WHITBY Folk Week - the small print

Subject: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: JHW
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 08:37 AM

I was asked in the Station at Whitby, "Did you get to Martyn Wyndham Read's concert Of Graeme Miles songs?"   
Sadly I hadn't, I would love to have done but I didn't know about it.
Why Not?
Because I guess it was hidden away in the small print of the Whitby Programme.
After all the superb work they put into laying it on, Whitby Folk Week organisers hide away in the small print not the Terms and Conditions, but the Programme of events we've come to see!
In 2008 I downloaded the programme and printed the bits I needed in readable type, ideal, but I couldn't find that for 2009, just a page saying 'buy a programme, four quid.' Yes we may be tight on the folk scene but it grieves me paying four quid for something I can't read.
Ageism is illegal now! Lots of Festivals have Young Persons programmes so why not something for the Over Fifties? Why can't we have Large Print events for those who don't have microfiche readers for eyes?
If you couldn't read your Whitby Programme please post 'Me too!'

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 09:02 AM

Why can't they simply put the whole programme on the web in advance?

Festivals with fewer resources, like Linlithgow, manage it.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,Andy Seagroatt
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 09:26 AM

Also, under each biog, why not put the event numbers they are appearing at, saves a lot of searching. And while they are about it why not put a biog in for all performers!

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: LesB
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 09:38 AM

It was no more difficult to find than any other event, only difficult to get into. We arrived 15mins early only to be turned away (house full), and we had season tickets.
Cheers
There were so many changes to the program this year, a lot of it was irrelavant. It also caused a 'squirm moment' for us, because The Wright Family didn't have a profile, I hadn't a clue what to expect. So we went to a double header with them and Grace Notes. After the sublime Grace Notes The Wright Family turned out to be a 5 piece Jews Harp band. I gave it 5 mins then had to try & make an unobtrusive exit.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: JHW
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 10:06 AM

Jack Campin - I agree entirely "put the whole programme on the web in advance" because as well as being convenient it is good advertising. Long since that I organised little 'festivals' but my plot was to put out full info to get people there. But as LesB found House Full perhaps Whitby would dismiss any need to advertise.
Sorry Les to note that several Wrights can make a Wrong!

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: nutty
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 10:52 AM

Before complaining , perhaps you should consider the work already done by the NEW committee, many of whom are still finding their feet.

By all means make suggestions - I'm sure they would be taken on board, Or even offer your time and support - I'm sure that would be appreciated.

But most of all say thank you to all that was positive about the festival, that these volunteers spent all year working to provide.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,Dave (Bridge)
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 10:54 AM

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,Dave (Bridge)
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 10:56 AM

OOPs

Turning up on time for an event which was brought forward by an hour because of a bouble booking at the venue did not go down too well either. On the other hand perhaps John should invest in a pair of specs. All in all I enjoyed myself and it is not easy organising an event of that magnitude well done

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 11:39 AM

By all means make suggestions - I'm sure they would be taken on board,

If you can't put the programme up, could you at least put the start and finish dates on the festival website? (They still weren't there a week before it started).

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 01:50 PM

Thanks for the notes. I'm pretty much in agreement with many of you BUT… as the guy who does the design for the programme etc. I think it might be useful to share the following.
Firstly there is a question of cost… don't think we haven't had other ideas, personally would have loved to use the format used by the Australian National Folk Festival. Liz offered to do the numbers of events next to the artists. We agree with many of your comments BUT…(yes, that's two upper case 'buts', there is a question of cost, fine if you want to pay big bucks for your programme, there is also the question of scale – Linlithgow might be a great festival but does it last for a week? Does it have the biggest workshop series of any UK folk festival?
As for programme changes, they're inevivable and we really did do our best. We (the staff) might have lost some sleep trying to solve problems but people still came up to me and the other members of staff, as well as the directors and told us they were having a great time. e have a lot to learn, a long way to go BUT…(yes I know) the Whitby Folk Week was enjoyed by loads of people and those whose week was totally and irrevocably destroyed by a clash of programming really shouldn't go to folk festivals.
By the way, please make suggestions, if cost and helpers permit we're only to happy to try to accomodate them. Just don't expect miracles we're only human.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 02:04 PM

Linlithgow might be a great festival but does it last for a week? Does it have the biggest workshop series of any UK folk festival?

Doesn't matter - I can find what they've got on in advance, so I've been sometimes. As long as I can't find out what you're going to have on offer, long enough in advance to book holidays and accommodation, I'm never going to yours.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 03:04 PM

Hi Jack,
my point is that its very much more difficult to do what you're asking - this is a matter of scale really. Shame that such a little thing should prevent your going to one of the best folk festivals in the UK.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: JHW
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 03:15 PM

Was the programme not on the web last year?
Did I dream it? (Possible at my age)

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: nutty
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 03:52 PM

John - the solution was to spend your £4 (like the rest of us had to) and buy an advanced copy of the programme - I got mine at Saltburn FF, you could have sent for one by post.
Then you could have studied it at your leisure.

Yes, changes did happen but they were published daily in the "Whitby Wailer" available from festival office.

If the Whitby Festival committee attempted to cater for the individual needs of all it's punters, the task would be impossible.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 04:18 PM

Is the problem of scale so great that you can't even put the festival dates on the website?

I knew it was sometime in August but couldn't find out any more. Since I could find out the dates and the programme for a week-long folk camp in Transylvania, that's where I went instead. (It might have been the Nuits de Nacre festival in Tulle, they have details up in advance too - as far I'm concerned, you're competing with every late summer festival in Europe whose website has a schedule in a language I've got a dictionary for).

I've never seen a programme. It's not too hard to get to, I know Dick and Susan like it, I imagine you have spots for local-ish performers like Jim Eldon and Alistair Anderson who I'd want to hear, but that's not quite enough for me to commit a whole week, and I couldn't arrange to go part of the week without an advance schedule.

There are lots of ways to put programme info on the web as soon as you have it - a permathread here, a Twitter page, a blog, a public iCal calendar, an RSS feed, whatever suits. It doesn't need to take any longer than finding a post-it note to add it to your office planner.

Maybe you just don't want to attract anyone who hasn't been before. Your choice, I won't argue if that's what you want.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 04:42 PM

Festival dates - now that is a fair point. Put simply the website will be completely updated. Watch that space.
'Maybe you just don't want to attract anyone who hasn't been before. Your choice, I won't argue if that's what you want.'
…and obviously that's not what we want, why would you even suggest it?
Like I said, we are trying to get it right, we're not experts but we do care about this festival. You may not be aware of it but this is a massive project, it doesn't have grant aid thus is self-funded and, contrary to popular belief it is run by a devoted but shrinking number of volunteers.
I'll also repeat that the punters had a great time once again!

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: nutty
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 04:43 PM

I can only presume that you are not familiar with Google. A simple request for info on WHITBY FOLK FESTIVAL brings you to this page.

Whitby Folk Week which provides you with dates and other necessary info.

I can't think you would need more than this.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 04:58 PM

I can't think you would need more than this.

You had to send off 4 quid and an SAE for a paper copy of the programme - none of the information is on the site. And the programme was presumably printed from a PDF file that could have been uploaded to the web in seconds. I'd buy the paper programme if I was there, but that doesn't make sense as a way of doing advance publicity.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Cats
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 05:19 PM

I appreciate all the hard work that goes into planning and producing a programme for a festial as big as Whitby and you are never going to please everyone. However, if you have sight problems you have the right to ask for the programme to be available in an alternative format [comes under disability discrimination act] so perhaps next year you could ask for one of those. You might have to ask for it early so it can be printed off for you but if you can't see it, it's worth planning ahead. A note for the organisers, if anyone does ask for it in a different format all you have to do is have a copy on the computer and enlarge the print to whatever size and font they ask for and print it off as a one off. That way you comply with the law and don't have to go to the expense of printing different format and can change the font and the size to suit the individual.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,Barry from wife compute at work
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 05:22 PM

I biggest gripe for my trying to figure out which of the few festivals I can afford to make in a season is finding out about whose performing & if I'm not familiar with them a link to they're site or a good discription of them & what they do. If I can't find out whose performing & what they're about, I'll go to a festival where I can find the info, full & in advance. No excuse for not getting up the performers up in advance.

Barry

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,padgett on lap top
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 06:25 PM

I have the greatest regard for Whitby ff organisers, for potential audience and for the performers

I passed comment that now this 2009 festival is over they could start on 2010 ~ was told started in May 2009 for 2010!!

The programme was BIG and caters largely for traditional devotees and they were there in abundance including a number of Scottish based performers and one or two Irish and Welsh (well Michael O'Leary Johns!)

The Irish singer Tom? I had seen and heard at Bradfield trad festival earlier is a very stylistic singer (not billed)

Juggling venues, artists, mc's, stewards non arrivals must be a nightmare and organisers need iron constitution

Ideas and feedback are vital and I heard or some cock ups and filled in feedback forms ~ certainly about conflicts with the regatta

The regatta depends on tides, but Wff needs certainty of dates from year to year

Accommodation is at a premium and to have the same week for both is ridiculus!

Folk week relies heavily on committed volunteers and regard for folk music

In any organisation of this type the work, falls on few and dedicated shoulders

Good work for 2009, well done to all and lets hope they can iron out one or two problems

Some new names this year like Hissyfit in more contemporary vein sat well along side
Dave and Julie Evardson and John Conolly

Bryony Griffith and Will Hampson, Matt Quinn, Sam Lee and Sam Pirt from the younger end too of music and and song

Contact names for roles such as artists, stewards, sponsorship and adverts needed here too (yes they were in the programme) and the website should remain active for 2010 ~ perhaps!!)with this information

Just some thoughts

Ray Padgett

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Tootler
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 08:11 PM

Having the programme on the website would be very useful. Although I live fairly locally, I can't afford to spend the whole week at Whitby (for family reasons as well as financial ones), so having the programme available on the Website would help me in choosing when to go.

One vital piece of information missing from the website was the location of the festival office. At least I couldn't find it and I think I scoured it pretty thoroughly. It needs to be fairly prominent say on the contacts page and the programme page.

Advice and info on parking would also be useful. Parking in Whitby is bad enough in normal times and is a real problem when there is any special event on, so pointing people to where they might stand some chance of finding parking would be very useful.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Tyke
Date: 29 Aug 09 - 11:14 PM

I could tell you where the Parking is in Whitby however some would have to tell me how to do the HMTL to change to small print the details of said parking. Because if I told you then and told everyone else at the same time then the Car Park would be FULL!

Im afraid it's a case of Park it safe and walk it and if needs be Taxi back up the hill to retreve it. It's free parking in the Coop car park depending how much you spend and for how long.

Sorry but that is just how it is until someone comes up with the idea of a Bus or train services for Whitby.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: bill\sables
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 04:16 AM

The top of the first page of the programme gives the address and opening times of the festival office, and the middle pages of the events programme (Yellow pages)show a map of every venue of the festival along with festival office and all the car parks.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 04:28 AM

Every increase in point size adds to the cost of production of a paper printed document. I just tried moving the points to 12 point - fairly standard I guess. That action increases the cost to around double - who pays £8 for a festival programme? As I've said, we're taking your comments seriously and will make some changes to the website asap. But we still need a paper programme at the festival itself.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: nutty
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 04:50 AM

I'm still waiting to hear some thankyou's to the festival volunteers who spend their time in working (many have fulltime jobs)to provide the festival. Without them you wouldn't have anything to complain about nor would you have a festival to go to.

It is very easy to find fault - it is far harder to give time and effort to ensure that at least 99.9% of the people attending have a happy experience.

If the programme text is too small then the most sensible solution would be to invest in a small credit card magnifier available at most newsagents.

Putting the program on line may not be a total solution. This years Saltburn Festival prog was on-line but not downloadable so still required you tu buy a programme if you needed or wanted to have the info to hand.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Cats
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 05:06 AM

Nutty .. I said thank you, even though this year I couldn't go. I also said how i apprciate all the hard work. I wasn't whinging, just offering a solution for a way round those who need alternative versions under the DDA which all festival organisers must comply with.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 05:13 AM

Putting the program on line may not be a total solution. This years Saltburn Festival prog was on-line but not downloadable so still required you tu buy a programme if you needed or wanted to have the info to hand.

That's actually a good idea. If the paper programme is an essential source of income it makes sense to make it harder to print your own. When reading advance publicity, you don't need hard copy anyway.

In practice I can't imagine many people trying to print their own for a large programme. A commercially printed one will always be more usable than a pile of sheets off your home printer and 4 quid isn't going to break the bank.

The top of the first page of the programme gives the address and opening times of the festival office

But nothing on the website does, unless you want to go to Bradford. Since the office is where I'd expect to go to buy the programme, having its secret location only revealed in the programme itself doesn't exactly help.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,tom foxe
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 05:21 AM

Plus and Minus Whitby points:
-1. Feedback forms only available from Festival office -maybe you could put them in programme ?
-2. I made an email emquiry about the brilliant Irish poet Locker o++
-+? Donnelly as he wasn't in the programme, also googled but no joy & email bounced back - can anybody help please |?
Too many venues were simply TOO HOT with poor or no ventilation. I didn't attend the Rifle Club which I'm told was the worst, but was forced to leave the Resolution Concert Room. which had non-opening sash windows, many of them had large extractor fans but it weems they were part of an old installation, the room has 3 large aircon units but you wouldn't know it for all the good they did.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,Ruston
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 05:21 AM

Yes - thanks to everyone for the hard work. Of course there were glitches, failing to book advertised venues being a pretty major one, but we all survived. I think that the biggest problem we face now is, as I understand it, the apparent desire of Scarborough council to keep the Folk Festival and the Regatta as a permanent twin booking and maybe take over the running of it all themselves. Whether they have their eyes on moving the FF to Scarborough itself has also been mooted.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,TOM FOXE
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 05:29 AM

- Don't keep staples near your PC - they play havoc when they get in the keyboard ! Sorry, didn't mean to send message without positives.
+1. Helpful, hardworking, cheerful festival volunteers.
+2. Brilliant performers, esp. the women singers and funny guys.
+3 Extra performers drafted in when some didn't turn up.
A big THANK YOU to all organisers & helpers.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Nick
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 07:06 AM

There was a programme of sorts on the site last year I think - Whitby Progamme 08 PDF though it doesn't mention the locations!

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Diva
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 07:15 AM

A huge thank you and well done to the festival committee and organisers and all the stewards. As I am involved with a festival in the Scottish Borders I know exactly what its like for us, for an event the size of Whitby I don't know how they are not quivering wrecks by the end of the week.

Things go wrong......its part of the deal....

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 07:15 AM

A Google search for links to the URL of that PDF draws a blank. How were you supposed to find it?

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Nick
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 07:17 AM

I don't know - I can't remember where I came across it but I found it last week

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,jim mac farland
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 07:42 AM

hi tom foxe

the info you wanted on the "racker donnelly" (peter donnelly)can be found at [e-mail]

this info. is on his CD "rhymes of the racker" -- great cd--

hope this helps

jim

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 07:53 AM

Crikey!

First, THANK YOU everyone for Whitby Folk Week. I suspect all those who think this are a) still recovering and b) decided not to read a thread which could be interpreted as being critical.

1. I too found programming clashes/ be in two places at once. Then I asked myself "Would I be willing to take on this job?" and shut up pretty quickly.

2. I found feedback forms at two workshop/concert venues and at the spa.

3. Jack - I just don't get you. If you were to go to the Festival Office, you'd be at the festival. What's your point about not knowing where it is, if you say you're never going? Well, not until you get your own copy well in advance of it being available. I wonder if you mean a year-round office, which I suspect is a series of volunteer kitchens, spare rooms etc. Also, there's a great danger that if you wait for a programme, it will be way too late to find anywhere to stay. (Sorry, organisers, if you still have camping available at that point. Me, I'm booked for next year already.)

4. Last year's programme was for LAST year. Why should it still be available online?

5. Move to Scarbro'? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Don't even make me imagine it.

6. Again, THANK YOU everyone for WFW.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: LesB
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 07:54 AM

One mans meat etc, Re Racker Donnoly. I had to go out of the concert, he was driving me round the bend!
See we all like different things.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 08:04 AM

Scarborough council have mooted this move before - it isn't viable because Scarborough is too big and there aren't enough venues in close proximity to one another. The Regatta can't be fixed because of the issue of the tide and the Folk Week can't be fixed because of the calendar of festivals nationally which it has to fit into. It ain't going to happen.Even the Musicport World music festival (conceived in Whitby) has moved to Bridlington this year because the terms and accomodation for events are better than could be offered elsewhere.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 08:11 AM

Who's on which day!

Firstly a big thank you to all the organisers!
Yes it would have been nice to see the full programme online but I always buy a paper copy anyway as a souvenir and season ticket holders get one free. Now to the website - the home page gives a brief description of the festival and the dates are clearly shown. There are then links to the guest lists, camping arrangements, tourist info and even music to download for one of the workshops. The pdf of daily appearances whilst not giving details of venue and times does give anyone coming for a short time the chance to make a decision based on who is appearing that day. Whitby does not go for the BIG headliner acts so if you miss seeing someone you will almost certainly get the chance to see them again somewhere else during the week. The festival office is only open during folk week and was signposted on most routes into Whitby. Programmes were also on sale in many pubs and shops and at the tourist info office. There were some programme changes but these were publicised in the Wailer as soon as they were known and although it can be frustrating to turn up to an event that isn't happening or worse has already happened no festival of that size is going to run without some problem arising.
Let's give credit where credit is due and say thanks for a bloody fantastic week!

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Willa
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 08:13 AM

Glad to see that most of the posts here are positive & constructive.
I agree with Ray and Nutty.
There were 616 events in the programme; the mind boggles at the organisation required! Yes, events were moved, artists were missing, but these things happen and clearly the programme, printed in advance, can never be set in stone.
I attended/stewarded two workshops every day, had at least another seven hours of sessions/concerts every day.Tremendous value for money!!
I took feedback forms to my workshops; don't know whether that was generally done.
Some people do not go into the office at all and so miss the Wailer and notices re changes; perhaps the need to CHECK venue times/details could be made clearer on the website and in the programme.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Surreysinger
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 08:21 AM

The unnamed Irish singer mentioned by Ray Padgett is Tom McCarthy ... and he wasn't billed because he wasn't a booked artist. In fact, having travelled up on the train from London with him and one or two others, I think his decision to come to the festival was rather late in the day (and he thoroughly enjoyed himself). Racker Donnelly is certainly an acquired taste ... and can be quite intense ... but when he hits the right buttons is intensely funny!! (Although somebody really ought to fill him in with the correct history of Woking - severe distortion there !!! [grins])

Re the timetable, there certainly was a version up on the web last year (2008) - it was the only means I had of finding out when I was on the bill!!! (Different organisers). Sidmouth certainly publishes their full programme on the web about a month before the festival kicks off.

And as to feedback forms , I saw only one, in the hands of a lady in the Football club late on Friday night. I would certainly like to have had one to fill in, but had not seen one all week. (I gather from speaking to someone on that night that they were in the Festival office, but had been somewhat lacking in profile and visibility). Maybe someone should consider putting something up on the website??

The Wailer, principle organ of information about changes to events and venues, seemed to be lacking in visibility as well. I popped into the office nearly every day to get hold of one, but in previous years, I had normally bought mine from one of the venues. This year I didn't see hide nor hair of any at any of the venues I attended - was this a change I wonder?

Anyhow, a great week as always. Disturbing, though, to hear rumours that the politics of the local council might be involved in the double scheduling of the regatta against the festival. Tides were apparently suitable for the regatta two weeks before the festival week, and two weeks after it. Talking to a couple of local B&B owners they like the clash no more than we did, as it effectively loses them money. More worrying still the rumour that the council would like to see the festival moved to Scarborough!! For me the appeal of the festival is its traditional nature AND the charm of the location... I would certainly feel no attraction at all to the idea of going to Scarborough as the venue - please say it ain't so?

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Surreysinger
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 08:23 AM

Composed and posted that before the other comments about Scarborough materialised!!

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 08:24 AM

Great Festival (as ever)
There is so much on that you really need to do a month's advance planning to make sure you don't miss anything. I found last years on-line programme useful, but in a place like Whitby it is essential to know where things are, unless teleportation comes free with the season ticket.
I would like something that can be downloaded into a spreadsheet so that I can play with it (eliminate the ones I know I won't go to).

I agree with the excellent suggestion -
"Also, under each biog, why not put the event numbers they are appearing at, saves a lot of searching. And while they are about it why not put a biog in for all performers" . Would help a lot.

The fact that you put a little info on the workshops (e.g. that it is no.4 of 5) is an improvement. But some entries are still mysterious to the uninitiated. The entry PLAYFORD would mean nothing, looking up the entries for the workshop leaders (if you had time between rushing to the other things you didn't want to miss) would give you a clue that it was some kind of dancing, but little else. One year we went to a North West clog workshop, expecting something like the Lancashire Wallopers or Camden Clog do, and found it was NW Morris. Too late to run off to one of the other good things we were missing.

You give free programmes to season ticket holders, but why, oh why do I have to faff about and waste a stamp sending for my advance copy? Please can I ask and pay in advance when I book. My husband pulls the middle out of his, so 1 souvenir programme (in advance) and 1 working programme would be enough for us. It might save the festival a few pence to give the working programme free to season ticket holders and ask them to pay for the full one. Is there a paperless, email option for advance publicity?

Keep up the good work (we've got our tickets and flat booked for next year)

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 08:33 AM

Maybe we should all write to Scarborough council petitioning them to leave OUR festival alone.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 09:18 AM

I started going to Whitby Festival in the early days. When the whole festival cdould be organised around the Mission to Seamen. When I said this at one of our workshops there was shocked disbelief.

At such a massive event and let's remind ourselves built up, organised and grown by people who basically have not taken a cent for themselves, then we have to appreciate there will be mistakes. It happens.

I sincerely believe that anyone who is offering criticism - should do so quietly to the organisers - who I am sure will take their messages on board. They really also ought to be prepared to help in some way in the organisation. There will be something you can do.

My wife wants to know why we have not been before as a married couple. (I had, she hadn't). She enjoyed the Irish workshops with Jerry O'Reilly, whilst I was off hanky-waving. Read into that what you will!!

We'll be there next year. Something better is unlikely to come up.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: GUEST,Shelagh
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 09:51 AM

Whitby Folk Festival is ALWAYS the week running up to the August Bank Holiday, so you can work out next year's dates right now!
As far as the small print goes, for many years I've been getting my programme in advance and photocopying each page onto A4 size so's I can read it more easily. Since I left work I've been scanning it and blowing it up that way.
Yes the first part of the week was a little frustrating - going down from the campsite to the Royal Hotel, only to find out that I should have been at the campsite didn't make me a happy bunny but the excersise did me good.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 10:10 AM

'And while they are about it why not put a biog in for all performers" . Would help a lot.'
You're dead right!
As the guy who puts the blogs in the programme I'm a bit frustrated by the people who sent their stuff in the week before last (no names – look at the gaps) and the people who, despite my clear request for 300 dpi pics still managed to send in postage stamp sized photos. I can turn water into wine, but miracles, I don't do!
I really liked the suggestion of feedback form in the programme – we sometimes, for printing reasons, have to include blank pages and suggestions like this are great. Watch next year's prog. For the last two years we have tried to put the list of numbers of events next to the artist- sadly the booking database was set up so that this was very difficult. We're working on that too.

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: sid
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 10:18 AM

This thread started with someone saying they missed a concert because they couldn't find it in the programme - then someone else said that they went, but couldn't get in 15 mins early, suggesting that a lot of people did find it, like they found everything else. So that works then!
I've been going to Whitby for 30 odd years, since the days of Church House, the scout hut and the Garland hanging from the rafters in the old Spa! - it's always been a great week and a good holiday, despite being in Yorkshire.
I'm now a regular steward at the football club each evening and this year even did a couple of "turns" to help with programme changes as both the organisers and artists were anxious to maintain a standard and to ensure that the show would go on despite all the scheduling problems thrown in their way.
Let's not forget that Malcolm Storey and others grew the festival to what it is now and grew with it, the new committee have had to catch these bouncing balls and keep them in the air, and they're not doing a bad job either. Things are still changing and will probably continue to do so. Moaning and complaining is easy and depressing, volunteering and helping is difficult but more rewarding - you choose!
SID

Subject: RE: WHITBY Folk Week - the small print
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 10:28 AM

The blank pages are useful for noting the various times when an act you don't want to miss is on. Or jotting down dance instructions and other info. that you want to remember when you get home.