Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival

Subject: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 06:11 PM

Like most festivals, Tenterden is always in need of stewards. If you fancy lending a hand for all or part of the weekend of October 6/7/8, please contact our head stewards Kathy & Bob Drage on kathybobdrage(DELETE THIS)@btinternet.com

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 07:36 PM

Can all the stewards be persuaded not to yatter louder than everyone else in the bar sessions this year please?

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 08:30 AM

http://www.folkspots.btinternet.co.uk/trust/fest06/index06.htm

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 02:25 PM

Ah, but Richard, you should know that you can persuade all the stewards not to yatter louder some of the time, and some of the stewards not to yatter louder all of the time, but.....

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Dave Earl
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 02:51 PM

I got a letter from Kath and Bob asking if I wanted to steward again this year. I replied and said yes.

And Richard,as you know, this steward is also a singer so I know better than to yatter while someone else is doing thier thing.

Dave

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 03:24 PM

Were you not there the year before last, BC, when Jeff was doing "Blue Tattoo" which he does very well (and loudly) indeed, and three stewards by the bar were yattering so loudly that he tried to re-time the gap between verses and yell "Shut the fuck up" at them but it made him miss the pick and the wheels all came off and he had trouble putting it back together? I think something similar happened to Brian Rodgers in the same session.

It wasn't you!

I'm down there with Bishop Guldulfs so when I'm not needed for them to dance to I'll be in the sings...

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: GUEST,Tut Tut
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 04:12 PM

Does language like this really need to be repeated on Mudcat Richard?

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 06:35 PM

You are a social worker not a historian?

Remember the great word was first used on UKTV?

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: fiddler
Date: 11 Sep 06 - 05:18 AM

Yes by the Bishop of Whitby I believe the line was something like - Well we all know the slang word for sexual intercourse f*ck! and there it was the taboo broken forever!

If anyone can correct me on this fine.

I believe it was before the watershed and on the BBC too!

Andy

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: fiddler
Date: 11 Sep 06 - 05:20 AM

But I do agree that in common usage (in line with Just aminute rules of course) we need not use it generally unless it expresses an action or similar that requires its use and please no f*ck*ng repeats!

Andy :-)

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Sep 06 - 03:59 PM

To quote an old friend of mine.....

"Eee.. tha'll never stop fookin swearing in Bratferd."

LTS

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Dave Earl
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 05:14 AM

"Were you not there the year before last, BC, when Jeff was doing "Blue Tattoo"

I was at the Festival but missed the incident.


Frankly I would have been more offended by the response than the yattering. There are other ways of dealing with such problems.

See you there.

Dave

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 03:21 AM

Well said Dave - see you there too.

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 03:55 AM

People had been shushing and tutting and making meaningful glares for about a verse and a half, and as I said Brian Rodgers had been having a similar problem.

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: GUEST,A Nonnimus-Artist
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 04:16 AM

It's even worse when stewards talk loudly all the way through seated concerts.

For some reason this only seems to happen in marquees, not buildings - but it's all too common. Instead of patrolling the talkers and making quiet shushing noises, or just standing in front and looking daggers, a few stewards (and even the occasional MC) seem to think that as they're 'outside' it's ok to carry on as though there were at a garden party.

This ruins the show for people who've paid good money but can't hear the words or get into the 'bubble' of the music, not to mention the artists, who can't achieve that grip on the space which is essential for a great show. If people are listening you can grab their attention - but you can't do that with people who are discussing football or whatever because there's no way in.

And the punters at the back see no reason to keep quiet if stewards are yakking, so everythng happens against this irritating hubbub.

And by the way, intros are as much part of the show as the songs and tunes, guys. (I'm talking to YOU - don't talk to someone else, that's just plain rude!) If you do need to say something important, do it during the applause. And if you MUST chat, try whispering (i.e. not using your vocal chords at all - your friend will hear you just fine, but only your friend), or failing that - go away. FAR away!

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 14 Sep 06 - 06:16 AM

Now I know a bit more about this incident, it sounds to me like a bad case of British lack of assertiveness. We 'tut-tut' or try to bottle up our indignation (and I'm no better here) until someone explodes in a tirade of expletives. Much better for someone to approach them and ask them politely and assertively (not aggressively – big difference) to turn the volume down, or failing that find somewhere where their conversation will not disturb the session. To resort to shouting across the bar not only reflects on the performer and the folk scene in general, but with the language used, risks offence to members of the public in the pub at that time.

I assume we are talking about the session in the 8 Bells bar, so there is bound to be some background noise.

That said, stewards do have a responsibility to help the festival run smoothly, and that includes sensitivity to nearby performers, so Richard (and anyone else for that matter), if you have any problems this year, see me or Bob & Kathy Drage, and we will do something about it (I'll be the picture of sartorial elegance wearing a pink and blue striped jacket, desperately trying to marshal 25+ morris and dance teams around the town!).

Look forward to seeing you all there.

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: GUEST,synbyn
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 05:00 PM

One incident does not make a trend... prefer to think of the many happy hours over many years where the Bells has been a haven of impromptu joining in - some memorable sessions and always full to the gunwales whatever they are and however they're spelt... Bo And I will do our best Saturday lunchtime to ensure that every singer gets a fair hearing- Dave's right, it's an open pub and there are locals etc who have a perfect right to be there, so it's for us to be persuasive and inclusive...

Subject: RE: Stewards wanted: Tenterden Festival
From: Dave Earl
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 05:28 PM

Exactly!

Could not someone (not singing/playing at the time)have had a quite (assertive if needed) word in the ear of the offending person(s). They must have been folky types and would have understood what was wrong.

But like synbyn said one unfortunate incident should not create an ongoing trend.

Still looking forward to it and seeing you all there.

Dave