Isness: Connection Over Consumption

Isness Event Video

Now more than ever the world needs unity and balance. By creating more spaces where everyone can gather without judgement we can create more understanding. It may not solve social injustice overnight, but it creates common ground. What does this look like in practice? Isness creates high-impact, low-capacity events true to our underground roots - keeping the quality artists and ditching the regrets. But it's not just about the party. It's about normalizing recovery, normalizing inner work, and recognizing that we all go through times where our compulsions and fears disconnect us from a full life. In "recovery," we recover who we are, so we can fully immerse ourselves in life.

By creating these spaces and teaching the principles of balance and conscious consumption, we can prevent people from having to experience the trauma of "bottoming out." What we seek to do is prevent cases of addiction by providing a social intervention. my theory is that most won't have to fall as far down the scale if we create more spaces focused on authentic connection rather than consumption. Plus, there are plenty of normal drinkers and users out there who just want to party without the pressure to consume.

Hi! I'm Joe G. and my life's focus is pretty simple - I help people find balance while fostering unity. I do this in a few ways: I work with folks in recovery, facilitate journey work through sound, and I Rave... well, technically I play dance music. Most people like it, and I think it's pretty groovy.

I'm in recovery myself, and while I'll spare you the details of how I got here, working a program, having access to therapy, and being part of a solid community has given me a life that's beyond my wildest dreams (yeah, I know that's cliché, but it's true). Through this journey, I learned something crucial - balance and community aren't just nice-to-haves, they're essential. On an interpersonal level the humans need to feel like they belong. We live in incredibly divided times, and no matter where you go there is us versus them.

Why This Matters (And Where Your Money Goes)

There's something not quite right about our society's relationship to consumption, alcohol, and party culture. We've all seen it - the pressure to drink or use just to feel like you belong, watching friends fade away because they can't find balance, people feeling like they have to choose between having a social life and taking care of themselves. It's particularly rough for folks in recovery who love dance music but can't find spaces that feel safe and welcoming.

What I’ve learned is that losing balance isn't just a personal struggle; it's a shared experience. Too many of us have watched friends burn out, or simply "carry on" for fear of missing out. But here's the thing - it doesn't have to be this way.

That's why we're launching three events this year at the Eye and Hand Society Gallery. These will be boiler room style music focused events where the audience, artists and everybody is in the mix. We’ll feature local creators in our performances, auctions, website, and merchandise as a way of amplifying their reach along with a host of other wondrous oddities. Imagine a mixed genre art exhibit in the middle of a rave, or a festival in a laundromat. We Aim to instill wonder as much as unity, so we aim to experiment with different formats of events in unique and even odd locations. Oh, and there will be food. Think high-vibe dance parties with world-class DJs, immersive sound experiences, and zero pressure to consume. But it's more than just parties - we're creating a template for how nightlife can be different.

Your donation will directly fund:

GETTING STARTED ($8,500):

Making it official (LLC formation and legal stuff)

Building our online home (website development)

Getting proper insurance (because safety first)

SPREADING THE WORD ($1,500):

Getting the message out to people who need these spaces

Creating content that shows what's possible

Building our community online and IRL

THE EVENTS ($10,000):

Three high-impact, low-capacity events

Quality sound systems that make the music hit just right

Fair pay for our artists and crew (because community takes care of its own)

Professional security to keep our spaces safe

Documentation to share the magic

MERCH WITH A MESSAGE ($4,500):

Sustainable gear that spreads our message

Community items that help people feel connected

A Quick Note About Our Approach

Here's something important you should know about Isness - we're not here to tell anyone how to live or what choices to make. Recovery looks different for everyone, and we support all paths - whether that's complete abstinence, harm reduction, or just being more mindful about consumption. Our job isn't to judge; it's to create spaces where people can make conscious choices for themselves.

While we don't sell alcohol at our events, we're not running a prohibition. If the venue allows it and you want to bring your own drinks, that's your call. What we care about is creating an environment where nobody feels pressured to consume anything to fit in or have a good time.

Think of us as adding something to the culture, not taking something away. We're building spaces where the focus is on the music, the connection, and the experience itself. Where someone in complete abstinence-based recovery can dance next to someone who's just trying to be more mindful about their partying, and both feel equally at home. Where the question isn't "Why aren't you drinking?" but "How are you feeling?"

Why is this urgent?

People are hungry for spaces where they can be wild and free without compromising their wellbeing. We've already hosted events that prove this model works - where people in recovery dance alongside the sober curious, where newcomers find instant community, where the music hits different because everyone's intentional, present and connected. Dance music is a unifier, and has always been the music of the underserved, and there's a gap in our culture of spaces where everyone can just be regardless of orientation, preferences or creed.

But we can't do it alone. Your support isn't just funding events - it's helping build a movement. A movement that says you don't have to bottom out before you find balance. A movement that proves the best parties aren't about what you consume, but about how deeply you connect.

We're asking for $30,550 to make this vision real by the beginning of summer. Our first event is slotted for July and every dollar goes directly into creating these spaces and supporting the community that makes them possible. And here's the beautiful thing - once we show what's possible, it creates a ripple effect. Other organizers see it. Venues see it. People who thought they had to choose between having fun and staying healthy see that there's another way.

Ready to help us change the game?