Anyone and everyone is encouraged to submit their own bio to MSP Goth/Rivet. We just need the usual information: name, background, four integral scene references, and a comprehensive list of your scene cred. That is to say, if you haven't danced at the Cage and the Rogue, haven't been to any of Claire's basement parties, and haven't videotaped yourself having sex with any local DJs, you can forget getting included here. You're a poseur, pure and simple; yours is not the kind of goth we would like to propagate within this scene.

...I'm kidding, of course. It seems that many people really think there's some kind of bar of standards they have to meet before they're "good enough" to be included here. Nothing could be further from the truth: any jack-off with a black t-shirt in the Twin Cities can post their bio and be counted in the ranks of the believers here. This isn't about status or cred or any of that crap, this is merely about interest. All these people in the Gallery are saying is, "I live in the Twin Cities, and I like this darksider stuff." This Gallery was only established because there was a public desire for something like it to exist: two or three other people took their own turns at creating similar websites but lost interest in compiling the information, or were discouraged at scene apathy. Other people will doubtlessly attempt to set up their own pages for whatever reason and that's fine: this website has its own function and that's all that concerns it.

Many people would like to submit bios but hate writing about themselves, that's perfectly understandable: being alternative scenesters goes hand-in-hand with shyness and antisocial values. Rifle through the present Gallery for ideas on what to include in your bio. Always include the name you'd like to be listed under, whether your real name or an online handle; additionally, state whether you want your email address included your bio. After that, feel free to cover any of the following:

• photo and URL for homepage
• where you're from (Mpls., St. Paul, suburbs)
• musical interests (goth, industrial, specific bands)
• scene background/involvement, if any
• other interests, pasttimes, hobbies, occupations
• favorite literary/musical quote

Here's a sample entry, just for the hell of it. There's really nothing to hacking out a little entry like this, it only takes a couple minutes but it lasts a lifetime. (You'll note that some entries consist of nothing more than a name and a picture. If you really want to go that route, it's better than nothing.) And hell, if you have a friend that you know is gothygoth or 'core rivet but they're too shy/lazy/pretentious to write up their own bio, feel free to do it for them. As you look through the Gallery you'll see some entries come from "secondhand sources": that's what this means! What glee!