I'm Gary of Tom and Gary's Decentralized Dance Party, or "DDP", AMA

Just wanted to say thank you for making the HORSE the band world tour dvd.

Nearly killed me. Thanks for watching all 10.5 hours :)

When I was done watching it, I was actually sad that it didn't last even longer. I think the long runtime really helped one get immersed in the tiring venture of travelling under stress and sleeping on floors. You felt like you had been there on the tour, albeit less filthy.

It's really funny that "I wish it was longer" has been the most common review. Definitely a really cool, immersive style that we enjoyed exploring and sharing with the world. Hope to create the sequel someday soon, providing this Kickstarter is successful...

This one ;) http://kck.st/WOwhX1

Is there anywhere we can still purchase or download the entire thing?

horsethebandearthtour.com

Something like that. Just google and it can take you to the download page. You can donate or download for free!

That's the one. Enjoy.

Have you ever had any trouble with police at these parties?

That's been the craziest thing. We show up unannounced, attracting several thousand people and freaking out through the streets and 9/10 times they give us a full escort through the city. And use their lights for strobes. They LOVE it.

That happened with us! I was spinning glow poi in Phoenix and the police officers turned their lights on as a backdrop for my spinning. That was AWESOME.

INDEED!

After Austin this year, we have taken to calling you guys the "cop whisperers"

Excellent. YEah cops always dig my flat top and Tom's Disco Trident.

When you came here to Detroit you pretended that your equipment went down but we all knew it was being the cops here are assholes.

YEahhh- we were actually told that we'd "literally have to kill someone to even get their attention".. but then they somehow showed up at the beginning. We are gonna return soon for a citywide MOTOWN DANCE PARTY.

Oh hell yes. That was a big jewel in the crown of an amazing summer. Did they give you guys citations @ the beginning? I thought I saw them writing you tickets on top of the pyramid. (Also thanks for signing our beach ball.)

No citations. After doing 53 of these, we have yet to receive a ticket.

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Hahah yeah they thought we were Occupy and shut her down 30 mins before midnight on NYE. We were moments away from the subway and a highly anticipated climax in Union Station. Still gonna happen one day.

Doesnt our Pittsburgh bomb scare count? :)

This one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfRSRB_Tx4Y

Gary I saw you at a bar 2 years ago in Nashville and you paid the bartender $50 to make out with you do you remember that?

No but it sounds awesome ok.

You guys were awesome at SXSW!

Say it like you mean it.

is it true you often end the parties with the 8min version of 'i'd do anything for love' ?

12 minute version. Loving the Meatloaf.

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It happens, but now that we've (THE ELITE BANANA TASK FORCE) figured out how to expertly prepare them (taping down all the knobs and battery door and tuning them in perfectly), we lose way less of them. It's mostly an issue of them getting knocked off the station and blaring static and people leave them behind.

The ratio of good people to bad is like 100 to 1 generally.

Have you played the Cha Cha slide any more since you did in Austin, January 2012?

Nope- forgot aboot it- sorry!

Is it true you once threw a Party on the Staten Island Ferry?

Yeah, it's science FACT. We Parties with the Captian and all the deckhands. Dance circles and limbos on the main deck. Then we took Times Square.

All can be beheld HERE: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151040983755676.492430.126084825675&type=3

You should post a link to the kickstarter

CHECK OUT OUR CRAZY NEW KICKSTARTER- WE ARE GOING TO PARTY ALL THE 'STANS AND TRANSNISTRIA AND PROVE THAT ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS AND WIN THE NOBLE PRIZE FOR PARTYING. http://kck.st/WOwhX1

In that order.

Where do you get all of your boomboxes and around how much do they usually cost?

Tom and Gary and all the bananas are constantly hunting high and low for em. We usually pay like $5-$10 apiece. There are millions in Vancouver for some reason. We have them stashed all over North America. ahhaahaha

What about the batteries? How much do you spend on batteries?

We spent untold thousands of dollars until Rayovac hooked us up with a sponsorship. Thanks to them for that!

We also recycle all the dead ones, and are working on a crazy new rechargeable Open-Source boombox called the Social Stereo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY5PK1-_LSk

This sounds like a blast! Are you worried about running into legal trouble?

edit: the first question was whether you had- I mean to ask whether you're worried about it in the future.

When asked if he was nervous about inviting thousands of people to dance in the streets and get crazy together, Gary had this to say:

“The only thing I fear is leading a life that perpetuates the status quo. I’m afraid to contribute to a culture where permits are required to make any sort of movement or sound or have any unconventional good times. We enjoy a right to peacefully assemble in our public spaces and it should be exercised whenever possible.”

“I fear for the future of a sterilized society that has forgotten how to have fun; a culture where everyone is afraid to express themselves and much of the populace relies on antidepressants to make it through the day.”

“That’s why I have devoted my life to confronting it all head-on via the craziest creative endeavors I can concoct. I do my best to inspire deviation from the norm and steer things in directions I believe are positive and exciting. That’s what quality art is all about”

To which he added “imho”

And:

“We have entered the era of the flashmob. For better or worse, social media-fueled riots and revolutions are an almost daily occurrence. The DDP represents the opposing end of the spectrum and is the polar opposite of a riot. It’s a constructive, community-building rampage that bloodlessly challenges societal boundaries and redefines human borders and as long as I’m alive and breathing, the Party Revolution will continue.”

look at question # 1

No room for fear in this game.

When border control asks you what your purpose for entering the US is, what do you tell them? Have you ever had to explain the whole concept of the DDP to them? Ever have any trouble crossing the border?

Probably the craziest thing was booking all these tours and fronting thousands of dollars on the RV rental and plane tickets and etc, with no idea if we were going to even be allowed over the border. But we've gotten across every single time (like 6 times). Their only concern is that we're going to "take american jobs", bu since nobody else does DDPs and we've been losing money since day one, they don't care. They are usually just so overcome by the weirdness and loud clothing.

And a well-maintained Flat Top always guarantees safe passage across any border ;)

Seriously.

What city had the best party?

Our personal favorite was when we traveled like 200kms in Vancouver back in 2010 and invaded the ferry, two subways, and two buses, before ending at the beach after a 10-hour marathon.. Stom had the mobile fog machine going. Partied with the ferry captain. THE BEST OF TIMES.

Holy fuck.

The Proof: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.462918105675.260061.126084825675&type=3

Hey Mister Gary! What does Jon Karel smell like?

Drumsticks.

Would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses?

I hate horses, so I'd take them all at once.

By the antlers.

I almost fought this deer once in a suit and wearing the powerglove at 5AM in the Hamptons blaring Van Halen

seriously.

Has this whole thing ever scared you? Ever thought of hanging the banana suit up, parking the RV, and sitting at a desk... in the name of a paycheck?

When asked if he was nervous about inviting thousands of people to dance in the streets and get crazy together, Gary had this to say:

“The only thing I fear is leading a life that perpetuates the status quo. I’m afraid to contribute to a culture where permits are required to make any sort of movement or sound or have any unconventional good times. We enjoy a right to peacefully assemble in our public spaces and it should be exercised whenever possible.”

“I fear for the future of a sterilized society that has forgotten how to have fun; a culture where everyone is afraid to express themselves and much of the populace relies on antidepressants to make it through the day.”

“That’s why I have devoted my life to confronting it all head-on via the craziest creative endeavors I can concoct. I do my best to inspire deviation from the norm and steer things in directions I believe are positive and exciting. That’s what quality art is all about”

To which he added “imho”

And:

“We have entered the era of the flashmob. For better or worse, social media-fueled riots and revolutions are an almost daily occurrence. The DDP represents the opposing end of the spectrum and is the polar opposite of a riot. It’s a constructive, community-building rampage that bloodlessly challenges societal boundaries and redefines human borders and as long as I’m alive and breathing, the Party Revolution will continue.”

Gary - I'm glad to see your flat top is in better shape than it was on Earth Tour. What do you do to keep it so luxurious? Also, is the Party Pandemic the child of Earth Tour, and is it just a matter of time before DDP+HtB Earth Party Pandemic Tour happens?

Flat Top = Ferret Sheen. Inspired by Earth Tour, yes.

HTB YES!

Gonna be getting weird at Lord Gold's wedding this weekend and we will certainly be plotting future shenanigans on a dangerous/debilitating scale.

please send his purple majesty all of my congratulations and love.

Absolutely.

Are you guys planning another tour? Phoenix was a blast and I'd love to do it again! :)

And check out this aswesome video of us meeting Billy O, the Phoenician Prophet / Phoenix's Best Kept Secret: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwdYoY_dYLI

We're planning a Global Party Pandemic actually: http://kck.st/WOwhX1 Phoenix was honestly one of our favorite nights ever and we dig the desert so hopefully back soon for more!

That would be great! We had an awesome time partying with you guys. I'm already following your Facebook page, I'll start following your kick starter as well!

Thanks! please share it also- gotta hit that goal or Civilization Will Collapse.

In case you missed it, here's a step-by-step on how Partying is going to Save The World: http://kck.st/WOwhX1

I had the fortune of joining your Decentralized Dance Party in Vancouver during the Olympics! Had a blast!

Mini trampolines should be a standard at any party.

Yes we insist on at least seven minimum. Glad you had a blast!

Do you know that your name's initials are the same as a popular wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page?

Ever given any thought to changing the name? Simply because you both seem to like to go by DDP, and well, he was there first.

We're well aware.. now. But it's funny and NBD.

How did you guys feel about that girl that got completely naked and started dancing at each fountain we checkpointed at during the Pittsburgh DDP?

It was something that hadn't really happened before and at first we thought it was funny. But reflecting on it later, it's not something we are really stoked on. The cool thing about the DDP is that the atmosphere of "innocence-while-still-being-rad-and-crazy-without-delving into-the-debauchery that generally pervades most other Parties. Creating an experience for people that is uniquely inclusive and has kids/parents/grandparents Partying in public together and everyone comfortable and happy is cooler, we think. Anyone can create something that appeals to the base instincts. Bringing out the higher takes some real doing.

all that said, she was a great dancer ;)

Just stopping in to upvote and get tom and gary some karma and recognition!

Gracias!

I was at what I assume was a DDP in Victoria BC this past summer. I was on vacation - came off a cruise ship from Seattle and saw this big ridiculous crowd; my girlfriend and I joined for a while and it was awesome. (need to find the photos/video i took)

Anyways, my question: I've been trying to organize something like a DDP on my college campus for a while, but it's been a slow going process. We just got batteries for all the boomboxes we've amassed over time, but now we're looking into radio transmitting options. What is your setup like? We're all broke as shit so if we can do this on a budget, all the better. We really want to do this two weekends from now during our campus-wide festival type thing.

Made an account just so I could post here. Also I hope the Kickstarter gets funded; I've been pushing it hard these past couple days.

Thanks for the Kickstarter push. A decent radio transmitter like ours costs about $800 and is not easy to set up. We're going to be releasing "The Official DDP Field Manual" in the next month or two, and it'll detail all the informations.. VERY hard to pull these things off, so I'd recommend waiting for that..

Has anyone been arrested at one of these functions?

To the best of our knowledge, no. There's been people on the "outskirts" when we have passed through bar districts and such, who aren't part of the Party at all. It's REALLY incredible how well people behave if you provide the right music and atmosphere. It's this insane hive mind that exactly what I saw during the Vancouver Riots, only the mob is Constructive rather than DEstructive- we have stumbled acrioss something really special with the DDP : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpkpjdQTmm4

Hey Gary can you tell Horse the Band to get back in gear and start recording and touring again? Please? Tell em to kickstart that shit, for real. Also I wish you the best in all your endeavors.

I will and I always tell them to Kickstart stuff but they are really cantankerous and unpredictable. Thanks for the well wishes :)

How did you and Tom meet?

Ahahah he was out rollerblading and we were Liberating all these yard gnomes and he joined us and then THIS happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti_TDjrXRJU

I want to be a guest host here in Phoenix. Any opportunities? Do you have a "volunteer" squad?

We are gonna be Ordaining Autonomous DDP Party cells in every city, so just drop us a line and we'll add you to the database :)

Phoenix DDP'er with an FM transmitter here - pm me for details on What Happens Next

WAV4RM is your POINT MAN!

I just want to say that I (am pretty sure I) participated in one of these in British Columbia while on a stop on a cruise in July. My boyfriend got hit on, I got my dance on, and it was one of the highlights of our trip and influencing us to consider moving to BC.

... so thanks, trying to get involved in all future endeavors.

HAhaha we get a lot of people saying they're "pretty sure" they were involved in DDPs. Even if you're unsure, you were.

Do you guys remember coming to Fredericton back in Oct. '10?

A night we will never forget. Does Fredericton remember DDP?

Some of us. It wasn't the party we deserved, but the party we needed.

Hahahahahahahahahah

HTB NEEDED IN NEW YORK CITY. FUCK

I will certainly pass the word along.

Would you ever consider teaming up with another Party Icon such as Andrew W.K.?

Yeah we are always open to collaborations and we have emailed him a bunch and our Twitter followers are always tweeting DDP stuff at him but he has been ignoring it all for 3.5 years. Oh well.

my buddy is actually pretty good friends with him and he is also playing in my state soon I'll see if I can help you guys out.

Please do. We are huge fans and would be down for a team-up and/or Diplomatic Party Mission.

Holy shit, it's Gary LaChance.

Earth Tour literally changed my life. I was in a really dark, bad place mentally and emotionally, and over the course of two weeks I must have watched Earth Tour at least 3 three times, and it was so amazing to see a bunch of people have dark, fucked-up worldviews and yet still remain in (relatively) good spirits. It really brought me out of a dark place, so thanks for making that film.

My question is this: you (and Sarah "Plopp" Hamilton) have vocal credits in the liner notes of HORSE the band's magnum opus, Desperate Living. However, I can't seem to hear you or Plopp on any of the tracks. What songs did you perform on and what parts specifically did you sing?

Really great to hear. We've heard similar stories from many others, and it's pretty cool when the things you make can positively effect other people. Me and Sarah yell "H THE BEE"!!

Who yells "HORSE THE MOTHERFUCKING BAND, MOTHERFUCKERS"?

K-Slax

What has been your favorite part about doing DDP's?

How often do you have a DDP?

I am down to DDP

Favorite part is hearing people say they have had the 'best night of their lives'. Of which there have been thousands. We DDP every chance we get. Are you still down?

I had an absolute BLAST at the Boston DDP. Just wanted to say thanks for being awesome. Was a bummer when they kicked us out of the common, but a few of us continued the party on our own nearby. Met some awesome people (and bananas!) that night!

Hope you make it back here sometime, and you definitely have a supporter here!

THanks- that was a great night, and the first and only time we've been called in as a "bonfire" hahah. Great while it lasted.

What happens after you save the world?

What SHOULD happen?

The DetroitDDP (DDDP? DetDDP?) was awesome and magical and I'm sad that it got cut short.

It meant a lot that you guys came because so many people find Detroit easy to skip and aren't willing to give us a chance to see what we're all about (minus the dubious city services, of course).

I look forward to you guys coming back!

Detroit was seriously the city I was most excited for, mainly cause I'm such a big Motown fan. And it didn't disappoint.. really reinvigorated Me and Tom and our whole crew. Love the energy there and want to return asap- really can feel the music in the streets. Thanks for coming out!!!

How many watts is your transmitter & what kind or range can you get while moving around?

She's a 1-watt and we get a range of about three-four city blocks.

I really liked your "tribute" to MCA at the beginning of the Minneapolis ddp, great way to start!

Heartfelt. Glad you liked it :)

What is your all time favorite DDP moment?

That's a tough one. It's usually whenever we have a person who would never ever Party and they just get caught up in it and have this expression of total joy and they are dancing with total abandon and everyone is cheering them on. That is the best.

What are some of the weirdest people who've shown up to these things?

We are the wierdest.

I loved the HTB dvd. It was beautiful and I am glad you gave birth to it. And I love the DDP.

My question: How have you "coped" with debt? I just imagine that sometimes, especially through times like the HTB World Tour, I just imagine little financial income and more personal debt. Am I right or wrong? I love a clarification.

Thanks a lot! I respect and love everything you do GARY LACHANCE.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it and thank you. It was a debilitating, Lif-consuming labor of love that took years to complete. To be honest, inspired by HTB, I've just been sinking further and further into debt and barely scraping by for like the last four years in order to sustain the DDP. I only drink water, never eat out or do anything that costs money. Get around on a bicycle, etc. Hahahhaah My only indulgences are food and shelter and boomboxes and banana suits and hard drives to hold all the footage. Crowdfunding this thing has been a terrible ordeal, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Evolving the DDP with integrity and maintaining complete creative control is all that matters.

And don't tell me Nothing Matters- already know ;)

Here's a link to the trailer for Earth Tour, should anyone be interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Rr3dgWZ4o

And there's a by-donation torrent of the entire 10.5-hour-long movie that you can download HERE: http://www.horsethebandearthtour.com/torrent-2

HORSE The Band and the Earth Tour documentary have shaped parts of my life over the last few years. Just want to thank you for being a part of that!

I hope you can fulfill what you've started with the DDP. I think it's an amazing idea and wish I had the funds to donate more than $25 to help.

Thanks very much. Really appreciate you and everyone else who has given back. It's the only way I am able to continue to operate. $25 is great!

Who led the conga line under the Man at Burning Man while the Backstreet Boys were playing?

Danger Cat?

You did an amazing job with the Earth tour. Hang out with fatasses in cheeseland in Ohio.

Thanks. Be right over.

thank you for earth tour

Anytime.

How long do you foresee the party continuing?

The Party Revolution?

Yeah. Sorry stealing peeks @ work.

Until it has succeeded.

If you get the world tour going, will you film another 10 hour doco about it?

We're working on another one right now :) http://kck.st/WOwhX1

I have been to all your Vancouver DDP's, the Olympics was by far the best. Keep up the good work team, it takes a lot of effort to pull these off.

February 2010 Vancouver surely was an amazing time and place to be alive... Memories to last a lifetime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUKu_idyzm8

What was your favorite match?

What is a match?

While I certainly like the idea of this event, I don't know that you are properly using the term decentralized.

If it were truly decentralized, no one person or device would enable the event (broadcaster / broadcasting equipment).

That's why we are constructing our Social Stereo- the world's first Open-Source stereo, and a device that will surely alter the course of history: http://decentralizeddanceparty.com/social-stereo

Fucking website has been down all day, right in the middle of the last 48 hours of our Kickstarter.. but the raw vid is HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY5PK1-_LSk

What was it like Filming Earth Tour? And what do you have in mind for a possible (?) sequel?

I'm a big fan of you and HtB btw

Filming Earth Tour was actually a pretty horrible, sleep-deprived mission from hell. Those 10.5 hours were the highlights, and the other 2149.5 were mostly suffering. The sequel would be comprised of the 6r00 hours we've filmed since returning home in June 2008, and includes footage of their USA tour, African Tour, and a bunch of DDP adventures from 2009 on, some of which involved Erik and other HTB members. Glad you enjoy our work- thanks!

I was apart of the film crew in Manhattan who filmed you guys for the Bacardi MoFilm commercial last year. Just wanted to say thanks for a great time! Grand Central Terminal hasn't seen a party that wild since then.

Hahahah thank YOU. Grand Central invasion is undoubtedly one of our favorite DDP memories :)

Haha you guys are awesome I was at the party in Vancouver in the abandoned store on cambie and hastings (I think.... I was quite drunk). Good times were had. I'll post a pic if I can find it.

Also, the mini trampoline was a sick dance floor addition.

I don't know anything about an abandoned store. But glad you enjoyed the trampoline, wherever we were.

Any chance of earth tour part deux?

Parsing the 600 hours of footage we've filmed since Earth Tour, I realized that a sequel is definitely in there. To be honest, whether it will actually see the light of day is mostly dependent on me being able to "buy enough time" (food and shelter) to dedicate the necessary ~10,000 hours required to create it. I really want to.. but time will tell. You can help make it a reality by supporting us HERE: http://kck.st/WOwhX1

To clarify, the plan right now is to use that footae to create a normal, feature-length film that will have hundreds of "annotation links" to all the component clips... but it might morph into a crazy 20-hour long sequel to Earth Tour.. or both. Likely both. Won't know till we really get into it.

Will your world tour include Australia? And if so, Perth? We are (or were) the most isolated capital city in the world!

Impossible to know yet where we'll travel, but once we get our new website built, people will be able to submit and vote and determine where we'll go. Watch for it!

Who let the dogs out?

Mitt Romney: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDwwAaVmnf4

How does it feel to have and live such grand dreams?

On those rare occasions I actually slow down and think about what I am doing, it's really weird, and really funny. I started doing the Caveman Diet Back in 2008 and since then I have had near-limitless drive/energy/ambition/insanity/etc. and I recommend it to EVERYONE. Literally made me a new person and I would never be doing this if it weren't for that lucky discovery... the program I used is here, if anyone would like to fancy it for themselves: http://www.cavemanpower.com/food/caveman_power_diet.html

How do you shave a hippo?

gingerly.

So when are you guys coming back to Chicago? Hopefully next time you won't come during NATO weekend again...

Here's a picture I took of my buddy helping you set up your rig before the Chicago DDP: http://imgur.com/8ZnUUYf

We had a blast! Party on dude!

Hahahahha thanks again for the help and yeah one NATO weekend is enough for now. Great Party while it lasted though. Glad you have a good time. We did also.

Gary, i already befriended you on facebook, we also had a discussion about copyright, and i'm super stoked you're doing an ama! earth tour, ddp, all that stuff changed my life. i now follow my dreams, i'm poor as fuck, i don't have much time, but i love my life so much now. if you ever need something while you're in germany, hit me up, i will do anything i can, i want to give something back to you guys. really, really thankful for all, and i hope someday, i can give something to the people around me that is equally awesome and inspiring.

and, for a question, what do you think about bill gates? :)

Great to hear man.. if there's one thing this world needs, it's more people who are following their dreams and loving life. These are the truest riches of all. Know that you are in good financial company, my friend ;) And thanks for the offer to help. Right now what we really need is to get as much traffic as possible to our Kickstarter, which expires in under 48 hours: http://kck.st/WOwhX1 ANYWHERE you could please post it, along with a personalized message explaining why people should care, would be Greatly Appreciated!

Are you or were you ever actually serious about this? It seems like you're either trolling, or remaining willfully ignorant of the facts.

You haven't been successful on Kickstarter: the projects that you have successfully funded have rarely been more than 105% funded, and a significant percentage (about a third?) failed. It seems pretty obvious that people do not want to pay money for decentralized dance parties.

Will you still be attempting to go on a world tour if you can't fund a documentary?

Also, did you expect Kickstarter to extend the deadline? It's laid out very clearly that they will never do that, for any reason.

Spending every waking minute of my life and dollar to my name for the past four years is a pretty good indicator of my dedication. 100% funded is a success in my books, and we have reached our fundraising goals over 30 times on Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, since we pioneered the touring-by-crowdfunding model back in 2010.. back when nobody even knew what crowdfunding was. The failed Kickstarters you see are just part of the touring-by-crowdfunding model.. "If you fund it, we will come".

People have definitely been less financially generous overall then we expected going into this, but their generosity has manifested in many other, incalculably more valuable and meaningful ways.

This was supposed to happen in my city, Halifax, NS... There was a lot of buzz about it and then it kind of died off... Did I miss it or did it not happen and why?

Facebook deleted our page, and all the associated event pages. But we are still hoping to get out there.. perhaps as early as this Summer..

http://www.decentralizeddanceparty.com/2011/10/13/phase-three-of-party-safari-has-been-cancelled

Where's Joe?

Joe Wite?