Playing your own stuff at folk clubs

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: kendall
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 05:05 PM

Just be sensitive to the reaction of the audience. If you know how to read them, you will do ok.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 04:54 PM

DG: Visit the club first as an audience member. See the way it works. You'll know from that I'd think.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 04:49 PM

TO GUEST DG            The Islington folk club, is that the one that Bob Davenport, is involved with or used to be. Well I have to be careful what I say. It is probably if it hasnt changed, got a high standard of residents etc.[ they may not be as good as you[[ I havent heard your material]]. But they may or may not be welcoming to you or your songs. if they are not I wouldnt take it personally. It is some years since I have been there, and it may be totally different now.
    But in their own idiosyncratic fashion they have very definite ideas about what they like to hear, and singer songwriters in the mould of Nick Drake, I dont think is their cup of tea.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 04:31 PM

Many of the trad writers were teenage philosophers moaning out their diary entries. Funny how that works.

As to performing your own material, try it. See what happens.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 04:30 PM

Teenage philosophers moaning out their diary entries

I love it, Kendall.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Bert
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 04:15 PM

I've always asked if it was alright.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 04:08 PM

Jansch neat. Needle of Death, Dancing in the Sky, Route National 7.

Drake self indulgent schmaltz.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 02:11 PM

What Tunesmith said!!

"when other performers - even floor singers - start "covering" your material - that's really good!!"

Hear hear!

"so I can PM people my myspace page"
Why not just post it here for everyone to see?

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: GUEST,Dg
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 02:06 PM

Hi again,

Thanks for the comments, really informing stuff.

"I'd MUCH rather hear people sing good original songs, that tired old trad stuff that's been done and done and done the exact same way for 100+ years...." - That's a great thing to hear.

I would say my stuff is quite bluesy, most people who hear my stuff compare it to Bert Jansch (or Nick Drake if they don't know Jansch) - and it is definately not "Teenage philosophers moaning out their diary entries"!!

Anyway, I'll sign up and get an account here at Mudcat, so I can PM people my myspace page and hopefully get some feedback.

Cheers everyone.

Also, the closest FC to me is the Islington Folk Club - does anyone know anything about this one?

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 02:05 PM

You're still new here C.B-eye...

You'll see soon enough, I'm sure, just what an omphaloskeptic whiner he really is

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 02:05 PM

When folk club members start requesting your compositions - that's good, but when other performers - even floor singers - start "covering" your material - that's really good!!

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 02:01 PM

Just play the relevant songs a few times. If everyone is joining in the chorus, adn some are askig for them, then tell them they are yours. THat way you get an unbiased opinion.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 01:55 PM

little hawk seems very well informed and helpful.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 01:49 PM

"Teenage philosophers moaning out their diary entries."

Sounds like Mudcats own 'Little Hawk'.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: kendall
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 01:45 PM

Sandy Paton had a good description of the self indulgent pap, "Teenage philosophers moaning out their diary entries." Beautiful.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 01:07 PM

to lead fingers, Ralph mctell started as r Ralph May, doing Blind Blake imitations, in fact i saw him do a support act to Joe stead at Downe folk club in 1964, Downe folk club used to have as their resident singer Jeff Dale a great twelve string guitarist and blues singer.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 12:58 PM

I'd MUCH rather hear people sing good original songs, that tired old trad stuff that's been done and done and done the exact same way for 100+ years....

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 12:21 PM

As long as you are entertaining, people will enjoy it. There are those songwriters who take everything far to seriously and think everyone else should do the same. OK - Your songs may be deep and meaningful to you but the audience may not understand them. Throw in a couple of lighter ones. Laugh at yourself once in a while and people will forgive you most things.

Good luck

DtG

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 11:52 AM

Where did Ralph McTell , Tom Paxton and George Papavgeris start ?

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 11:45 AM

I think it's probably safer to sing your own stuff, as witness the slice of autobiography below:



AS I WAS A-PRACTICING…                  Tune: 'Streets of Laredo'

As I was a-practicing 'Stairway to Heaven',
As I was a-practicing Zeppelin one day,
I turned up the volume to way past eleven,
Plugged in my old Fender and started to play.

Then forty bars in, I came to my senses,
Playing this stuff is a bit of a joke,
I ought to be out in a pub in the country,
I know I'll be happier playing some folk.

So I sold my electric and bought an acoustic,
Learned some new chords, C, G7, A,
I listened to records by Carthy and Swarbrick,
And found an old folk song I wanted to play.

So I learnt all the words of this famous old folk song,
All about fishermen out on the sea,
Then proudly I carried my nice new acoustic,
To a pub where the music was legendary.

I sat down by the fire with the rest of the players,
Suddenly everyone's glaring at me,
'You can't have that chair, it's reserved for old Charley,
He's sat there each night since 1903.'

So I sat down again at the end of the bar-room,
Waited my time to join in and play,
It got to my turn so I got up and started
My song about fishermen out in the bay.

I finished my song and I sat down to silence,
Somebody said, 'Can't you play it in A?
In the seventeenth verse you sang 'nets', we sing 'rigging',
And we play it slower 'cos we like it that way.'

And the chorus we play is a little bit different,
But ours is the right one, and yours is just wrong,
You can't come in here with your brand new acoustic,
And make such a mess of our favourite song.

Well I never went back to that pub in the country,
The pub where the music is precious and rare,
I found me a pub where there's squit on a Thursday,   
Where I can play rubbish, and I don't effing care.


(In Suffolk, 'squit' = 'rubbish')

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 11:35 AM

I sing almost all original songs. My audiences seem to enjoy them and usually sing along with the choruses. Sometimes they even request their favorite of my originals. As stated above, make sure your songs are interesting to listen to and avoid the "navel gazing". Good luck,

Mike

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Dave Earl
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 10:56 AM

I disagrre Shambles.

Be honest and upfront about it all.

If you get heard and your stuff is worth listening to you know where you stand.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 10:24 AM

Don't tell them but just keep on singing them.

If anyone should ask - tell them they are obscure songs by well-known writers.

If everyone starts singing along or wants to sing them also - you can then tell them they are original.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 10:15 AM

I don't know how things are now but some clubs used to be more traditional that others...

Other that that, I'd say be sure that the stuff is original (see below) and that you could actualy imagine another person wanting to sing it.

I used to cringe when some people announced they were going to do their own song. I had a pretty good idea what it was coming - I've heard it 100s of times over with slight variation. It's nearly always sang in "tortured style", reflects their own woes inculing adolesence, girlfriends, etc. and it sends everyone else in the audience to sleep, that's if they haven't either gone to the bar or come in ready prepared with a razor blade.

If you can avoid that, I think all well and good, and good luck to you.

Subject: RE: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: Les from Hull
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 10:10 AM

Of course it all depends if your own stuff is any good!

Folk club audiences are normally very tolerant. But they have been subjected to lots of self indulgent 'singer-songwriters' over the years and might be quite wary. If you are doing a floor spot, try a traditional (or better-known) song first and then ask the audience if you can do one of your own songs (of course they'll say yes, they're a folk club audience). And then give them your best shot. You should get a reaction from this that should tell you whether your next song should be one of your own or not (if it's a three song spot). Also choose your clubs well. If a club is known only for its traditional outlook they may be against you to start with!

At the break or the end ask for criticism from the organiser or members of the audience.

Good luck!
Les

Subject: Playing your own stuff at folk clubs
From: GUEST,Dg
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 10:01 AM

Hello everyone,

I just thought I'd raise this and see what the consensus is...

How do you feel about people playing their own songs at folk clubs?

I really want to start playing in folk clubs, but am worried that by playing my own stuff (I also play a few trad. songs as well) I'll be looked down upon.

Any opinions would be much appreciated!

Cheers,

-Dg