With all the organising going on to get ready for our next soup, this seemed the perfect time to share a few things we learnt from our first one:

• We need more than 30 minutes to set up.
  Yes, we really were that optimistic. Right up until the day before, when we panicked and gave ourselves 2 hours. Barely made it.

• Check what other events are going on at the venue.
  Very important if there’s an upstairs. At first we weren’t sure if a dancing class was above us or if Stomp were performing for the hard of hearing. Either way it made things difficult.

• Our small PA system isn’t good enough.
  Especially when competing with impromptu Stomp performances.

• You can fit a large electric organ into a disabled toilet.
  Do with this what you will.

• Using a cheap A4 Laminating machine can be strangely therapeutic.
  Seriously, if you have the time, try it for yourself!

• Filming interviews indoors is almost impossible.
  With all the noise from excited Soupers it can be difficult to hear anything you record.
  It may be best to go somewhere quieter, like outdoors.

• Filming interviews outdoors is almost impossible.
  Okay so with all the wind and potential traffic, outside may not actually be any better.
  We wonder what the professionals do!

• We didn’t know folk music could be so rude and funny.
  We knew it could be beautiful, haunting and rousing. But not so very rude.
  Thanks to Georgia Lewis, we now know better!

• People can be awesome.
  We all know people can be, but it’s such a great feeling when you see so many people actually being it.

• We possibly didn’t need as much soup as we had.
  Quite probably. Even though one chap had 8 bowls for himself. To be fair they were delicious.
  Yes, most definitely, less soup next time.

It was a fun night and we aim to take this little bit of learning and make the next one even better. Hope you can join us.

Team Soup