Hi Enigma
As Hazy has requested that this thread be used for Gold Coast Gay Day I will respond to you here. You asked me if I had been to the 2007 event and yes I did go. I was there for most of the day and well into the evening and enjoyed some aspects of it and found other aspects of it wanting. I still stand by the fact that the location you have chosen is too far away from the actual Gold Coast, it is hard to get to and at that time of year once 3pm comes it gets quite cold being in such a very open unprotected area. There is a building but it is not large enough to accommodate many people when the weather turns cold or wet.
I understand it is an event run by volunteers but you also need to project a degree of professionalism when running an event of this size for it to succeed and grow. 1,000 people in attendance is good but the amount of people could have been greater if the event was closer to the Gold Coast instead of being in the hinterland and more widely publicized.
I can't compare Brisbane's Big Gay Day with Gold Coast Gay Day as they are both run very differently but one should expect that if Brisbane can attract around 6,000 people from all over Brisbane, South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers then the Gold Coast event should attract at least 2,000 from the same areas but having the event in its current location is a hindrance. There a lot of people that live on the Gold Coast that don't have access to their own transport or being able to get lifts with friends so they end up not going. Has thought been made into providing shuttle buses to get people out to the event from a central Gold Coast location. I know of numerous people that would have liked to have gone but couldn't get out there due to its remote location.
I also know quite well several of the performers at the last event and after speaking to them at the event and afterwards their common complaint was with disorganization, poor quality equipment provided and the placement of the stage and sound system.
Please do not take this as being against the event as I have lived on and off on the Gold Coast for quite some time and I know there is a large GLBTQ population there and it would be brilliant to have a large scale event that would not only entertain the locals but also encourage GLBTQ tourism to the area that has been sorely missed for the last few years.
I do hope it is a success and yes I will be there again this year albeit with much warmer clothes waiting for me in the car once 3pm comes around.
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... should be fun if the weather holds!!