"We just thought that it would be too soon after the earthquake for an event like that," said Dr Arthur Chen, a professor of medicine at Taipei's National Yang Ming University and a member of Living with Hope, Taiwan's foremost AIDS prevention and support group.
Chen was speaking about what was going to be known as the first annual Taipei Life Parade and Dance Music Festival, which was scheduled to be held early next month.
Chen, however, is not giving up on his commitment to do something positive. It's just that his efforts and the efforts of other event organizers have now been shifted to providing relief to the victims of Tuesday's earthquake.
"We have way too much positive energy built up to let it all just go to waste," Chen said.
That's why he and other events organizers got together Thursday night and decided right then to hold a different event -- an event aimed and helping and healing in the wake of the most destructive earthquake in Taiwan this century.
The new event is called Life!921 and it is being held right now at Taipei's Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. It is tentatively scheduled to run 24-hours a day through Sunday night. It will feature an outdoor sound system where a long list of local DJs will spin ambient and dub sets aimed at soothing and calming the anxiety and pain caused by the massive quake.
"All the DJs understand that this is a healing event and they are all committed to keeping their sets quiet and smooth," Chen said. "The idea is to get people out of their homes and together to talk and provide each other with support, basically to begin the healing."
Chen explains that people will also be able to make cash donations -- 100 percent of which will go towards earthquake relief efforts in central Taiwan where the quake hit hardest. There will also be social workers at the event to help people deal with any post-traumatic stress that has been building up during this long week of grief and stress.
"We've all seen the horrible and heartbreaking pictures on TV this week," Chen said. "So many people want to help, but not everybody can go down south. This event will give people in Taipei a chance to reach out and provide support while healing themselves at the same time."
"The fact that we're in Taipei, where the damage was minimal and that we had all these people mobilized for the Life event puts us in a unique position to do something positive for victims of the deadly quake," explained Jimi Wing, another event organizer. "We just want to show our support."
Chen said he hopes the event will be picked up by a local radio station and broadcast throughout Taiwan.
"I heard today that a local radio station donated thousands of radios to people displaced by the earthquake," he said. "I hope that we can be broadcast all over the island and people will tune in and hear that we care, that we are with them in hope and spirit."
"At first I thought the idea was a bit strange," said DJ James, one of the DJs scheduled to spin a set. "My fear was that people would think we were partying while so many others are suffering. But then I realized that it will give people a chance to relax after such a terrible week and the donations will help. So I think people will see that we want to help. This is our way of lending a hand."
Chen said that the only problem is that the event is so spur-of-the-moment that police and Sun Yat-sen officials might not allow it to continue 24-hours a day until Sunday night. "We'll just have to see how it is received by the public. If it works the way I hope it will, we shouldn't have too much of a problem staying here."
As he talked, Chen looked towards the Memorial Hall where a Taiwan flag fluttered at half-mast against the deep-blue afternoon sky. "I really hope we can continue. I think everyone needs some healing."
Those interested in attending or donating can call Jay at 0936090544 or Jimi at 0933991183 for more information.