Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008

Subject: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: mg
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 04:50 PM

Anyone going? Coming up soon. Not sure if registration is closed or not yet but soon. I probably can't figure out transportation..can get there but not back. But it is a very nice camp..comfortable accomodations and a nice main lodge. It is not in a place of great scenic wonder though.. but it is easy to get to from Seattle, B.C., Portland..maybe less so..cost is not bad..maybe $80 or so..Carnation is where the Carnation contented cows are from..carnation milk etc. .mg

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 05:43 PM

Hi Mary,

I'll be there, and I hope you can make it too.
And there is a hot rumor (might even be true!)
that Deckman (aka Bob Nelson) will also be there.
He is scheduled to do a workshop on "Performance Skills"
and I will do a workshop on "Instruments & Singing"
(whatever that means).
It's never too late to register,
well maybe up 'til a few days before,
when they have to notify the cooks
about how much food to provide.
And it only costs $72 - see web page.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 07:29 PM

Mary, I really wish you would come up for this gathering. I have two reasons for saying this: This WILL be first time ... having just "retired" ...that I now have the time to attend. Also, if you can only make it a "one way trip" ... that means we get to keep you up here. I really miss your songs and your singing. CHEERS, Bob Nelson

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 10:18 PM

I saw a Rainy Camp regular during the holidaze. Hhe asked if was going to attend this year. I'm glad that I saw this post and found out what date the event is going to be held. Looks like I have only one day to get my app in.

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Stewart
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 03:22 PM

Hi Reggie, it looks like there'll be you (get that app in), Bob, hopefully Mary, and myself, and oh yes, I'll be bringing Paddy Graber from B.C. So far a good congenial group. Any more?

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Deckman
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 03:33 PM

Oh ... I don't know! Judy says I'll need to be on my very best behavior. And I don't think I have any of that left! Bob

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Stewart
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 03:35 PM

Well, we always need one rabble rouser.

S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Stewart
Date: 13 Jan 08 - 12:46 PM

Add to this list
Fred Maslan and Raffi
from another thread

Any more?

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: GUEST,robinia
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 07:39 AM

Anybody going to Rainy Camp from south Seattle?   I'm asking because I'm going --and may still be carless.   (The Geo met a sad end,. any replacement suggestions gratefully accepted.)

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Deckman
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 08:19 AM

I'm anticipating a rich and rewarding time. This will be my first participation. In my previous life, before retirement, I was always too busy building stoopid decks to attend. I'm preparing a workshop on "Performing Skills." This will be a hands on excersize dealing with such basic issues as: stage fright, diction, attitude, dealing with hecklers, useful tuning up jokes, etc. I expect it will be much fun as well as useful for the performer "wanna'be."

I just wish that John Dwyer and Merrit Herring could attend. CHEERS, Bob Nelson

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 10:44 AM

His daughter enjoyed a brief visit a few years ago. It's a lot of fun!

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Deckman
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 11:10 AM

Merry morning Maggie ... I bet we've got more snow than you! Bob

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: reggie miles
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 02:47 PM

Hey Bob,

I look forward to hearing your views about hecklers. I've never been seriously heckled before. Some playful jabs from friends who were in the crowd is all that I can remember having experienced. Perhaps I've simply been fortunate that my audiences have been nice. Or maybe I've just blocked any of those bad experiences out of my thoughts.

Mild tauts or give and take banter between my friends and I while I'm on stage are something that I enjoy. It tells me that there are those that know me that are among those listening and supporting my efforts. That kind of a playful connection with those in attendance is important to me as a way to test the waters.

(An aside) I can recall a performance at an internet coffeehouse near campus where all of my efforts to make any kind of connection with those in attendance fell almost entirely on deaf ears. It was one of those gigs where I was merely considered to be sonic wallpaper. I couldn't even begin compete with what was going on at every table. I had never before played in a room were everyone was totally engrossed with their laptops. The soft clicking of keyboards, muffled caffeinated conversations and the occasional screeching shriek of the espresso machine from the other room was all that broke the silence between songs.

I've got some tricks in my bag but nothing that I did was able to break the focused connection to the web or the hold that the high powered espresso drinks had over the assembled body. Caffeine and the internet together are tough competition. It made me wonder why this place was even interested in paying entertainers to perform. Rather than struggle with the tide of indifference I went into a modified muzak mode and decided this was one of those places that I'd not frequent with my efforts.

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: mg
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 02:56 PM

It is probably too late but if I could figure out how to get back I might go..getting there is not a problem..I could get back probably as far as Astoria and then I am stuck. mg

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Deckman
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 05:57 PM

Mary ... I saw Astoria, for the first time, about three weeks ago. Just being there for very long might make one "feel stuck!" Bob

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: reggie miles
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:39 PM

I just wanted to give a follow up report of my first time camp experience at this year's Rainy Camp. I had been able to hang at the camp a couple of times in previous years. My previous times spent there whet my appetite for more and I was anxious to join in on the fun this year.

Because I live fairly close to the camp and because it was a chilly weekend I elected to opt out of the overnight accommodations and instead traveled back home to my old familiar mattress. I also had a rehearsal to prepare for on Sunday and therefore had to miss the final day of camp this year. So, I had an abbreviated camp stay but still one that was rich with many fun experiences.

I was glad to finally have the chance to be a part of this longstanding event right here in my own backyard. It was nice to see familiar faces that I knew among those attending and it was a special treat to meet new folks with common musical interests.

Song sharing is what this camp is based around and there was no end to the variety and approaches being offered. There were many Irish styled songs, western songs too, songs sung in languages that I didn't understand, songs that were written long ago and newer selections as well. There was lots of humor, and a number of very serious messages. All of them seemed to have the common thread that enabled the rest of those listening to join in on the chorus. The harmonies were sweet as everyone's voices joined together.

A lot of folks who attended knew the verses and choruses being sung in many of the songs offered by others in the song circles. I felt a little shy because I did not. It made me feel like I was a visitor to a new church. I was unaware of the many subtle practices that so many others there, being old camp hands, understood.

Most sang without accompaniment. I didn't want to torture the campers unnecessarily with my unadorned croaking so I choose to hide behind either of the two guitars that I had brought when it was my turn to share something. I also had the opportunity to offer my saw playing during the weekend. As others that knew the words sang along I joined them on my musical saw. My saw doesn't know the words but it has a sweet voice.

I did my best to offer what I could in song that seemed appropriate from my song bag. I also tried my best to be respectful of others. Being a newbie, I hope that the regulars could forgive any unintentional breaches of etiquette on my part. They seemed like a very easy going bunch of folks that enjoyed having fun together.

The workshops at camp were plentiful, far more than I could easily attend. I was hesitant to offer a workshop as this was my first time at camp. Saw playing is a true folk art and bottleneck slide is a traditional American folk approach to guitar playing. Both are folk arts that I've dedicated many years exploring. The craft of making my own musical instruments out of junk is another long time pursuit. I've been hosting musical saw workshops at the Folklife Festival for the last five years with great success. I could have easily offered a presentation in any of my particular interests, but I wanted to be free to explore what others were presenting, maybe next year. I wound up at Bob Nelson's workshop about performance tips, a digital recording workshop and one other workshop that featured show tunes, something that I play a lot of with my saw.

Even though I tried to prepare myself earlier in the week by staying awake much later than I normally would in anticipation of the late night song circles, I couldn't hang real late with everyone because I didn't want to be too tuckered out for the drive home each night. I was relieved that the roads didn't pose any hazard with the cold weather that we had over the weekend.

At one point, Saturday afternoon, the rain froze over everything and several folks slipped because of it. One woman fell and painfully broke her arm when she slipped on the frozen ice covered path. An ambulance was called and she was carried off to get patched up.

I still find myself foggy headed from lack of sleep and I long to be sawing logs instead of writing but I wanted to get this brief review posted before I crashed.

Sawwwwwwwwwwwwww ya l8r vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Stewart
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 06:16 PM

Hi Reggie,
It was fun having you along.
I think this was my 12th straight run at Rainycamp
and it seemed colder than usual and with less sleep.
The highlights for me, in addition to meeting old friends, were
instrumental jamming and singing after the big song circle on Fri. nite
more instrument playing along with singing at my Sat morning workshop
I didn't use any handouts that I had prepared, but it just seemed to
go organically with a good group of singers/instrumentalists.
Two workshops that afternoon,
sea songs - a perennial favorite
and Bob's workshop on performing - Bob could package that and take it on the road.
The open mic (no mic) that evening was fun - the lodge is a great acoustic space.
And Sunday morning a few of us just gathered around the fire in the lodge
for an impromptu jam - no agenda, just music (that's what it's all about).
And of course the food was great as usual (the real test for a good camp)
So now it's back to the usual mundane things like more sleep,
and catching up on all those other neglected things.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Rainycamp 2008 Carnation WA 2008
From: Deckman
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 09:57 AM

Yes, you guys got it right! This was my first chance to participate, having just retired, so I wasn't sure just what to expect. The overwhelming sights of friends hugging and greeting old friends told it all. This camp has a 20 year history, and it clearly has become an high point in many lives.

I attended a very enlightening workshop taught by Flip Breskin. She spoke to the terrible damage guitarists can do to their joints over the years. More importantly, she had real life and studied answers to guitar/body positions that really opened my eyes. As one who has had two hand surgeries and another looming in the future, I appreciated her sharing the information.

My only regret, and no one could do anything about this, was that the late John Dwyer and Merritt Herring were not in attendence. Or were they? Bob(deckman)Nelson