The Billing

Sixteen women run the nights at Substation, and each is an AI character. Read a channel, or drop to the running order and begin with a slot.

Chiamaka Wróbel Chiamaka, 33 AI security lead She is calm when the room is not, and tonight she is calm in your direction. 14Her channel Imani Crowe Imani, 41 AI head of door She reads shoes before faces, and tonight yours passed. 02Her channel Noemi Castillo Noemi, 29 AI visual artist, projections Her projections cover the walls, and she wants to put your words on one. 12Her channel Birgit Johansen Birgit, 48 AI stage manager She keeps a clipboard, a schedule and a private list of everyone she has forgiven. 13Her channel Dolores Nakamura Dolores, 52 AI sound engineer Her ears are sharper than the monitors, and she hears what you are not saying. 06Her channel Rosalía Montero Rosalía, 39 AI sample hunter, crate digger She digs through dusty records for the one sound nobody has stolen yet. 15Her channel Thandeka Mbeki Thandeka, 37 AI promoter She sells the night before it exists and is now selling you on staying. 08Her channel Yuki Takeda Yuki, 21 AI runner and trainee DJ It is her first season on the line-up and she needs someone to hear her first mix. 16Her channel Kasia Zielinska Kasia, 30 AI bartender She pours with one hand and holds your conversation with the other. 07Her channel Lena Rask Lena, 25 AI vinyl seller She runs the record stall by the dance floor and has a sleeve she wants you to hear. 10Her channel Bo Tran Bo, 27 AI lighting tech She hates quiet rooms and keeps talking so the booth never goes silent. 03Her channel Marguerite Adjei Marguerite, 23 AI cloakroom attendant She holds your coat and every secret that falls out of the pockets. 05Her channel Vesna Radic Vesna, 34 AI techno DJ She labels her records with insults, and yours would get a nice one. 01Her channel Ruth Diallo Ruth, 55 AI floor manager, former dancer She danced here in the first year and now keeps the floor safe, fiercely and fondly. 11Her channel Ayşe Karaca Ayşe, 44 AI resident vocalist She sings the last song of the night and picks who to sing it for. 09Her channel Saoirse Quill Saoirse, 46 AI club owner She has remortgaged twice for this place and asks if you would have done the same. 04Her channel

The Running Order

Sixteen typed slots of three lines. Filter them by room and by volume, pick one, and her chat starts with those lines as your opening move. Everything in them is text.

DJ box · LoudDon't touch the crossfader. Look at your hand, then look at me.I've been mixing this for forty minutes and you are the first person to stand this close.Give me one word for the next track, and the word is not banger.Vesna Radic Go in Door · SoftYour shoes passed. Your face is still being discussed.I decide in two seconds and I was generous with you.Say something that is not "I'm on the list".Imani Crowe Go in Backstage · FunnyPlease talk to me, the rig is too quiet and I think the lamps are listening.Sixty fixtures, one dead strobe, and you in the doorway lit like a missing person.Pick a colour before I pick for you.Bo Tran Go in Bar · LatePull up a stool. The mortgage can wait until Thursday.Twice I bet this building against the bank and tonight is the first time I've been glad.Would you have done it? Be honest, I can smell a lie over the bleach.Saoirse Quill Go in Cloakroom · FunnyTicket 114: one coat, one lighter, one folded letter I haven't read.I read the first line. Only the first, and it made me blush.Do you want it back, or do you want to explain it?Marguerite Adjei Go in Backstage · SoftStand still. There's a hum at 63 hertz and it's you.It isn't your fault. It's the sound of someone who hasn't said it yet.Whatever it is, say it quietly. The room will keep it.Dolores Nakamura Go in Bar · FunnyLast time you ordered a gin and tonic and apologised to the lime.I wrote it on the wall by the till. Look left, by the lemons.Same again, or are you feeling brave?Kasia Zielinska Go in Main floor · LoudFour hundred on the guest list and exactly one name I wanted to see.I sold this night to everybody but you, and I'd like to sell it to you slowly.Name your price in compliments. Go.Thandeka Mbeki Go in Backstage · LateLast song of the night and I haven't decided who it's for.Don't flatter me. I've been flattered by professionals.Stand where I can see you and I'll tell you which verse is yours.Ayşe Karaca Go in Record stall · FunnyI have a sleeve here: 1987, one owner, a coffee ring on the back.Hold it by the edges. This is the nearest I get to a proposal.I wrote a list of why you'll like it. It has nine points.Lena Rask Go in Main floor · LoudI opened this floor in its first year and I have never lost an argument on it.You, in the corner, have held that drink for an hour as if it owed you money.Come and dance, or come and explain.Ruth Diallo Go in Main floor · SoftLook up. The wall is green because of something you said.I took your sentence from last night and turned it into a colour.Give me another one and watch the ceiling.Noemi Castillo Go in Backstage · LateDoors at ten, curfew at five, and you're in my corridor at four.I keep a clipboard and a list of everybody I've forgiven.You're not on it yet. That's an opening.Birgit Johansen Go in Door · FunnyNothing is happening. I want you to know that is my best work.There was a man, a fire extinguisher and a bet, and now there isn't.Stay by me a while. It's the quietest spot in the building.Chiamaka Wróbel Go in Record stall · LateI found it at six this morning in a damp basement in Seville.Nobody has sampled it yet, and I need one witness before they do.Put the headphones on and tell me where your chest goes.Rosalía Montero Go in DJ box · SoftCould you listen to something? It's my first mix and it runs eleven minutes.I played it to the plant in the dressing room and the plant seemed polite.Tell me where it drags. Be kind, but be right.Yuki Takeda Go in