We got another massage after work to help with our recovery from the weekend festivities. O Bar's 20th anniversary concert was quite an event, and it took a lot out of us. No regrets about going and all that - just a recognition that our bodies can only handle so much. So we scheduled a massage and ended up eating junk at the local ramyeon place. There were some buy-1-take-1 instant noodles on sale, so both had double-size bowls for dinner. We're going to be so bloated in the morning.
Thinking about the anniversary event, the whole experience kind of splits into two experiential aspects in my head. First, the show itself was a lot of fun. It was crazy long, and I have nearly 40 videos queued for processing on YouTube, which is a lot of great stuff. And like I said yesterday, it was nice to see old faces back on stage with the current O Divas. It made for a uniquely O Bar reunion experience. But on the other hand, the logistics were challenging, and there were aspects of the setup that didn't quite make sense or weren't fully thought out. But there's only so much you can do when you convert the top floor of a parking structure into an event space. The overall experience is still something we're thankful for, but the setup of things and the complications in service and sightlines really made us work harder to enjoy things.
But what makes a good anniversary event, especially for something like a 20-year legacy of a drag bar? In past events, there's typically a big number or two that will debut at the event and become sort of a highlight. It rewards fans old and new with something special. Last weekend was definitely one that leaned more on history and legacy. Bringing the OG queens back meant them performing older songs, and a lot of the music going all the way back to the Malate years. You could argue that a lot of the numbers were stuff that had been performed at O Bar before. But when you're celebrating 20 years, isn't it only fitting to go back to the familiar stuff and bask in the nostalgia? And that's what I loved about the event - but I also represent someone who has been going to the bar for over a decade. I can only wonder what more casual guests experienced, especially since they were huddled in the wings with a more limited view of the show.
Again, a potential duality of experiences. The show versus the event setup. The VIP experience versus the standing area. Longtime patrons versus casual participants. It's not possible to please everyone, but steps could have been taken to try to balance things out more so that the divide didn't end up being so wide.
If anything, the event was certainly ambitious. It got most of the way there, and that's what matters. I know the performers put in a LOT of work to pull that off, and I'll forever applaud for that and be proud of their achievements as artists.
It has been a long weekend, but we're already in a new workweek. I'll be in Singapore by the second half of this week, so I know things are going to feel extra busy.
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