Planning my funeral - help

[DaRkAlF]

Hello fellow goths,

Every Sunday I like to have a funeral for myself and sometimes my pets. I aquired a casket and an organ and several pounds of cloves for incense. I also have gotten good at doing a "funeral home makeup job" on myself. I am hoping to get an actual grave site set up this weekend in my backyard but my dad gets pissed at me when I dig, so I don't know how well that will go.

What else can I do to add to the funeral? I was hoping to find some embalming fluid to scent my clothes with.

Also, if any of you are in the fort worth, texas area, I'd be glad for you to attend my service every week. Usually it's about an hour long, and if my friend paul wants to be buried I do his funeral afterwards but you don't have to stick around for that because he's sorta dumb and isn't a legit goth.

Going to summarize:

1) casket - check
2) organ w/ autoplay - check
3) cloves and various other gothic smell incense - check
4) funeral home make up kit - check
5) embalming fluid scent - * NEED*
6) 6x6x4 grave site - *NEED*
6) Stage set up in cathedral (my brother's bedroom after he moved out for college) *almost done being built*
6) Hearst *NEED!!! LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN GET ME ONE FOR LESS THAN TWO GRAND!!*

[ms.tangledwebs]

I know I am not really the gothiest of Goths, but I am missing something here? Is this something we should all work on doing? Or does this seem just a bit strange to you too?

[JaNell]

I always suspected there was a dark side...
Which might explain THIS:

Hello fellow goths,

Yup, no women here. Well, real live ones.
*cough*
You know - XX AND breathing - 'cause we're so Goth like that.

6) Hearst *NEED!!! LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN GET ME ONE FOR LESS THAN TWO GRAND!!*

Hmmm, asking for a Rich Dead Man for HannaQwanzaaSolstimas- that's so gothic!

So, are you serious or just mocking our Dark Elf for some reason?

[DaRkAlF]

I had to reread your post three times to understand. Sorry for slow response.

I do not intend to mock anyone. I've been using darkalf on the net as a handle for almost four months.

I found out about this site at a moonspell/type o negative show in dallas from a very cute girl with wonderful makeup tips. I told her why I was interested in dead makeup and she and I talked at great length about my funerals and she gave me some ideas and later e-mailed me this forum and another that she had found and suggested I try asking here.

[Logic]

Alf! Innuendo is beautiful.

[DarkVader]

Hello fellow goths,

Every Sunday I like to have a funeral for myself and sometimes my pets. I aquired a casket and an organ and several pounds of cloves for incense. I also have gotten good at doing a "funeral home makeup job" on myself. I am hoping to get an actual grave site set up this weekend in my backyard but my dad gets pissed at me when I dig, so I don't know how well that will go.

What else can I do to add to the funeral? I was hoping to find some embalming fluid to scent my clothes with.

Also, if any of you are in the fort worth, texas area, I'd be glad for you to attend my service every week. Usually it's about an hour long, and if my friend paul wants to be buried I do his funeral afterwards but you don't have to stick around for that because he's sorta dumb and isn't a legit goth.

Going to summarize:

1) casket - check
2) organ w/ autoplay - check
3) cloves and various other gothic smell incense - check
4) funeral home make up kit - check
5) embalming fluid scent - * NEED*
6) 6x6x4 grave site - *NEED*
6) Stage set up in cathedral (my brother's bedroom after he moved out for college) *almost done being built*
6) Hearst *NEED!!! LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN GET ME ONE FOR LESS THAN TWO GRAND!!*

<sigh>

I'm not exactly sure what to say here... I'll start off by warning you that your first post comes off like someone attempting to make fun of goths, and that if that is the case, we don't like that here, and I'm going to be keeping an eye on you.

I'll also warn everybody else that not playing nice with the new kid is a bad idea, even if he does come off as being a bit strange. No attacking this guy - just don't do it.

OK, now that that's out of the way...

As far as embalming fluid - that stuff is a pretty nasty chemical, I don't think you really want to be playing with it. We've got a member who has the formal education in that sort of thing, though, so I'll defer to her on that.

Hearses are fairly expensive. You're not likely to find one in running condition in the price range you're looking for - and since many of us here wouldn't mind having one, we're likely to grab any deals for ourselves... but you might try ebay - sorry I can't help more on that one.

As far as the grave site goes - if you're really thinking about digging a hole that size and leaving it open, be EXTREMELY careful. There's a reason that trench boxes are required for anyone working below a few feet these days - people get killed when the walls collapse. That simulated grave could be deadly.

And I'm sure you're already aware that this entire concept of a weekly staged funeral is an unusual thing, even for goths. I'm not aware of anyone on here with this level of fascination with funerals, not even from someone who intends to make the funeral business her career. In fact, I've never before encountered this in the goth community anywhere. You might want to give us some background on where and why this particular interest developed for you.

So, welcome to KnoxGothic.com. Be sure to read the FAQ.

[JaNell]

I had to reread your post three times to understand. Sorry for slow response.

I do not intend to mock anyone. I've been using darkalf on the net as a handle for almost four months.

I found out about this site at a moonspell/type o negative show in dallas from a very cute girl with wonderful makeup tips. I told her why I was interested in dead makeup and she and I talked at great length about my funerals and she gave me some ideas and later e-mailed me this forum and another that she had found and suggested I try asking here.

Well, someone of similar interest may private message you about it, or, depending on what sort of interest you have in it, you could try asking over at KnoxFetish.

[DaRkAlF]

I take more than a little offense to the insinuation that I might be a fake goth mocking real goths. It just so happens that I am a well known gothic musician in the dallas area and will be playing a series of shows touring on my debut album "my own funeral" which you can download the single from here: http://ecdm.silversparkles.net/myownfuneral.mp3

Those of you in the Nashville area can see me at the communion on sat dec 27th.


The reason I do weekly funerals is to get myself ready for my sunday night (the only day of the week I perform) shows. The more realistic it feels to me, the better I perform. My goal is to have a show that goes like this when I can afford it:

1) Hearst arrives to club

2) band members carry it to stage and set it down

3) a microphone is projected at my head

4) a small electric guitar is played by me out of view of the audience in the casket.

5) after show I am taken back to hearst and fans are allowed to follow it to a near by park where there will be open casket visitation and they may bleed on me (I am a big fan of blood play)

So please do keep serious ideas for funerals coming. This is very important to me.

[vicious_blood]

Just wondering - How old are you? I ask because you said your dad wont let you dig up the yard...but I think it's cool that apparently your parents don't mind you staging a funeral. Sometimes I think I would like to stage my own funeral just to see what people would say (ever see 'Empire Records'?).

And I'm not going to bash you or anything (sticking to Dark Vaders rules) but to me it does all seem a little weird. But I'm kinda interested. Pm me if you want. I'd kinda like to know more.


Love the pics Janell.

[DaRkAlF]

I am 22. I live at home because I am too focused on my musical career to work a full time job. That and it is hard to find a job that will respect my identity and morbid forms of expression. I worked at a hot topic in the mall for a while but that was really a waste of time. My father owns a las vegas vacation resort and a dallas country club so I don't really have to work as long as I don't piss him off too much.

If you would like to know more feel free to PM me your questions. I can help you find funeral supplies if you ever get started on carrying out your dream of funeral participation.

[vicious_blood]

Well, I don't know if it's so much of a 'dream' as it is curiousity (sp?).
But, yeah...I'll PM you.

[pryjmaty]

I will comment more on this tonight when I have more time.

[shadow dancer]

What else can I do to add to the funeral? I was hoping to find some embalming fluid to scent my clothes with.

5) embalming fluid scent - * NEED*

I would strongly suggest not looking for the embalming fluid.
Although I am not incredibly familiar with the current chemistry of embalming fluid, I am familiar with its traditional chemical components. Embalming fluid has been made up primarily from a bactericide called formaldehyde combined with water. The use of formaldehyde is strongly controlled by the FDA in the manufacturing of any type of skin applicant chemical or food industry chemical due to the fact that it contains the monomer methanol. The effects of the biological diffusion of this material are really not worth playing around with. There is strong suspicion that formaldehyde is a cancer causing agent, and repeated or prolonged exposure to methanol can cause serious bodily damage. Formaldehyde is handled at an 18.5% concentration where I work, and a full acid suit and respirator are required for those handling the material. Although embalming fluid is severely watered down formaldehyde, it is still a skin irritant. My understanding is that it is only handled by morticians when using appropriate gloves and eye protection and with proper ventilation, but there is probably another on the board that could clarify this or give more info. If you want more info on the embalming fluid itself, I would strongly recommend reading the MSDS so you know exactly what you're contemplating dealing with and determining a safe threshold for use, if there is one.

[JaNell]

But the blistering will be such a good set-up for #5:

"5) after show I am taken back to hearst and fans are allowed to follow it to a near by park where there will be open casket visitation and they may bleed on me (I am a big fan of blood play)"

where total strangers drip blood into the blistered skin which is now so much more open to accept any blood-born diseases...

[Mistress Eve(L)]

Maybe I'm not goth enough.......because there are no words right now for this entire thread

[Lost Traveler]

hey

[vicious_blood]

Ok...another question...You have a funeral for your PETS???
Are they willing participants?
Cause if I was a dog or whatever I think I would be like "WTF?" if someone tried to put me in a casket...

[threeaxes]

How can you not bash this guy? Is anyone taking this seriously?

As far a a grave site goes you might want to do it a la fraility, by digging a big hole and putting a building over it. You might have to start with the building though and then build the hole, or you might be able to find an old water bed frame, sans mattress and have it covered up during the ceremony. just be careful with candles if you use a wooden frame. You could even make carvings on the sides if you wish.


As far as pets go I would leave a small pet door in the side of whatever you use so fluffy can get out if she gets hungry for din-din during your ritual.

[ms.tangledwebs]

I take more than a little offense to the insinuation that I might be a fake goth mocking real goths.

as everyone on the board knows I am the gothliest person ever, and as substitute spokesgoth (not trying to take your job JC) I would just like to say that no one is trying to offend you, but we don't really know anything about you, and your post could be construed as a very stereotypical misconstruation of gothiness. we are usually very open to outsiders, but we are also very protective of our own.

on another note, as a performer myself, I can understand getting into a mindset and character, but some of your ideas sound as tho they are somewhat new, and haven't been thought through or reasearched very much.

Third thing: one of my very good friends had an old station wagon (I believe it was a 60s model) back in highschool, we called it the hearse, because it majorly resembled one. with a little decoration, it could be very realistic. that might be an idea to explore.

Ok I think that is all.

[junkie christ]

and as substitute spokesgoth (not trying to take your job JC)

hahaha. its ok. note my lack of a comment on this till now

ok dads loaded and pays for your shit... thats works. and a good thing. hope he can pay your bail if this goes bad.
this misfits came to a few of their shows in coffins and when the played the roxy did the press stuff from them.
so that idea is about 20 years been ripped off, your just doing the show from it.....
see if i had a dollar for everyband ive seen where the front guy or some of the band came out in a coffin.. at least it looks like you want to only perform for it.
THATS original and pretty fucking cool i might add... just would have to be careful so it didnt come off really stupid. it has that potential too but most ideas do.
but... i dunno. i think this is a little off. i like that about it, just still think it looks like a hoax.
not bagging the guy at all, i mean if hes got the drive to do this, hell id go.
some of those ideas your really gonna have to work on though. really.,, like the fluid. yea. bad idea. other ways to smell bad.

i admire the guys ambition though. im always telling people you gotta make life (maybe in his case death) happen, hey man its workin for him. if he gets this working good, id say hed get a following really damn fast.it would be every hot topic goth in the country at first, and when they left id say all those hardcore deader-goths i see in big cities.... holy shit man i bet they would EAT THIS ALIVE. that would score him underground points... next thing you know the guy has a legit goth following. this could happen so easy its sick man. hes marketing himself with his artistic vision and historicly people EAT THAT SHIT ALIVE...
now if thats a good or a bad thing..... well id say good yea im pretty fucked up in the head too though so i would think this is cool.