MOTHER FUNKERS FAQS

We are asked so many different questions about Mother Funkers – so here are some answers to those most frequently asked. We hope they deal with your query, but please call us or email us if you can’t find the information you are looking for.

What is Mother Funkers?

MF is the early start/early finish dance night (usually 7.30pm-11.30pm) for women who really miss dancing but can’t face clubbing or nightclubbing any longer because of such things as late nights, leery men on the pull, queuing, age, the music… you know what we mean! The first one was in November 2004 - held in a church hall near Preston Park, Brighton and now regularly takes place at The Hanbury Club in Brighton; in Farnham, Surrey in The Cellar Bar at the Maltings; and at The Cinnamon Club in Bowdon, near Altrincham in Cheshire. In October 2007 we launched Mother Funkers Medway at The Corn Exchange in Rochester. We are fussy about our venues - we make the space look gorgeous for you; there are no sticky floors - and no graffiti in the loos. More venues are planned for this year too - so keep checking where we’ve got to! You can run Mother Funkers where you live too - there are more details about this below – but feel free to call us to arrange for an Intro Pack to be sent to you.

Is there a bar?

Yes. One always – and sometimes two - depending on the venue. We try to ensure there is another area for you to go to chill and chat.

Do you play a lot of ‘funk’ at Mother Funkers?

We started off playing only funk but now we aim towards a more balanced blend of fabulous soul, funk, and quality bop pop from the 60s to very current, including plenty from the eighties. We welcome music feedback and input – it really helps us keep the music fresh.

Can you give me some examples of what is played?

Tell you what – first I’ll tell you what we don’t play. We don’t play: rock, techno, hip hop, heavy house, remixes, rap, heavy metal, Grease, Macarena, the Birdie Song or Agadoo. We have a play list which is in its hundreds and we are just as likely to play the Basement Jaxx, Amy Winehouse and the Scissor Sisters as we are to play Marvin Gaye, James Brown and The Four Tops. We use intelligent DJs who play seamless classy music. We have a stack of excellent quality music of every appropriate genre spanning four decades.

Can I make music requests?

Each table has a couple of Mother Funkers pink pens (which are there to be stolen) and a few request slips on it for you. We play requests if we can – or we bring them the next time. Emailed requests sent a week or so in advance have a good chance of being played as long as they pass through the MF golden sieve of good taste - so if you have some real favourites then just let us know.

How old are the people that go to Mother Funkers?

Generally the women range from early-thirties to mid-fifties. The core is about 35 to 50. Children are not allowed. It is not appropriate for teens and twenties. It bears no resemblance to a shrieky hen party, a bad wedding, or a ‘function’ - and we do not dance round our handbags.

Do you have to be a mother to go to Mother Funkers?

No. It was created with mothers in mind – absolutely – but it is not exclusive to mothers. It is aimed at anyone who now dances solo in the kitchen and wishes they could just go out and have a really satisfying dance in a proper venue. It is stuffed to the gills with fabulous women – who just want to dance and have a good night out in a safe and attractive environment without hassle or threat.

So are men allowed at Mother Funkers?

Of course they are. We encourage nice men who dance and who arrive (and leave) with either a group of female friends or a female partner. Equally we actively discourage beery leery lone men whose sole purpose would be to eye up and attempt to dance with and chat up the gals. Mother Funkers is not a night for smoochy couples – (dancey couples – yes) - nor is it a singles night. The atmosphere has a unique lightness, free of the sexual undertones that you find at ordinary clubs. There’s absolutely no snogging to slow smoochy music at the end of Mother Funkers! Actually there is no slow smoochy music to snog to!

And do men actually go?!

Yep – a few. But if you are looking for a new fella (or even an extra one) Mother Funkers is categorically NOT the place for you! Equally if you are a fella reading this and thinking ‘Coo! All those women…!’ Try the usual places – you would be in for a big disappointment at Mother Funkers!

If it is mostly women is it a lesbian thing too?

No! (Where are you from - The Sun?!) It’s a dancing thing! An essential element of Mother Funkers is that it is free from all couply stuff – hence the fabulous relaxed and friendly atmosphere (see above!) There are loads of clubs already in existence that cater for couples of every persuasion and for singles too. Mother Funkers is unique in that it does the opposite and it works beautifully, so the night is a smooch free few hours of laughter, chatting and DANCING! In other words – we don’t expect to even notice anyone’s proclivities at Mother Funkers. Sexuality is a non issue.

What do people wear?

Anything they feel happy and comfortable in. Some people dress up and some wear jeans. Whatever does it for you is fine. We are never themed and there are no balloons.

Why do you have an Email Mailing List?

We have the Mailing List to keep you up-to-date, to avoid expensive glossy commercial advertising and to save paper. We never share your details with anyone, we don’t bombard you, and we’ll never try to sell you a sequined boob tube or similar. We do let you know about all sorts of things via our emails. For example, sometimes magazines come to the night and take photos and we all end up beaming in some publication or other, (which requires extra lipstick… so advance warning is crucial) plus we do special offers and discounts, tell you about extra dates, who is DJing… if we have sold out… things like that.

What is the eDraw?

If you are on our eMailing List you are automatically entered into our eDraw. The prize is just a form of brazen bribery to get people to get down on it! If you are the chosen one you win two free tickets to the next MF, a bottle of champers, a reserved table and some MF stuff… lovely. Every 50th person on the list gets freebies too. By the way… there is always a pink bucket on the way out of a Mother Funkers venue for your loose change… which we give to Breakthrough Breast Cancer…

Does Mother Funkers fund raise?

We have adopted the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The pink Breakthrough bucket is at the exit aching for everybody’s loose change. 5% of sales on MF cards and mugs etc also goes to Breakthrough. We sometimes change the cause in response to current circumstances – so have collected for Darfur, Tsunami Appeal, CLIC Sargent, Children in Need etc. To find out more about Breakthrough, go to the Links page on the website… We raised more than £400 last year. We are available to hire for fundraising events – for schools especially – so please give us a call if you would like more information.

Can I buy tickets on the door?

Normally yes. Sometimes we have national press or publicity and that can mean a complete sell out – and it can happen without warning - but normally there are some available on the door. Space to twirl is paramount so we try to avoid overselling. We do ask people to bear in mind that we have to pay a lot to hire really lovely venues and sadly we don’t get any of the bar profits! The ticket price therefore can’t compete with cheaper nightclub prices where they are trying to pack people in to drink. Mailing List people who buy directly from Mother Funkers pay less however. It’s a perk, you see. There are group discounts too – parties of 15 or more get 5% discount. You can also use our funky postcards as invitations if your party is for a special occasion; we’ll personalise them for you if you would like us to.

Can other people do Mother Funkers?

Mother Funkers travels well – and you can become a Mother Funkers organiser without an enormous outlay and with lots of help from us. Appropriate venues are also able to license Mother Funkers. In both cases the basic requirement is a venue that women would love to go to, with clean loos and a good floor for twirling; we provide the secret ingredients! Hotels and golf clubs are not appropriate for Mother Funkers. For more information or to suggest a venue contact mail@mother-funkers.com or call 01273 555334.

Who are your sponsors?

In Brighton - Latest 7 magazine, which is the Listings Mag you get if you pick up Latest Homes and turn it upside down and the other way round, and Acumen Business Law who are totally pro and way ahead of their time.

We hope that helps! If you have any more questions that you would like to ask please email us on mail@mother-funkers.com and we will update this FAQ sheet.

PO Box 478

Brighton BN50 9BJ

mail@mother-funkers.com

01273 555334