Bryan, 16 Nov 08 - 02:03
This is the posting you want answering - here goes
"Are you actually saying that anyone new who turns up to a club and says they would like to do a floorspot should be allowed to do so?
Yes - though I would prefer the term 'encouraged' rather than "allowed" - one bite of the cherry as I have already stated several times.
"we already have a lot to do without setting up special arrangements for a need that we do not perceive....."
You have made clear that do don't have the problem of non-singers turning up, though you do seem to be having difficulty in believing that the rest of of have encountered it - in some cases often. What do you suggest that clubs do about it - so far, your idea seems to be, let them go ahead and practice in public.
Your attitude still seems to be - "doesn't effect our club so it doesn't exist"; not my nor other people's experience I'm afraid.
"I cannot be held responsible for what happens at other clubs."
I have repeatedly said that this is not a discussion on the Lewes Club policy but a general discussion on what happens in folk clubs; if you want a discussion on your club policy, start a separate thread.
"Nobody has "poor singer" branded on their forehead..... We would give them floor spots of course. What would you do?"
Again, I have answered this "one bite of the cherry and ask them to put in the work", plus offer of help. From the beginning the question has been about non-singers who persistently turn up.
"What would you do if a single singer who couldn't sing persistently turned up expecting to sing?" "Give them their spot, confident in the knowledge that, by sharing a venue with all the other floor singers that they heard over the evening, varying from adequate to excellent."
In my experience it is extremely debatable whether the best place for singers to learn to sing in tune is in front of an audience - from the point of view of both the singer and the audience. You use the term "adequate to excellent" - do you consider singers who can't sing in tune and are unable to communicate the words 'adequate'?
"We do what we do and we find that it works......"
But you don't have the problem of non-singers turning up - what's to work?
It is the responsibility of club organisers, to the audience (paying or otherwise), the residents and the music to see that what goes on at clubs it to a standard that can be appreciated and enjoyed; sorry, can't understand how people can enjoy consistently poor singing, which is totally unnecessary if recognised as such and worked on.
There, been right through your posting - now you are free to respond to mine - or not, as the case may be.
I assume from your last posting that you believe that I and others on this thread are inventing our experiences regarding poor singing in clubs - is it still a case of 'if it doesn't happen at Lewes it can't exist?'
Richard;
"If you aren't good enough, I'm banning you"
I have never said this, nor would I - it is not within my power to 'ban' anybody', even if I wished to - which I don't. I have explained throughout this thread how I would deal - and have dealt in the past with singers who were having problems; 'banning' has never come in to the equation.
I find your accusation as offensive as I am sure you would would find mine if I were to suggest that you would take every second good singer out into the yard and execute them because "there are too many masters".
The value of this discussion lies in the fact that it is and exchange of ideas between people who care enough about the music to want to do something about it - snide remarks really don't help.
While I'm at it - wouldn't it be a little considerate to confine our arguments to this thread and not let them spread to others on a totally different topic?
Jim Carroll