Soon there will be the 100th edition of +TOG. Bartosz Hervy, the organiset talks about its beginning, creation and jubilee surprises.

1. TOG has been continuously organized Since 1999 and is the oldest event of this kind in Poland. How did you get the idea for that and why did you call it like this? Has the event evolved somehow? How do you see these changes?

B.H.:Well, the idea arose from the lack of such events in Poland in that time. At the end of 1998 along with Jarek Kubicki, we established Polish information site about dark scene called "Gothic Art". Our friends told us about gothic events in England and Germany. None of us took part in such event but we decided to organize something like this in Tricity. We found the club and took a risk.
On 6th February 1999 the first event called Temple of Goths took place. There were about 180 people, which was surprising because we did it in a quite small club. I played a lot of gothic metal, traditional goth rock and darkwave then. Sometimes I had to play cassettes because I didn’t have access to CDs at that time. The name, as most of you probably guess, was taken from The Sisters of Mercy track "Temple of Love". It was probably the most popular gothic track at that time, often played by viva and mtv in prime time.
I decided to abbreviate the name to TOG in 2006. Why? The event underwent radical changes since 1999, a lot of dark electronics appeared pushing out rock and above all metal. I didn’t want to mislead people so the abbreviation was created and logo which exists till today. It was also the end of a certain period. The event for over 5 years (2000-2005) took place in Forty club in Gdańsk. TOG has evolved and is still evolving all the time. I think that it would be impossible for an event to last for 15 years without continuous musical changes. Of course the changes are pretty slow but visible over the years.

2. How is it to organize such an event? What are your duties? What do you start with and how do you finish the event?

B.H.: Because the event has been organized for long time already, it is much easier then at the beginning, I’ve got different contacts but also experience. The process itself is quite easy although time-consuming. Usually the event takes place in the same club. Sometimes even for some years, like in Forty. So you set the dates with the club and make promotion. You decide who will play and then you just wait for people. Of course when it comes to bigger events, in our case it is Halloween or TOG anniversary it is much more complicated and laborious. Now we’ve got something like this – the 100th edition. We have to coordinate lots of things, guests, bands, promotion. It takes a lot of time.

3. Are there any things you cannot predict or you are afraid of when it comes to TOG’s organization?

B.H.:After all these years I know more or less how many people would come in particular month. For example we change the date of TOG’s anniversary from February to December. We always organized Gothic Art. jubilee in December but Gothic Art. no longer exists so instead we organize TOG anniversary. There are always good events in December.
When it comes to fears, I am always afraid of new places. It has happened several times already that the place seemed nice and friendly but in fact it wasn’t. Last time it was Sesja club in Gdańsk. You never know what you’ re going to find there and what problems to face because arrangements and reality during an event are two different things. Now it is new for us to cooperate with Bunkier club, but it is not actually the very first time since I played there with HRV project during Jacek Kubicki’s vernissage. So far everything has been ok. We are happy that we can celebrate 100th edition there. I think that we couldn’t find better place for that.

4. What gives you satisfaction in this kind of activity?

B.H.:People who come to an event. New faces. You know, during these 15 years there were some very poor editions and there was a thought that this is the last one. However, it always appeared that there are people for whom it is worth to organize this event. Surely there will be the end. Nothing lasts forever, but it is not now.
Also people who are committed in organizing TOG are important. Starting form Wookie aka 666V, who played during +TOG for 10 years – this is his anniversary as well, Sthilmann who has come to Gdańsk for 6 years, Thuringwethil who has always been a great support and now she is also a DJ or Piotr Kempa who has takes photos of our event since 2003. There are also a lot of friends, who support and help. Surely without them the event would not exist.

5. There are 99 editions of TOG done. Was there any special one for you? Do you remember any unusual happening or difficulty?

B.H.:Surely I recall 12th edition which was also the first one in Forty club. It was one of the few editions which took place on Sunday. It was 30th April and on that day there was a concert of My Dying Bride in Gdańsk. We took a risk and there were over 350 people. Also the editions in OVO club were nice. We could always organize a concert there. We had a concert of Deathcamp Project, Red Emprez, C.H. District or Agonised By Love.
From unpleasant things, as you said, once I took a beating in 2001. Pleading for a friend, bodyguard’s friends treated me unpleasantly. It is hard to defend yourself in the light of stroboscopes. Not nice, however interesting experience. It was undoubtedly the worst edition of TOG and the last one in this club. Actually 2001 was quite unlucky.

6. The event will take place in a newly opened Bunkier club. Can you say something about this place?

B.H.:The place is amazing, you can see a short movie presenting different elements of it on www.facebook.com/togpl. A multi-storey club created in a blockhouse. Interiors are amazingly designed in every detail. It is a perfect place for industrial events. I always get lost there although I have already been there several times. I think you should go there and experience it yourself.

7. How do you evaluate the situation and condition of Polish music scene and organizing events here?

B.H.:You mean dark scene? Well, we’ve got a few worthy bands, a lot of new are founded. We’ve got old good Deathcamp Project and Controlled Collapse. New, promising H.EXE. There are a lot of people who are trying to do something. That’s nice. When it comes to events, I haven’t been anywhere for quite long, so it is hard to say. I always liked events in Poznań, I don’t know how it is now.

8. What attractions are prepared for fans during hundredth edition of the event?

B.H.: Most of all three dancefloors with various music. Depeche Mode Celebration, during which well-known Serek will play, +TOG 100 meaning dark electro, synth/future pop, harsh trance and Gothinnum Nu Industrium with gothic metal/rock, industrial, nu metal. There will be gueats such as djne Endzi. There will be live act by Sthilmann and Ebola Epe. There will be heavy electro H.EXE. During the event the closing day of Jarek Kubicki’s exhibition will take place. You have to be there. See you.

phot. Baggs Kowalski