 sj |
||
|
||
The Concept of FREED Folkmusic
|
|
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Surreysinger Date: 12 Sep 10 - 11:27 AM I wasn't thinking about your requirements! Mind you, I obviously have to get into the VIP area before I can even think about getting a floorspot anyway .... |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Tootler Date: 12 Sep 10 - 11:29 AM Not being a gigging professional, I clearly do not qualify for entrance to such hallowed grounds, so it's a pint of Bass in the Welly accompanied by condescension from the Wilsons. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Surreysinger Date: 12 Sep 10 - 11:42 AM Who, of course, being gigging professionals, will probably be drinking Krug .... |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Will Fly Date: 12 Sep 10 - 11:45 AM I say, Ralphie, old chap, be a dear good fellow and give the cat another goldfish, will you? |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 12 Sep 10 - 12:15 PM Sorry Will. Too busy feeding the pigs. Off truffle hunting in the morn.... (Nice little earner!) |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Leadfingers Date: 12 Sep 10 - 12:55 PM The warf rat is one of the most expensive places in baltimore no thanks I dont recall paying to get in to the Shanty sing Conrad - Or do you expect Free Beer just for suppoting an event ? With your attitude I think a fair few people would contribute to your bier though ! |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Will Fly Date: 12 Sep 10 - 12:55 PM Forgot to say - saw the Carrivick Sisters at Seaford Folk Club last Friday nights. The little devils were drinking champagne from my shoe before sliding off in to the night in their Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé. It's a life, eh? Good luck with the truffles, Ralphie - see you at Sotheby's for the Old Masters sale next Thursday. Now, where's my "Old Folkies" edition of the Les Paul 1955 Gold Top... I know I put it somewhere... must have left it in the jacuzzi... |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Bettynh Date: 12 Sep 10 - 02:14 PM From Wikipedia: "Delusional disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis denoting a psychotic mental disorder that is characterized by holding one or more non-bizarre delusions[1] in the absence of any other significant psychopathology. Non-bizarre delusions are fixed beliefs that are certainly and definitely false, but that could possibly be plausible...A person with delusional disorder may be high functioning in daily life and may not exhibit odd or bizarre behavior aside from these delusions. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM) defines six subtypes of the disorder characterized as erotomanic, grandiose, jealous, persecutory, somatic, and mixed, i.e., having features of more than one subtypes. Delusions also occur as symptoms of many other mental disorders, especially the other psychotic disorders. The DSM-IV, and psychologists, generally agree that personal beliefs should be evaluated with great respect to complexity of cultural and religious differences since some cultures have widely accepted beliefs that may be considered delusional in other cultures. Specifically, in order to fall under the definition of a "delusion," a belief must be sustained despite what almost everyone else believes, and not be one ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture or subculture (e.g., it is not an article of religious faith). The following can indicate a delusion: 1. The patient expresses an idea or belief with unusual persistence or force. 2. That idea appears to exert an undue influence on his or her life, and the way of life is often altered to an inexplicable extent. 3. Despite his/her profound conviction, there is often a quality of secretiveness or suspicion when the patient is questioned about it. 4. The individual tends to be humorless and oversensitive, especially about the belief. 5. There is a quality of centrality: no matter how unlikely it is that these strange things are happening to him, the patient accepts them relatively unquestioningly. 6. An attempt to contradict the belief is likely to arouse an inappropriately strong emotional reaction, often with irritability and hostility. 7. The belief is, at the least, unlikely, and out of keeping with the patient's social, cultural and religious background. 8. The patient is emotionally over-invested in the idea and it overwhelms other elements of his or her psyche. 9. The delusion, if acted out, often leads to behaviors which are abnormal and/or out of character, although perhaps understandable in the light of the delusional beliefs. 10. Individuals who know the patient will observe that his or her belief and behavior are uncharacteristic and alien. The following features are found: 1. It is a primary disorder. 2. It is a stable disorder characterized by the presence of delusions to which the patient clings with extraordinary tenacity. 3. The illness is chronic and frequently lifelong. 4. The delusions are logically constructed and internally consistent. 5. The delusions do not interfere with general logical reasoning (although within the delusional system the logic is perverted) and there is usually no general disturbance of behavior. If disturbed behavior does occur, it is directly related to the delusional beliefs. 6. The individual experiences a heightened sense of self-reference. Events which, to others, are nonsignificant are of enormous significance to him or her, and the atmosphere surrounding the delusions is highly charged. Treatment of delusional disorders includes a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy although it is a challenging disorder to treat for many reasons such as the patient's denial that they have a problem of a psychological nature." In terms of this message forum, DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. You cannot change his delusions. We're probably only reinforcing them by giving his total nonsense consideration. That's cruel. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 12 Sep 10 - 06:58 PM yup right here in the baltimore and washington dc area elite folk singing gatherings all the rage- complete with all kinds of costuming and the most expensive places never the great corner bars where the prices are ordinary. Always seemed strange to me but they dont want the rif raff in do they. But it is true. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 12 Sep 10 - 07:01 PM REPEAT THE WARF RAT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES IN BALTIMORE BOTHY THEIR TWO LOCATIONS Baltimore is filled with many wonderous corner bars with very inexpensive pricing many with old interiors and good woodwork and food as well. No the folk singing group both in DC and in baltimore are rather exclusive- no sense in it but Im not into dress up and high prices. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Jack Campin Date: 12 Sep 10 - 07:17 PM In terms of this message forum, DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS. You cannot change his delusions. We're probably only reinforcing them by giving his total nonsense consideration. It doesn't matter. The point of this thread isn't what Conrad says, but the way he manages to annoy Don into posting such great stuff. He isn't a troll, he's the grit in the oyster. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: catspaw49 Date: 12 Sep 10 - 07:36 PM "Im not into dress up and high prices......" Ain't that the everlovin' fuckin' truth!!! Conrad has oft admitted to the fact he rarely bathes and I'm sure folks are thrilled when his BO appointed blob-bod arrives........If you haven't seen him, THIS is Conrad...............I dunno' what is better, the scruffy beard and hair or the belly hanging out of his bibs. I can't understand why he might not get along with the rest of the crowd. BTW.........The Cornhole boy IS into dressup.....Here he is adorned with dumbass horn hat and fartcar .......... Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 12 Sep 10 - 08:10 PM Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear, That first pic looks a fair but like me at the moment, but I do protest, I bathe regularly, whether I need it or not! I shave my beard completely in summer... I like the extra warmth in winter ... and since I have been taking up push bike riding recently, I think I may be losing some weight soon ... And sadly, I'm trying to do a low cost refurbishment of a push bike, and my attempts repainting the frame, using paint spray cans that apparently are too old, is resulting in an effect like that in the pic. I'm off to buy some more NEW paint cans ... and change the colour.... |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Howard Jones Date: 13 Sep 10 - 03:37 AM According to its website the Wharf Rat charges $5 a pint, for what look like rather good cask-conditioned real ales. I don't know how that compares with prices in other bars, but it doesn't seem excessive - it's in line with what you might expect to pay in many city-centre pubs in the UK. If you're interested in the music, rather than just chugging beer, then it should be possible to get by on a couple of pints over the evening. Since its the marginal cost that counts here - ie the difference between a pint in the Wharf Rat compared with another bar - then surely it's worth paying a dollar or two extra to hear good music? Unless of course you're Conrad, and expect to get everything for free. I don't know about the dressing-up bit, but surely that's not compulsory? Or do they just expect people to be dressed reasonably smartly? I can see how Conrad might have a problem with that. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Leadfingers Date: 13 Sep 10 - 05:54 AM To the best of MY knowledge the ONLY things 'Folkies' would have a costume for eithr in USA or OK is Re Enactment events , and that would only be the Participants not necessarily the onlookersj |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 13 Sep 10 - 06:51 AM When the fair price of a draught bier is $1.00 at excelent corner places in baltimore that are really wonderful and generally have great food then there is the difference As a person of large body mass one or two biers bounce off with little or no effect. I generally go for three pitchers on a good night. I was never so sick as after consuming a cask conditioned at the warf rat. They keep it too long. Yes everything in america is now masquerade trouble is that no matter what the theme of the event they dress up in whatever suits them. At the Rennaissance festival you can see pirates, dr whos etc.... Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 13 Sep 10 - 07:15 AM I don't really know (please correct me if I'm wrong) but I'm guessing that a US "Pitcher" would be the equivqlent to a UK "Jug" (often bought by 3 or 4 mates to avoid having to keep going to the bar? Well over here They usually hold about 4 pints of beer....So, It takes 12 pints to satisfy Conrad does it? No wonder he's not very welcome in nice bars! |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Howard Jones Date: 13 Sep 10 - 07:57 AM According to this a beer pitcher holds 3 3/4 US pints, which is a little over 3 Imperial pints. I don't think anyone swigging 9 pints in a session would be all that welcome in a UK folk club either. If Conrad were really interested in music rather than getting pissed then he could cut down the amount he drinks and spend the same in the Wharf Rat as he would in other bars. If he doesn't like the real ale they serve other stuff. But I think we've established that the music isn't his priority. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 13 Sep 10 - 08:00 AM I dont need to pay extra to go to a "nice" bar. So non folk. I went to University in Munich Germany where I learned to drink correctly. Then I attended Durham University and learned to drink as a Geordie-properly. Then spent graduate school in tennessee where I learned to drink my corn from a jar.- Trust me I know what I am doing! I am a strong believer in keeping the rest of culture together with the music. This means proper food and proper consumption of alcohol which is necessary to awaken the muse. A proper pitcher the larger of the two does five pints. An evening is not one hour nursing one pint but 4 or more hours enjoying a feast of drink. I find craft beer way too hoppy and rich for proper working mans beer drinking. Its for the dress up crowd. Beware- attacking the messenger sets back your argument! Music is most accessible when it is to be found in venues which are inexpensive. The landlord will make more money packing people in for a bargain and in volume than he will running a "nice" place. Yes there is a real shortage of real men around. Generally at a table most are drinking diet soda and ice tea. When they drink bier they drink lite which is disgusting. Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Rob Naylor Date: 13 Sep 10 - 08:08 AM Will: Forgot to say - saw the Carrivick Sisters at Seaford Folk Club last Friday nights I keep missing them locally due to prior committments! I wouldn't mind a ride in their Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé!!! Ralphie et al: Bear in mind that a US pint is 16 fluid ounces, not 20, like a proper pint! |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: jeffp Date: 13 Sep 10 - 08:16 AM Costuming is not required at the shanty sessions. The professional performers who attend frequently dress in their performing clothes, but others come in street clothes. The price of beer is the same as other bars in the immediate area. If Conrad can get beer for a dollar at corner bars, he should persuade them to have folk music, rather than persuade other bars to lower their prices. Simple, no? |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 13 Sep 10 - 08:24 AM My impression from photos is that its mostly steampunkers and masqueraders. Yes the key is the immediate neighborhood. Fells point and silver spring are upscale and IMHO not appropriate venues for folk music in a traditional sense. Too plastic and way too expensive. Why make the music less accessible just for the atmosphere? Makes no sense to me. "hey I'm a folkie can I pay double for beer please>?" But the elitist attitude is indicative of the problems the music is having. I have yet to find any one of these venues matching the proper market prices and baergains indeed advertized by the folk clubs on the BBC programs. I applaud them for making food and drink affordable when combined with the music To do otherwise is stimply to use music as the bait for profit taking and I dont think anyone would agree that to be appropriate. Accessibility is everything. When the folk sang they did not go out and buy exotic clothing. They just did it in their flannel shirts and wellies most likely in the fields as well - keep your fancy dress for the opera thans! Folk should not be opera. We dont do concerts and we dont need to get our hair done-hold the perfume unless it is that of the barn. Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Jack Campin Date: 13 Sep 10 - 09:03 AM I was a bit surprised at the Whitby folk festival to see how little effort people put into dressing up - you tend to see a lot more people making an occasion of it at Scottish folk festivals. (I was the guy at Whitby in a brown kilt for part of the time). But there were some - guys in waistcoats and women in brightly coloured dresses. I think it adds to the spirit of the event if people do that. But I didn't see anyone in such an outlandish costume as what Conrad's wearing in those photos. My usual consumption is a pint every two or three hours. Nine pints? I don't think I've ever drunk more than half that much at a sitting in my life. Playing wind instruments, my fingers would have problems finding the right hole after that. I'd guess Conrad has the same problem even though he doesn't play wind instruments. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 13 Sep 10 - 10:32 AM OK. The genie is out of the bottle (!) Conrad is a Piss Head. With no interest (and I expect no talent) When it comes to the performing arts. His only mission in life seems to me to be to drink as much bier (sic) as possible for the least money. Doesn't sound like any folkie I know in the UK. I feel sorry for my American friends. Not only have you got a bonkers Vicar, who for some strange reason wants to burn copies of Kerrrang magazine. (It's a UK Heavy Metal music publication) You've also got a free loading drunk who expects people to play something for him while he's dinking. And you've got Sarah Palin too!....I suffer for you all, my friends. You deserve better. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Tim Leaning Date: 13 Sep 10 - 11:50 AM "Dinking"? Now that really is sic. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: GUEST,Ralphie Date: 13 Sep 10 - 01:21 PM OK Tim! Dyslexia lures OK. I woke up this morning wondering if there really was a Dog... |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Don Firth Date: 13 Sep 10 - 02:29 PM "Yes everything in america is now masquerade trouble is that no matter what the theme of the event they dress up in whatever suits them. At the Rennaissance festival you can see pirates, dr whos etc...." What the hell is Conrad talking about here? At Renaissance Faires and Society for Creative Anachronism events, of course you are going to see people in various costumes. That's what those events are about. At science fiction conventions, I have seen Enterprise crew members, people wearing Vulcan ears, armies of Klingons, at least five Darth Vaders, and even a couple of smurfs. But at the umpteen folk festivals I have been to and/or sung at, most people were casually but normally dressed—shirts, slacks, jeans, T-shirts, skirts—yes, and even an occasional pair of bib overalls. But no costumes. When I sang in coffeehouses or at folk festivals, I usually wore a nice looking shirt and pair of slacks. Casual. When singing at the Overlake Friends of the Library banquet, I wear a suit, like the other folks at the banquet. When I sing in a regular concert hall, such as the Seattle Center Playhouse or Seattle University's Pigott Auditorium, I generally wear a pair of grey flannel slacks, a navy-blue blazer (plastic buttons rather than brass so I don't scratch up the back of my guitar), and either a white shirt and tie or a light colored cotton turtleneck. Formal but casual as well. Appropriate for a concert or recital situation, but not quite as far as Richard Dyer-Bennet's white tie and tails. Is that what Conrad considers a "costume?" Well, to me, a pair of bib overalls and no shirt strikes me as a bit—I can't think of a good word here. . . . So where has been Conrad been seeing all these costumes? After a couple of pitchers of bier? No, of course not! Unless somebody else is buying. Something he's smoking, perhaps? When I have a beer, I want a beer, not Bud Lite on tap. My neighbor's cat can pee a better beverage than that! #### Fear not for those of us in the Colonies, Ralphie. The book-burning minister is generally regarded as certifiable, if not verging on treasonous (his intent to violate Constitutional guarantees and flout local fire codes) by most of the population, And nobody pays any attention to Sarah Palin except comedians who consider her the best source of material to come down the Pike since George W. Bush and a few people too stupid to find their own butts with both hands and an anatomy chart. And as far as the free-loading drunk who expects talented people who have put in years of practice and research to come from all over the world at their own expense and perform for him free of charge so he can have a "folk experience," I'm afraid he has a long and lonely wait ahead of him. Don Firth |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: MikeL2 Date: 13 Sep 10 - 02:53 PM Hi I don't know about dressing up for the music. If Conrad drinks 3 pitchers of beer a night he will spend more time in the toilets undoing whatever trousers he has put on for the occasion. Cheers MikeL2 |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Don Firth Date: 13 Sep 10 - 02:54 PM "To do otherwise [make food and drink what Conrad considers "affordable," i.e., free, perhaps?] is stimply to use music as the bait for profit taking and I dont think anyone would agree that to be appropriate." Well, of course!! What else? Why would Bob Clark hire folk singers to sing at his coffeehouse if he didn't think that they would attract more customers. Or John Timmons at Pamir House? Or Stan James at the Corroboree? Or Eric Bjornstadt at the Queequeg? Or why would Club 47 in Boston hire Joan Baez to sing there before her breakthrough at the Newport Folk Festival in 1959? Or why do you think San Francisco's Hungry i hired people like The Kingston Trio or The Limeliters? And why, pray tell, is that "not appropriate?" Why should anyone hire a theater or concert hall if they didn't expect, at the very least, to make back through ticket sales what it cost them to rent the hall in the first place? And who wants to stand around among the cow pies and sing in an open field? Conrad, you said up above that you are a conservative Republican. How do you reconcile your political position with the idea that people should not seek profits from their livelihoods? It seems to me that this "give it away for free" idea of yours is usually labeled (by conservatives and right-wingers) as "socialist" and therefore an abomination in the eyes of a vengeful God. Don Firth |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Jack Campin Date: 13 Sep 10 - 03:06 PM While we're on odd costumes: where did dungarees go, in the UK? I had some when I was a kid in England in the 50s, but haven't worn them since. I think the last people I saw wearing them in Scotland were lesbians in the 1980s. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 13 Sep 10 - 04:40 PM I would never ever drink lite beer. Perhaps you are too far away from the affluent east to have the costuming thing. Once the renn faires kept to period costume. It was great. Now they just want money so have let the standards go it is pure masquerade pirates- dr. who- whatever..... When I attended sessions at folk clubs in the uk including great Northumbrian pipe sessions in working mans clubs in newcastle no one, absolutely no one was dinking moderately- ever. And they could smoke too. and they did that in extreme which was good. Overalls are my american national costume rather them than kilts. Never drunk and disorderly, never been tossed out of any place, never in a fight. Just a well trained drinker. Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Howard Jones Date: 13 Sep 10 - 05:35 PM We don't have Renaissance Fairs in the UK, but they have been discussed at some length on here and it seems fairly clear that they are not folk festivals, although they may include some folk music. As Don pointed out, the whole point of these events is the dressing up, so it is a bit strange to criticise people at them for doing so. The majority of people at folk festivals don't dress up in costume. Admittedly, at some festivals in the UK a few people can be seen wearing distressing trousers, and in the case of some women, fairy wings (!), but these aberrations are confined to a small minority and are easily ignored. I've visited folk clubs and sessions in most parts of the UK. It's true that my experience of the North East is limited, but elsewhere I've seen little evidence of heavy drinking. Steady drinking, yes, but there's a difference between sinking 9 pints in the space of a few hours and drinking the same amount over the course of a whole day, which is the more usual pattern at a festival. At a folk club, most people manage with 2 or 3 pints - less if they're driving. Conrad, you appear in your travels to have the unfortunate habit of ending up in places with extremes of behaviour - heavy drinkers in Newcastle and compulsive fancy-dressers in Baltimore (although no one else seems to have seen them). However, you're missing the point. If you were truly interested in the music but concerned about the cost, you could easily cut back on your intake of beer to make the evening affordable. Your priority is clearly drinking beer rather than listening to music. To claim that this is an essential part of the tradition is laughable. You don't have to be fighting drunk for people to find such behaviour objectionable. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 13 Sep 10 - 06:46 PM you missed the point- renaissance does not include doctor who or pirates from the 18th century. They used to be kept to the acutal renaissance and ours features a specific reign each year. They are way way over priced and although they do have some good music generally it is a free for all with kids running a muck and women who otherwise would be well coved exposing cleavage. Everyone is different metabolism is everything along with body weight. One knows when one's muse is awakened. Yes I generally get to a place around 5 and dont leave til lit closes at 2 give or take. Lots of food as well as beer. The question is if the venue is accessible. Accessible means affordable at prices average or lower- otherwise music is not important bringing in the beer profit is. Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Smokey. Date: 13 Sep 10 - 07:03 PM By 'eck, it's a while since I did any coving.. Conrad, with all that beer, I'm not surprised you aren't too fussy about the quality of music or the stench of raw sewage. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Howard Jones Date: 13 Sep 10 - 07:11 PM So stay away from renaissance fairs if they're not your thing. Go to a folk festival instead. But it seems a bit pointless criticising the people who do go to them for what they do there. Try to understand this: a bar owner sells beer. That's what he does. He needs to make a profit to stay in business and carry on selling beer (what would you do if all the bars went broke?). Don't criticise a bar owner for putting on music to bring in customers - of course selling beer is more important to him. Why wouldn't it be? Why should it matter, if it means he's putting on music? The question is, what is more important to you? People who appreciate music are prepared to pay for it, and if the beer is a bit more expensive than they'd prefer, they'll drink less of it in order to be able to listen to music. You've made it very plain that you'd rather drink beer than listen to music, so much so that you refuse to go to folk events because they charge too much for beer. You'd rather have lots of cheap beer and no music than have less beer with music. Once again, the answer is in your own hands. If you really believe there are a lot of others like you who are 'excluded' from the music because they prefer to spend their money on beer, then open your own folk event at one of these cheap bars. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Jack Campin Date: 13 Sep 10 - 07:35 PM women who otherwise would be well coved exposing cleavage. Regardless of gender or sexual orientation - would anybody out there rather look at what Conrad likes displaying to the world rather than this from a renfaire? Overalls are my american national costume you mean the American national costume is this? |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: catspaw49 Date: 13 Sep 10 - 07:48 PM And btw Cornhole......Gluing tacky trash to an oil burning piece of shit car is NOT art.............. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Smokey. Date: 13 Sep 10 - 08:08 PM Words fail me... Click me |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: catspaw49 Date: 13 Sep 10 - 08:54 PM "Mommy? Why does Santa smell like BO and beer?" Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Don Firth Date: 13 Sep 10 - 08:59 PM ". . . the affluent east. . . ." You know, Conrad, when I was in Denver, Colorado for about a year and a half back in the mid-1950s, I met a doctor who lived all his life in New York City, where he also went to college. He had chosen to intern at a Denver hospital, and he was mightily surprised when he got off the plane at Stapelton airport and discovered that Denver was not a log fort surrounded by Indian tepees. Denver was a big city. Not as big as New York, but a major metropolitan area nevertheless. When he heard that I was from Seattle, he wanted to know if the Indians gave us very much trouble out there. After a few questions, I ascertained that he was under the impression that Seattle was a little clump of log cabins and igloos surrounded by The Forest Primeval where the only industries were logging and fishing. He asked me how tall the biggest building in Seattle was, and at the time, it was the L. C. Smith building, the "Smith Tower," 42 stories. CLICKY. It's the building on the right, with the pyramid on top. As you can see, some taller buildings have been built since then. He didn't believe me. He thought I was pulling his leg and the tallest building couldn't possibly have been over four stories. Seattle is the original home of the Boeing Airplane Company. There are three Boeing factories in the area, one of which (a few miles north of Seattle), is the site of the largest building in the world, in terms of enclosed space CLICKY, even larger than the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, although the latter is often said (erroneously) to be the largest. The scale in the photo is so massive that it's hard to tell that the doors on the building, out of which finished airplanes are rolled, are larger than a football field set on edge. Seattle is also the site of the world's first floating bridge: CLICKY. The one picture is the first, and it crosses Lake Washington, from Seattle to Bellevue. There is another floating bridge (at Evergreen Point) north of this one, and yet another some miles away, crossing Hood Canal out on the Olympic Peninsula. A view of part of the Seattle skyline, from Highland park on Queen Anne Hill, showing the Space Needle (a legacy of Century 21, the 1962 Seattle World's Fair) and Seattle's answer to the Paris's Eiffel Tower, the Gothic arches of the Pacific Science Center toward the lower right corner, with 14,411 foot Mount Rainier in the background. Seattle boasts the fourth largest opera company in the United States, CLICKY, in a newly refurbished 2,900 seat McCaw Hall (my wife and I have season tickets), which is also the home base of Pacific Northwest Ballet. In downtown Seattle is the newly constructed Benaroya Hall which houses the Seattle Symphony. Under the baton, first, of Sir Thomas Beecham, then Milton Katims, and most recently, Gerard Schwarz, the Seattle Symphony has become a world-class symphony orchestra. Benaroya Hall boasts a main concert hall of 2,500 seats, and a smaller 500 seat recital hall. Then, of course, there is the Seattle Classic Guitar Society, the Early Music Guild, the Medieval Women's Choir, the Seattle Folklore Society, and the Pacific Northwest Folklore Society. For the sports-minded, there are the Seattle Mariners (baseball), the SeaHawks (football), and the Supersonics (basketball), along with some to the world's finest ski areas within an hour's drive (Snoqualmie Pass, White Pass, Crystal Mountain, others). Over the three-day Labor Day weekend, the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival CLICKY (only one of a dozen performance stages) is held at the Seattle Center, which draws huge crowds, as does the aforementioned Northwest Folklife Festival CLICKY (free of charge) over the three-day Memorial Day weekend. I have sung many times at the Northwest Court Stage, one of many such stages around the Center grounds. According to Forbes 400, some of the world's richest people live in Seattle or environs (Bellevue and Evergreen Point, across Lake Washington from Seattle). –Bill Gates, Microsoft, $50 billion, ranked #1.A London-based market research company says that there are 68,000 millionaires living in King County (Seattle is the county seat of King County). "Affluent East" indeed, Conrad. So tell me again how cheap things are out here in the boondocks, where we are all so poverty-stricken! The Hopvine Pub, about five blocks from where I live, has various kinds of music on weekends, including singers of folk songs. They serve a variety of beers from the local micro-breweries in this area (good stuff!!) and they charge around $5.00 a pint (16 ounces). Several other such places within walking distance. My wife and I are not rich. I am retired, save for taking the occasional one-shot singing job, and I write and sell a few articles from time to time. My wife has also recently retired from her years at the Seattle Public Library. She also writes. We have a few small investments socked away, but we live on our monthly Social Security checks (which you Republicans would like to take away from us if you could, despite the fact that we've paid into the fund all our working lives!). With careful, intelligent management, we own our own apartment in a co-op building in a fairly posh area of the city (Capitol Hill, near Volunteer Park. You can never tell what you might run into on a sunny afternoon in the park! CLICKY). Our mortgage is all paid off, and we pay off our credit card completely every month. We are completely debt-free. Yet we live quite comfortably, have good friends and neighbors, we entertain often, and we frequently get together with folk singing friends, and we enjoy what the area has to offer. Including a $5.00 pint of beer when we feel like it. We dress in a civilized manner (little children rarely point at us and giggle), and we bath regularly. And no, we rarely have any problems with the Indians anymore. They're all busy getting rich running casinos. Poet (and folk singer and folk song collector) Carl Sandburg once said that if one were to adopt his "Eleventh Commandment," it would render the previous Ten redundant and hence unnecessary. His Eleventh Commandment is: "Thou shalt not commit nincompoopery!"So, Conrad— as another Famous Man once said: "Go thou, and sin no more."Don Firth |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: catspaw49 Date: 13 Sep 10 - 09:03 PM Its also home to virtually every Unlimited Hydroplane team in the country. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 14 Sep 10 - 12:28 AM "Once again, the answer is in your own hands." 99, 100, .... |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Tootler Date: 14 Sep 10 - 06:46 PM I shudder to think what Conrad's liver is like |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Smokey. Date: 14 Sep 10 - 07:20 PM Simply offal. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 15 Sep 10 - 07:18 AM My liver is fine thanks. There is a difference between fair market value and fair profit and rip off profit levels. When musicians play at a venue where the landlord is ripping people off they are limiting access to our music. Higher the price the fewer people can afford to attend and stay. I am not advocating no profit just fair profit. The landlord would do very well with greater volume. Either you are taking steps to improve access- that is make prices most affordable and reasonable or you are hindering access. How can you say you wish to expand folk music when you dont take steps to make that happen. Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 15 Sep 10 - 07:25 AM Just in case you are wondering- Anything over $1.00-2 a pint is a rip off price. As I said you cant be expanding the community when you keep so many people out. Sure you will get some, maybe what the land lord thinks of as enough customers but you wont maximize access to the music by bringing in people to be ripped off or keeping poor people out. Simple. Do the math. So you advocate exclusivity- proven Not good Find the cheapest food and bier in town and bring the music there. Competition will soon begin and the more expensive place will lower its prices. Go back and forth till the prices stop falling- competition is the american way. Bargains should be obtained for our audiences. Yes in the past folk music was found in the halls of the kings. Good thing that they were swept asside and the dancing masters were forced to serve ordinary people bringing more music to the community. Lets sweep asside our current variety of elitists and their dedication to paying too much for food and drink for exclusivity and to keep the peasants out. Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Howard Jones Date: 15 Sep 10 - 07:40 AM "Find the cheapest food and bier in town and bring the music there." So, yet again, why won't you do that yourself? You still haven't given us an answer. These things you keep referring to are only limiting access to people like you who are more interested in guzzling food and beer than listening to music. Anyone who's really interested in music won't let it stop them - they can keep their beer and food consumption down to an affordable level, and go guzzling on another night and at another bar if they wish. If you were really as interested in music as you claim to be, you'd do the same. Surely you can manage one evening without drinking 9 pints? |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: Surreysinger Date: 15 Sep 10 - 08:47 AM Strange - I thought that this was a forum about music. Yet what we seem to be discussing to the exclusion (mostly) of anything about music, is the cost of food and drink, which to me would be a very secondary thing. |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 15 Sep 10 - 09:42 AM Yes indeed if you can afford not to be concerned about money nothing will stop you will it. You dont care about the poor people kept out of the music because they cant keep up with your spending I see you like sipping one beer in the evening probably holding your piknky finger just so and gently daubing your lips after each sip with the napkin in the correct hand. So I guess the landlord will let poor people come in and order the free glass of water and stay for the evening.....dont think so. The reason for this thread is to expand the audiences and access to folk music. Elitists just go away. Political correct folk just go away. Drinking moderation folks well.....when has anyone ever described folk customs as moderating. You are taking all the reality and fun out of distinctive populist gatherings. Stop it. Conrad |
|
Subject: RE: The Concept of FREED Folkmusic From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 15 Sep 10 - 11:14 AM The more I see a kill the messenger post here the more I realize how RIGHT I am! And no I could not care less about numbers..... |
| Share Thread: |
