Novo poglavlje / New Chapter

I was just in those years when you think you know everything, when I first had the opportunity to work on construction. It was the last time. It’s not that I didn’t like it, but later life circumstances were different, so there were no opportunities. Building is similar to art in one thing… It only requires everything you have. That shot, you, the spade and the hammer, share the same energy, time, moments of weakness and triumph…

During the fourteen months that the house was built, I had the opportunity to meet dozens of different craftsmen. And I can tell you, I picked up and absorbed some of the smartest slogans in my life so far from that experienced gentleman. I will give a few examples until I conclude the break. “If you can’t help me, don’t be a hindrance,” a sentence I often listened to through different tonalities in those months. And indeed, when you grow up a little, everything becomes very clear. First it becomes clear to what a jerk you were as a kid. Secondly, you realize how many adult jerks there really are, around you, at every step, completely human. And third, you somehow learn to tolerate kid jerks, because you realize that they are no more jerks than you were yourself, in their age.

I mean, there were other applications, which, before you understand them, are etched in your memory, and you only understand them many years later… Like, let’s say: “Stay away from weddings, one of them can be yours.” Basically, what I mentioned to the gentlemen of the craft is that some holy wisdom: “If you intend to do something properly, do it yourself. And a liter of brandy and a pencil are a solid accessory to begin with.” No, no, flip it over. I don’t remember everything from word to word, I may have invented some part, but I’m pretty sure about the “do it yourself” part and without which it doesn’t start.

I’m here to write about events, and since they haven’t existed for a long time, taught by masterful tips, I take matters into my own hands and decide to make one. Just to have something to write about.

2HOT4STAGE FEST is officially and unofficially, without a doubt, the biggest domestic Hip Hop festival. When I say the biggest, of course I don’t mean only the number of visitors or the production that the festival has at its disposal, but in the unit of measurement of the long meters of smiles it elicits, as well as the atmosphere it brings. Parameters by which every serious festival would undoubtedly have to be measured.

This year we will be left short of a couple of thousand smiles. At least the ones we can catch with our eyes and camera. The other day we received Sputnik Light vaccines. I guess the next ones are Zero, and when we get to the vanilla and cherry flavored ones, I believe we will have a proclamation of victory over the virus.

Until then, we will be satisfied only with the title of great leader. Serbia is the leader in Europe in the number of vaccinated, as well as the leader in Europe in the number of newly infected. We are also the leader in the number of PM particles in the air, but at this moment our media say that we have more important problems that we should deal with, so we will leave the air for some happier times.

Either way, someone smarter than me recently told me that anyone can be cynical in this country. It’s hard to dare to be optimistic. A fact, which I could not accept at first, just because I knew it was true. Therefore, by the end of this text, I will give my maximum and, in accordance with the title of this year’s festival, open a “New Chapter”.

Although we are completely left to the extraordinary measures of the crisis headquarters, we do not lose hope that our extraordinary composition of artists and the crisis vibe will be sustainable, at least in some form. First of all, we postponed the whole for a month, to the second half of April. We have gathered a great live-stream team, so (I will not say unfortunately, because I have to be optimistic) our visitors and fans of dance, music, drawing, all works of art, competitions and installations will be able to watch live and completely free. Well, now the really good part! That second, actually main day of the festival, we will have a stream from the central podium that will broadcast the dance competitions all day, from the qualifications to the finals. Also, direct inclusions of our second host of the program are planned, from all other art settings and stands, as part of the special show of One Love Project. And finally, the longest podcast in this area will be broadcast directly from the spot in the improvised studio of My People, and in cooperation with the Radio, where we will have a new guest every 20-30 minutes, the entire festival day!

That doesn’t come cheap?!

Indeed, without to much sarcasm, we have made sure that, although online, the average viewer cannot be bored at home in front of our youtube links.

Let’s not forget that the first and third day are not online, but with a limited capacity of visitors, and you can find all the information about the program on the FB event of the festival - HERE, as well as on the Instagram account of 2Hot4Stage. - HERE.

Until our vaccinated asses and great victory over the virus, turn a New Chapter in our lives and ride the waves of livestream frequencies of the seventh 2Hot4Stage festival! Because, as the masters say, “In at least two, up to three years, we will all feel better!”.