Note - calls for participation in Nine Worlds 2016 are closed. This page does not represent the convention's current status, but has been preserved for reference.
The Bifröst cabaret returns for a fourth year, and we need you to make it even better than ever! We're looking for:
1. Performers
Have you been bitten by a (radioactive) performing bug? Do you sing like Dazzler, crack jokes like Iron Man or dance like Adam West’s Batman? Are you a poet who has a rhyme for effulgent? Whether you’re a dancer, singer, performance poet, band, stand up comedian or a troupe of cabaret performers who can do all of the above and more, we need you to cross the Bifröst and perform at Nine Worlds 2016.
Bifröst will be taking place on the evening of Saturday 13th of August in our new Nine Worlds location at the Novotel in Hammersmith. Bifröst is a hugely popular event, and previous acts have included Amal El-Mohtar, Elaine Scattermoon, Lashings of Ginger Beer, Dr Carmilla, and the disco after the main cabaret has experienced the fantastic DJing of Ruth Pearce of the amazing bands Not Right and Abandoned Life.
We want our cabaret to be brilliant, sparkling and diverse, just like we aim to make the rest of Nine Worlds, and we will be prioritising acts who have been marginalised in performance spaces and/or geek spaces. Remember this is a geek convention, so acts with a geeky twist are encouraged - think Not Literally Productions’ “I Ship It” parody, love songs to Sonic the Hedgehog, performance poems about your despair over yet another change to the plot of Game of Thrones, a comedically dramatic re-enactment of your favourite vampire’s most emo speech. Original work is wonderful, as is work paying homage to someone else’s, but we tread a fine line with copyright, so keep that in mind when honing your act. Also keep in mind that this is all supposed to be good fun for everybody and this is a wide community - acts laughing at rather than with a fandom or marginalised group aren’t going to go down well here.
We are also looking for a DJ for the disco that traditionally comes after the show - fandom songs, tacky pop and throwback ballads are heavily encouraged.
The final role we are seeking to fill is a compère, host or emcee for the entire cabaret show - so if you’ve always wanted to be Lorne from Angel or the Emcee from Cabaret, this is your chance! You need to be able to keep the energy of the show going between acts, and hype up the audience to cheer and support the performers when they’re starting their set.
Please note - historically, Bifröst has not been an alcohol free space, may be inaccessible to people with photo-sensitive seizure disorders, and runs a large PA system - you should consider if this impacts your ability to perform at Bifröst before applying. The Bifröst stage will be capable of supporting d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing performers, as the hall itself is provided with induction loops, and the audio equipment in use will support dedicated monitor feeds for those performers who already have their own in-ear systems, or a hearing aid that accepts external audio input. Please let us know if you are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing and prefer to use an in-ear system, so that we can arrange to copy the response patterns from your general use hearing aids. In addition there will be a visual cueing system in place, visible from the stage. The Bifröst stage will also support performers with mobility impairments via a dedicated lift. Due to the nature of the stage we would like to request that performers with visual impairments alert us ahead of time, so that we may provide a guide, or provide training to a guide of your choosing.
Also note that this is not the advert for running the show behind the scenes. To apply to be the organiser of Bifröst, please see the advert below.
So if being a part of Bifröst appeals to you, drop an email with details of who you are, what you do, and how you do it to bifrost@nineworlds.co.uk.
A note on compensation - Bifröst is a community showcase, rather than a professional entertainment. If you would like to perform at Nine Worlds as a paid professional, please contact ents@nineworlds.co.uk.
2. An organiser
Update - We now have a Bifröst organiser! Thanks everyone!
Do you feel like life should be a cabaret? Then make it so! Apply to organise Bifröst 2016!
We are currently seeking applicants to volunteer to run the exceptionally popular Bifröst cabaret and disco at Nine Worlds 2016 - an evening spectacular of music, comedy, spoken word and much, much more, considered by many to be the jewel in Nine Worlds’ evening entertainment crown. If you have an eye for fab performance, glam theatrics and all the things that can make a variety cabaret evening and after-party style disco go off with a bang, then you’re exactly who we’re looking for.
What you need to be:
- Able to respond promptly to pitches from people who want to perform at the show and develop ideas in collaboration with them.
- Able to work with others in the organiser team to deadlines in order to schedule the cabaret evening between now and evening of Saturday 13th August when Bifröst will happen.
- Able to work with our tech team to make sure the technical side of running Bifröst goes off without a hitch.
- Confident interacting with and corralling performers both over email before the event, and in person on the night of Bifröst when you will need to greet them and may need to help get them psyched up for performing if they are nervous.
- Committed to making sure that the performers at Bifröst are diverse and representative of the Bifröst attendees.
- Available to come to Nine Worlds 2016, which is happening between Friday 12th-Sunday 14th August in Hammersmith, London.
We prioritise the participation of people whose voices have historically been marginalised in geek, performance and fannish spaces. This applies both to performers and people applying to organise Bifröst.
Please note - historically, Bifröst has not been an alcohol free space and is also potentially inaccessible to people with hearing impairments and / or light sensitive seizures - you should consider if this impacts your ability to organise Bifröst before applying.
Also note that this is not the advert for compèring the show - this is for behind the scenes work. To apply to be the host / compère / emcee of Bifröst, please see the advert above.
If you’re interested, please send an email detailing why you’d be great for the post to bifrorg@nineworlds.co.uk before applications close on Tuesday 31st May.