Hoot Etiquette

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Deckman
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 07:52 PM

Susan, obviously you provide more complete services than do Bride Judy and I. Until this last gathering I had never thought of having a priest on hand.

And Don, Yes I think I know who it is (was). But's it's not important, he was a chanty singer! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 08:44 PM

Oh. Him.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Deckman
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 09:00 PM

Don ... I certainly hope that our mudcatter friends are only teasing! Gawd help us if we started a range war over something so unimportant as singing! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 10:34 PM

Well, Don, you see, he came with the house... we disguise him as well as possible with a banjo, and make him play blues on it. Parishioners say, "that's different," but the other folks don't suspect.... yet.

~S~

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 10:58 PM

Bob and Don, you guys look good! Handsome as ever!

Maggie

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Deckman
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 11:17 PM

Hi Maggie ... Well, all I can say is the obvious ... Texas must have dimminshed your perceptions! Thanks. Bob

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Deckman
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 11:20 PM

Back to the theme of "Hoot Etiquette":

It is no longer permissable to sic "MOOSE" on the first five cops that arrive. At his age of 71, it still requires more than five to make it a fair fight! Bob

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: old moose
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 04:17 AM

I don't know how I could be so misunderstood. that was a feller named Giddings at the shindy on the houseboat on Lake union. I wasn't there. I was drinking that night at Herb's Northlake and the little fracas that arose had nothin to do with folk singin. There was somethin about a red headed woman in it. The only thing I ever raise at a hoot is my voice in what I call song and repeated calls for coffee. Oh, I may have called once or twice for beer and wine, but that was a while ago and forty years are forty years. Ah, but I was young then, young and male pattern stupid. You were so intent and focused that you were never young, while I am still young and still don't kow what I'll be when I grow up.
The rule I regard as very important is that it's rude to try to sing with your mouthful. It's perfectly acceptable to search the ceiling for words that seem to have gone walk-about, and I hold that rule not worth a fig that says that people who cannot sing well should shut up!

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 10:56 AM

If you expect someone else to tune yor instrument for you, it is incumbent upon you to find out, in advance, what personal service will be appreciated in exchange.

It shall not be permissable for any individual to ask for tuning assistance more than 12 times in any calendar year.

Tuning by use of electronic tuners shall suspended when an autoharp (or hammered dulcimer or folk harp) is present. In case of any questions, votes for how to tune are by the number of strings on the instrument-- 1 string = 1 vote. Pipers and other non-stringed-instrument-players shall abide by the majority of votes cast.

All rules are suspended when children who are playing instruments are present, except the rules about breaking instruments, which rules are so severe and lengthy I hesitate to publicize them; also, as such rules differ from state to state, enforcement should be left to local discretion.

It shall be cause for permanent exclusion from future hoots to continue playing a song or tune once any priest present has administrered last rites to said song or tune, having furst declared it a dead horse not to be beaten further. Participants are herby forewarned that "Sweet Betsy From Pike" has been declared dead and buried numerous times already, by virtue of its number of verses, as have been "Kumbaya", "DeColores," and "Amazing Grace," for obvious reasons. "Star of the County Down" also has been cremated, following fistfights breaking out over matters involvng the time signature.

~S~

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Midchuck
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 12:25 PM

If you expect someone else to tune your instrument for you, it is incumbent upon you to find out, in advance, what personal service will be appreciated in exchange.

Ha HA! HAWWWHH!

Tuning by use of electronic tuners shall suspended when an autoharp (or hammered dulcimer or folk harp) is present.

In heaven's name, why? In these times, when everyone has an electronic tuner, can't a person who hauls around an autoharp, hammered dulcimer (bashed mandolin?), etc. that isn't in standard (A=440) tuning be dismissed from serious consideration as an utter antisocial dork?

All rules are suspended when children who are playing instruments are present, except the rules about breaking instruments, which rules are so severe and lengthy I hesitate to publicize them; also, as such rules differ from state to state, enforcement should be left to local discretion.

In the case of children breaking instruments (not their own) the rules against pistol-whipping other peoples' children are also suspended.

...."Sweet Betsy From Pike" has been declared dead and buried numerous times already, by virtue of its number of verses, as have been "Kumbaya", "DeColores," and "Amazing Grace," for obvious reasons. "Star of the County Down" also has been cremated...

Aren't we forgetting the most important...?

"I was standing by my window, on a cold and cloudy day,
When I saw the hearse come rolling..."

BLAM! BLAM! ARRGHGH!

"OK, boys, bring that hearse around back, here...."

Peter.

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Frivolous Sal
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 12:41 PM

Bob's recent hoot resulted in a disagreement over the rules between Spouse and myself. If a well-known (albeit local)recording artist is present who has recorded and often sings a particular song, is there a rule about singing that number first? I think there is, if the group all know each other. Spouse thinks not.
No one did it intentionally - this is just a question.

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 12:50 PM

I would agree with you, mehit.

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Amos
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 01:01 PM

Tacit consent shows up in the darndest places, doesn't it??

A

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Deckman
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 01:39 PM

Hey Mehit ... First come first served! Bob

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 02:58 PM

... can't a person who hauls around an autoharp, hammered dulcimer (bashed mandolin?), etc. that isn't in standard (A=440) tuning be dismissed from serious consideration as an utter antisocial dork?...

Well, not if she's the hostesss. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Midchuck
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 03:41 PM

But Why?....

P.

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 04:52 PM

Well, because I tote it around a lot to play out and around for area churches, so it gets exposed to weather changes an awful lot. I have shoulder and wrist problems that periodically make tuning it myself difficult to impossible. So when Hardi has too heavy a load in pastoral care or church meetings, and can't get one of them tuned up for me before everyone arrives-- and these folks that jam with us NEVER arrive in tune anyhow-- I will still play if it's just a little off all across the string range uniformly, and people will stop by my playing stand and tune to me. So from time to time, it happens.

ALso-- and this may make you even crazier-- our church band plays everything down a half step-- why? Because it's easier to play autoharp in B or E by tuning it down a half step, instead of recutting ALL those felts or having 25 harps in all keys like Harpgirl does-- cheaper too, since I play for free. Anyhow, I sing a lot in those keys. Since I am the bandleader and the songleader for the worship music, we play in my keys. Then, it's just easier to tune to me than for folks to use their tuners.

Now on a fiddle tune jam, I take the place of all thjose guitars doing the rhythm, so we make it a priority to get my best harp in true tune for that kind of jam.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Deckman
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 06:54 PM

Susan ... It also helps if you can be the boss! That's why I like to host hoots at my house ... we play by "house rules!" CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 07:15 PM

heading for a "song circle" (not exactly a hoot) in an hour. It has a theme.."names of people, real or fictional"......so, I only have 247 choices..*sigh*...

I think I'm gonna do "Tam Pierce" "Ida Red" and "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy"

(and this place is so small, we need a rule about who gets to set where, so banjo players don't go whacking acapella folks in the ear.....come to think of it, ALL hoots need a rule about seating....you all debate this while I'm gone)

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Deckman
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 08:50 PM

I think Bill should sit on the left! Bob

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 10:48 AM

*LOL*...so do a lot of folk! (but actually, Bill sat scrunched on his little low chair, halfway under the piano in a crowd that was even bigger than expected.

well, the sing was somewhere between tolerable and atrocious, with fine highlights and LONG periods of tediousness, marked by occasional use of **The Blue Book** and some general disdain for decorum..(tramping back & forth to the snack table before the break DURING a song and talking while someone was trying to start a song...etc.)

I have dreams of having a series of real hoots at my place where it is by invitation, and not advertised as "ya'll come"...even if you haven't learned a song, can't carry a tune, and think RUS, Filk songs or Tom Lehrer are the ultimate expression of 400 years of Western folk music.'Tis a delicate matter to guide, educate and cajole without insulting or deriding someone's 'taste'...*sigh*...

It is hard to decide how to approach the state of affairs, as this is the 'official' singaround of our group, it has just had a decline in the 'old guard' in recent years. (I have attended them for about 25 years now, and have let a 95% attendance record slip to under 50% in the last couple years).......we shall see...it's worth trying to make it all work.

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Deckman
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 02:10 PM

If you go to PHOTOS, then EVENTS, Jeff just posted some pictures from the hoot. Thanks Jeff. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Don Firth
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 04:17 PM

I checked the photos (waiting for the photo CD Bob sent me—should arrive in tomorrow's mail). Gruesome twosome all right! My gawd, in that bottom shot I look like a beached whale! I wear baggy clothes so I'm comfortable in the wheelchair, so most of that has to be the clothes. I'm actually pretty scrawny and weigh in at about 135 lbs. Bob's looking pretty good though (despite the face and the body).

That's the li'l "Go" travel guitar I've been playing lately. I can play it without any problems while sitting in the wheelchair, whereas with a full-size guitar, the lower bout and the right wheel of the chair want to occupy the same space. It sounds surprisingly loud and full for such a small box.

I hope the CD contains some shots of seven-year-old Lizzie making her performance debut on the fiddle. If so, we ought to post a couple of her, because that may turn out to be a major event. String-smokin', foot-stompin' bluegrass fiddler? Major classical concert soloist? Who knows? (Ah, youth!)

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 12:15 AM

Bob has never gotten much into HTML codes, so he suggests that for those among you who are in good health, have hardy constitutions, and do not horrify easily, I post a link to the pictures of the hoot at his place on Sunday, August 31st.

Brace yourself!!

(Boy, do I need a haircut!)

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: Amos
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 12:23 AM

Awwwww....I love it...even though it is horrifying close to the bone. If it weren't for the L'Oreal "Just for Men" Brush-In Light Brown....


Just kidding... you guys looked like you were having a real barrel of fun. Wish I had been there!


A

Subject: RE: Hoot Etiquette
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 10:23 AM

Referencing some of my comments above about tuning:

Scordatura

~S~