Hey Gang!!

So it's almost a week later... however, still I'm sitting here completely knocked out by the success of funk ball...  The firs time round i didn't really know what to expect and of course was pleased by the result.. it was a BLAST... but it did set precedence and I wanted to at least equal the results achieved by the last... 

I'm happy to say that in every way, it went a far beyond just equaling the 1st ball... god dammit it blew it right out of the freakin water!

We had more than twice the people and raised more than twice the money... there were tonnes of people there that had been to the first which made me happy... the vibe of the night was incredible...  I met so many new Brazilians, so many new funkeiros and danced to some shit hot DJs all night long... still smiling about it all... 

In total, we had just under 400 people through the door...  we raised 2395 bucks and sent it out on Monday.. (I'll get to where it's gone in a second)

The response to the night was great... I mean, firstly we were there to raise cash but shit, if yer gonna have a party you want it to go off... 

In the days following I had texts emails and phone calls from people who were as blown away as I was by what a great party it was... there was something magical in the air for sure... it was terrific to read some comments like "the best latin night in Melbourne" and the greatest night I've had in years" waiting in my inbox the next day... again... raising cash was the main objective, but when doing it can be so much fun, then there's no reason at all to stop... and we don't plan to... the summer funk ball is gonna be a corker (just a warning) with sponsors already lined up...

before I go any further I want to say thank you to SO MANY people. heeeeeere we go.. brendan and the uberlinguists (who pretty much did everything, and Fi who bulked up the mailing list to bursting point). the rockin DJs who played such amazing sounds that has left people wondering WTF was that???? to my amazzzzinnggg wife for once again pretty much running the show as I danced to the shit hot DJs and took photos... to the sponsors (order and progress, brahma, tandoori nights, melko, Madman and the amazing kellie demster) for givin people that extra incentive to get there butts down at the funk ball... St Jeromes for providing such an appropriate place for the party... it fits like a glove guys!!! ben and mat and the bar staff kept things safe, sound and lubricated nicely... To my incredible friends who volunteered to work the door... thank christ you were there... it was so great knowing that the funds were in good hands...  you all rock!!!!! to dom... maybe most of you all didn't see him... he was the guy hiding at the laptop all night long, shooting the incredible images all over the walls... 

to the incredible radio station Triple R who promoted the event to high heavens...all the guys down there constantly pluggin it was a huge part of the reason as to why the place was so fucking packed... to the guys at KISS fm for having me on and plugging the event too... you were all so LOVELY! and lastly to Systa BB for making it the musical pick of the week in the age on the day... the effects of it were profound...  lastly to you all.. for coming and supporting the cause... for me its pretty easy as I know the people we're raising cash for... but for all of you... getting down to a bar dancing to music you've mostly never heard and giving your own money to people you've never even seen before... its a huge thing... I don't expect anything from anyone but it really does warm the heart to see the masses come together and give so freely... you all did a really cool thing... I hope you as much of a kick out of it as I did... 

I think I mentioned this in the last email but again I want to say, its so much better to think that 1/2 way across the world in one direction people are thinking "woah. why is this country we have nothing to do with called Australia dropping money into our pockets?" as opposed to those other people 1/2 way across the world in the other direction thinking "woah, why is this country that we have nothing to do with called australia dropping bombs on our heads?".  might sound stupid but I can guarantee you that right now there are many thinking both... thankfully we've all contributed to the former statement... 

so the cash... Monday morning the money was sent to Brazil... this time we got Danielle's mum involved... she's a social worker and has worked extensively with people in the slums... she and carmelia decided that they'd visit the slum and catalogue the families, working out who was most needy... once done, they've gone and purchased 60 aid packs (consist of items like canned sausages, pasta, beans, rice, all up fifteen items, about 3 kilograms of each thing)... they're gonna be picked up on Tuesday and delivered to the slums right away..  there's enough food in each to feed a family... we managed to buy all this for what were considered urgent situations and still have cash left over...

when I was in the favela they were in the process of setting up a school... I had hoped that some of the money be used to help with its further establishment, but sadly, Gordo the guy who was setting it up died the week of the funk ball (don't have details)... the rest of the cash will probably be spent on more food and clothing for kids... you will be updated as it happens

so in closing... I just wanna say that while I'm not sure of its exact destination. I'm really happy with the direction and form that this lil project is taking... its bought some of my favourite old friends back into the scene and also managed to attract a heap of new ones for me... you know who is who... its a cool thing to be a part of and I wanna encourage anyone who wants to help out or needs help getting a project off the ground just to contact me or each other... I'm learning the power of numbers... its an incredible thing... 

complacency is passé... action is the new black!

big love to y'all... 

PS: if anyone on the mailing list is keen to meet carmelia and see the work that theyve contributed to carried out, i can organise something, perhaps even a visit to the favelas (its not that easy but not impossible).

andrew
andrewkelly@yepmail.net