CHURCH turns out hundreds in a drunken state and wearing fancy dress

Some 'Church' goers

I was exceptionally pleased with myself after being accepted into one of the top casting agencies in London today. To take a nice easy stroll along the London streets on a Sunday afternoon when you are pleased with yourself always seems to be a little different and more enjoyable than doing so in the week days when there is the never ending rush of people whose lives are so crammed with business that they have not a second to spare. There is no such thing as an easy stroll to be had – you are dragged in with the frantic flow. I was thoroughly enjoying my Sunday stroll in Kentish Town when I was all of a sudden confronted with what seemed like thousands of people dressed in outfits which ranged from togas to toads. You name it, the outfit was there.

In shock I immediately stopped and observed, only to notice how it seemed that these people were in no sober state – staggering, giggling, and sitting down with eyes appearing heavy. I was beginning to question my own sanity – was I really seeing this extraordinary sight before me at 16.00h on a Sunday? I couldn’t resist, I had to to do some further investigations.

30 years of Sunday Church drunkenness

I pounced on a few passer byes who could only manage to tell me that they had “just been to Church” before they carried on their journey in a wobbly line along the pavement. This confused me even more and after much persistence I eventually began to make sense of the situation. I came across some individuals who were slightly more coherent than the majority which is where I was told that ‘Church‘ is actually a club of which you attend at mid-day on a Sunday, and that it has been a success for thirty years. People ‘religiously’ as it were turn up early on a Sunday morning to continue with their weekend drinking antics. Sunday really is no longer a day of rest.

I am sure than this club must create some considerable controversy, is it mocking the people that attend a religious establishment on a weekly basis to worship their God, and is it encouraging the much spoken about subject of binge drinking? There are many questions that arise, of which I do not have the time to go in to at this present time. What I will point out however is that from my observations, everybody although drunk appeared to be in a rather relaxed state and there was no evidence of Loutish behavior.

It was as though although these individuals were under the influence of alcohol they had more respect for the streets that they were walking down and the people that they were passing than what they would do at two o’clock in the morning.

The affect on the locals

I decided to head into a pub within close proximity to the club to gain an opinion from some of the locals. I assumed that there must be some negative feelings regarding ‘Church’ floating around Kentish Town when hundreds of people dressed in outrageous costumes take over the streets each and every Sunday without fail. It came as quite the surprise to me to discover that the staff and locals were quite content with the situation. It was explained to me how ‘Church’ hire bouncers to protect the surrounding area before, during and after the clubbing hours to ensure that there is no wrong doing and that nobody is allowed in the pubs after 16.00h who have been to the venue.

“The bouncers line the streets and pub entrances, specifically encouraging the club goers to make their way onto the buses and tubes as quickly as possible” explained a bar attendant. The arrangement seemed too good to be true, and to my disbelief – it actually seemed to work; I would estimate that within just under an hour ninety percent of the crowds had disappeared.

‘Church’ certainly sounds quite the unique experience and something that I may consider trying so that I can attempt to understand the reasons for its immense success. It appears that the phrase ‘anything goes’ is the penultimate saying for Kentish Town, but then so it should be – it is one of the most fashion crazed locations in London. Perhaps I can supply a far more detailed and interesting insight into this unusual Sunday clubbing addiction sometime within the near future. For now I have decided to keep my opinions to a minimum. I shall keep you posted.

Radio – A blind medium? I think not.

I have been getting increasingly frustrated with hearing assumptions and negative comments spoken about on the subject of radio.

It is not boring, it has not had its day and it certainly is not ‘undoubtedly better’ than television. The opinions that I hear on radio itself seem to come from that of little consideration about what the medium actually is.

It seems to be a somewhat stereotyped opinion from those who clearly lack any substantial knowledge about the media world that we are embedded in. What I cannot seem to understand is how so many seem oblivious to the fact that radio has the gift to affect an audience in such a way that no other media form can, especially when it comes the the genre of radio drama; which clearly is one of the most unappreciated literary forms of the last twenty five years.

CSR FM

Compared with that of television, one would assume that due to the obvious fact that radio lacks visual stimulus there is no way that it can be as ‘compelling’ and varied as what is broadcast on the television.With a never ending source of images that seek to shock, influence, entertain and teach constantly on our screens, to think that radio could do exactly the same is sure to be seen as plain stupidity by the majority.

My opinion however is quite the opposite. Radio offers a very different theatrical effect, an effect which I feel is one of the most interesting, as well as being one of the most influential. It most assuredly is not a blind medium.

Seeing with the eye… and seeing with the ear…

Thinking philosophically, what difference is there between seeing with the eye and seeing with the ear? Blind people can still see, they still have the ability to imagine what is going on around them, and create their own visual sense as it were. Other human senses allow them to interpret their surroundings. Sight is a minute part of the human experience.

Feeling and emotion are surely as important to true life fulfillment; without them what would we as human beings be?

This is where my theory comes in to play – radio (especially radio drama) has the ultimate ability to delve deeply into human feelings and emotions, so much more so than television or film. The entire imaginative spectacle can be influenced – there are no limitations; by which I am suggesting that taste, sound, smell and visual can all be created just from hearing even a simple sound.

What is so fantastic about radio is that because we are only using our ears to consume the source, each individuals interpretation will differ in a variety of ways.

The sound that we as an audience hear from our speakers is entering into the subliminal mind of the human being, creating an almost dream like experience, a visual show ground that goes on for eternity.

Therefore when considered further it would make sense to say that radio encourages us to have far more active involvement with the source being listened to deep within our ever so complicated minds, especially when comparing it to that of television, where an often passive trance appears to take over the viewer.

Experimenting on the airwaves

Sound experimenting

I do not want to bore you with lists of sounds that are used within radio and the ones that I particularly feel from experience have an incredible dramatic effect, especially again in the case of radio drama, but I do want to stress that the list really is never ending.

There is always the opportunity to experiment with sound to create a new emotional adventure.

All sounds that we hear have a hue, they have a spectrum of nature just as fine art does, therefore each individual encounters something that no other person will. How fantastic is that? We are allowed to let our minds run wild and create as insane or normal vision as we wish. We see no barrier as is experienced when watching a screen.

So there we have it, radio is extraordinarily far from being a blind medium. Instead of waking up in the morning and glueing your eyes to GMTV or BBC Breakfast, try switching to a radio station and think about what you have read in this blog – you may be surprised. Your imagination may even thank you for it.

Welcome to the world of Amy May

Amy Shead

To be told by one of my Masters Degree Lecturers just a few hours ago that I had to create my own blog and begin blogging daily came as quite the surprise to me; the thought of this is something that I probably would never have considered doing seriously in the past. However, I have been carefully analysing the blogging craze that appears to have stormed the world and I imagine that it may well be quite addictive, in fact – very addictive.

So today is the day where an addiction shall inaugurate. Suddenly the innumerable things of which I frequently think such as “I wish I could rant about this” or “I want to express my opinion because it is superior to yours” are shooting back into my mind. In fact I am fairly tempted to sit up all night and type an explosion of opinions, words, thoughts and visions that have developed in my mind over I have no idea how much time. Finally here it is – my own space. A space for my stories. Wonderful. Lets get started.

Although firstly however, just a little more about me – Amy May Shead (Surely you want to know a little about who is writing this blog?).

Amy May Shead

I was born in Rochford, Essex in 1987, and before you say it, yes I do get so called ‘stick’ from certain individuals for my place of birth. I can assure you however that although I may be a blonde and fun loving lady, I have brains and a serious academic side also; recently leaving University with a First Class Honours Degree, and at present completing my Masters Degree in Broadcast Journalism. I can also categorically say that I have never worn a pair of white stilettos. I do however enjoy dressing as a wild child, with my huge lioness-like blonde hair and my favorite leopard print fashion numbers, sometimes there really is nothing better. It is delightful to bring out the true wild side within yourself once in a while, as it is to dress as a Pirate – I like to say I have a somewhat ‘creative flair’.

 

Some of the many things I have done over the past 22 years

Throughout my life I have always been involved in anything and everything ranging from acting, singing, sport, traveling, through to playing a mammoth amount of musical instruments, of which I was privileged to gain many achievements from. Of recent I have been involved with a BBC Saturday morning radio show, as well as taking part in many other media related experiences, hence my choice of Masters Degree.

I am also a great animal lover, having owned dozens of pets from a friendly parrot named ‘Casper’, tortoises who are older than my nan, to a giant dog who is still my ‘little princess’. As well as this I try to volunteer abroad when it is possible to help to save creatures in need, whilst always finding time to devote to the most important people in my life as well as to general havoc causing.

Dressing as a wolf

As you can see I generally love everything about life itself, and why shouldn’t I? You only live once, so make the most of it. Live each day as your last. I could go into so much more detail about my past twenty one years on this earth, but I shall refrain from telling you all the details, I want to commence with my blogging; write about new, exhilarating, and extraordinary subjects. I may even establish an Amy May Shead blogging empire. We shall see. Enjoy