Folk sushhhhing folk

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 12:21 PM

I'm content with a plate of just chips - and a glass of mead. ;-)>

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: mandotim
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 12:35 PM

Wav; huh? As non-sequiturs go, thats a cracker!

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 01:16 PM

Jim,that sounds like Bob Davenport?

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 02:04 PM

Wav,Silicon chips?

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Tootler
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 03:31 PM

I was at a concert in Durham a couple of years ago and Alistair Anderson was performing.

He was a bar or so into a slow air when a mobile phone went off. He stopped looked round the audience then after a moment or two more, looked very sheepish and put his hand into his pocket.

It was his own mobile phone!

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 05:06 PM

As far as I know, we don't really have English-style folk clubs in this area, so I'm not all that familiar with the precise protocol (I gather that it differs a bit from club to club), but there are gatherings here (Seattle) that are, perhaps, similar. "Open mike" nights at various places open to the general public, and gatherings often in private homes where folk song enthusiasts get together sometimes once or twice a month and either do the "song circle" thing or use some other kind of format so that anyone who wants to sing gets a chance.

I spent most of my weekend evenings as the "house singer" in local coffeehouses during the late 1950s and well into the 1960s, where the situation that I describe in my above post prevailed. As long as there were patrons who were listening to me, if there were other tables where quiet conversation was going on and this bothered me, I would have been in for a very rough time, because that was the nature of the venue. If I couldn't have handled that and simply gone ahead and done my thing, I might have quit singing and taken an honest job.

I did sing a lot of concerts—many of them growing out of someone hearing me at the coffeehouse and asking me to come and sing a concert, usually at one college or another. So my (I like to think) professionalism in entertaining those who wanted to be entertained and not being flustered by those who were indifferent to me paid off very nicely. Often, one concert led to another, then another and another.

In 1959, I met a marvelous Mexican woman with a rich contralto voice and an old, deep-toned guitar, retired from a lifetime of singing Mexican folk songs in cabarets and nightclubs. She once told me, "If the whole audience is ignoring you and talking among themselves, but one person IS listening to you—sing to that one person."

In addition to the coffeehouses, I've sung for groups of as little as a couple dozen people at a house concert to a capacity audience at the Seattle Center Playhouse (800) to, on one occasion, an outdoor amphitheater audience of 6,000.

You simple can't control everyone.

Lawrence Olivier's advice to young actors:   "Know your lines and try not to bump into the furniture."

Don Firth

P. S. On one occasion, I did, basically, "read out" an audience. I was hired to sing one weekend at a newly opened coffeehouse in a small town on the Olympic Peninsula across Puget Sound from Seattle. I wasn't going to be the only singer. The other was a young woman named Marilla. Marilla and I first met on the ferry crossing the sound. We spotted each other's guitar cases, got to talking, and learned we were both going to the same place.

Marilla had been playing guitar and singing folk songs for some time, but this was to be her first paid gig. She was excited and more than a little nervous.

My first set at the coffeehouse that evening did not go well. Fairly loud conversation prevailed and most of the audience simply ignored me. It didn't take me long to figure out that these folks had never been to a coffeehouse before and simply didn't know what went on in one. I knew that Marilla's first engagement was going to be a very unpleasant one if this went on.

So—I cut my set short and addressed the audience. I explained to them that this was not just a coffee shop, it is a coffeehouse. A coffeehouse is a place where one goes, not just to drink a cup of coffee, but to enjoy a range of exotic coffees, and to listen to entertainment as well. If they didn't take advantage of the opportunity, they weren't getting their money's worth. They listened, rather wide-eyed. Then—I introduced Marilla, and asked the audience to welcome her, and to listen to her, because she was really quite a good singer (I didn't know that yet because I'd never heard her sing, but fortunately, what I said turned out to be true).

When Marilla mounted the stage, they gave her a nice welcome, listened quietly and attentively, and applauded enthusiastically after each song. So her first experience in front of an audience was a positive one. My next set went very well, as did the rest of the evening.

And the following evening as well. I noted that a few of the folks who had been there the first night and heard my remarks were hushing newcomers who hadn't got the clue yet.

They simply didn't know, and it took a word or two to "civilize" the

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 05:08 PM

. . . them.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Old Vermin
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 05:55 PM

Now the late Ronnie Scott is meant to have had a way with words with his audience....including the classic - "Thank you, madam, you've just made a happy man very old."

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 08:24 PM

Hello everyone,
Has a floor singer Im used to distraction.So I shut my self off to it. shut my eyes ,ears try to focus on the song and picture in my mind some vision to help me muddle through I then awaken and come back to the audience when Im finished looking bewildered and happy that I finished the song .
Thank the audience for there patience and retire to me beer.

Yeah Yeah Pierre I hear you say but has posted out earlier not everyone can do that.
Which I appreciate. I have worked with the public for by on 30 years.

I am gonna give you an idea. that I do that helps Me.
I finger-pick Streets of London   with Black Sabbath blaring out on my hi fi. at the same time
With complete concentration focused on the mood I explained above I try to endeavor to play the song without mistake.

I have found that if you find
your own distraction and blank it out it helps, Not fool proof mind.
Regards to all Pierre

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 09:15 PM

PS
It does not have to be Black Sabbath.
I choose them being Halloween/.
Have fun I chose The Bangles walk like a Egyptian.
But change the lyrics to, Walk like a erection.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 10:21 PM

If you get visits from folkies who think they're God's gift to the genre (ie. they're 'slumming it' at your club for a bit of sport); then they can use tolerance of talking at your club as a weapon against singers they don't like, reserving silence just for their chums.

At a bar singaround it has to be part of the territory of course, it's their right to talk and there's not much you can do - officially at least. But in a function room supporters can stamp on selective intimidating behavior by being prepared to politely Shush as a first step of laying down the ground rules of respect for all performers. Luckily 'God's Gift" types will know this and probably not bother you in these circumstances - their only weapon if they were to attend would be selectively going to the bar/bog.

Crucially - this does not have to make for a stilted atmosphere at the club. We have good fun at our Brighton Cellarfolk nights despite me having to Shush occasionally. And Shushing was a feature of the very first club I went to in the 1970s - it was also a good fun club despite the Hosts' shushing when necessary.

Remember there's a learning curve for newcomers to Folk also. It does no harm to let people know the basic rules of respect in a function room based club; ie. you don't hold conversations while a singer is performing; you wait for a gap between songs before entering/leaving the room unless the performer can indicate it's ok to come in (we have a glass door at North Brighton Singarounds).

The sad thing is that there are various types of people who might attend a Folk Club who are self centred and selfish for a number of reasons - could be simply that they'd had too many drinks before the Folk Cub began is a recent example I can think of. And we've heard stories of singers touting for bookings who have not the slightest interest in listening to anyone else in the room so are happy to whisper with organizers/residents over any performer they suspect isn't that important.

But one essential thing is that if you do have to shush - do it with a smile. Most people are well intending and will realise there's no malice.

Ian Fyvie

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 03:32 AM

Could be that sometimes the club regulars aren't happy that there are visitors.
It does happen sometimes.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 12:38 PM

Hi Tim Re your top posting.
Club regulars are not happy that there are visitor.

I have seen that Tim but I cant understand it all.
"Whats all that about."? I cant understand it
I find that very peculiar,
trouble is I bet none of them can give a explanation has to why they are not happy.
Like kids in the playground.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 01:01 PM

There is a bunch of professional Musicians in my area who meet in a pub they are exactly like that if you come in off the street buy a pint and go up there end of the pub they all go peculiar.
I am not being rude its true.
They Peer over the tops of there reading glasses at you while there playing.
if one settles down on a stool giving them the impression your enjoying there music and you intend to stay they go all funny again.
When I couldnt bear the atmosphere any longer and one got up to leave you can see the relief in there faces. and they all strike up with Horn pipe in D. clearly to cheer themselves up.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 08:22 PM

Tim and Pierre

A modification of your observation (Tim)-

"Could be that sometimes the club regulars aren't happy that there are visitors" .....that don't have a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed). We used to call them Facefit clubs - they checked to see if your face fitted before you were allowed a floorspot!

Sad to say, I've come across Irish bar sessions that match your description Pierre - also English "tune" sessions.

Ian Fyvie (PS. never been to a Scottish "tune" session, maybe you'll find the same...)

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Mick Woods
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 06:02 AM

Greenwich?

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: GUEST,synbyn no cookie
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 06:39 AM

we'll see what happens in the Mixer at the Good Intent next Tuesday 10th Nov plug plug ... be warned, P & M, it's a session hosted by an ex-teacher and he can ring your underpants... that's no w... no, hang on, P might like that...
seriously, the mixer session is all about participation and if you've got time to chat then you're in the wrong place! in fact, in bars generally, the sound of a good singer shushes the place anyway- but it's unrealistic to expect an open bar to be so tolerant all the time, which is where the host's discretion comes in... the job is to create a platform for everyone to perform so everyone goes home feeling happy....

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 02:54 PM

'Jim,that sounds like Bob Davenport?'
Got it in one Cap'n - pick up your prize at the door.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 05:45 PM

But one essential thing is that if you do have to shush - do it with a smile. Most people are well intending and will realise there's no malice.[quote]
yes, do it with a smile,at the same time kick them in the testicles, it does wonders for their singing.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:29 PM

:-)

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:28 PM

re: Guest - synbyn

Sounds like a really good session. Details?

Must add that my two co-founders of Brighton SIngers' Club were both teachers.   It didn't stop other teachers marginalizing them though. Perhaps there are "good teachers" and "bad teachers".

and Good Soldier... re: Shushing with a smile...

a bit cynical? If our intent as organizers is to run a pleasant freindlly club, which needs a bit of polite Shushing occasionally, what's wrong with that?   

Please give us an alternative for dealing with people who sit in at the Folk Club; hold conversations, talk on their mobiles, and generally ruin it for people who want to listen to the singer - that you wouldn't consider a "kick in the testicles".

Ian Fyvie



teacher

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: melodeonboy
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 04:20 AM

Ian: The session referred to above, which synbyn is running, will be held on Tuesday 10th, November at the Good Intent, John Street, Rochester. 8.30 start, I believe.

See the Kenward Mixer Sessions thread.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 09:59 PM

Thanks - and best wishes for the Good Intent session next Tuesday.

Ian F

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: GUEST,JOHN SIDDALL
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 04:23 AM

If a performer has to give a hush they are poor performers.

A good performance should grab its audience to the extent that the performer is the sole focus of attention.

Most regular folkies will give attention and order to a performer and encourage even the weaker or less tuneful singers.

FOLK is the music of the people performed for the people - it isn't meant to be perfect and performed in a perfect environment

Good folk should involve and engage the audience with some interaction

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 08:27 PM

Sorry Tootler, re mobile phones: I do sincerely hope your wife got her transplant, and successfully.
But I'm 99.99% sure the couple next to me at that Christy Moore concert with their bright blue flashy screen were NOT talking about transplants.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 04:33 AM

And those of us without testicles......? guess we just have to get voice lessons.... :)

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 04:36 AM

I thought there was a reason folk clubs no longer do it for me.

Reading this thread has been most helpful..

Thanks

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 05:06 AM

Suegorgous
a slight twist of a females nipples usually makes a women sing higher.
regards to all Pierre.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Howard Jones
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 06:25 AM

A slight twist of a woman's nipples, uninvited, is likely to end up with the man singing higher :)

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 12:17 PM

Saints preserve us what a par-lava "I was not suggesting do it Howard"

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 12:19 PM

What is this thread coming to?

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: GUEST,abdul on the laptop
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 01:37 PM

I love the "slight" twist....very thoughtful.

Al

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 10:31 AM

Now now Abdul please dont you start,
Can someone tell me what the little red box and share this thread is all about.
Regards Pierre,

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 01:42 PM

Ere, Pierre what ever happened to the lino guitar? I missed the end of that.
How long has the little swiss box been around?
Al

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 03:44 PM

Hi Abdul.
The Lino Guitar is finished in that the sound box and string holes/ bridge/ sound hole are all sucessfully completed with a inlaide Mermaid on the back for decoration.
I have also inlaid seahorses round the soundhole

The bridge is a Yamaha bridge. Abdul I am looking for a approiate neck for it at various different auctions I go then theres the problem of fixing the neck to body.
Regards Pierre.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 04:38 PM

I `ad that "Pete the `at" in my cab the other day with his guitar and a brown cardboard box. `is crest was definitely fallen. `e asked me to take `im to that Dartford Folk Club.
I said, "Gawd `elpus Pete. You got`m all on that Mudcat `uffing and puffing over that story about getting "shusshhed" by some sensitive singer".
`e said, "I know, Jim. The story`s got round the clubs and I`m only allowed in, on condition now. Would you Adam and Eve it?".
I said, " And what`s that then?".
`e said, " On condition that I wear this bleedin` gas mask!!".

Whaddam I like??

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 08:17 PM

Howard - couldn't have put that better myself :)

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: GUEST,Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 11:02 PM

Suegorgeous you did ask. several threads back. In regards to the THE FACT you had no bollocks to kick and taking up voice lessons.

I merely suggested a alturnative.

I guess you should take up voice lessons.

There was no sushhhhing at my local folkclubs this week.

Evereyone went around kicking each other in the bollocks instead? or tweaking nipples some took up voice lessons. some face stiff penelties for GBH.
Anyway thank you all for your views throughout this thread when I and indeed had some interesting replys from both sides of the bollocks I meqan coin.
Kind regards to all Pierre.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:38 AM

Hi Abdul The Bul Bu.l
There are photos of my vinyl Guitar sound box on my Mudcat thread entitled
Why does it have to be wood or plastic.

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Mick Woods
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:46 AM

Here's the link to pictures of the linolin in the early stages Lino guitar / mandolin

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 02:54 PM

It's got no ole Pete, should have an ole. The sound will be in there forever if you don't have an ole.
And I wish you wouldn't write so loud.
Al

Subject: RE: Folk sushhhhing folk
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 09:37 PM

Its got no ole/
Well its got a hole now.
I put it to you. that was months ago during early stages and it is not made out of Lino it made out of vinyl floor tiles.
There are appropx 50 that make up the front sides and back you can see the thickness if you look at the end where the neck will go.

I have now inlaid a mermaid and seahorses has I said in a upper thread, I have added 8 coats of varnish and a soundhole and it hold an echo so I hope when it finished it will sound ok???????
Im awaiting to find a crap guitar at auction so I can have the neck off it.
The only thing so far thats a bit of aset back is it weighs a ton.
Its has not started sushhhhhhing yet ever?
Regards Pierre