Today we feature another sneak peek behind-the-scenes of the upcoming DDUK Convention being held November 17th in Birmingham…just 9 days away!! *gasp* Amanda and I are still envious of all who will be in attendance that evening, but we plan to join in the fun however possible!
-R
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By Michelle Coldwell-Simons
Along with head honcho Dave Stott and music maestro Laura Balshaw I was asked by those amazing Daily Duranie girls to write a little blog about my part in our first Duran Duran Fan Convention to be held in just a few weeks…..eeek!
Dave will probably explain in his blog that he and I had a lengthy chat in the queue for one of the special rehearsal gigs that Duran did last year. As we stood, all day, waiting for the doors to open we discussed that all these people in this queue had only one thing in common, Duran. Wouldn’t it be good to have a get together with these fans? We could just hang out and talk about our mutual fondness, listen to some great tunes……Then Dave explained to me that he had once organised his very own fan convention in the 90’s. I was fascinated. It sounded like a lot of fun. There and then the idea for our convention was born!
My part in the convention has been mainly emailing….or that should read bugging people for things! I managed to get the publisher of John’s book to send us ten signed copies. I also persuaded Paul Edmond to part with one of his fantastic framed prints from his Duran Duran Unseen exhibition to auction too as well as too-ing and fro-ing with the official merchandise people Crewe Issue to get them to be part of our little get together.
I also roped my husband into designing a lot of our branding – the picture on the website is one I took of Duran in Brighton on the All You Need Is Now tour, the way the wording looks and how it is set out is my ever suffering husband’s work! I hand drew the idea for our laminates for the event – my husband made them real. I am constantly badgering him for more items, poor man. He is the art director of a magazine – he has real work to do but I am constantly badgering him ‘Gary, have you made my signs yet? Have you made that extra laminate yet? Have you sorted out my quiz sheets?’ He for one can’t wait for this convention to be over!
And the quiz. That’s my biggest contribution to the convention. I have collated a quiz that in my mind isn’t really like your conventional quiz. I have (hopefully) made it a bit more amusing than your usual run of mill quiz, it’s a bit sillier! I just hope people take it the same way! I mean, you have to have a laugh being a Duran fan, don’t you? Is doesn’t HAVE to be serious!
We are raising money for a great charity on the night too, The Children’s Air Ambulance. What more could you ask for? Great music, good fun, an amazing charity……hopefully it will all add up to a bloody good night.
And who knows…..if it all goes well, we may do another one!
Michelle Coldwell-Simons, ancient Duran fan, writer of the Duran Diaries, co-organiser of the Duran Fan convention 2012, wife, mother, photographer, medical receptionist, taxi driver to her daughters and drinker of cheap white wine.
