Time Warp Holland 2012

   I decided to create this blog in order to provide you with some experience, advises and prospects to people who want to visit particular party event or just to share our points of view, triggered by excellent marketing and poor reality.

   First I would like to start with some background. I am listening to house music for more than 8 years. I am a huge fan of huse, tech house, progressive, deep house and a little techno. I follow DJs and labels from all around the world and I follow Beatport, 'the largest music store for DJs in the world', as well. I have even went further to mix music by myself, but just as a hobby. Huse music is part of my everyday life, with the headphones plugged-in all the time.

   Last night I went to Time Warp Holland 2012. I have waited for it for quite some time. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. Here is why...

   Firstly, I started making the research on the DJ line-up. Personally, I expected a better line-up, nevertheless there were some names (around 7-8) that triggered some positive thinking, since I am always open to new stuff and experience, isn's this how you find what exactly do you like? But I still think that the biggest part of the DJs were there just to fill the blanket.

Secondly, THE ORGANISATION. HORRIBLE! Nobody of the staff had any idea what was going on. I have to point out that they have no-re-entry policy. Once your in, you can't go out. If you have forgotten to print out your ticket, don't worry, they have a computer on the spot so if you know your ticket number they can provide some help. I asked for cash machines they said that they are inside. After you enter you go into a locker hall. There were enough lockers, as far as I know, for everyone. There were small and big lockers for price of 7.50 or 11 euros. Now here comes the most horrible experience. On the map, there is a 'automatic cash' sign. But there are non inside...no where...and nobody had any idea where the machines are! I couldn't cash money in order to put my stuff in the lockers. The staff had no idea how can I solve my problem. I was forced to walk around with my belongings, jacket and my girl's bag (have to be gentleman) etc. I decided to go inside to check for cash machine inside, after you pass the security check (discussed later), which took me around 40 minutes! After I went inside I asked around 10 people about the machines, and finally one of the security guys decided that I have to LEAVE THE PARTY, because he didn't like that I was saying 'your colleagues send me here, you send me outside, I have already lost 60 minutes, what do they pay you for when you don't have any idea whats going on'. Yes, I was kicked out and there is no re-entry policy. Thanks god I have charming smile and the lady with the computer allowed me in again as a single exception, after extensive deliberation. After 90 minutes the whole procedure started again, from the security check. The good thing is they have strong no-drugs policy, the bad thing is that the check is continental drift slow, people started to get really pissed off and the securities were treating us like garbage. After some two hours I was inside...carrying all my stuff! When you're in, there are booths for buying chips for the alcohol or food, which took another 15 minutes.

Thirdly, THE MUSIC. There were 5 halls with around 6 DJs per hall. According to the research on the DJs I made there was some pattern into the style of every hall. However, the music was all the same and the tracks were very poor. No vocals, no variety. I thought I was listening 5 tracks on repeat mode. Most of the people were changing from hall to hall with the  biggest amount of people staying in the the smoking area with the tables and drinking. Next, the quality of the music was extremely law. The music came mainly from the side of the DJ and there was no good sound in the rear, so you have to push yourself to go in the front where it was overcrowded. When you go in front of the DJ, the bass was so strong that I could feel the vibrations in my hearth and you could barely hear the track that was playing. Ridiculous. I was switching from hall to hall and the music was all the same! The difference was minuscule. In my opinion 'cave hall' was the best option, the one on the official website photos. In general, the BPM (beast per minute) was very law and the music felt quite slow.

Fourthly, THE LIGHT SHOW. When I was reviewing videos the light show was really impressive. However, the only how with good light show was again 'cave hall' even though on the videos it looks much much better. The rest halls were also huge and the light show seemed like it was not enough, most part of the halls were looking dark and unfulfilled. Behind the DJs, in every hall, there were big monitors with different themes, which were pretty good.

Fifthly, FOOD AND DRINKS. As in every massive gathering, providing variety of alcohol is quite impossible. Here, there were around 8 options of beer, non-alcoholic beverages and few different types of vodka with no whisky, which was a pity because I am a whisky drinker, never mixing alcohol. Interestingly, there was ice-cream, which the ladies were enjoying a lot. There were also booths for red-bulls cigarettes etc.

Finally, REST ROOMS. There were restrooms everywhere, they were easily accessible few minutes for a visit. I Talked to some people that were on the last Sensation White and they said that in comparison 'Timewarp was paradise in this regard'. Of course, people were taking a lot of drugs in the restrooms, the no-drug-policy was not working quite well.

I left pretty early because I was quite disappointed, strangely enough I wasn't the only one, because at 4+ o'clock around 40 per cent of the people have already left. I understand my disappointment because I have high expectations and I am truly a critique, but I cannot speak for the rest. Personally, I dont think the people were having a lot of fun, many people were just walking around exploring, many were staying at the relax area chatting and a big part of the people were having fun, but as much as I have expected.

Piece of advise, if you go there, dont overdress! This is a massive gathering for the mass of the population. If you want to impress people and want to have quality time, go to a luxury club, which invites proper DJs and offer a reservation option. There are positive and negative aspects of this type of parties so it is quite personal. Personally, I'd rather choose average sized club, more expensive, but higher quality of the aforementioned. I really wanted to like it, I had high expectations and I feel really bad that I didn't like it. Too bad, hopefully next year it will be better.