The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #119211   Message #2593404
Posted By: Bernard
20-Mar-09 - 12:15 PM
Thread Name: Tom Bliss Article -So long and thanks
Subject: RE: Tom Bliss - State of the nation address
Tom gets air time on Oldham Community Radio - and he will be popping in to the studio for a chat in the near future. We make a point of showcasing the 'Journeymen' (the Hometowners with Tony Downes for our St Patrick's Special, for example) and new talent.

As for turning this around, I believe the way most folk clubs are run these days tends to preclude this. Unless you are a 'big name' or well-known at the club, it is unlikely that you will attract a big audience.

Lymm Folk Club (formerly 'The Railway') is booked around a year in advance - and Tom was our guest last night (Thursday 19th). Unfortunately it's 'Catch 22' - if you don't get in first, the guests who will pull an audience are booked... so maybe it's the Guests' collective fault?!!

There is no simple answer... I've been waiting 40 years to be an overnight success... I can count on one hand the number of folk club gigs I get in a year - and one of them is usually Lymm folk club!

I pull in a good audience, but try telling that to a club where I'm relatively unknown, even locally.

I'll have a think about this and post more when I've time and I'm not 'at work'...! Sorry about that rude word!