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This is not your common Little League recreation.
Wendell Dominguez is aware of that raves can typically get harmful, particularly when DJs overtly name for moshpits and “partitions of dying.” So he determined to begin a persona known as The Rave Ref, who dons a whistle and referee shirt in his mission to foster safer experiences in moshpits at digital dance music live shows and festivals.
Watching movies of Dominguez is like an EDM model of The place’s Waldo. In case you attend just about any main bass music competition, odds are you will see a black-and-white referee shirt loping across the pit like a zebra within the evening. And most of the time, his whistle features because the beginning pistol.
EDM.com caught up with The Rave Ref to speak about moshpit tradition and why he determined to campaign for the protection of ravers.
EDM.com: For our readers who have not heard of you—who’s the Rave Ref and what precisely does he do?
Wendell Dominguez: The Rave Ref was initially a Halloween costume. Once I took the time and actually considered how I used to be going to a rave as a ref, the concept of “Rave Ref” was born. I considered how I might try to begin and cease the pit and form of conduct the moshpit.
The response was considerably extra optimistic than I initially thought it might be—as a result of who actually likes a referee. It was then one thing I didn’t need to put to an finish and continued to go to reveals after which festivals because the referee as a result of such optimistic suggestions. I used to be hooked on the positivity that was being unfold in essentially the most chaotic of locations, from beginning video games reminiscent of limbo with a pash or totem, organizing 1v1’s between buddies, beginning circle pits and girls-only pits, and conducting “partitions of dying.”
EDM.com: Why did you initially resolve to pursue this campaign? Did you see or expertise one thing that galvanized you?
Wendell Dominguez: I initially determined to pursue being the ref as a result of I assumed it was a humorous thought. Once I really obtained in there and noticed how a lot I might assist out, the concept went from one thing humorous to one thing that might actually be helpful.
Once I thought again to earlier festivals I’ve been to, I’ve all the time seen at the very least one particular person get severely damage in a moshpit, a battle get away, or individuals dropping private gadgets. I actually wished to attempt to have a optimistic affect on altering the vitality inside essentially the most chaotic of locations.
The Rave Ref/Fb
EDM.com: Have you ever acquired any pushback at reveals and festivals? Or has the response usually been optimistic?
Wendell Dominguez: Really I’ve acquired pushback at some occasions. There have been cases the place some individuals attending an occasion have been aggressive and have vocalized their ideas about The Ref.
I really take the time and listen to them out as a result of I’m all the time open to listening to what individuals must say so I can perceive their potential. Then I clarify to them what I’m attempting to do and inform them to observe and it all the time ends the identical means: us all jamming out collectively within the pit. With the exclusion of those minor interactions, the suggestions has been constantly optimistic!
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EDM.com: What are the most typical belongings you see in moshpits that you simply imagine require motion from a 3rd social gathering?
Wendell Dominguez: A few of the extra frequent issues I see within the pit that I imagine require motion could be individuals falling, getting injured and dropping private gadgets like telephones, wallets and keys. To elaborate, when individuals have fallen down in a giant, closely populated moshpit, it is exhausting typically for individuals to appreciate it and extra individuals find yourself falling and getting stepped on.
I run in from the facet, blowing my whistle to get individuals’s consideration and block and assist those that have fallen. When individuals have gotten injured within the moshpit, the medical group are all the time wonderful however typically its exhausting to get entrance and middle the place the moshpit is. I get some individuals to assist help in clearing the group and getting that injured particular person to the medical tent as greatest as we are able to.
Too many individuals have misplaced their belongings within the moshpit or have gotten them stolen at a competition. Folks really convey misplaced telephones to me and we collectively cease the moshpit till the proprietor claims their belongings. If it is a telephone I’ve them unlock it for me earlier than I give it to them to make sure it is going again with its unique proprietor. In a scary occasion, I’ve even have had somebody from the group run as much as me and ask me for assist and took me to their pal who was laying on the bottom unconscious. I instantly ran to get volunteers to assist me convey this particular person to the med tent.
EDM.com: Moshpits have lengthy been a contentious matter in digital dance music tradition. Having labored so exhausting to basically safeguard individuals in them, what do you suppose the EDM neighborhood can do to mitigate the hurt precipitated within the pit?
Wendell Dominguez: As a neighborhood, one of the best factor we are able to do is look out for each other and unfold extra consciousness of moshpit etiquette. The Pageant Finesser made a terrific video about “moshpit etiquette 101″—how we decide individuals up who’ve fallen, don’t goal to harm anybody, don’t push others from behind, respect everybody and have enjoyable.
We’re all there to alleviate the stress of our on a regular basis lives and focus solely on dwelling within the second. After we all look out for each other whereas having enjoyable, these moments turn out to be one thing we always remember.
EDM.com: You latterly discovered your self within the crosshairs of EDM Twitter, a community that has turn out to be fairly antagonistic over the previous few years. What occurred there?
Wendell Dominguez: Ever since Countdown Invasion Orlando, I acquired plenty of direct messages asking if I used to be coming to Misplaced Lands and saying they need to see the Ref there. After Forbidden Kingdom, these messages elevated closely. So I began to have a look at how potential it was to make Misplaced Lands occur.
Sadly I wasn’t capable of make it work inside my finances. I assumed I’d make a GoFundMe web page in help of getting the Rave Ref to Misplaced Lands in hopes {that a} community-based strategy of security and enjoyable would obtain help. I perceive that GoFundMe can be used for severe conditions reminiscent of medical payments, funeral bills and crucial medical procedures, and under no circumstances did I need to indicate that my fundraising would take any priority over ones of great significance.
My Twitter submit rapidly went viral. Whereas there was help and optimistic feedback, there have been additionally unfavorable ones. Regardless of the negativity, my outlook and response stayed optimistic whereas attempting to offer readability and extra understanding. The way in which I see it, everyone seems to be entitled to their very own opinion. It is how we react to those conditions that actually describes our character, and it doesn’t matter what, I’ll nonetheless be there to assist any and all when wanted no matter your opinion of The Ref.
EDM.com: What do you hope your fellow ravers take away out of your story?
Wendell Dominguez: If individuals have been to take something away from The Rave Ref I’d need them to take the positivity that I convey and simply unfold it, assist individuals after they need assistance, look out for each other, make everybody really feel included and simply have enjoyable.
All of us come from completely different branches of life however we’re all related by our love for the music. I’ve met among the biggest individuals from these festivals who’ve supported me for the reason that very starting. Jesus, Rosie, Lloyd, Chris and Flora, thanks for displaying me I’m higher at being myself then somebody I need to be. They’ve proven me kindness and compassion I didn’t suppose existed and that’s one thing I need to present everybody else—present how wonderful we as a neighborhood can actually be.
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