Subject: RE: 2005 Getaway Program Information
From:
Ferrara
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 02:57 PM
Have been planning for weeks to post something on How To Lead A Getaway Workshop. Here it is, with many thanks to Ken Schatz. (Will have copies at the Getaway, of course.)
LEADING A WORKSHOP
At the FSGW GETAWAY
FSGW Getaway workshops have a unique "flavor" that adds to "Getaway Magic." Here's how it works. You are welcome to decide how much your workshop fits these guidelines, and ignore them if they don't work for you.
All our workshops are participatory. The audience are the performers and vice versa. "The really unique thing about the Getaway is not that the people are great musicians; it's that they are great listeners." We share.
In general each leader starts off with a song, then opens the session for participation. Some sing again later if no one is waiting to sing for the first time. When a leader has a special repertoire, we sometimes invite them to take 15 minutes at the start.
Do a straight sing-around or call on people, but pay attention to fairness. Try to make sure people who come to the beginning of the session get a chance. You may want to ask at the beginning, who is there hoping to lead a song during the session. Then make sure they get to sing, even if latecomers join the circle "ahead" of them.
We'd like to add a quick note to everyone about song swaps and late-night sings: Leave room for shy people to lead. If you led something in the last 15 to 30 minutes, count 30 when a song ends, before offering to do the next one. Some people take much longer than that to work up their courage and volunteer!
Here are some other great suggestions from Ken Schatz:
Less talk, more singing: It's easy and tempting to let introductions and explanations go long, but 60 or 90 minutes go by quickly, and most of all, the people are there for the magic of the singing, and questions can always be answered later.
Family hold back: Theme workshops like this aren't concerts. I find it works very well when leaders plan to do first song and last song, and fill in gaps whenever necessary.
Everybody gets a chance: Everyone should be encouraged to contribute, and to lead if they would like. Round robin - going around the circle - isn't essential, but it usually works very well, and it's the leaders' responsibility to invite latecomers to lead.
Of course it is called a workshop, not just a singaround, so a few moments of education/background/history as events warrant are needed and wonderful. I find if you have a song with a really interesting backstory, the best thing to do is pick one amazing salient fact about it that even people who are used to the repertoire might appreciate. That keeps explanations short, pithy, fascinating. Often very neat facts are brought up. I think leaders are chosen partly because they have lots of those things rattling around their brains for just such occasions, and if we know something particularly fascinating about a song someone else has sung, we can helpfully interject: "Great song - did you know...?"
Keep a discreet eye on the time: We shouldn't feel as if we're playing beat the clock, but as ending time nears, it's good to announce that we have time for two or three more, so who'd really like to get one in.
Encourage the shy, forgetful, and tone-deaf: It's how people get better, and very often they have stunning material or interpretations to contribute. Honestly sharing one's love for the songs is everything.
Encourage the stars: As long as it's not at the expense of the common folk, if a really fantastic singer sneaks in and stays hovering in the corner, ask them if they'd like to do one, but don't press too much if they say no thanks. The perfect time to do that is when a mood wants to be kept up. Stars - people with large repertoires - are great for picking what song would be perfect at a given moment.
Encourage themes, but don't overdo it: Point out recurring mini-themes, commonalities, motifs between songs as they arise organically. Just a pinch of that is nice - educational without being being overbearing, and it helps people think of things.
Fill the holes: Leaders are responsible for momentum of the event, and for bringing up kinds of songs or examples that haven't been touched on yet.
Have a plan about what you'll sing and be ready to abandon it:
Specific forethought helps and it shows, but in the moment, something else might be called for. Another factor in choosing leaders is their ability to think on their feet about the theme.
For shy people, or singers new to the genre, broad leeway on the theme: Someone wanting to contribute or try something out is more important than sticking to a narrow definition of "shanty", for example. Let a newbie sing the theme song to Gilligan's Island if they need to.
The Singer decides if they want accompaniment or not: encourage singing along or playing along unless whoever's leading says no thanks.
For myself, I like to play it by ear, and fill in gaps - whatever goes perfectly with what was just sung, whatever we haven't heard yet during the weekend, and whatever the room seems to be in the mood for.
And finally, don't work too hard! Just relax and have fun, and everybody else will, too.
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sj
