how to put on a good music camp

Subject: how to put on a good music camp
From: mg
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 12:16 AM

We have Sunnycamp and Getaway coming up soon; a great camp in Vancouver B.C. in December; more here and there I am sure.

I always want to know what makes for a good camp, large or small.

I do know a few things...

I would say #1 is accomodate the vegetarians. If you go all the way vegetarian, say so in bold letters somewhere and have a way for people to at least bring and cook their own other food. It is really very easy to accomodate almost everyone, and those with severe dietary plans should be told to bring and cook for themselves. Especially those with serious allergies that could require hospitalization. I have seen this happen.

Good maps and signage are important. I keep worrying that people coming to Sunnycamp will go, as they have in the past, to another city with a similar name. Assuming they make it here, I really should have better signs etc. along the last of the way, but I don't. Also a lit up entrance to the camp. That we will have.

A way to accomodate both singers and instrumentalists. They will not happily mix for very long. Separate buildings.

A reasonably timed concert. This is where some camps really fail I think. They can go on for hours and that is less time for the really good singing that usually happens late at night. It can be endless. Say two hours max and tell people not to talk on stage or take it out of their alloted 4 minutes. Encourage people to go in small groups.

Work scholarships for people who can't afford it...best work is cleanup at the end. No one wants to stay. Or do as I will do this year at SC and that is hire someone for a few hours to do the final cleanup.

NO FLOURESCENT LIGHTS AT LEAST LATE AT NIGHT. These are music killers. If someone needs bright light to read out of the blue book or whatever, have them bring their own spotlight and shine it down when their turn comes. Don't overilluminate the whole room for the sake of those damn blue books. Bring a few small lamps and candles if they are allowed.

Speaking of which, let your feelings on them be known up front. I don't think they should be outlawed, unless stated right up front in the registration information and reinforced..but if it is a group that really hates the blue books, they should not be afraid to say so, and at the same time be tolerant of them, to the extent that they don't commit violence on a person who uses them. But people should be asked to use them in a private manner, and at the most quickly say what the page number is and DO NOT STOP WHILE PEOPLE FIND IT. AND DO NOT TELL PEOPLE TO TAKE OUT THEIR BOOKS AND GO TO PAGE>>>>.

Oh, always have food available for people who sleep late, have a different shift, play music into the night, miss meals etc. Maybe a pot of soup, cereal and milk, chips and salsa, fruit, some sandwich makings.

SIGNS ON Various cabins for men, women, snorers, sleepers who need quiet, late night people etc.

That's all for now.

mg

Subject: RE: how to put on a good music camp
From: mg
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 03:51 PM

and rent a hot tub like they do in B.C. That is so nice. And past a certain point, unless you are certain of the quality and timeliness of your volunteer cooks, it is best to hire a cook.
And always buy new sponges, dish clothes, toilet brushes etc. as you can imagine what some camps provide. Maybe some new stand on things for the showers too.

Subject: RE: how to put on a good music camp
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 12:33 AM

Ooooooh Ducky! That's Niiiice! Don't mind a good Camp!

;-)

Subject: RE: how to put on a good music camp
From: sharyn
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 12:24 PM

Please make sure there are accomodations for people with disabilities and have the courtesy to give them spaces close to amenities -- bathrooms, dining hall, sessions, etc. Don't expect them to use upper bunks (Yes, this has happened).

Provide as many different session spaces as you can, so that the trad singers can have one, the accompanied singers can have one, the tune players can have one.

If you notice that some singers are not capable of jumping in in the approximately three seconds of silence before someone else does, please ask them to sing. On the other hand, discourage large sessions that go around a circle -- nothing kills good singing faster than a huge session with too many rules.

Subject: RE: how to put on a good music camp
From: mg
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 01:24 PM

good points that are very easy to overlook. Some camps are much better than this than others....really slippery muddy camps are probably not great for people with certain mobility needs...haldn't though about the big song circles...they are so traditional here at least the first night...no doubt about it, the best music is when people jump in..the flip side of that is that it is not at all democratic...probably the best thing is to have a big group thing and then split if necessary or the blue books are winning. mg