FSGW Getaway Program - 2003

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 11:57 PM

This may not be the place to ask the question but I have to try. I got a message confirming my reservation for the getaway. I write back explaining that I would not make and that I had to cancel. Was that enough to get my registration fee back? I've been looking for the registration form on line but I cannot find it. I know the form has cancellation information on it.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 11:49 PM

THANKS to all the people who have volunteered to lead workshops. I have to sort it all out but it is shaping up really well.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: momnopp
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 07:24 PM

Hello, thread readers

Your star silent auctioneer here! If you are planning to bring something to auction, you are welcome to PM me to let me know, but it's not required. I might even get sufficiently organized to post the form on my Website before the 17th -- will wonders never cease!!!!

I think we can only accept American Dollars -- I don't even know what a Euro looks like! And heaven knows what one might be worth 15 minutes from now...

Anyway -- whether you want to contribute something or not (I like Rita's idea of a very portable donation!) you simply MUST plan to bid early, late, in between and then some. Invariably there are some people who leave before the bidding ends -- talk to me if you find yourself in this situation and we'll work something out.

P.S. If I have to cart anything home, I will only charge a small transportation and storage fee...

I can hardly wait to see you all -- this is going to be the best Getaway so far (they tend to get better with age :-)

Love you all,

JudyO

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 06:19 PM

CRAFT & CD MARKETPLACE. The area between the Dining Hall and the TV room is used for some noodling & picking, but also it's our Crafts Marketplace.

If you have stuff you'd like to display for sale, feel free to bring it. This includes CD's, instruments, and crafts (your own, natch).

There will be no one assigned to keep an eye on stuff in the Marketplace. This has never been a problem but you should be aware. Leave your name, obviously, so buyers know who to talk to.

If you want light on your masterpieces, you'll need to bring it. And a LONG extension cord. There are booths in this area but few tables, and we need most of the tables for our Silent Auction.

Camsco Records usually has a booth in this area, and Folk Legacy when the Patons can make it (not this year, boo-hoo!)

SILENT AUCTION. This helps replenish our Getaway Scholarship Fund. It makes a difference, folks! We USE this fund.

Bring tapes & CD's you no longer play (or have duplicates), craft items, oddities ... Whatever. Use your imagination. And, try to make it stuff that people will want? IF it doesn't get any bids, you'll need to take it home with you (unless you're a Shellback). I'm thinking of auctioning off a 30-minute back rub (to be done during the Sunday Concert. :-) That way if no one bids (fat chance...) it won't be hard to pack up and take home.

Judy O (momnopp) will set up the Silent Auction on Friday, with sheets to describe the piece, tell who donated it, and record bids.

Judy Cook (Judy Cook) will handle the winning bids. Bidding closes at 6:10pm Sunday, about 10 minutes after the last workshop ends. Judy (C) will collect money and keep the records, and let people take away what they've bought.

PARKING PERMITS.Camp Ramblewood is hilly. Very hilly. Bill calls it Camp Escher because everything you want to get to is uphill from wherever you are.

For those of us who have difficulty doing a lot of walking up and down hills, there are parking permits available. You have to notify me or Charlie Baum ahead of time. This lets drive inside the Camp during the weekend. You can park right outside the various buildings where workshops are held (and the Dining Hall, and your cabin too, I think).

I think the camp limits the number of on-site parking permits.

Once you have a parking permit, Please Obey the Camp's Rules. They have specific areas by each building where parking is (and is not) permitted. You'll get instructions with the permit.

Please share. If you know where you're going next, you might ask whether anyone needs a ride. Some people may need the relief of a ride even though they don't want to drive everywhere.

End of announcements... Until we think of something else.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 05:40 PM

Claymoore, and everyone, I will do my darnedest not to create obvious schedule conflicts. I even do my best every year not to schedule subtle conflicts -- "Oh, no! I can't put Irish opposite Labor Unions! Mick would have to clone his self...." etc.

And, Nancy King, Lorraine Van Buren and sometimes other folks help me set up the grid. But in the final analysis, it's up to the people who are coming to the Getaway to let me know which conflicts are the most painful! I'll post a tentative "grid" ASAP, that will also tell me whether I have room for any more workshops.

MANY THANKS to Fortunato, Alaska Mike, JAB & anyone else who puts up a discription of what their workshop is about! I would like to do it but -- I'm running out of hours-per-day pretty fast.

Rita Ferrara

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 10:55 AM

"Out of the Frozen North" workshop will be "loosely" focused on nothern latitudes. Not just Alaska, but northern US, northern UK or northern Bermuda. There will be opportunity for everyone there to participate. So bring your songs, your voices and your sense of humor. This will be a fun workshop.

I look forward to meeting lots of new friends at this, my first Getaway. I know this weekend will be the highlight of our Autunm vacation. Thanks to the hardworking staff of FSGW for including this Alaskan troubador in your fabulous weekend. My wife and I can't wait to get there.

best wishes,
Mike

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Fortunato
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 12:37 PM

Just so nobody expects all fiddle tunes or all Patsy Cline in the The Old Time Country Jam at the Getaway, I'll clarify here. We will be using 'Mike Seeger's' definition of Old Time Country Music. Therefore, in addition to the great fiddle/banjo tunes that are thought of as "Old Time", the "Early Country" songs of that period will be enthusiastically received as well! Fiddle tunes and singing, too! That period being LOOSELY defined as the 1920's up through the second world war. I'm not particularly interested in definitions or splitting hairs (and certainly not hares), just lots of musical fun.
Chance

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 09:18 AM

Rita et al.

I made contact with Dick Parks, Ron Davies, and Joel Greer, and will be receiving info via the phone on what worked from last year as well and what they suggest for this year. Once that info is collected, I will do two threads, one for the suggested waltzes, and one for the contra tunes. Once those threads have had a chance to percolate through the MudCat, and additional suggestions taken, I will then finalize the list and create 10 booklets (or more if requested) of the tunes for both the waltz class/dance and the contra class/dance. At the moment we are considering that some 15 waltzes will serve for the waltz class, and some six groups of three-tune medleys, (plus a waltz or two) will serve to cover us for the contra class. Those who have access to their own music can begin to practice prior to the Getaway.

For those folks (especially fiddlers) who can assist in playing at either or both of the classes, would you check your desired classes to see if there is a conflict between those classes and the two dances.

Rita, you may also want to check you proposed schedule to weed out the obvious conflicts such as the fiddle style class or any of the proposed "jams".

I expect to post the two threads sometime tomorrow, and will ask that anyone wanting input on this process hold off until those two threads appear.

Thanks, Don

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 01:54 AM

FIDDLE STYLES. I was pleased to learn that there will be so many fiddlers here this year. I asked Joel Bailes of FSGW to lead a Fiddle Styles workshop.

Joel is fantastic. (He's also going to play Barrelhouse Piano for a jam in the gym, late Saturday afternoon.) Even though I haven't played fiddle in 35 years, I'm hoping to get to this workshop just to hear Joel talk and demonstrate various fiddle techniques.

Now, I would like to ask whether there are any other fiddlers coming who have experience with one or more distinct fiddle styles and would like to co-lead this with Joel. It doesn't matter whether or not Joel also plays in the same style(s).

Even if you don't want to co-lead, think about whether you might have something to contribute during the workshop. I hope this is going to be fun for all of the fiddlers who attend it.

BTW, here is the Program Link again.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 01:44 AM

Have added a few more workshops to the program. I have been checking the "ideas for program" thread and inviting some of the people to lead or co-lead workshops that they suggested.

Right now, I need to tally up the number of hours I have programmed to see how much room we have.

Needed: A co-leader for Foreign Languages. CET, I believe you were interested in this? FSGW member Peter Sailer will be co-leader, but I'd like one more person.

And, who were the people interested in Mixed-Up Songs? I think we have room for it and would like to have it if we can fit it in.

I'm going to ask the Shellback Chorus whether they have anyone who can co-lead English Music Hall with FSGW member Gail Snider. And, whether they have two people who'd like to volunteer to lead Rousing Choruses, since that's something they enjoy.

By the way, David Jones of Poor Old Horse will be here. I suspect his concert will include some English Music Hall songs, and he may contribute to the workshop.

For those who are new to the Getaway: Almost every workshop is participatory to some extent. Some are straight sing-arounds; in others, the leader(s) may give demos or sing/play examples of a certain type of music, then invite some audience participation. We almost never have a workshop that doesn't invite participation.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Susan A-R
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 03:15 PM

Claymore, I'll look for more info on tunes for dancers. I'm a fiddler, and play a pretty varied mix of stuff (a few rags, some Quebec tunes, New England stuff, Irish and a bit of southern, and can play a mean harmony on waltzes, so let me know what I can do to be useful.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Bert
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 11:28 PM

I guess it wouldn't have to be a session, just tell everyone to bring along any odd instruments that they might have. I'm sure they'd find each other once they were there.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 11:22 PM

Not a bad idea!

I need to sit down and figure out how many hours of program I've already got set up, though. Every year, first I panic that I haven't got enough, then I panic because I realize there isn't room for everything.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Bert
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 10:59 PM

Hey I just had another idea. How about an unusual instrument show off session?

Folks can bring along a few odd instruments from their collections. Should be fun and wouldn't really need much organizing.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 10:29 PM

Have re-posted the schedule with a bunch of workshops and leaders added, a link to the Mudcat Forum and one to details on Jim's workshop. Tomorrow I'll post more details on some of the workshops.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: MMario
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 09:16 PM

I've got some bamboo I could donate -

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Tinker
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 08:36 PM

Hey Jim, if you post that supply list I'll be happy to start collecting odds and ends on this end. It's a good time to do it since I'm in a major cleaning mode... Let me know what kind of help you need.

Kathy

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 05:10 PM

Oh goodie. The fiddle workshop name showed up in boldface type. I'm sitting here feeling very proud of myself for taking one baby step into the murky world of html formatting :-)

I wonder whether some kind elf will please do the same for my post on home made instruments? (A good idea, but I thought of it one post too late....)

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 05:07 PM

FIDDLE STYLES workshop.

Several mudcatters mentioned that they are fiddlers. This is good news for the dance bands, and also it made me think that a fiddle styles workshop would be welcome.

Joel Bailes of FSGW is definitely going to be one of the leaders. Joel is a wonderful fiddler and all-around musician.

Now, are there fiddlers out there who have experience with a specific fiddle style or styles, and would like to help Joel lead this workshop? It doesn't matter if your style and Joel's overlap.

Subject: HOMEMADE INSTRUMENT WORKSHOP
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 05:03 PM

Jim Bunch is going to do a homemade instruments workshop. Here is his great description of the workshop.

HOMEMADE INSTRUMENT WORKSHOP For Adults and Kids
Leader: Jim Bunch ("JAB")

"To start I'll explain some of the types of home made instruments, and show how they sound etc. Then provide and go over instructions for one or two of them. We will then break into groups and go out on the porch and work on building the ones I explained that can be completed within the time slot.

"Simple and quick instruments that we may do during the session include:

A pop bottle kazoo
A tin-can fiddle (one or two strings)
A bamboo slide whistle (I still have to work out the prototype)
Wash basin tenors (smaller than a washtub bass)
Bobby pin kalimbas

"Other more complicated instruments that I can lay the ground work for, but will have to be worked on throughout the weekend include:

Stick dulcimers
Tin can banjos
A plastic basin Ukulele
Kalimbas from rake tines
Bamboo or conduit penny whistles
Bamboo pan pipes

"The goal would be to get participants to understand that people used to make instruments from what they had around them and use them to entertain themselves. You don't need power and computers and GameBoys, or fancy luthier-made instruments to make music.

"I've already been collecting some materials, and did something similar at boy scout camp this summer. At camp, we successfully made a gutbucket, a kalimba, a tin can banjo, a bamboo flute, a rhythm stick, and some bongos. We then played "Mama Don't Allow No Tenderfeet Whining Around here"... Leaders Bossing ... Staff slacking... etc." at the closing campfire. The easiest were the flute and rhythm stick. The hardest was the kalimba. I've also been working on how to make a kazoo out of pop bottles. I've found that the inner lining of cereal boxes makes great diaphragm material.

If that's alright with you I will start trying to stir up interest and figure out what we need in terms of additional supplies. "

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 02:55 PM

You know, I made a very big mistake, I think, in saying I'd rather not have chit-chat on this thread. Thread creep! I mean to say, "Thread creep!" Chit-Chat is fine! -- Otherwise how do I know whether anybody's out there?????? Where are all the wisecracks? And the complaints?

I have in fact gotten some very nice PM's so far and some offers of help.

I doubt if anyone but me realizes how VERY helpful the Mudcatters' suggestions are, or how much more comfortable I feel because people have spoken up for what they'd like to see in the program.

Every year I swear I'll never do this again. After all, I have to do it right in the middle of the fall craft show season.... But, this year, the ideas that came flooding in via the earlier Mudcat thread made me feel that, gee, maybe I'll survive this one and even have a bit of energy left for the Getaway itself.

Right now I'm going over the original thread very slowly and carefully, and filling in some of the blanks in the program. I'm planning to do a daily update/progress report.

Right now I'd better try to make a little progress....

Rita

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 01:38 PM

Yes, there were two basses last year. A real one on one side and my old gutbucket on the other.

Rita, I just replied to your PM. Let me know what you think.

JAB

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 01:33 PM

Sorry Bill, You are right, it was Willie-O (and Jeri) who sailed in at the last moment to provide the fiddles we so desperately needed.

I would point out though, that I have played an autoharp since 1964, have two custom builts, and have used them numerous times at contra dances, especially as counter-point to HDs.

And now that I remember it, I recall Vixen and GutBucketeer playing at the dance also...

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:38 PM

BillD?? What am I needed for? I don't do dance tunes..I play autoharp.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:31 PM

Claymore,THANK YOU for providing your contact information again this year! -- I had been looking for where-the-heck- did-I-file-that-number- last-year?" with no luck so far.

I'll be happy to check with Joel & Ron.

Also -- Dick Parks may want to lead one dance set again this year. Will check with him.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:10 PM

Rita, et al. Since I'm a lowly GUEST, could you have Joel Greer (from the Contra Dance class) or Ron Davies (from the waltz class) either come up on this thread or email me at [e-mail] or call me- Don Moore, home(304) 876-0215 or work [phone], to set up a play list for both classes to practice on.

And remember that the only requirement for anyone who wants to join the 2nd Annual Foggy Mirror Contra Dance Band, is to be able to fog up a mirror if it is held under your nose...

Once we get some idea of the tunes the caller will need, I will do a thread on suggested tunes that most can play for both the waltzes and the contra dances.

BillD, where are you now that we need you???

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 11:09 PM

Sigh, I cannot make it after all. My class was disapproved. I am very disappointed.

Subject: FSGW Getaway Program - 2003
From: Ferrara
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 08:52 PM

The FSGW Getaway program is still under construction, but you can see where it stands, and follow its progress, at Getaway Program Link

Since the program is still Under Construction, we can use this thread for comments and suggestions.

If you offered to lead a workshop and haven't heard from me, you can PM me if you like. I still have LOTS of work to do here but I know people like to get a look at the program as early as possible.

A request. Please take all the thread creep either to the old Program thread 2003 FSGW Getaway - Ideas for Program, or start a new chit-chat thread.

Reason: I need to keep track of everyone's comments vis-a-vis the program, and I'm easily confused! So keep it on topic if you can?