24E.Thursday, October 21, 2010 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHARLESTONSCENE.COM_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thursday, October 21, 2010.25E
James Island gets the biggest party of the year BY SAMANTHA TEST
J
Special to The Post and Courier
if you go WHAT: Skinful Halloween WHERE: Brick House Kitchen, 1575 Folly Road WHEN: 8 p.m.-until Saturday TICKETS: $50, at skinfulhalloween.com/tickets.html. CHARITY: A portion of the proceeds benefit Roper St. Francis Ryan White Program and The Surfer’s Healing Organization. TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING: Shuttles will run 6:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. from James Island Lowe’s, Gold’s Gym and Buffalo South. No parking onsite will be allowed. MORE INFO: http://skinfulhalloween.com SKINFUL?: Sorry nudists, but costumes are required.
follow the madness on twitter There’s no way we could miss this party. On Saturday night, Follow Charleston scene on twitter twitter.com/chasscene - to see live updates and pictures from Skinful. Also, read some funny quotes from Skinful organizers David Brisacher and Dr. Brian King online at www.charlestonscene.com
photos provided by Big Hair Productions
ust when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any bigger, better or freakier, Skinful Halloween has done just that. Saturday night’s 10th anniversary howling good party will take over the old dairy plant at 1575 Folly Road and the 12 acres of land behind it and Brick House Kitchen on James Island. In what promises to be the most sinful of the Skinfuls, the party goes 8 p.m.until, and includes the best of years past, plus more. “It’s like Disney World, but for freaks,” said event organizer David Brisacher of Big Hair Productions. Between the warehouse and various outdoor tents, domes and areas, featured performers include Charleston High Rollers, Bizzaro Burlesque, Inner Cirkus, a pole-dancing troupe on 25foot-high poles, aerialists, break dancers, a mechanical bull, jump castles, zip line and a glass-eating African chief (seriously). Hay rides will take you through trails that have been carved out of the woods as well as the all-inclusive, two-story VIP area and lounge. Brick House Kitchen will provide the grub and Ice Box will run the bar. The lineup for the main stage starts with Dub Island & The Dubplates, continues with Third World and then presents Mini Kiss (you’ve seen them on the Dr. Pepper commercials). While Mini Kiss wraps up, Rebirth Brass Band will do what they do best. The well-known, heavy funk brass band from HBO’s “Treme” will begin its processional that will twist through the trails, end at the main stage and play until around 1 a.m. Pimps of Joytime will end the night. Bands on the break-out stages will include Sol Driven Train, Key of Q, Gaslight Street with Rusty Trombone, Torture Town, Mission Hill, Son of a Bad Man, M.O. Theory and Son of Cane. “If you’re into electronic, if you’re into rock or funk or whatever, you can literally walk around the party and get some of every vibe,” said Brisacher.
It’s like this release for people where they’re able to dress up in a costume and just let their freak out with 2,000 of their closest friends. It’s great. We’re blessed because everybody that comes out is such a respectable crowd.” – David Brisacher, event organizer
The Spaced Invaders will light up the wall outside the warehouse with projections and beats. Other DJs spread throughout will include Jude, James Belk, Trail Mix, Jake B and Rocky Horror. Art and set designs are all done by local artists from Scott Debus to Ishmael, and even include lasers shooting out of artwork. “It’s going to be a spectacle. Hopefully, people will come and be completely wowed,” said Brisacher. “We’re definitely trying to make a couple of people’s heads explode.” He warns that with so much going on, you might miss more than you actually see. However, you won’t have to guard your alcohol supply. New this year will be the cooler check. If you decide to BYOB, just check it in for a $5 fee, get a number and come back as many times as you like. Tip for the night: Use the full cash bar early, as it must shut down at normal bar hours. Then use your own stuff that’s been chilling in the cooler check. ATMs will be on site for water, food and random souvenirs. All proceeds from the cooler check will go to the Roper St. Francis Ryan White Program and The Surfer’s Healing Organization. Skinful event founder and party master, Dr. Brian King, makes contributions every year to charities, whether the event makes money or not. Profits aren’t the point for him. “It’s fun to dress up and this party has
never been about nudity,” King said. “It’s always been about individual creativity and artistic expression and dressing up and then just letting loose for one night.” King started the legendary Halloween party almost 14 years ago when it was just a haunted house he ran for neighborhood children with a follow-up party for adults. Sick of friends not dressing up for the party, he jokingly started putting “Costume or Naked” on the invites. Most got the hint and starting wearing costumes. One year, though, a pregnant friend came out completely nude. She ran off most of the party-goers, but the next year, the idea caught on. The revelry became an any-way-you-wantto-come party and slowly evolved into Skinful as hundreds more flocked to the event, outgrowing King’s house. These days, costumes are required. “We do it more for the art of it, the music and the pleasure, the love of it,” said Brisacher. “Skinful is for the people that have come to it regularly and have been coming for years and years. They look forward to it like people look forward to Christmas. It’s like this release for people where they’re able to dress up in a costume and just let their freak out with 2,000 of their closest friends. It’s great. “We’re blessed because everybody that comes out is such a respectable crowd,” he continued. “There’s normally nothing but love going on, and that’s normally the only thing that security has to break up,” he laughed. Safety is at the forefront of both King and Brisacher’s priorities. An EMT will be on hand as well as the fire department and security. Responsibility is encouraged. No parking is available on site, but 50passenger buses will shuttle party-goers continuously from Lowe’s, Gold’s Gym and Buffalo South, all on James Island. Several taxi services are involved as well. “We’ve prided ourselves — knock on wood — that we haven’t had any issues. We’ve gone above and beyond and taken most measures as far as safety,” said King. “We want it to be safe. We want everyone to be comfortable.” “It’s not a party for the faint of heart, that’s for sure!”