The 'Welcome Carnival': Trouble at the Bars

The Union’s ‘Welcome Carnival’ event, formerly known as the Freshers’ Ball, took place on Friday the 4th of October. Although historically the Freshers’ Ball has been a highly successful event – for many the highlight of Freshers’ Fortnight – the rebranded event fell flat this year.

The Carnival was advertised as a ‘UV neon rave’, featuring stilt walkers and a light show, in an attempt to draw new students in and get them partying and socialising in the Union. The change in name and style was apparently due to a push from a small contingent of staff – some of whom were in interim roles – who felt that the “Freshers’” Ball had negative connotations to drinking games and binge drinking.

Unfortunately, the rebranding seems to have been damaging. Ticket sales fell by half. While sales in previous years topped 1000 students – as was advertised on the Welcome Carnival page on the Union website – this year pre-sales only reached 383, with a further 131 sold on the door.

Reportedly, the maximum capacity was also reduced from around 1200 to 850, as the external security company claimed they would not be able to keep up. This follows reports that students have found the security currently contracted by the Union to be highly unprofessional in their conduct, shouting and swearing at students at Sports Night last week and “play-fighting” in Metric prior to the Carnival event.

The effect on the evening was detrimental. While the Union did not respond to requests for comment on this matter, Metric allegedly only reached around £350 in sales on the evening.

This is only just above the minimum bar spend for CSP events held at Metric – which, considering this event is meant to be a highlight of Welcome, should be a target the Union can blow out of the water.

Additional trouble struck when the headline act, Patrick Nazemi, an Ibiza Rocks resident DJ, had to cancel due to a family emergency. Gem Precious, the supporting act and an up-andcoming UK DJ, offered to cover both sets. However, there are currently-unconfirmed reports that Metric was so quiet that she packed up and left after only one hour – expressing frustration that she had paid for a videographer to film such an ill-attended event. The Union once again refused to address this particular claim in their response.

The events of the evening followed an odd start when everyone currently in the Quad - including Union staff in their building and in the West Basement - were told they had to leave and would not be allowed to re-enter. This was later proven to not be the case.

Following the fall in drinks sales from the bars last year and the issues facing the Union regarding other Welcome events such as the Fair, many students are starting to feel concerned about the future direction of the organisation.