 16 Jul Read »

A new addition to the event registration process is the introduction of a “Midsumma Public Forum”, in which event producers and artists have the chance to access the experience and skill of Midsumma staff and industry professionals in the areas of marketing and publicity, grant writing, producing your own event, ticketing, production requirements, visual art exhibitions and general Q&A in relation to registering an event with Midsumma. The public forum will be held at Hares and Hyenas, 63 Johnston Street Fitzroy on Sunday 31 July. Come along for a coffee and a chat before the forum begins at 11.30. We will finish at 3.30 with time for a drink and one-on-one questions afterwards. Donation ($5 or more!) upon entry would be appreciated.

We can’t believe it’s that time of the year either! With Stallholder registrations already open, Visual Art and Premier Event Submissions rolling in, Midsumma is opening for Registered 2012 Events on 15 July, that’s tomorrow!

Each year, the 120-150 registered events that occur throughout Festival showcase the talent, personalities and heart of Melbourne’s queer community. The traditional categories range from theatre to spoken word, cabaret, film, live music or sporting activities, social forums, debates. However, these are non-exclusive categories and Midsumma is open to all platforms of art and celebrations of culture.

Past producers will already be familiar with the registration process, but there are lots of exciting new opportunities and developments this year. Check out the registration process on www.midsumma.org.au for details - and to register your event!

Improve your marketing results! Sell more tickets and build a client database for future shows! After two years of successful seminars and workshops on smarter, more effective marketing, we are distilling our most popular marketing workshops of 2009 and 2010 and tailoring it specifically for the Melbourne Fringe Festival in this hands-on opportunity to not only learn but practically do effective marketing for your show.

Where: Auspicious Arts Incubator, 228 Bank St, South Melbourne
When: 9am - 4pm, Saturday 16 July
Cost: $110

With a different icon every week …. infamous Balletlab in Blue Ballet - nudity, plumes and a glam rock attitude (14-17 July); Meow Meow worldwide phenomenon & kamikaze cabaret sensation direct from West End (21-31 July); Rhonda Burchmore’s encore unveils her wild and feathery life (11-14 Aug); Constantina Bush & The Bushettes, Die Roten Punkte and more! Plus red hot divas legendary Maude Davey, Ethiopian circus queen Sosina Wogayehu & Parisian dance divas Kitten Ko.

• “Stunning, demented, glitzy…” - The Herald Sun
• “Brilliant… uproarious and outrageous” - The Age
• “Simply unforgettable” - Theatre People 
• “Insanely gorgeous” - Aus. Theatre.

Midsumma has 5 double passes to this Sunday 17 July @ 7pm. Email prize@moirafinucane.com to win!

Where: fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
When: Weekly till 14 August, Thu & Sun 7pm; Fri & Sat 7pm & 9.30pm
Cost: full $55, concession $45
Bookings: 03 9662 9966 or fortyfivedownstairs.com

You can save money by registering now for the 2013 worldOutgames in Antwerp (to be held from 3-11 August, 2013).  Earlybird registrations will close on 31 August, 2011.

If you’re travelling to the northern hemisphere soon, check out the following Pride events: Rotterdam EuroGames: 20-24 July; 2nd GLISA North America Outgames (Vancouver: 25-31 July, 2011); Amsterdam Canal Parade 2011 (30 July till 7 August 2011, with all major events taking place from 5 - 7 August).

Baggage Productions is looking for original monologues written by women for a season in November 2011. Baggage hopes to present over 20+ new monologues performed by different actors. The monologues are planned for three separate nights, and will be directed by a selection of Melbourne directors. Please submit all monologues to info@baggageproductions.com. A call for actors will follow on 1 August. The Monologues selections for the season will be finalised by Friday 9 September.

Get a group of friends together (tables of 10, but they can team you up if you have smaller numbers) and join the Argonauts in chasing away the winter blues at the St Kilda Town Hall.

Entry fee is only $25 and proceeds from the night go toward the Argonauts Equipment Fund. More info: www.melbourneargonauts.com.au.

PitchIt2Me PR training has the answers straight from the media mouth. PitchIt2Me has been created by one of Australia’s leading lifestyle journalists, Rachael Oakes-Ash to give PR professionals, in house marketers and business owners the inside track on what does and doesn’t work with today’s media.

PitchIt2Me has trained thousands of delegates in Australia and New Zealand including members of Hilton Hotels, Abercrombie & Kent, Professional Public Relations, PEPR, New South Wales Tourism, Qualia, AJ Hackett, Vail Resorts and more.

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