more session rudeness

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 07:19 AM

OK, I was wondering how mixed or otherwise it was with its range of folk music.

--
Only "Big Session", I used to consider going to was Sesiwn Fawr

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 07:13 AM

'OK, what's the big session "about"?'

not sure what you mean, but it's here:


the big session

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 07:11 AM

OK, what's the big session "about"?

--
While I do play regularly in sessions (and seek out what suits me best), I rarely get out to festivals but I guess setting up one session to please all can be awkward?

I only got to one this year and doubt I'll get elsewhere. There the sat night when it got going, I think we had 4 more looking to and expecting join in jigs, reels, etc. One I think looking for taking it in turns and giving their ("solo") songs, a guitar willing to join the tunes but not familiar with the territory, etc.

I could see for example that with no ill will intended and if a few more moelody players had turned up, the "solo singer" would probably have felt very left out,.

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 07:06 AM

I thought that might be the case.

Some festivals attract a more passive crowd, and some a more participative one. Big Session has tried to create a more participative vibe, but so far is a more passive festival - fewer players and fewer sessions. I don't think they do much in the way of adult workshops or events other than concerts, which is probably partly responsible. They also have the big oysterband presence and probably attract punters from the more commercial end of the folk scale.

Maybe the solution is to go with a group of friends and start your own session!

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:58 AM

It was 'The big session' and yes, it was the only session

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:55 AM

this is why I was asking which festival it was, Jon. If it's the one I suspect, it probably was the only session.

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:46 AM

I find it increasingly difficult to have an idea what to think with session reports here but with this one I'm a bit concerned with the combination of

"the one session that I attended put me off playing for the whole weekend", "I am not a beginner, I have nearly 20 years gigging experience with a wide range of people" and (from what I can gather) the knowledge that there were other sessions.

My own 25+ years of experience might well have told me to forget that one (and I might not have thought much of those involved) but it would not have put me off playing for the whole weekend. If I was a beginner, it might but these days I know enough to keep looking and am confident enough to believe I'm in with a chance of finding something where I might be able to fit in.

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:38 AM

"The best thing to do is what you did: walk away."

Actually no: the BEST thing is to empty their own drinks over them, bend those of their instruments which bend and cram dog ordure into those that don't.

Sorry. Did I say that out loud?

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: Zen
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:37 AM

I had this very thing as well at a "session" connected to a festival here in Scotland this weekend. The afternoon session was fine but the evening session comprised the aggressive and arrogant behaviour from a couple of "important" individuals like you described. Nothing was said to me, but it was to others, with an "inner circle" clearly being formed and it was reason enough to pack away the instruments and go. Fortunately, though, I still find this sort of behaviour to be in the minority with the vast majority of sessions being welcoming.

Zen

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: greg stephens
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:28 AM

The thing is, at festivals, there are always people trying to make names for themselves. This is completely understandable, but it is the antithesis of what a session should be about. It's tough, but that's the way it is. People are desperate to get attention, they want gigs, a foot on the ladder, whatever, and they can turn a session into their own showcase. So if you happen to fall in with such a crowd, the best thing to do is what you did: walk away.Don't be too angry, people being hungry for recognition doesn't make them behave very considerately!
And good luck with finding some non-competitive, friendly sessions somewhere and somewhen else.

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:23 AM

I'd be really interested to know which festival it was. Not for salacious reasons, but just because I have a theory that some festivals are more likely, because of lineup and target audience, to attract this sort of behaviour...

I also suspect I may know the culprits. Was it self-penned stuff? Mostly guitars? Or lots of boxes and suchlike?

I think what happens (and this does NOT excuse the rudeness you experienced) is that certain groups of young players meet at a series of festivals each summer - they know each other, they know each other's playing, they like playing together. It can feel a bit exclusive, to be honest. At festivals where there are a number of sessions, that doesn't really matter, because you can go and find another group to play with and leave them to it. But at a festival which doesn't feature many alternatives, I imagine it can be off-putting, as they seem to dominate things.

Just my observation. As i say, it sounds like they were horrid to you, whoever they were.

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: treewind
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:06 AM

Two good answers already from Howard and Ged.
You really don't need to hang out with people like that, so walking away from the session was no great loss.

One of the things that always comes back to me when session etiquette is discussed on Mudcat is that ALL SESSIONS ARE DIFFERENT! A really good one that suits your own musical style and has nice friendly people in it is a good thing to find, but there's no guarantee it will happen where and when you want it to. That's part of the magic of a really good session - it's so lucky when it happens at all.

Anahata

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: Gedpipes
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 05:55 AM

Hi Charley
You've got it off your chest! I don't think from what you experienced you had many other options other than to walk away. You'll bounce back.
Come up to Beverley at the weekend and you'll have a great time.
Cheers
Ged

Subject: RE: more session rudeness
From: Howard Jones
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 05:41 AM

Some sessions are run by, or get taken over by, arseholes. They're too full of themselves to care about seeming arrogant. There's not much you can do about it. Ignore them and go and find another session. Life's too short.

Subject: more session rudeness
From: GUEST,charley o'neill
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 05:36 AM

I know that previous threads have covered such topics, but I just wanted to get this off my chest and maybe see what people think.

I returned last night from a British outdoor folk festival. I was looking forward to seeing some of the big acts and checking out lesser known artists on the bill. Aditionally, the festival advertised 'open sessions' and the blurb encouraged folk to bring their instruments and join in . I was well up for jamming, learning tunes, meeting nice people and all the other pleasant vibes which are generally associated with a good session.

However, the one session that I attended put me off playing for the whole weekend. It was dominated by one little gang of twenty - something mates who insisted on playing their own material. Maybe they are a band - don't know. Said characters played perhaps their fastest, flashiest and 'show-offy' tunes to the total exclusion of everyone else. They totally blanked me when I tried to exchange pleasantries.

Initially I was encouraged to play a solo on a song that the guy who was supposedly running the session was singing.Without blowing my own trumpet, I think I made a reasonable fist of this. However the 'cool as folk' brigade did not enjoy my offering (wonder why?), making sly comments, making faces and then immediatly excluding me with two sets of tunes in their aforementioned arrogant style. Said tunes went on forever and were maybe supposed to impress with their Paganini type modulations. ..And to put the tin hat on it, when I stood up for a few seconds, one of the tossers nicked my chair!!!

That was it, game up for me ! I left the session, never to return, confidence knocked. I am not saying, 'how dare these young 'uns not respect me and my music'. The whole thing just knocked my faith in the sociable and communal nature of these things and left a bad taste. The guy running the session should have kept things in order, yeah let people play the odd party piece, but do not let arrogance dominate!

And boy, were this lot arrogant!, I should have realised this earlier, as they seemed to spend most of the rest of the day playing informally - IN FRONT (!) of one of the stages where people were booked to perform!

I am not a beginner, I have nearly 20 years gigging experience with a wide range of people. I am paid to play every weekend. Yep, they suceeded in driving me from a session and I wouldn't mind betting that they are extremely pleased with themselves. I will not stop playing. However, it does take a fair bit of confidence, as a lone player to enter such things. Someone with less experience may in the long run have had their confidence knocked irrepairably

Sorry to go on, maybe I've got too worked up, like I said, I just wanted to get it off my chest...