Annoying Bodhran, what to do?

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 10:18 AM

Banjos and accordians can also be improved with quick drying cement.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 10:12 AM

Hello! I am A Wandering Minstrel and I am a bodhran player! It is not some sort of foul disease any more than accordion or banjo playing, Please don't expect someone to have an instrument and not at least try playing it. Please don't damage his toy either!

Where your friend here has a problem is that he isn't getting the real message about manners!. Most clubs I go to have a "beer break" mid evening lasting around 30 minutes where playing tunes all together is OK. after that instruments are put away.

I used to have a "helpful guitarist" who strummed along to my songs I just stopped singing everytime he started and looked at him. He gave up. Get the MC to explain matters to him. If he can't control himself its him that should leave not you.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 10:05 AM

Before I upset every bodhran player, I'd better explain that my comments here refer to the unsensitive type of player who 'only bought one because I can't sing or play a musical instrument but I could manage one of them drum-things.'

I'm sure that someone needs to deal with this problem head on. What'll happen if all the unaccompanied singers clear off because of insensitive bodhran person? He must learn that there are times that the beat of the bodhran is welcome and times that it's not. I do a lot of joining-in stuff (but never on the bodhran!) and I'm lucky that the people who join with me or who I join in with know how it works. But I never join in with unaccompanied songs except with voice. For them that doesn't, they has to be told.

It's probably a job for the organiser. Get together with fellow singers, find out if they are fellow sufferers and then tell the organiser. I'm sure that he or she would rather lose one bodhran player than a whole bunch of singers.

But don't forget to encourage the bodhran bloke with stuff that he can join in on. Kris' idea of splitting the night up between 'performance' and 'joining-in' is a good one.

These bodhran things should have to be licensed. As a melodeon player I'm always happy to see them though, 'cos it means I won't be the least popular person in the room! Just keep him at your side of the Pennines, eh mate?

Les (who has a bodhran, but never plays it)

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 10:04 AM

I'm with kris - it should be one for the organisers.

BTW, the Conwy Club used to open with a session and have another during the beer break and it worked well.

Jon

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Gervase
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 10:02 AM

Maybe you could enlist your mother's help - ask her to approach the eejit and tell him she needs the bodhran back (insert any old lame excuse as required - bird-bath, panning for gold, serving cous-cous...)
Failing that, how about strength in numbers. Have a quiet word with the other singers, and if the pillock starts beating off, get everyone to come out with a collective groan and a few glares in his direction.
Trouble is, it's amazing how thick-skinned some people can be (...the bodhran's is probably thinner...!).

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 10:00 AM

Right, me and the guys turn up, surround him and whilst your doing your song we make our move -I can grab his legs and the rest of us can beat the living whatsit out of him....

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:57 AM

What shall we do with the bodhran player?
What shall we do with the bodhran player?
What shall we do with the bodhran player?
Er-lye in the mornin'?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:40 AM

Ask him why he never chose to take up an instrument.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:37 AM

Isn't this the sort of thing where the club organiser/s should quietly have a word? If its a singaround thing then couldn't they explain that if its someones 'turn' then they should be assumed to be solo unless they state otherwise.
Could it be a sort of general announcement, aimed at the singers, that if they want accompaniment or not then could they please specify before commencing
Or how about suggesting that the evening be devided into two halves, the second being the one where its free for all to join in if the person whose turn it is says so.
Its unfortunate that he reacted badly to your first approach, and that he has not applied the lesson across all the singers. It would be a shame to let the situation go on though, because it could be putting more people off & then the numbers might fall. Also this enthusiastic new player will surely at some point twig to the unspoken ettiquette & be embarassed at having transgressed so often.
The happy ending would be if there is some way of channelling the enthusiasm into encouraging a jamming element when required. As I said at the start - I'd be inclined to expect the organisers to pick up on the problem and find some way round it. Bit of a tough job though...

Kris

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Gervase
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:37 AM

...Put it skin-down on the table and fill it with crisps and nuts.
...Dollop something oil-based on the skin - a squirt of WD40 or some 3-in-1; it'll take a lot longer to get the tension back than using beer (and it's a waste of good beer).
...Congratulate the "player" on his new dog-collar. When he looks puzzled, ram the bloody thing down over his head.

Hey, anyone fancy knocking off an instant book - 101 uses for a Bodhran?

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:23 AM

Turn it into a satelite dish by poking a penny whistle through the middle of it.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Jim Cheydi
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:19 AM

Use it as a tray for carrying drinks or as a frisbee or as a template for drawing Charlie Brown's head, or to fake some flying saucer photos, or perhaps you could just point out that he's lost the jangly bits on his tambourine.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:17 AM

...."Ah! I see you've brought your Boring!"

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:14 AM

Stanley knife, cut neatly along the inside of the hoop.

or you could fill it with quick drying cement.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: John J
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:14 AM

Thanks Skipjack, the running is going ok...just did blackpool Marathon in 4:22, my PB. I'm doing a tough 7 miler this Sunday in Stainland near Halifax (thats in Yorkshire you know).

Re: bodhran player, that is just how I dealt with the situation last week, but more politely.

Thanks,

John

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Gervase
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:13 AM

How's about asking if you can borrow it for a number?
Don't play the bloody thing; just hang on to it while you sing and then hand it back. He'd have to be terminally dense not to get the message (still, he is a bodhran player...)
...ducks and runs to avoid abduction and forcible anal probing from crazed bodhran-playing aliens...

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: John J
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:10 AM

I don't think I've ever experienced a faster response to a post, thanks folks....you've all cheered me up at least! Keep the suggestions coming.

Thanks lots,

John

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:08 AM

I read here, ages ago, some good soul recount the tale of John Kirkpatrick telling the bodhran player in the second row of the stalls to shut the feck up, mid song. That takes balls, but Captain Kirk isn't short of them, having had a well earned rasping from the man himself.

John, perhaps you should have the quiet word with a few 'key' performers that they each announce their 'unaccompanied' wish before their turn. Bet you he will drop it before the last one rises.

How's the running going? I'm going backwards fast!

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:07 AM

Get a bigger, louder, more annoying bodhran.

Or better still, a 14 inch military snare.

EJ

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: pavane
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:05 AM

Spill a pint on it, accidentally. That should put it out of use for most of the evening.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: English Jon
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 08:56 AM

Petrol and matches.

or ask to borrow it, and then play it Clawhammer style. You can get one of these from any good hardware shop.

EJ

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: kendall
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 08:55 AM

Why fret over the attitude of an insensitive clod? He cant be very bright, or else he doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself. What makes people think that all you have to do is pound on a bodhran any old way and it's ok?

I've had a couple of festival type gigs where te "House band" expected to play along, but, I tell them, "Lookie folks, I dont know how to play with a band, so, by the time you finish your coffee, I'll be finished, ok?"

Diplomacy... The art of saying "Nice doggie" while you are looking around for a rock.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Gervase
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 08:55 AM

Time to reach for the trusty tuning knife...

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: MMario
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 08:51 AM

If you sing unaccompainied - then I would say announce that at the beginning of your song. that should take care of it for you - and if you are doing it I suspect that others will pick up the habit rather quickly.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Midchuck
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 08:51 AM

Refer to the Heinlein quote in my post to the "Extreme Prejudice and Friends" thread.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: IanC
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 08:50 AM

Whilst it's not what you want to do, I'd suggest you do stop going to this club. At least for a time. You're obviously not enjoying it just at the moment.

I bet things will have changed if you just go somewhere else for a few weeks. At least you will have had some space to evaluate how you feel about it all.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: John J
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 08:46 AM

Please can someone (all of you?!) advise me how to handle this situation.

I regularly go to a local folk club where the singers nights are generally quite well supported by audience and singers / musicians alike. The beer is good. The company is good. I really enjoy going.

BUT (big but), my mother sold a bodhran to one of the singers and now he plays the bodhran at absolutely every opportunity. Sometimes it's not too much of a problem, occassionally enhancing a performance. Generally however, I find it a major problem when I sing (unaccompanied).

Last week the bodhran caused me so much of a problem I had to stop singing and ask him to stop playing. I didn't want to do this, it's obviously embarrassing for the man. At the end of the night I went over and apologised to him for having to ask him to stop, and explained to him that I found it really off-putting. His reaction was to say that it was my fault I didn't sing in time. He really got the hump, although I expect some of it was beer talking. Time to walk away, so I did.

Last night at the club, whilst he didn't play the bodhran when I sang, he played it for ALL the other unaccompanied singers performances.

I don't really want to stop going to this club, but it's getting to the point where it's going to become a chore, and that would be dreadful. I have no wish to offend anybody (including those who play bodhran, well or not).

HELP. what do I do? Sorry to go on, but this is a problem for me.

John