SAVE MAGIC D¥KE

Dear friends, fans and lovers of MD*,

We are writing to you to call for community help as we are in a bit of a dire situation.

For those of you who aren’t aware, MD* is taking quite the extended break from creating our usual parties. This is mainly because Daddy, one of our co-founders, was diagnosed with a chronic illness and needs the time off to focus on his health and rehabilitation in order to be able to participate in MD* or dance again. Without his presence, our very small team is not able to produce our usual events.

Despite trying to take much-needed rest to come back stronger, we have some past problems coming back to bite us.

It may come as a surprise that we started MD* with very little experience in event organisation and grew so quickly to fill absolutely huge venues with no idea how to negotiate or spot a bad contract. We, unfortunately, signed one of those contracts back in 2023. After the event, we ended up not only disappointed by the venue’s severe lack of cooperation and breaking of agreements, but also we were footed with an extra bill of 13.437,71€ on top of the original amount we had budgeted to pay them.

Of all the venues we have partnered with over the last two and a half years, this was the last place we expected to burn us so badly, particularly in their attempts to take advantage of us and our team. We hope this venue changes their practices for the future, to not put queer community spaces and organisations like ours at risk of collapse. This is a continued pattern, where sapphic, lesbian and trans events and spaces in Berlin with great ideas and amazing safe spaces keep popping up and then dying because of disproportionate funds and exploitation from institutions that cater to white cis endo men, no matter their sexual orientation.

For transparency, we are not a booming business making any profit. We, Daddy and Ryder, are not paid for the majority of the work we do on this project and oftentimes we are not paid at all. One day, we dream of being a sustainable business, but we are nowhere near that reality yet. We do MD* for the love of it.

This debt has been a source of immense stress in 2024. There are A LOT of causes locally and globally that are in desperate need of your financial support, particularly over the last year, which is why we have put off taking this step. Unfortunately, we are at our breaking point and have no other options. We have tried to take on the debt and pay as much of it as we can with our personal money. We have tried to negotiate and hustle harder, but we are out of funds. We cannot do it alone any more. With your help, we can avoid penalty fees and possible legal action taken against us.

We are asking you, our gorgeous community that has loved us into being, to help us get through this so that we don’t have to give up MD* entirely. We appreciate absolutely anything you can offer! It sounds cliché, but, truly, every little bit counts. If every single Instagram follower we have were to donate 1€, this debt would be gone.

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We are offering treats to those who donate higher amounts* as an incentive ;D - all of these offers make for great gifts to yourself and to loved ones!

50€ or more: an online masculine l@p dance group workshop

150€ or more: a one-on-one private masculine l@p dance lesson

300€ or more: an in-person private show with a shmexy masc MD* dancer to give you the dance of your dreams

* One donation = one gift. For example, if you pay 300€ you choose only one of the above options - you can’t get all three you cheeky beans ;) - unless of course we get one 300€ donation + one 150€ donation + one 50€ donation… you may become our favourite person ;p

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Thank you in advance to everyone who donates. Sharing this fundraiser is also super helpful and deeply appreciated. Let a Butch know (; ! You are ensuring that we keep going.

Even though MD* is not organizing our own events right now, booking us for your events is still possible and another way you can show your support. If you have any other ideas of how to help during this time, we would love to hear from you! Please email us magicdykeberlin(@)gmail(.)com

We will also be announcing collaborative fundraising events soon, where you can attend and support us - we are excited to see all you beauties again soon ♥️

Love you all so so much,

Daddy and Ryder xoxo