View the published article as part of my barsandnightclubs funded Clique Cracker column here.

Although the sanctity of marriage is becoming ever more questionable with each and every year, many love birds can’t help but tie that noose, I mean knot, ever so tightly around their clammy fingers. For the best man, this means being supportive through rain, hail, shine, and intoxication for his best mate’s big day. Leave that post-Kim-Kardash-wedding-hoax cynicism at bay, those beer bellied know it all grease balls otherwise known as ‘best men’ are out to play.

Habitat:
While the best man is a breed knowing no habitual restrictions, this clubbing clique has a taste for topless bars (fitted with shiny poles) above all else. Determined to over-compensate for the loneliness and insecurity that lies beneath repeated words of “congratulations”, the best man is driven in showing the groom just what he’s about to give up for monogomy.

“That’s right, instead of spending the rest of your life with your soul mate, you could instead be paying a week’s worth of wages for around-the-clock lap dances.”

The best man’s top 3 bars:
- Goldfingers, Melbourne, VIC
- Minx Bar, Sydney, NSW
- B Confidential, Brisbane, QLD

Physical attributes:
In preparation for the big day- the best man chooses to adorn suit and waist coat. As if dressed for a funeral, this clubbing clique is ready to farewell the groom he once knew, as well as grieve his own bitter loneliness after failing at a reception-quickie with the maid of honour.
- Hip Flask- Unlike all of the other guests who happily suck the reception tab dry, the best man shows real class in carrying a hip flask with him at all times- even on the bucks night at your local venue.”Pointless? Never. Beer from the bar? Why not.”
- Pointed leather, crocodile leather shoes- What individuality. What style. What pure tacky brilliance. “Once you’re tied down you won’t be able to pull off these bad boys”.
-  Greasy hair- Hair product? Unlikely. Oil? Possibly. Fear induced sweat? Most definitely.

Their goal:
To spend as much money at bars and gentlemen’s clubs in the hope that Mr Groom will realise he prefers a russian exotic dancer over his high school sweetheart bride to be.

How to fit in with the best man:
Make the eyes at him and then move closer, not only will his shattered self confidence go through the roof, but you will also be contributing in the great cause stated above.

How to avoid the best man:
Throw him into a group of loved up couples and watch him become weak. Ah, Organic Kryptonite.

The best man’s drink of choice:
Burban and Cola on the rocks- much like he wishes his best friend’s marriage would be.

Sophie Lane

“I don’t wait in lines”. Ah, the age old saying thrown around clubs and bars by ‘too precious’ girls who refuse to put left foot in front of right behind sixty other eager patrons. They have no right to be so, down right, self righteous, right… right?!
Well, let’s take a step back for a second because the F grade celeb (a no name who’s cousin was THE guy in the BIG M commercial) really is… something special.

Habitat:
There’s a saying my great Aunt used to say at 6:30pm on Channel 10 each and every week night:

- “For every neighbours star, there’s a sister, and for each sister, there’s a friend. And this is how we are all connected in the great circle of life”.

I don’t know which was more inspiring for her, Neighbours, or The Lion King. Nonetheless, there’s something we can all take away from this story: each and every one of us knows an F grade celeb, no matter where we live, or which clubs we frequent.

The F grade celeb’s top 3 bars:
- The Hi-Fi bar, Melbourne, VIC  (Even though they “know the lead singer, personally”, they still paid $100 for a ticket. Nothing suss)
-  The Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW (Picasso was their sisters’ great grandfather’s cousin twice removed, clearly)
- Club Dakota, Ringwood, VIC (“This is where they filmed Underbelly, trust me, I was asked to act in it”)

Physical attributes:
It’s all about exclusivity for the F grade celeb:
- Stella McCartney range dresses (Exclusive to Target)
-  A slender shape brought to you by Priceline Celebrity Slim Shakes (“They’re for celebrities only… Wot?! They are. I know Toadie”
- Hilary Duff Perfume (Somehow owning the entire series of Lizzy McQuire on VHS makes the F grade celeb a ‘collaborator’ on each and every bottle)

Their goal:
To convince each and every potential hook up that their sister’s best friend’s mother’s uncle is, in fact Bert Newton- ruining their chances of a one night stand in the process.

How to fit in with the F grade celeb:
Invite them to the launch of (insert small scale function here) and throw in the words “VIP”

How to avoid the F grade celeb:
Give them the personal addresses of every celeb on your twitter account, even the fake ones. Silence and tapping fingers will ensue. Back away slowly.

The F grade celeb’s drink of choice:
Champagne, to celebrate the grand opening of their legs (on the off chance a D grade celeb may walk through those venue doors). Swoon.

Sophie Lane

Underneath ten or so layers of brightly coloured clothing which adorn the brand label ‘WU-TANG’, lies a shy, insecure creature with a tendency to make up for what lacks beneath with an acid tongue. With a knuckle punch and a crotch grab, let’s meet the home dawg.

Habitat: Originating from the ghettos of Brooklyn, and more recently spreading to the equally life threatening hoods of the outer suburbs of Australian major cities, the home dawg surged in population with the rise of Eminem back in the early naughties. As jeans got lower, much like respect for bitches and hoes, the population of the home dawg continued to surge. What sets the home dawg aside from other cliques is its unique multi-faceted demographic. Wealthy home dawgs, foreign home dawgs, Australian grown home-dawgs… their paws, unfortunately, know no bounds.

The home dawg’s top 3 bars:
- Lou Lou’s, Wantirna South, VIC
- Alumbra Lounge, Melbourne, VIC
Shooters, Surfers Paradise, QLD

Physical attributes:
Someone told the home dawg that unless your hair is braided tighter than your sister’s, it aint worth having.
- Blinding white sneakers (imagine a Nike-meets-Bam-grime-removal advert)
- Grills (Next time you go to the dentist ask for that filling in solid silver. Hawt)
- Bandanas (Home dawgs have shares in the Canteen Cancer Foundation)

Their goal:
To seduce the woman of their dreams with derogetory terms, and then superman dat ho’.

How to fit in with the home dawg:
Shop in Target’s ‘Mr Big’ department. The more X, the more sex!

How to avoid the home dawg:
Repeat after me: “POE-LEECE!”

The home dawg’s drink of choice:
Whatever Nelly drank in that film clip. You know, the one where it was hot in there?

Sophie Lane

It’s all about occupying places of the unknown for the ironically know it all beatnik. Taking this mantra in mind, the beatnik rarely drinks in any place other than the comfort of their own home.
“Why submit to the consumerism that is bars and nightclubs? Let’s drink on the cold, harsh reality of our inner suburban floorboards instead”.

The beatnik would rather ignore the fact that the bottled beer touching their homebody lips is indeed purchased with the same consumerism as the beer bought at the bar two streets down.

The beatnik’s top 3 bars and nightclubs:
If the beatnik must give in to the social norm that is the public venue, there are strict guidelines.
- The Night Cat, Fitzroy, VIC
- The Black Cat, Brunswick, VIC
- Yah Yahs, Fitzroy, VIC
* Yes, you must live in the cliche that is ‘cultured Melbourne’ to be a true beatnik.

Physical attributes:
Refusing to give-in to the conformity that is the coloured clothe, the beatnik instead chooses to cover themselves to a contradictory canvas of pure black.
Unlike us common-folk, beatniks all suffer from the exact same eye problems, hence the thick rimmed glasses. What sheer coincidence.

The beatnik’s top 3 trends:
- Bicycles with baskets (needed to buy fresh produce from the Vic Market, and or Woolworths)
- Berets (“I got this one on my travels to France, via eBay”)
- Loafers (“My grandpa left these to me” Is he dead? “Nah”)

Their goal:
To name drop as many names that mean nothing to you (and them) as possible by the end of the night.

How to fit in with the beatnik:
Casually roll a cigarette for yourself and let it fall apart while smoking it. Then choke on an accidently inhaled chunk of tobacco. Dreamy.

How to avoid the beatnik:
Ask them when John Lennon’s next live show is.

The beatnik’s drink of choice:
Obscure micro brews.

Sophie Lane

Habitat:
Once presumed extinct, or extremely rare, reported sightings of the closet christian have increased in recent years. Statistics show that after the world failed to ‘end’ on May 21st of this year, a peak in clubbing christians has ensued. Whether it’s a new found lack of faith, or a last minute bender before the big one in 2012 (“That’s the real one, knew it all along”), closet christians can be found across any given city, in any pub or club, exhibiting moves that only Jesus would be proud of.

The closet christian’s top 3 bars:
- The Order of Melbourne
- Glenmore Rooftop Hotel, Sydney
- The Lark Cocktail Lounge, Brisbane

Physical attributes:
The closet christian is exactly that, in the closet. Don’t expect the black reverend gown or neck tie, or even a silver goblet for that matter. The closet christian is difficult to identify, and therefore one must approach with caution if expecting a one night stand. Unfortunately, one of the only ways to discover this stereotype’s faith is to lure him back home, only to be told sex comes after marriage. Don’t be fooled by the tin can ring lying on the floor, decisions are always best made sober.

The closet christian’s top 3 trends:
- A gold cross (worn tightly around the neck, don’t fall for the rosary bead stylings of blonde bimbos, it’s all a trend)
- Slicked hair (these chaps wear their hair in preparation for all activities, even walking on water)
- White socks (look for the bright light)

Their goal:
To get just drunk enough to appreciate what the last supper may have felt like without losing one’s virginity.

How to fit in with the closet christian:
Tell the closet christian that you have been christened and or baptised. If you haven’t, don’t fear, a quick trip to the venue basin and a splash of water can fix that in a jiffy.

How to avoid the closet christian:
Begin a discussion about Corinthians, and demand that they are first and foremost, a type of wafer.

The closet christian’s drink of choice:
Red wine, passed around twelve or so times.

Sophie Lane

In a country where homosexuality breeds connotations of promiscuity and sexual adventure, finding a long term relationship for the gay man can be as challenging as the task of coming out itself.

While many heterosexual singles world wide now rely on internet-based introduction sites to find that special someone, homosexual Australian’s have never been given the same opportunity- with Australia being one of the only Western countries lacking a service dedicated to the gay community.

Instead of websites devoted to finding soul mates, Australian homosexual men have instead in recent years, been flooded with a plethora of websites purely aimed at the fulfilment of sexual desire.

Grindr and Manhunt, among others, have fulfilled the needs of many sexually driven gay men, but have also fuelled an irreversible negative stigma towards their community.

With the launch of Australia’s first gay ‘introduction’ site, ‘Beau and Brummel’ on September 28, it seems the promiscuous stain on Australia’s high flying gay flag may be removed before too long.

Beau and Brummell, a site which focuses on personality and compatibility, asks users to pay for a selective, professional introduction service for the shy, stigmatised gay male.

Will the launch of Australia’s first ‘serious’ homosexual dating site create change in a country best known as the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ nation?

Co-Founder of Beau Brummell, Vinko Anthony, believes his site just might be the key to a change in our ways.

“I think it’s important to give examples to the general population, that homosexual people are just the same as anyone else and we live our lives … with the same wants, desires, and needs as heterosexual people,” he said.

With New York passing legislation on gay marriage in June of this year, Australia is behind in the acceptance of gay communities in more way than one.

“It will definitely be a step in the right direction towards positive change, so that our Government will perceive us in a different way, and give gay men the same rights,” Anthony said.

Nathaniel Leslie, a gay 22-year-old from Melbourne says concrete change will come when people realise the similarities between people of differing sexualities.

“Gay dating is certainly different to heterosexual dating, however the core elements behind any relationship are the same,” he says.

“People just want love, companionship… and someone to share their stories with.”

Promoting the exact opposite, Grindr, encourages Australia’s current skewed perception. The website is seemingly all about the ‘grind’, and less about the factors which contribute, regardless of sexual preference, to a relationship.

Grindr works on a location basis, lending itself to the smart phone generation, and enabling the average gay man to find sexual fulfilment within their suburb or city at the tap of a finger.

Nathaniel believes such sites only worsen homophobia within Australia.

“The sites are degrading,” he says.

But could a change in how homosexuals approach potential partners online lead to a change in Australian legislation?

“It would be nice,” Nathaniel says.

For the first time in history, this year’s 2011 Australian Census counted same sex couples who have married overseas.

While those in same-sex relationships are now obliged to declare their relationship to Government, resulting in a reduction of financial benefits, they have still not been granted the right to marry.

The Australian Marriage Equality lobbied for the change in the census structure after a survey on ‘same sex marriage inevitability’, funded by both AME and ‘Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays’ was released with striking results in May this year.

The survey found three in four Australians say that a change in marriage law for homosexual Australians is imminent.

80 per cent of women, 70 per cent of men and 68 per cent of people above the age of 50 disagree with Julia Gillard’s ruling that marriage is exclusively for the unity of a ‘man and a woman’.

Peter Furness, AME convener says that looking at same sex couples as being equal is an important sign of respect.

In a statement, Mr Furness described the Federal Government’s current marriage laws as “nonsensical”.

Although the launch of highly anticipated Baeu and Brummell may force Australians to approach gay couples with respect based on their relationships, it does not come without scepticism.

“Ultimately the company behind the venture wants to make money,” Nathaniel says.

“There is also the possibility that it could marginalise the gay market more, by taking users away from other hetero, bi and homosexual sites,” he adds.

Producer of Melbourne Gay and Lesbian radio station JOY FM, Lana Wilson is welcoming of the business venture, saying she is not concerned about any negativity towards the site for her listeners.

“Equality is such a strong vision for the gay, lesbian and bi-sexual community, if people were offended by it; it would come down to personal views and preferences,” she says.

Vinko Anthony, co-founder of the site, says he is yet to hear any cynicism towards his flagship venture.

“The response has been very positive so far. Which I believe reflects that we are ready for change,” Vinko continues.

While it is not yet known whether Australia’s first gay introduction site will create the change so wanted by three in four Australians, it is generating much needed discussion on the often taboo topic.

Just as Beau and Brummell users hope for an everlasting relationship, many Australians continue to hope for an everlasting legislative change.

Sophie Lane

Bright colour blocking meets slick, smooth styling. The work of Singapore based freelance motion designer,Benjamin Ang is as charismatic as they come.

Although Ang is yet to graduate, he is currently studying Motion Graphics and Broadcast Design at Nanyang Polytechnic, he showcases awards demonstrating a mark on the industry that is yet to spread.

This year alone, Ang boasts four awards including the silver for PromaxBDA Student Design and Animation Awards (2011), and being a finalist in ‘MoFilm New York (2011), Crowbar Award Show (2011) and Adobe Design Achievement Awards (2011).

Clients of Ang include the Singapore Zoological Gardens, Feiyue Shoes, Baybeats Music Festival 2011 and Tang Orchard, to name a few.

With an impressive portfolio of work, and a number of prestigious award already under his arm, Ang is well on his way to creating some serious waves in the industry.

We are thrilled to welcome Benjamin Ang to Pause Fest 2011!

By Sophie Lane

View the published article as part of Pause Fest 2011, here.

Blac Ionica is a London based visual communication studio harnessing the power of experienced film directors, animators and designers.

Leaving no area untouched, the team at this new wave studio specialise in live action, CGI, motion graphics, sound design, interactive design and concept and branding development.

From concept to execution, the slick sophistication of Blac Ionica’s work is becoming a force to follow within the ever-evolving industry.

Having set standards and broken boundaries for big name clients Foot Locker and Virgin Media, the talents of the team at Blac Ionica are becoming a commodity in their own right.

Their work is extensive and ranges from commercials for brands such as KFC, The Daily Mirror, Sony Playstation, McDonald’s and Nokia to corporate work for Yota and Nokia and broadcast for Ginx, MTV P.O.V and Sky Italia.

Blac Ionica also contributed branding and a viral video to SapientNitro’s Sneakerpedia campaign, which won a Gold Cyber Lion Award at Cannes this year.

But it’s not all about pleasing suit-slickers for these designer demons; the team at Blac Ionica extend beyond aesthetics to environmental activism, having designed the Energy Saving Trust Water Calculator for the UK.

It is with excitement and anticipation that the team at Pause Fest welcome Blac Ionica to this year’s festival!

By Sophie Lane

View the published article as part of Pause Fest 2011, here.

Richard De Souza is a home-grown motion graphics artist working his way towards design glory; specialising in art direction, animation, motion art, live installations and filmmaking.

Having just embarked on the creation of design studio Manoeuvre.tv, the work of De Souza is as fresh as it comes in the design industry.

De Souza has been featured in big name design publications Stash Magazine and Fubiz, but it isn’t all paper praise for this design mogul. Various light and graphic installations from the visual mastermind have been exhibited worldwide in various art festivals- creating a strong following for the Melbournian.

The piece, which inspired De Souza’s design studio, ‘The Manoeuvre’ was shortlisted for the 2010 Vimeo awards in the motion graphics category.

Music festivals including the Big Day Out, Parklife and Stereosonic have each employed the talents of the artist to install breathtaking live visuals.

Innovative, calculated and full of the youthful energy, the work of De Souza harnesses everything your grandma wishes she could bottle, an elixir of life.

Pause Fest 2011 welcomes the work of Richard De Souza with inspired anticipation!

By Sophie Lane

Mikkael Doczekalski is Graphset. A Paris based graphic design studio breaking the norm in prints, video trailers, web design, and live stage installations.

Doczekalski’s history in industrial robotics and automation techniques, and his ability to blend discipline with innate creativity, has resulted in unseen graphical logic and method in his designs.

He is currently working as “design manger” for renowned London-based festival Alpha-ville, with complete creative control over communication plans, prints, video commercials and web design for the festival.

Boasting a string of success stories in the field of live festival installation, Graphset’s work gained recognition across Europe for work with festivals including Nuits Sonores (France, 2009), Mapping Festival (Switzerland, 2009) and many more.

Strobe lighting and projection parties soon expanded to artistic collaborations. In 2010, Graphset was given the honour of producing and creating the visual set design for DJ Max Cooper’s music video, a gig that catapulted Mikkael’s design into worldwide recognition.

Pause Fest is proud to welcome Graphset to the 2011 festival!

By Sophie Lane