Eggs and Sessions

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Declan
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 04:31 PM

We had a session in Sidmouth this year in which we were joined from the next table by an egg shaker. She played reasonably to time, not too loud and at worst didn't interfere with the session too much.

When we'd finished playing a guy at the bar said "that was a nice session you had there - except for that woman with the baby's F**kin' Rattle" - Interesting description.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 02:18 AM

Ah, the old style 50p piece or a 'two bob bit' and a proper dimpled beer pot - the dimples added a bit more texture to the sound and the thickness of the coin did a lot to lessen the tinny noise. Once they shrank the 10p piece and switched to sleeve glasses, the art of beermugging was doomed.

Like the shaky egg, in the right place and in the right hands, it's a great addition, but unfortunately, so often it's in neither.

LTS

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: alison
Date: 10 Oct 07 - 09:35 PM

discovered something worse than eggs at a session a few weeks back

somone was playing the table with two coins - one in each hand - and for variation he moved onto two coins and an empty beer glass!!

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Melissa
Date: 10 Oct 07 - 08:22 PM

Inflamed Ego Disorder is easier to diagnose than it used to be, but so far, an effective treatment has not been discovered. Symptoms range from mild rudeness to outward cruelty and the most perplexing aspect of the disease is that the sufferer him/herself actually feels very little pain as the disease progresses.
IED is believed to be contagious, but scientists have been unable to isolate the method of transmission so far, which makes it difficult to create an anti-venom.
****
When I realized that I was going to spend more time than I truly enjoy with not-so-great players, I decided that I better figure out a way to benefit from it instead of being miserable.
If they don't play as well as me, it is MY JOB to adapt. If they aren't taking their instruments out more than once a week, I have grace enough to be glad that they take them out at least once a week. If music is their Social Activity and not their income source, they're perfectly justified in playing as infrequently as they choose.
If I had chosen to quit instead of deciding to adapt, the loosely bound group would have stopped gathering...and there would have been a handful of old men losing the chance to keep on playing. They're cranky, rude and sometimes don't play very well at all.
To have a chance to play, they need the security of a consistent guitar for back-up. I'm a snob, but I'm not cruel.

Reading some of the rant threads, I've learned that although I have been thinking that it would be nice to have a chance to play with a new group of musicians so I could play different songs and maybe snag some neat guitar tricks, I think I'm better off with my batches of poor musicians--and I'm absolutely certain that I'm more likely to keep improving my own skills close to home.
Playing with bad musicians has taught me a lot of things I wouldn't have learned with hotshots.
When I'm playing, I want to Play..not exclude (or be excluded.) I have opinions that are every bit as pointed and unbending as a lot of the things I've read lately, but the whole greedy/possessive/competitive thing creeps me out.
Music is like conversation..if you don't like the way it's going, you can change the direction, quietly endure, or step out.

It seems to me that it would be handy if there was a thread dedicated to warning us away from gatherings advertised as "open" when that's not what the session regulars intend.

I find the whole ego-stroking routine exceedingly unseemly.

I opened this thread because I've been thinking about "Green Eggs and Ham" lately..as it turns out, that's kind of what the topic is, I guess?

M

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Oct 07 - 01:14 PM

Eggs and Sessions is the title of a monthly breakfasr meeting sponsored by the Portland Chamber of Commerce. This thread gets my attention every time.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,Cressida Ford
Date: 10 Oct 07 - 01:12 PM

Exactly what Bee said - what a fun thread! Rather enjoyed reading it; some of you are very witty and I did a lot of laughing!

But - thanks to the more curmudgeonly among you - I've decided I'm never taking my guitar to another session again. I always thought everyone was very tolerant. I always thought folk music was for the folk - the people in general. I always thought that I'd be welcome to play so long as it was evident how hard I was trying to be sympathetic to the music. I see now that's only true by and large, and I'm not being melodramatic here; I'm completely genuine when I say that I'm not taking my guitar out to a session ever again because as shy as I am I hate the thought that sitting somewhere in the corner there could well be a grumpy git wishing I'd eff off somewhere else.

So thanks, allen woodpecker, I hope you're pleased that you've rid the folk world of another lousy untutored noisemaker. Keep up the good work. x

Cressi

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Bee
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 04:49 PM

Now, see, this is what happens to me on Mudcat. I enter a thread with a puzzling title, innocent lamb to the slaughter, and end up spending half an hour reading a five year old grumbling session regarding low-end percussion instruments. Why? No idea, just get sucked in because some of you turn a neat phrase, and here and there a gem droppeth (and other things too, but, well...)

There aren't too many shaky eggs hereabouts, but metal spoon players are rather frowned on by the fidlegentia.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 10:59 AM

I think it is illegal but several guests have taken to stealing my whale tambourine. He returns periodically in odd clothes and with odder companions. Once he was actually harpooned.
I got the message and now resort to Mexicali Rose to get attention.
SINS

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 08:02 AM

.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Sabine
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 04:27 PM

Not very easy to some fresh air into this thread. Above that I'm sometimes struggling with my English, so please forgive any mistakes I might make :o)

A shaky egg can be fine. Sometimes. Not always. There are some tunes played in a very speedy or swinging way (like e.g. Lunasa is playing). There sometimes a shaky egg can be great if someone uses it who is able to find (and hold) the rhythm.
But people, unable for the finest strings of melody or rhythm who get into a session and hardly shaking this bloody thing without knowin what they are doing just to join - *argh* - I'd like to give them a kick.
Same like people sitting there and hammering two spoons against each other like two bricks, without any method or rhythm.... I can't understand it.

One can accompany a good song or tune with those things but if they are played like the other musicians don't exist I'm really getting angry.

Maybe I'm an ignorant but I also stopped songs whilst such a craze near me shaking his shakyegg (btw...it was An Mhaighdean Mhara). Sorry, but I can't hide my temper in those moments and that's the end of tolerance for me.

I'm also playing bodhran, guitar, mandoline and have a shaky egg. But I know when to shut up!
Some people don't understand and won't understand, no matter how polite you try to explain. They think they have a right to "play" in a session because it's open.

I always thought that those idiots are only here in Germany but from the reactions above I can see it's nearly everywhere. *sigh*


But, never mind, I'm still joining sessions and if it's becoming to bad I leave the table and get myself a good glas of Guinness *g*

Keep the music rolling

All the best

Sabine

CantaLibre - more than just folk

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:48 PM

GUEST allen woodpecker, I can see that you are genuine, and there are several points you make which are interesting. When I have the time, I would like to offer a different point of view. However, it is very late at night here in Oz, and I am about to sign off and go to bed before going away for the weekend - I thought I'd let you know just so that you don't think I was taking a pot-shot at you and running away. I'll post again in a couple of days.

Jenny

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,allen woodpecker
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 10:18 AM

Dear JennyO. I'm not a completely humourless eejit and I am well versed in irony. I've read the Folk Police threads with interest and I really enjoy the mudcat in general. Don't think of me as a curmudgeonly troll, please.
That said, I put it to you, and in fact to any interested 'catter. In what other musical genre is mediocrity and banality encouraged? None. Pure and simple. Blues, Jazz, Classical - in none of these are people persuaded that mediocrity is good. In all other musical forms, people are encouraged to practice (maybe even, gulp, on their own) and strive to become the best that they can be, pay their dues, respect experience, and take advice from people who know more/have wider experience. Not so, "folk", it would seem. Loads of mudcat contributors seem to advocate absolute beginners going to play in pubs with people who actually know what they're doing. Like I say, sessions are for developing technique and repertoire, not for learning basics of any instrument. Absolute beginners should be encouraged to go to sessions, but WITHOUT INSTRUMENTS, listen to people, talk to people, and find their way in. If that sounds snobbish, well it's exactly what I did - paying your dues, learning your trade, gaining experience. From personal experience as a bodhran teacher for 3 years, I make a point of telling my pupils that they will learn more in the first year by watching and listening than they will from playing in sessions. The whole folk ethos of being "good enough" just sticks in my throat, frankly. I know people who have been playing for at least 5 years, and they still play the same tunes in the same way, and have not developed at all. And you think this sort of mediocrity-embracing chumminess should be accepted?? I practice damn hard on bodhran, whistle, flute, pipes, and with singing, because I want to be as good as I can be at each of them - I've never accepted "good enough" and nobody should. Music is not a game - enjoy playing, and the friends you make, but every individual should be 100% committed to their musicianship, and never settle for "good enough. As you're a member, and I'm just an occasional guest, perhaps you'd like to start a thread entitled
"Why does "folk music" accept mediocrity and unwillingness to strive for personal development?".
So yeah, perhaps I appear like PC Plod of the Folk Police - but what you have failed to do is convince me that you believe in playing well, as opposed to just messing about.
As an aside, I'm not sure how we got from eggs and bodhrans to a treatise on standards and attitudes in folk music. Never mind.
Respectfully yours, a.w.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 10:05 AM

'Invited' is my euphemism for being paid.
Danny.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 09:52 AM

GUEST allen woodpecker, I just refreshed the Folk Police thread for you. What a good thing there aren't too many like you in the sessions I go to!

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 08:47 AM

...I knew there was a reason why I never go to folk clubs!

RtS
(a moron with no music in his body- or his washboard!)

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,allen woodpecker
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 06:58 AM

Oh, God in heaven - preserve us from assholes of all persuasions!
Put very simply.
1. A session is not somewhere to LEARN AN INSTRUMENT. It is somewhere to learn tunes, develop technique, and generally improve all aspects of musicianship. People should not try to join in with a session unless they are basically competent on their instrument.
2. If you walk into a pub with a session going on at which you are not one of the "faces" - you MUST either ask to join in, or at least make it so obvious that somone will invite you to join. You wouldn't dream of sitting down at a table full of people having a chat, and the same applies to people making music.
3. An egg is not an instrument, it is a noisy frippery. I've been known to play them on occasion, and even the bones as well (but only with pipers), but nobody really thinks that an egg is in itself a musical instrument, do they??!! Tolerance of morons with no music in their body should not be accepted. Having said that, it is my firm belief that all bodhran players should be able to play music on another instrument, as it means they understand the vibe better, and have more sympathy with the players. Maybe that sounds a bit fascist, but I consider myself to be a good bodhran player precisely because I can also play the tunes I'm accompanying.
Here endeth - a.w.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Clean Supper
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 06:30 AM

Oy - guest Danny Mackay - since when was anyone, percussionist, instrumentalist, singer or audience, "invited" to a session. A session is for people to come and play. There are lots of "shoulds" to be said on this issue but I think it would be very helpful to the creation of enjoyable music if everyone allowed a bit more for all the other reasons than their own for playing music or being there.

I don't know the situation in the specific sessions under discussion so I won't try to tell anyone they're wrong about how bad it is for one group or another. I will say, though, that I've been to some great sessions that were so good BECAUSE the people there listened to the song or tune itself and were able to intuitively agree on whether it was a quiet song with a few singers and a lot of audience, a rocking set of reels where everyone has a bash and the piano accordian is in charge, a chorus song with room for a harmony or twelve if you can find one or a rare chance for the fiddliest tunesters to do their stuff with just one expert guitar or cello for some bass. That has happened and the mixture throughout the night makes each of the kinds of enjoyment more special and exquisite.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:30 AM

Well done Rag.
I must agree with you. I hope this was the point I was trying to put across earlier. As I said the biggest mistake we could make is to drive people away, and this sometimes means making the 'offender' aware in as nice a way as possible that they need to get in time or quieten down. I've done it by saying 'It's your turn now' - the astonished look on faces can sometimes be a joy in itself.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,Rag
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:20 AM

As ever, it's about consideration. Some folks aint got none. We've had sessions turn into free-for-alls because no-one will say shut up. Everyone is so careful not to put anyone off that the music degenerates into a complete mess. We've had singers all but drowned out by other singers who insist that their seventh harmony line just makes the song. We've had DADGAD drones and dischords over really good traditional tunes whilst two other guitarists are adding their jazz-funk thrashings nice and loud too. And the eggs of course.

Occasionally something has been said, then whoever actually said something and stopped the nuisance is attacked for being too hard, then after a little while, a few people voice the opinion that it was a good thing that the guy with football clacker has gone...

If you can get any kind of agreement about the session should be like, you'll still have trouble keeping it sensible because others insist on their rights - whatever they think they are - to do their own thing. Unless someone exerts some control, I fear that traditional sessions will just deteriorate and fall apart. In my experience, most sessions go through a cycle of being quite good for the first year, then being popular they attract increasing numbers of loud beginners, then the good players start giving it a miss, then a rump forms around a couple of players who just want to do their own thing anyway, then the pub gets fed up and throws them out.

Keeping a good session going means making sure the partipants put the music first and have some idea of how to respect what's going on:

1. If you can't hear the person who is leading the set, you're playing too loud.
2. The person who starts the set decides the key, the time, the number of repeats, the number of tunes, and when the set finishes so don't dick about with it and don't try to take it over.
3. If you are accompanying, make sure you're not clashing with other people and if you think you might be, stop! If you have a loud instrument, contemplate that it might not be appropriate for the session. If it irritates more than it helps, stop playing it - this is a social activity and you might just be being antisocial. You don't have a right to expect everyone to put up with you.
4. If a singer want to sing unaccompanied - shut up. If they indicate they are not keen on your guess at a harmony line, shut up! If you want to call the shots, sing your own songs and insist they observe the same courtesies.

Defend your session against the marauders.... Keep live music, music!

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,Danny Mackay
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 06:02 PM

Just to repeat (copy & paste!) what I said in the Duke of Edinburgh thread in case my message hasn't filtered to All Concerned:

Ok - so sorry. What about South London Orchestra of Bangers and Shakers, then, if you didn't like the first one. Or there's the Community of Untutored Non-Traditional Singers...need I go on? No, that WOULD be rude.

The reason Charlie hasn't been back is because he has been discredited, but does reappear as aliases, such as the 2 above, or why don't they come out with their real names, like I shamelessly do?

What IS rude, is for a whole gang of bodhran/bongo-drum-beaters (not players), egg shakers, kazoo-blowers and God knows what else, to traipse, uninvited, into a perfectly healthy session, and proceed to drown it out with a cacophony of unco-ordinated thumping and banging, or attempt to sing in keys which change line by line of the song - which is what happened to our own session not a hundred miles from the Duke of Edinburgh. It got so bad we had to get miked up to be heard over the din. This lasted for a year at least.

AND there's a big difference between thumpers and genuine learners of the music. Learners - or Improvers - have a genuine desire to make progress and will practice as much as they can (at least an hour per day, and do so self-appraisingly and intelligently. The thumper believes it's his right to stomp into a good session and bash away at whatever beat, or whatever 3 chords pleases him, regardless of the fact that he or she has ruined it for everyone else. Instruments played? you're joking - abused more like. Key of D? They couldn't even spell D.

So yer all moaning at me turning up to your rabble, me thinking (erroneously) that it was a session, and attempting to introduce a new concept, ie Music; but ye's seem to have short memories.

Let's all keep to our own territories in future. WE do the Other Place on Sunday nights. Please do NOT show yer faces. I'll probably do the Duke Wed's. Youse can have it Friday - but ye's hardly made the effort last Friday, but that's your problem. Youse can keep the Anchor.

I won't be posting on this thread again so ye's can slag me off to your hearts content, cos I won't look in. I've got more important things to do, ie, some practice on three instruments for starters.

A final thought - if, by some strange chance, the last 2 posts were from bona fide 'guests', they seem to be taking an unnatural interest in a little slime-pond in the back of beyond in SE London Suburbia. Don't they know World War 3 is brewing?

Best Wishes to all Bona Fide adherents of this WEB-Soap!
To the rest of ye - I will not stoop to asking you to crawl under any stone, but please, Get a Life!

Danny

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Lynn W
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 12:10 PM

Well said ced2, I recognise your session there!
One point that has not been made on this thread so far (as far as I can remember) is that shakey eggs seem to fit with some types of music (e.g. Latin, "world" etc.) much better than others (e. g. Irish trad.) It has always seemed to me that this is because they are usually played with a sort of off-beat that does not often fit well with traditional Irish/Scottish dance music. Any other opinions on this? As a mediocre fiddle player I have often been glad of a decent bodhran playing along but can find it difficult to keep time against an egg. (Before I am accused of prejudice against eggs, I will add that I have wielded one myself on occasion!)

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: ced2
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 07:12 AM

The problem is defined in two aspects. Firstly if there are more and noisier accompanying devices that drown out the lead instrument the tune is lost... if loud players of eggs, spoons, borans (and the like) play so loudly or are in such number that it becomes impossible to hear the tunes and/or the notes that are being played the session becomes somewhat pointless... One night I sat in a session with a semi-circle of 6 "drummers" to my right. I could not hear the fiddle player sat next to the concertina player immediately on my left. The fiddle player is not known as a retiring violet. There were 6 differet drumming timings, needless to say the only decent boran player had put his instrument away and gone into the other bar. This guy, now dead, could make a boran "talk" he said to me that there was no way that he could play with "that lot thumping away." I might also include in this group the guitar players who spend the evening thumping chords, usually as loud as they can, presumably in an attempt to get some recognition i.e. qantity out weighs quality, thus drowning out the lead intruments.
The second aspect is quite simply bloody awful timing. I have known players of lead instruments be reluctant to play when egg players etc have such bad timing that it prevents them, the lead instrument from keeping time or playing with the intonation that they would otherwise put into their music.
With all sympathy to those who say "we just want to join in" if you are so "off-putting" that lead instrument players decide to go elsewhere to play see how long the session will last without them.
I have yet to find a session that works on two eggs, a boran and a set of spoons.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,Concepta McFadyen
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 05:45 PM

Monsignor Folkman ...

You seem to take great relish in your use of that word "DIE".

I don't like that.

It's mean and it's nasty.

And a bit creepy.

I suspect you may need expert help. And I would like to be caring and help you source a cure. But I'm not that sort of person. So I'll simply say please don't air your boring, nihilistic, misinformed, pugilistic, monotonous, petty, unforgivably crass bollocks anywhere a decent human being might read it. Save your writings for the place they belong ... a shithouse wall!

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 10:27 AM

It is extremely rude to join in uninvited with some form of percussion that fundamentally changes what a performer wanted to present. ESPECIALLY if the singer has a light voice & gets drowned out in the accompaniment. Sore point, ok?

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,cath
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 07:31 AM

Folkman, I know who you are and I'm very disappointed in you, I always thought you were a nice guy. I'm one of the long faced fiddlers you mentioned. As for you Charles Atlas, I use my own name so you can easily find out who I am. Are you so gutless that you have to hide behind an alias? Charles Atlas certainly does not describe you at all.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 05:49 AM

I host several sessions in Kent and regard them as 'open' sessions. Whilst I agree that sometimes the percussion section can be somewhat grating, everybody has to start somewhere, and paticipation is the way to attract people. I truly believe that sessions are not only for the musicians among us, but for the 'wannabees' and also importantly for the audience too. The biggest mistake we could all make is to drive people away. There was a young girl of about 12 who joined us with a bodhran in the sessions in the 'Bedford' at Sidmouth a few years back during the festival week. Her timing etc at first was awful, but with some coaching and consideration from us, and some not inconsiderable hard work on her part, she became quite proficient by the end of the week. Last year, 4 years on, she was joining in with guitar, whistle and of course bodhran, and was singing songs that she had written, and I for one hope that our patience at the beginning paid off and that another 'young folkie' had arrived.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Sliding Down The Bannister At My Auntie's House
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 05:33 AM

Yes there is an unsavoury element on the local music scene in SE London,, who seem to think that a folk session involves a small clique of long faced squeeze box & fiddle players playing the same monotonous diddly dee throughout the night, oblivious to any other people, who may have been under the impression that a folk session was a friendly get together of people from varied backgrounds regardless of musical ability.

Percussion instruments such as tambourine, castanets, bongoes, shaky eggs etc are a great way to involve non-musicians in a session. If sessions become exclusive gatherings of self appointed "tunesmiths" then they will - and desrvedly so - DIE!!!

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Mugwump
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 02:58 PM

Well the Egg & Spoon bashing appears elsewhere, I just chanced on this thread!

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: ced2
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 02:00 PM

Not half as painful as the sound of the distant omnipotent rattlesnake. How strange this thread should re-appear, just bracing myself for getting rattled at at tomorrows session.... Dave have you perfected the cure yet?

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Mugwump
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 01:37 PM

The Egg Police patrol our SE London sessions. They have a "stop and search" policy - if they find an egg or spoon on one's person, they are sentenced without trial to listen to hours of painful diddling.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: hacksawbob
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 11:22 AM

Well I find my egg playing session frequently interupted by fiddle players, guitarists and singers all of whom seem to think that they know how the tempo should go. My advice to all you egg players is to hold 3 in each hand and shake them like you were ringing the bell on a firetruck, stand on the table if necessary until everyone comes 'round to your interpretation of the tempo, or they leave.... Actually that tends to happen quite a lot come to think of it.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: ced2
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 09:01 AM

the second part startred as "we will olay the veto!"

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 07:02 AM

The good friend I already new but the rest of it won't translate into English, is it Keighley speak ? The auto translate hasn't been updated for French to Keighlian.
Dave

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: ced2
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 05:50 AM

Try the Auto translate that is just above the reply to a thread bit! I would be interested to know how it re-translates.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 07:53 PM

ecky fecky, ced2 wot duz it all meen

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: mike the knife
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 01:11 PM

Once while hosting an Open Mike night an ill-advised "bass duo" happened (I can hear the "Oh $h*t" already). One of the bassists was fairly well restrained, knew his chops & was trying to create a little "air" for the other guy who, with a couple of bottles of Grolsch in him, decided that he had to play little snatches of every rock song he knew and then for no good reason tried to channel the spirit of Jaco Pastorius. Fast, loud & formless. The other guy put his instrument down and walked away. He ignored the subtle "lighter" ("you have 1 minute") signal, the hand across the throat motion (cut it out) and I finally had to approach him waving my arms like I was trying to clear livestock off of an airport runway.
Some get it, some don't.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: ced2
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 09:04 AM

Mon bon ami, nous joueron le veto.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 08:01 AM

Alas another war is something we could well do without, the END problem has me in a state of bewilderment, I do not kno.. wha

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: ced2
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 06:17 AM

Yes, I understand the problem Dave; which end! Clear scientific analysis is required about the potential ease/difficulty of operation and about the effectiveness of the proposed action! There is also the question of the effectiveness of the delivery method in stage 2 of the operation, not to mention the adequacy of the necessary remedial measures that are required in stage 3. The world is beset by such grave concerns!
I once had a similar problem with an electric base player. I am afraid that there has to be a little suffereing but the problem was resolved by a gentle turning of the volume knob to near zero. Unfortunately that ment sitting near enough the amp to keep tweeking it! Do it steadily amd in small enough stages and they think that their amplifier has developed a fault as in "I can't understand this my guitar is getting quieter!" Alas the base player did not take the next logical step, viz giving the thing a good kick.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: GUEST,toribw who should be working
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 02:53 PM

Susanl, beautifully said! The session I attend was created specifically to encourage people to play, but after seven years, there are still people who have not made any progress in their skill level at all. I try very hard to encourage new drum players, but it is painfully obvious that most of them don't even think of their drum in the six days between session night, let alone practice.

I'm not expecting perfection. I am far from perfect myself. I do, however, expect that drummers/shaky eggers/boners...uh, you know what I mean... show either restraint or improvement of some sort.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 08:55 AM

The countdown has started.
ced2 I have cunning devices for sterilising most kind of eggs permanently. The dilemma that I am facing is the same one that faced the Big Endians and the Small Endians which as you know resulted in a war that only Lemuel Gulliver could sort out. Where is he when we need the bugger.
Deeply worried, Dave

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Mad Tom
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 05:00 AM

Swap the egg for a rainstick - then the rhythm issues will be less obvious.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 04:45 AM

We have an electric bass guitarist who tries to play along with singers even when they are trying to sing unacompanied ! I don't think he realises that people sometimes sing a capella by choice - I think he assumes that it's because they can't play an instrument. The other night I told him that one of our songs was "a base guitar free zone" and since then he won't join in with Linda and myself even when we tell him that he can (which of course upsets us greatly !).

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: ced2
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 04:26 AM

There now exists a cunning plan, so cunning that Mr Fox the professor of cunning at Huddersfield Metropolitan University would be amazed by it!! Has the countdown to to activiation started yet Banjomad?

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Letty
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 01:54 PM

Mooman,
Yes, I noticed your kind remarks. Of course, my egg is very special!
Didn't know it would be sterile, banjomad, what a tragedy... I so wished for a glossy red chick.
Ah well.

Letty

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Clean Supper
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:55 AM

It's excellent that this discussion has been introduced and I hope it is being followed by a large number of people with bad rhythm. I know I will listen carefully to my own rhythm now and see if I am one of them. (A similar string of rants about guitarists has me inspecting that contribution too.)

I do think, though, that all the suggestions involving 4x4 and other varied weapons haven't been helpful. It adds nothing practical to the discussion, the humour value expired during the first submission and it serves only to direct hate at people who are aware of their novice status or, even more so, uncertain and fearful that they may be unaccomplished and THEREFORE NOW APPARENTLY UNWELCOME.

To all who attend geuninely open sessions: note this is not the case.

To type in terms of what a problem the distracting player is makes a person feel that their very contribution is unwelcome. The few valuable submissions on this topic have, in my opinion, been the ones which described honestly the situation faced by a song leader or other performer when people join in poorly. They typed about their own experience of the situation, impressed on me effectively the distress it causes and refrained from projecting ideas, intentions or attitudes onto the perpetrators. I hope that the greatest possible number of these perpetrators will brush off the blustering and intolerance and pick up on the heartfelt message hidden away in the conversation.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: mooman
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 08:52 PM

Dear Letty,

I hope you noticed I stood up against the hordes for something I deeply believe in...your egg!

Looking forward to Groningen!

Love

Richard (and Patricia who also has an egg...a green one, mine is blue!)

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Beccy
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 05:49 PM

By the way- My Grandma is the World's GREATEST spoon player. I think it helps that she's such a great cook- the spoons just love her!

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: Beccy
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 05:48 PM

We had one harmonica player that showed up at EVERY cotton-pickin' gig and wanted to play between sets. The guy stank up the joint (literally AND figuratively.) We tried to be kind but finally had to eschew subtlety to get the guy to shove off.

Have you ever heard an EXTENDED version of The Hurricane (Dylan) done by someone who THINKS they know how to play the harmonica? Ergh. I'm gettin' hives just thinking about it again.

Subject: RE: Eggs and Sessions
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 05:45 PM

Did you not know Letty, shaky eggs are sterile.
Dave