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Pitching, parties and pure happiness
Around seven o'clock on the 10th of March,the members of KIC ánd Commotie arrive somewhat haggard because of the pouring rain which doesn’t show any signs of stopping for quite some time. These drizzly Dutch circumstances are quickly forgotten because of the cheerful appearance of The Student Hotel. Here, Pascal Rakers seems relaxed and is ready to provide the students with a lecture about his company that organizes house and techno parties and which the majority of the Groninger inhabatants are familiar with: KopjeK.
For the start of Kopje, which coincidentally means "kiss on your pussy", we go back to circa 2009 in Kolham. Pascal tells that KopjeK came to life in this small Groninger village on the farm of a girl friend: here, together with Gerard Hulshof, he organized a party for the first time. Although somewhat illegal and some noise complaints resulting in a police visit, it did attract around 200 people, Pascal says proudly. The two men got a taste and wanted more. Up to this day, more house and techno parties followed.
KopjeK, born out of love for music, is known for their creative concepts. Think of LICCEN ("Like I Care") in your swimsuit to LICCEN in your ski outfit, but also Warehouse and Idioterie. These crazy dress-up parties, which are organized at unique locations like a swimming pool, an unknown terrain or a abandoned building, resulted in KopjeK becoming a household name in the city for over ten years. When someone from the audience asks why Kopjek is such a success, replies Pascal after a little while that he actually has no idea: “Or maybe I have the answer… People just come to have a good time, there is a playful atmosphere. And people think it is mysterious, because sometimes we keep the locations of the parties secret.”
When Pascal asks the group "How many people do you think are actually working for KopjeK?" everyone looks surprised when he says that he runs KopjeK alone. Pascal says that he mainly works with freelancers when it comes to organizing the parties. In addition, he often uses DJs and artists who are still in the early stages of their career: "I think it is important to offer young talent a stage, so why not?"
After Pascal mainly discussed KopjeK itself and the existing parties, it is now our turn. He introduces us to KREPELWALD: a festival surrounded by nature at a secret location next to the water, just outside Groningen, which will take place on the eleventh of July. Eventhough there already has been a promotion campaign on social media for the festival, Pascal asks us to approach this differently: “Think of a completely different way, in the form of promotion, to bring KREPELWALD to the attention.” When the members of both study associations have mixed and formed groups of five, it is time to start wrecking the brains.The students have fifteen minutes to come up with an elevator pitch for the idea that they came up with. The students even got a got incentive, because whoever comes up with the best pitch wins tickets for KREPELWALD!
After fifteen minutes of brainstorming, it is time to show the pitches. And those pitches when from left to right. For example, one group came up with the idea of creatind a sand pit on the Grote Markt, including a decorated stage with a DJ, to bring KREPELWALD to Groningen. Another group would like to organize a secret party in the train between Groningen and Kropswolde. Last but not least, the coordinator of external affairs from Commotie threw in her charms to win the festival tickets. With her hoodie on, she quietly hid behind a banana plant. While she is dancing, she slowly gets away behind the plant while her group member shares the rest of their plan. They want to place ten letters that form the word KREPELWALD on the Grote Markt. These letters are covered with leaves. While techno music is playing in the background, the letters “KREPELWALD” whisper when someone walks by.
In the end these diverse and creative ideas make Pascal unable to choose a winner. However, he has a better idea. When the groups explain their plan in detail and mail this him, they will receive a ticket for KREPELWALD. That resulted in a lot of happy faces. We look back on a creative and informative evening. The groups rush to their homes to perfect all their ideas to obtain those fantastic tickets for the festival.
Nanouk Boelens - Editorial committee Study Association KIC
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