how to improve folk clubs

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 08:36 AM

"armchair folk club organisers.."
On the other hand, there are ex-folk club organisers (and residents) who have watched the club scene go down the pan and wondered why!!!
Safe pair of hands my arse!!!
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 09:01 AM

>>They could put toilet paper in the lavatory. <<

You use your fingers at ours, and when you have finished, you put your fingers in the hole in the wall. The person behind the wall hits your hands with a hammer. You can guess the rest. :-)

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 11:59 AM

>>They could put toilet paper in the lavatory. <<

We don't need any at our club - I thought that traditional ballads were supposed to bore people shitless.


I'll get my coat

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: goatfell
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 12:10 PM

as a crisp eater at lest I wait until the boring song is finished

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Musket
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:02 AM

Many years ago, a local folk club had to stop for a short while whilst the pub was refurbished, and re-launched themselves.

Now, the club had been dying on its feet. Rightly or wrongly, they decided the term folk club had stereotype connotations. SO.. they used the term acoustic music nights.

Lots of people came out of the woodwork, still had some excellent local traditional musicians and singer, and the spread of music didn't really alter from before. The difference was the turnout. Fairly full most weeks.

I still to this day haven't decided if it was changing the word folk to acoustic, (the intended change) or whether the possibly inadvertent dropping of the word club did it.

Club can be construed as belonging, being part of something, and perhaps many people, often without giving it much thought, feel they want to drop in and out as the mood takes them, but would feel clubs have by definition members so would feel obliged to involve themselves?

Just a thought... Casual attenders may pick up on the word club and back off?

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:23 AM

I don't think 'club' has any special terrors for most people - although our initiation ceremony with the thing from the anne summers catalogue on a black and decker drill did put one or two off.

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Banjiman
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:58 AM

"although our initiation ceremony with the thing from the anne summers catalogue on a black and decker drill did put one or two off."

Can I join?

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Musket
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 08:54 AM

No wonder you get to wear an apron....

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: GUEST,Allen in OZ
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 05:49 PM

The Toongabbie Music Club here in Sydney meets each fortnight on a Friday night in the local Scouts Hall. We sit in a circle and each performer is allowed two songs or poems at a time . This continues around the circle all evening , being interrupted only by supper.

The second Friday meeting of each month is a "theme " night ( eg places , human body parts, people's names etc) All good fun and not compulsory . In winter we have a log fire at which poets are allowed special permission to recite...it is titled appropriately "Poets Corner" or even Poets Cornered !

It seems to work as attendances have been increasing over the past 3 or 4 years and a good time is had by all

AD

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Girl Friday
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 06:28 PM

I tried once, issuing a questionnaire to canvas oppinion. Had about 2 back..... seems people are content to me.

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 07:06 PM

Many years ago, a local folk club had to stop for a short while whilst the pub was refurbished, and re-launched themselves.

Now, the club had been dying on its feet. Rightly or wrongly, they decided the term folk club had stereotype connotations. SO.. they used the term acoustic music nights. [...] Fairly full most weeks.

I still to this day haven't decided if it was changing the word folk to acoustic, (the intended change) or whether the possibly inadvertent dropping of the word club did it.

It couldn't just be that the refurbishment had something to do with it?

It doesn't matter much what you call yourselves if you're meeting in a grubby depressing shithole.

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 11:45 AM

The dedicated folkie ignores the surroundings and concentrates on the music. Question is do you want to sing to an audience or to a handful of equally dedicated mates?

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Rifleman (inactive)
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 12:39 PM

"I tried once, issuing a questionnaire to canvas oppinion. Had about 2 back..... seems people are content to me."

that or they simply couldn't be arsed to fill out the questionnaire

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Stringsinger
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 01:18 PM

Here's how.

1. Educate the audience. Explain what they are hearing and seeing.
2. Differentiate between folk and pop. (They are not the same even though sometimes       they overlap.)
3. Provide honest (not hype) background on the performers.
4. Establish a newsletter for upcoming performances.
5. Start a small school or fan club. It could teach:
    A. Folklore   B. Performance skills and ettiquette C. Source material (books, CD's etc.)
    E. Accompanying instrument skills. F. Sessions (folk-based...Celtic, Old-Time etc.)

This is what keeps me from going to folk clubs. Tobacco smoke. (Deal with it)

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: how to improve folk clubs
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 03:43 AM

"This is what keeps me from going to folk clubs. Tobacco smoke. (Deal with it)"

Already dealt with, Frank. Presumably you're not a resident of the UK or Ireland?