Outsider Club
Find your people.
VicBears Southern HiBearNation, Meet The Contestants, June 11. Photo by EFP Photography.
I was full of fury again as I started writing this, and then something lovely happened. I was in a similar space to last month’s newsletter, although the hell was not algorithmically generated, it was people. Alleged allies thinking they know what’s best for me, policing my behaviour, and making me feel more uncomfortable in the process. I had already covered much of this ground in my Adam Richard Has a Theory podcast, so after I had expended several words, and started to run out of steam, I looked at the flip side.
When the greater world makes you feel like you don’t belong, where do you go? You surround yourself with like-minded people, your communities. We all have them. Big or small, and in a world where certain people are advocating for a ‘monoculture,’ there is no better time to celebrate and revel in the communities that bring us the most joy.
The last few weeks for me have been ones of communal joy. First off, there was Swancon 50 in Perth, where I caught up with people that I’m starting to think of as my new professional community. One old friend who I have known since I was a teen SF reader, some I’ve come to know through Sydney Speculative Scribes and attending Conflux last year, and I made new friends in Perth. One of those I clicked with almost instantly was guest of honour and immensely talented author Samantha Murray. I participated in Sam’s flash fiction workshop, and later on we had a shared fangirl moment when talking about the divine Connie Willis, who I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with over zoom recently. Sam’s work, especially her most recent story ‘Burning Day’ for Clarkesworld, conjures up for me the experiences of reading Connie’s work back in the nineties. (Look at me, one conversation with Connie Willis and I’m talking like we’re totes besties — huge thanks to Locus for connecting us through their donation drive).
I have also been spending time with the bear community. I’ve been ingratiating myself into their paws by hanging around the Harbour City Bears on the odd weekend, and throughout Mardi Gras. I was thrilled to spend time at my old stomping ground, The Laird at the invitation of VicBears for their Southern Hibearnation weeklong celebration of all things burly, hairy and gay. Co-hosting the ‘Meet The Contestants’ event with Misty Boxx was way more fun than I should have at a workplace. The contestants representing their local clubs were a wonderfully diverse bunch, even though some were terrified of being verbally spit-roasted by a comedian and a drag queen.
Then there is my comedy community. I haven’t spent much time with them lately, mainly due to not doing gigs for the last eight years, but it’s a group of people who I have always enjoyed spending time with. I went along to Happy Endings in the Cross to catch up with Brisbane mate Kat Davidson, and ended up being talked on to the stage by Josh Cohen who runs the night. This was a gig I had owed booker Mark David for about eight years, since I cancelled on him to go to do a Dum Dum Club show in Brisbane. He tried to rebook me, but I kept politely declining, so it was nice to get back on the stage and soak up the fun of the club once more. It’s a storied jazz venue, playing host to people like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald in their heyday. I had so much fun at Happy Endings, I tagged along with Justin Hamilton to his hosting nights at The Comedy Store, where I got to see some very old friends, like Rhys & Kyran Nicholson, and I got to make some new ones.
The other community I treasure is the one built up around the Adam Richard Has a Theory podcast. There is a fun Facebook group, the Patreon subscribers, and the many correspondents who all contribute positive energy to the podcast and keep me afloat when I’m not feeling the best. I’ve had a pretty rough year, personally and professionally, compounded by an increasingly intolerant world, so having these communities available to me has been a blessing. Don’t be afraid to reach out to like-minded people, make new friends and become part of something where you aren’t treated as different, but as part of the community. Be it a hobby, a podcast, or some other cultural affiliation, seek your people, and embrace them — they will embrace you in return, and you’ll be able to slough off that icky feeling of being someone the monoculturists want to shun.
Spending time in the Pagoda Ballroom in Perth, for Swancon 50
You can also spend time with these amazing communities, with me.
On Tue 7 July I’ll be reading one of my strange spec fic stories at Twisted Fiction at the Shakespeare Hotel in Surry Hills, right near the tram stop. Sorry, light rail.
Then on Thu 9 July, I’ll be part of the line-up for the latest Two Queers Walk Into A Bar comedy night, at the all new Unholy Playhouse in Sydney. It’s a mash-up of my queer and comedy communities, and I am very much looking forward to being my authentic comedy self (outrageously gay).
Sun 19 July there are a whole bunch of spec fic events as part of the Willoughby Literary Festival at Chatswood Library, but I’ll be front and centre for Sydney Speculative Scribes member, Guan Un headlining a whole host of open mic readings.
Other dates for the diary:
Sat 22 Aug - Shellcon Mania 2, Shellharbour City Stadium
Fri 2 - Mon 5 Oct - Conflux 20, Mercure Canberra
Fri 9 & Sat 10 Oct - Happy Endings Comedy Club, Kings Cross
Further dates to be announced for September, but if you fancy doing a workshop with me, maybe keep the 11th, 12th & 17th free…
Come hang out, maybe you’ll find a new community!
Cheers
ad/.
