Mudcat Worldwide Singaround 1st Monday every Month

Subject: Mudcat online singaround?
From: GUEST,Chris Lamb
Date: 05 Jun 20 - 06:01 AM

Link posted here Mondays for the week's Mudcat Worldwide Song Circle.
Singing starts Mondays at 8 PM London time. That's Noon here in California, 3 PM at Mudcat Central in Pennsylvania, and early Tuesday morning in Sydney. Doors open half an hour earlier.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83822909468?pwd=stXs5l33EaOFSbMAPOlUSe9Jl3pt5O.1

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Back in March (2020), on a thread that's now closed, Joe Offer said: "And I think it would be really nice if we could have a weekly Mudcat singaround online."
Was this suggestion taken up? It would be great to put a face and a voice to some of the regular Mudcatters and to hear them sing, on Zoom, perhaps. I'd love to hear Jim Carroll sing again, for example, as I haven't heard him or Pat McKenzie sing since Critics Group days.

The many singarounds that have sprung up since lockdown started have brought together some fine singers from across the seas and enabled us to hear those we would never have been able to listen to in normal times.
Can the Mudcat community respond to this opportunity?

Subject: RE: Mudcat online singaround
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 05 Jun 20 - 11:28 AM

Now there's an idea!

Subject: RE: Mudcat online singaround
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 06 Jun 20 - 02:06 PM

Go for it!

Regards

Subject: RE: Mudcat online singaround
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 06 Jun 20 - 03:53 PM

That sounds good to me
Nothing much else on a Monday and 9pm start is good

Sarah

Subject: RE: Mudcat online singaround
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Jun 20 - 07:31 PM

I’m up for it too, 9pm Mondays is good for me, and Zoom works well.

Are you up for organising it Joe? ??

Subject: RE: Mudcat online singaround
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jun 20 - 08:38 PM

Okey-dokey. I think we have a minyan. Well, it's supposed to be 10 adult, circumcised males, but we'll make do with what we've got.

Monday at 8 PM London time. That's Noon here in California, 3 PM at Mudcat Central in Pennsylvania, and 5 AM in Sydney.

I'll host. I'll post the link to the Zoom session here in this thread just one hour before we begin, and I'll open up half an hour early at 7:30 PM for cocktails and conversation. There will be a waiting room, and I reserve the right to reject people I don't recognize - so please use your Mudcat names. Sorry.

This should be fun!

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Mudcat online singaround Monday 9 PM London time
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jun 20 - 06:22 AM

When you enter Zoom, you will usually be give the opportunity to give the name you want to be known by for the session. If you have not used Zoom since June 1, you may be asked to update to the new, encrypted Version 5 of Zoom. It seems to be quite stable, so just OK the download and there you go - good reason to show up early, though.

I'm looking forward to this.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround Mondays 8 PM London
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Jun 20 - 02:45 PM

Yes that’s right Amergin, for security reasons the new link is only put up about an hour before the start each week, so less likely to attract gatecrashers.

I think it’s even better than the old HearMe (which I remember very fondly) because we can see each other too!
Joe Offer has of course gone another step further and often searches for and adds info and words for the song being sung, in the chat box in real time... which sets this Mudcat Singaround apart from all others I’ve been involved with.

Mudcat is once again in the vanguard of new ideas!
(I wonder whether the wonderful Max might join us one week?!)

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround Mondays 8 PM London
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jun 20 - 11:45 AM

The link people have posted here gives the first-time user the opportunity to download the software even if they load it before or during the event.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround Mondays on Zoom
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jul 20 - 03:19 AM

This thread is getting pretty long, but I think I'd like to preserve it as the go-to place for the singaround.
Feel free to post whatever you like here (especially lyrics to songs you have sung or will sing), but I'll probably move most messages over two weeks old to our overflow thread (click).

I'm having the best time at this Monday singaround. My big black dog Madeleine loves it, too, and she often comes into my office to listen while we're singing.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom Mondays
From: GerryM
Date: 14 Jan 21 - 06:49 AM

Thanks, Waddon Pete. I don't think I have editing privileges here, but I'm no less grateful for corrections.

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Editing privileges? That's a good idea. Gerry and Casey and Noreen now have editing privileges on this thread, and I thank all of them for their contribution to making this weekly singaround possible.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom Mondays!
From: GUEST,Chris the Bard
Date: 07 Jan 23 - 10:58 AM

In the Mudcat Singaround how are performers selected/organized? Also what kind of music is expected? Is there room for original contemporary folk?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom Mondays!
From: Felipa
Date: 07 Jan 23 - 03:51 PM

Chris - you just have to ask Joe Offer to email you the zoom link, which changes each week. Everyone who attends is welcome to sing; you are given a number when you sign in. So we take turns singing in roughly the order that we sign in to zoom. There is some juggling to accommodate late comers when the early birds have all had a turn, or to accommodate people who have to rush off. Most people do not stay for the full 4 hours plus; some leave early and some arrive late.

Pretty much anything accoustic is acceptable. Some people accompany their singing and others don't. There is a Mudcat thread you can look at which lists songs sung at past singarounds Songs from the Mudcat Worldwide Singaround

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom Mondays!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jan 23 - 06:52 PM

We have mostly folk, some blues, recitations, and occasional torch songs and rock songs and a bit of filk. It's supposed to be your own performance - we frown on those who want to play recordings for us or give us garden tours or display full frontal nudity...

And if you'd like to be on our notification list, email me, [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom Mondays
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Feb 23 - 02:56 PM

I have to say how thrilled I am every Monday that this singaround thing still works. We've been going every Monday since June of 2020, and it never gets old. The people are so nice, and the songs are wonderful. And the people who have volunteered to cohost are go good about keeping everything running smoothly. This singaround is so much fun. I look forward to it every week.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom Mondays!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Apr 23 - 06:09 PM

Ray Nichol send some pretty good advice for online singing sessions:

VIRTUAL SESSIONS:


The following apply to most live sessions:


• Switch your settings to have microphone and video off when joining a session.
• Check your equipment and settings before joining meetings to save time.

• Be conscious of background environments and others in the room. ?
• Computers used should be in appropriate areas, and where possible be against a neutral background. ?
• Cameras may be turned off if other distractions in the household may a disruption. ?


ETIQUETTE
• In any meeting the Host is in charge, let them deal with any questions do not butt in unless asked.

• Language must be professional and appropriate, including any family members in the background.

• Be polite and remember the other people are sitting in their own homes.

• Save non-relevant discussion for elsewhere.

• Remember that most people will know the history of songs etc, no need to tell the full story every time.

• Make use of 'Chat' to ask for information on tunes privately, or to post the information on your performance.

• Repeats are fine but remember some people may have heard the same one last time.

• Possibly keep a note of your own performances to help you plan for next time.

• Try not to practice during someone else’s performance, and mute to tune up.

• Do not post links to other sessions without permission.

• If you join a session give it your full attention, joining just to perform is very rude.

• Even if there is no time limit, don't drone on.

• Choose pieces that are of an appropriate length, don't expect a welcome back if you go on for 15 minutes.

• There is no such thing as constructive criticism on Zoom sessions. Keep it to yourself.

• If you are late for the session, you can still join but expect to be at end of list.



RULES
• Participants are expected to adhere to Club rules and maintain appropriate behaviour.

• On most sessions, No Politics or Religion, Zoom groups are very mixed everyone is entitled to their own views.



RECORDING

• Sessions should NOT to be recorded on any device unless permission is granted.
• If any members would like a recording of 'their performance only' please ask Host who may send you the video file. (if you ask, we will let you record your own performance at the Mudcat Singaround, but please keep conversation and disturbances related to recording at a minimum).

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We've been doing this Mudcat Worldwide Singaround for almost 3 years now, and we're still having fun. Come join us on Zoom Mondays. We start at noon Los Angeles time, which is 3 PM in New York and 8 PM in London. Doors open about half an hour earlier.

Please remember to keep song introductions short and between-song conversations at a minimum. I got a lot of complaints last week because I let some newcomers prattle on. So, folks, quit prattling. People tend to think it's boring. And if you feel driven to give tech advice, please refrain. If you're giving advice to a singer, our tech people can't talk to them. So, HUSH!!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom Mondays!
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 10 Apr 23 - 08:56 AM

Good points there, maybe worthy of deeper discussion but on another thread.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom TODAY!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 May 23 - 06:44 AM

Email from Casey:

We rely, as always, on the skills of the volunteer co-hosts to do the zoomy part of running the session. Are you curious about how Joe’s Fuzzy Logic works in the second round? see the note below.

And don’t forget to post to Chat the title and origin of songs you sing (we guest hosts don’t have quite Joe’s well-known superpower for finding a song on line! Help us get your song info, so it appears on the list of songs and readings that Gerry posts to the Mudcat Worldwide Singaround thread every week.)

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JOE’S FUZZY LOGIC - how the singing order works in the second round.
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—The Mudcat Worldwide Singaround continues until everyone who wishes to has sung twice.

—Participants are given a number as they arrive. If you’re just listening, let the host or a co-host know, and you’ll be given the number 99, indicating to the host that you aren’t planning to sing.

—In the first round, we sing in the order of our numbers.

--There are always singers who can’t be there for the first round. This is to be expected in a large session that incorporates busy people from many time zones.

— Joe has his own system to insure that people arriving in the second round still get to sing twice.   Joe tries to avoid having anyone sing their two songs back to back. Therefore, he likes to incorporate latecomers into the queue to sing their first song soon after they arrive, and then have them sing their second song when we reach their number.

-- He accomplishes this by calling on the singers with numbers 1-10, then detouring to anyone who has only arrived in the second round and has not yet sung at all. When the late arrivals have sung their first song, he continues with singers numbered 11-20.   Then he checks once again for any additional arrivals who haven’t yet had their first song, and calls on them.   Finally, Joe continues with singers from numbers 21 on, and we sing through to the end of the queue. He may decide to let a very late arrival sing twice in a row, depending on how late the session is running.   That’s Joe’s Fuzzy Logic!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround - On Zoom Mondays
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jun 23 - 11:17 AM

Hi, Everybody -
Three years ago, I wouldn't have believed that we would still be singing every Monday for three years, but here we are. I'm glad to be back to singing with my local friends, but it has turned out to be wonderful to have the opportunity to sing every week with people from all over the world. And the songs and singing continue to be of such high quality. I think we'll keep this going indefinitely, as long as we have songs to share - and as long as I can depend on Dave Kidman and Casey Casebeer to fill in for me when I get the Wanderlust.

Come join us every Monday for 4 hours of singing on Zoom at the Mudcat Worldwide Singaround. We start singing at noon Los Angeles time, which is 3 PM in New York and 8 PM in London. Singers in other time zones are required to do their own calculations. Doors open half an hour before the singing. Hope you can come.

Alternate blurb: Come one, come all to Monday's Mudcat Worldwide Singaround on Zoom. 8 PM in London, 3 PM New York, and Noon in Los Angeles.
We open half an hour early for cocktails and conversation, sing twice round the circle for about 5 hours, and then party afterwards until we're done.

Joe Offer, Music Editor, The Mudcat Cafe Folk Music Forum
https://mudcat.org/

Subject: RE: Next Mudcat Worldwide Singaround-On Zoom January 8
From: Monique
Date: 24 Dec 23 - 02:56 AM

Thank you indeed Joe and thanks to all the team! I'll be back next time and will resume my work -life has some unavoidable painful moments.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround-On Zoom Mondays!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Jan 24 - 12:19 AM

Hi, Everybody - I hope you can sing with us on Zoom on Monday every week. Singing starts at noon Los Angeles time, which is 3 PM in New York and 8 PM in London. We sing for 4-5 hours, and always have a good time.

There's been a little discussion lately about our policy on between-song conversation and length of performances, and the like. Different singarounds do things differently. We like to emphasize music and not conversation, and we like to keep the session moving along. We have 25-35 singers every week, and the session can get tedious if there's too much conversation. So please help to keep the session moving along - without being rushed. In general, each person's turn is one song or recitation, plus a brief introduction - limited to five minutes but hopefully shorter. But if a ballad or recitation goes a minute or two overtime, I don't think everybody's going to mind.

And sorry, but we really don't want participants giving technical instructions to participants. That's what we have cohosts for.
I don't want to get all rulesy about this, but the idea is that we want to keep the session moving along and not get bogged down by conversation. Thanks.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround-On Zoom NOW!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 May 24 - 06:28 PM

25 singers today, and the singing is lovely. But I've always thought we should stop this thing before it dies. When should we call an end to this? Our fifth anniversary is coming up in June, and our sessions have been wonderful for five years. How long can we endure? How long should we endure?
As long as we're healthy, I think we should keep this going.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround-On Zoom Mondays!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Aug 24 - 11:32 AM

Hi, Everybody -
Come join us on July 7 and the First Monday of Every Month for the Mudcat Worldwide Singaround. It starts at noon California time, which is 3 PM in New York and 8 PM in London. Singing has been lasting about 3 hours, until everybody has had two turns. Then people hang out and chat.
Due to popular request, I'm going to keep the link for the Singaround fixed until/unless it causes us problems.
See you then!

Joe Offer is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround-8 PM London Time
Time: Monday, July 7, 2025 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 838 2290 9468
Passcode: 072562

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83822909468?pwd=stXs5l33EaOFSbMAPOlUSe9Jl3pt5O.1

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Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround Five-Year Jubilee Jun2
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jun 25 - 05:30 PM

From,Vikki: A parody to commemorate/celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Mudcat zoom sing:

This Sing is Your Sing
To the tune of This Land is Your Land by Woodie Guthrie
(which is based on the Carter Family's When the World's on Fire)
new words by Vikki Appleton ©2 June 2025

CHORUS:
This sing is your sing
This sing is my sing
From the lovely low notes
To the way-up-high zing
From the Sierra foothills
To the Aussie harbours
This sing was made for you and me

When Covid cancelled
Our socialising
See Joe and Mudcat
To the challenge rising
They gave us singing
To lift our lockdowns
This sing was made for you and me

So every Monday
We learned what grace is
And made new friends in
Far distant places
We kept on singing
We kept on listening
Cos this sing was made for you and me

Now five years later
Across the nations
It’s time for Thank Yous
And celebrations
We are so grateful
To Joe and those who
Built this sing, just made for you and me

Subject: RE: Mudcat Worldwide Singaround 1st Monday every Month
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jun 25 - 01:58 AM

A reminder that we will no longer sing together every week. We'll meet on the first Monday of the month.

On the other Mondays, after my afternoon nap, I'm hoping to start going to the FVFS- Monday Online Sing, sponsored by John Sargent and the Fox Valley Folklore Society. I hope this Facebook link works for you:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1695048911376083/1695048921376082/

and if that link doesn't work, maybe this one will:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/620325914396084