Blackbox Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Greetings Steemians! Thank you for reading on supporting me and my first post from before. I am always blown away by how positive and supportive by all of you. On my previous post, I have been asked "what is a Blackbox?". Now, lets get to the topic I want to share with you today.

BLACKBOX

Most people would think that a Blackbox is an indestructible recording device installed in planes that looks something like this:

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http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2009/0907/flight_recorder_0701.jpg

I dont know why they call it a Blackbox. It isn't even black in the first place.

However, what im about to explain is far from this. A lot of people think it is a brand or a company but in fact, it is a concept. It is usually a space that is literally painted in black. A Blackbox is a performing art space or an event space. Just imagine a square space where everything is painted in black. The floors, ceilings and walls without having any obstruction such as beams or columns within the theatre space . Why black? It allows lightings to highlight performers.

Theatre 1, Blackbox, KK

Theatre 1, Blackbox, KK

Theatre 2, Blackbox, KK

Theatre 2, Blackbox, KK

The Blackbox concept has been used in first world nations for a very long time now. For the city of Kota Kinabalu, it only existed in June 2017 (based on the first theatre production done in Blackbox KK). As some of you who know me, I'm very much involved in the music scene here. Having said that, I have also been a local organiser/promoter for local gigs. For those of you who don't know, it means is that I host an evening (normally on a Saturday) where I invite bands (locals mainly and once in a while I do get some international touring bands) and do live shows for the local music scene. That being said, there were problems faced every time.

Common problems faces by local organisers/promoters:

1. Venues are too big or too small
2. Venues are too expensive for a small production
3. Operating times conflict with usual business hours (the production team not does not have enough time to set up and clear out if there were delays due to technical problems)
4. No proper dressing/holding rooms for the performers
5. Permits and licensing (Will explain more in details on my upcoming posts)
6. STIGMA. Specifically towards subcultures and other genres of music that are not commercial or mainstream

These are the problems we always have to endure and not to mention sometimes, we also get run ins with the authorities as well. This does not only apply to just music productions, it is across the board; music, theatre, poetry/story readings, dance, fashion, visual arts etc. You get the picture? We, the people in the creative art industry felt that we needed a proper performing art space that could serve us all and our local community and the idea of getting a Blackbox in our city was born.

The Journey
The idea of the Blackbox has been around for more than 6 years before we could get anyone to fund and support this idea. Sure there were some interested parties like developers, corporations, privateers and so on that were keen on the idea. However, nobody took the leap on really getting down to doing it, Countless of meetings were held to pitch for the Blackbox and finally, there was was light in the end of the tunnel. Interviews were done to find the right candidates to work at the Blackbox and internships were also provided for us to learn from seasoned theatres in Kuala Lumpur. To cut the long story short, we managed to have our very first theatre production in the Blackbox in June 2017.

Our first production in Blackbox KK "My Every Brilliant Thing". From left to right: Rendall Thadeus (Lighting Tech), Roger Wang (Advisor), Christopher Ling (Play director), Kahar (Actor), Susan Bansin (Advisor/Project Manager, Jude Day (Advisor), Me (Theatre Manager) and in the bottom is Zul (Production Manager/Stage Manager)

Our first dance production by Synergy Dance Studio

First educational talk. TEDx Youth @ SMK Sungai Damit

The first death metal show "Sabah Deathfest" in Blackbox KK

The Rewards
The looks I get to see on people's faces when they walk in to the Blackbox is truly an amazing feeling. Sometimes, words cannot be used to describe. This was a space we in the creative art industry we can all call "home". We have been longing for this for far too long. Performers and audiences get to experience what a proper production is like. I would not go as far as saying that the theatre is perfect but it is good enough to run shows. As a theatre manager, I also get to witness the wonderful talents of the performers first hand. It makes me so grateful that I have this chance each time a new production come through here. I used to always wonder if we could ever have a theatre here in our city and I'm glad it has happened in my lifetime.

Recently, we had our small but fast growing Steemit community gathering on "How to Steemit" hosted by @alvinauh in the Blackbox! At that point, I still have not received my Steemit password yet but I was still keen interested on how this really works. A special shout out to @danieldoughty for helping me on obtaining my password. Finally! I really appreciate the tech support.

@alvinauh trying his best to pass down his "rich" #Steemit knowledge to us in short period time.

Until my next Steemit post, I thank you all for the continuous support on Steemit and also please never stop supporting the arts. You will never know how much your support means to us. Kindly do follow, upvote and resteem my post if you liked this post. Let me know your ideas, inspirations and do ask me anything on the comment section below. Steem on!

Note: if you wish to follow on upcoming events at the Blackbox, please find us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @blackboxkk