Printers Ball Recap

Printers Ball was a bit of a disappointment yesterday. I didn't stay long because I had the show at the Vic to go to, but I made a quick stop in. I was disappointed by my disappointment at the ball, as I really wanted to see the MCA become its permanent home.

Unlike previous years at Double Door and Hothouse where there was often not enough room and browsers were on top of each other, sometimes fighting for copies of 'zines and what not, at the MCA there was too much room, in a way. Part of the fun of Printers Ball is being able to talk with people, publishers, writers, screen printers, indie publishing fans. It was easy to run into people and chat a bit. At the MCA, on multiple floors with spread out rooms, the ball seemed a bit spare. It didn't help that 'zines were spread out haphazardly on the floors, as if they were left behind, rather than on display. There was a "librarians circle" or something that supposedly had booths where you could talk to people. I guess it was in the back because I didn't see it, which is too bad. In fact I didn't run in to anyone I was hoping to chat with.

I saw some promos from my friend, Ben, promoting his new book. I looked two floors for him and could not find him. Maybe he was just not there at the time, but even if he was I am not sure if I would have been able to find him. I think, despite the tight quarters of earlier venues, it created an intimacy that encouraged its accessibility. I'm not sure who this event is for anymore, or what it's trying to be.