Collapse of the Folk Clubs

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 05:13 PM

till you manage to behave like actual men

How do 'actual men' behave, Diane? Bearing in mind of course that all on here are 'virtual' and maybe not even men? Surely it is rather sexist to assume that anyone should behave in pattern prescribed (proscribed?) by their gender? Or have I, once again, got it wrong?

Dave.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave Earl
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 04:59 PM

"against it so far is your silly hat. And hopefully Vic will have the sense to ban that from the Royal Oak.
"
What business of yours is it what I wear!!!

Vic and Tina are personal friends of mine (and for that matter Bryan and Valmai are too). We are involved in two successful clubs and your unpleasant and argumentative attitude will, if made aparrant at either of them, will spoil the evening for my friends, the guests, and other people attending.

Therefore come if you like, enjoy the evening,and let us enjoy it too. It is possible that my partner, who has enjoyed Bara Grimsdottir's singing at a number of places, may also be there. And if you spoil her evening you will have more than me to deal with.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 04:52 PM

you are by far the most objectionable woman I have ever come across

Well, hopefully not, GS (recently crawled out of woodwork).
I live in hope that some other woman stronger and more forthright that I am will finally get through to you about how disgustingly and inappropriately sexist you are with your fawning over women who just want to kick you in the balls.
Yeah, I know you think you're in the right and believe all your crap is 'harmless banter'. Pah!
It isn't, even in Lincolnshire, home of the backwoods baying pack of Neanderthals.
Some of what I say is 'quite valid'? You bet it is and I don't need your damning with faint praise.
I'm 'best avoided'? Definitely, till you manage to behave like actual men.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 04:34 PM

If I go to the Royal Oak it might be because I'm driving the guests, Not that it's the slightest bit any business of yours, more a matter for Southern Trains or whatever they're calling themselves these days.

Why do do feel you have to defend your 'club'? I've never been and have therefore made no comment other than that in a correspondence with Valmai she was most helpful. The only thing I could possibly have against it so far is your silly hat. And hopefully Vic will have the sense to ban that from the Royal Oak.

Good grief, just look at yourself and how pompously pathetic you are.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 04:27 PM

Diane Easby or Countess Richard or whatever?>>>>>>I've never been to Gainsborough, nor indeed to the Lewes Arms and cannot, therefore, comment till I do.<<<<<<<<. I guess you already did comment very brashly, not only about Gainsborough Club and its 'backwoodsmen' but about me and my...in your opinion...perverted nature. You have proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that you can make idle comments without substance and still believe you are right or act as though you are and think no-one has the nous to notice. Sometimes it falls for all of us to eat humble pie and admit we were wrong but as Breton Cap has noticed...you are always right!!! or think you are. I am so sorry I ever entered any dialogue with you as you are by far the most objectionable woman I have ever come across on the cat...and I have never met one as self opinionated in a Folk Club either.
Sorry Breton but you are on a hiding to nothing with her...she is best avoided. Yes some of what she says is quite valid but one only has to look back over the thread to see where some is not!

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave Earl
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 03:42 PM

"Maybe I'll just kick you down the Royal Oak steps (singing Tom Paine's Bones as I do it.)"

I thought the reason you were going to the Royal Oak because the guests on that night were (MySpace) friends of yours. The above proposition strikes me as being a very poor way to behave in front of friends - MySpace or otherwise.

I don' think I feel that what you say is not valid - I feel more that I object to the way you express your views. It also seems to me that it is you who feels that any view other than your own is not valid.

I was also defending my Club and my friends and fellow residents from that club.

Dave

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 03:21 PM

There you go again, silly hat.
What you say is valid, what I say isn't.
Sorry, don't agree.

Maybe I'll just kick you down the Royal Oak steps (singing Tom Paine's Bones as I do it.)

Might even follow it with the song I wrote about how crap the train service is between Lewes and London, though I don't think Vic likes it, largely because it calls on him to give peeps lifts . . .

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave Earl
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 03:09 PM

"Outta here.
Probably."

And until you return perhaps we will have a little less bad-mouthing of other people's point of view.

May get to Royal Oak for Funi (if work allows)

Dave

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 02:56 PM

Anahata and I have spoken offlist.
I've told the Jim person what I think about blatant 6/8 and how to overcome it.
My recollection is that it was the Royal Oak who first booked S&B as a duo and that I was there, but does it matter?
I also saw them at Islington around the same time, which kind of explains my contention that wherever Anahata & Mary have been, it's a sign of a club that hasn't lost sight of its objectives.
I've never been to Gainsborough, nor indeed to the Lewes Arms and cannot, therefore, comment till I do.

Outta here.
Probably.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 02:20 PM

Since it seems you are monitoring this thread, Diane, there are plenty of things for you to respond to since you last posted. Anahata's request for clarification of your "the Anahata/Mary Humphreys theme" remark, my clarification that the Lewes Arms has given first or early bookings to young performers, Jim's assumption that since nobody had stated their standards or objectives that they didn't have any and Sooz and Valmai's responses to that.

After that, we were just marking time till you'd finished your slanging match with JimLad.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 01:48 PM

Folkiedave
but we managed to close all the town centre folk clubs ages ago

Good grief! I think we may have got back to the subject.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 01:34 PM

Note - the inestimable Kevin had three friends so he saved four train fares.

You are welcome to come and sing whatever you want - but we managed to close all the town centre folk clubs ages ago. Sessions only now.

I'll let you know when Dave and the Goths get a gig and you could do support........

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 12:59 PM

Come north of Ringmer anytime

Can I have a floorspot? I do (c)rap versions of Child Ballads.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 12:13 PM

not only is the beer good but if you drink enough you can save the cost of the train ticket over a weekend.

Worked for me and my friends when we met you Dave.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 11:48 AM

Well, - dang me as we Goths say.

I knew it was all a bad dream......

Come north of Ringmer anytime - not only is the beer good but if you drink enough you can save the cost of the train ticket over a weekend.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 11:42 AM

Folkiedave
And of course the famous Harvey's of Lewes is now owned by a greedy capitalist brewery company called Greene King who brew in...- well dang me as we Goths say - Bury St Edmunds.
AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHH!
Is there no end to your Gothic ignorance? Have you not been reading The Guardian? The Financial Times? The New York Times? Der Spiegel? Have you not had your ear glued to Radio 4's You and Yours? The Today programme? Are you really so out of touch with World news?
Harvey's Brewery remains as independant as it has for 200 years and more and continues to brew it's excellent beers a few hundred yards from the Lewes Arms. It has never and never will be owned by Greede King. GK took over the Beard's pub chain. (Beard's stopped brewing 40 or 50 years ago.) This, alas, made it the owner of the Arms. They gradually removed the Harvey's from each pub in turn. The Arms was the last to go. For 133 days they had an empty pub until they saw the light.
I'm sorry, but you've blown your chance of getting that floor spot.

(Sorry about the thread drift, folks, but this is IMPORTANT.)

(Nottingham? Sheffield? They're all north of Ringmer.)

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 11:10 AM

At the risk of severe thread drift I cannot let that pass.

Even when it was brewed in Nottingham Hardy and Hanson's hardly made it this far north. (I am in one of the great beer capitals of the world - Sheffield). And of course the famous Harvey's of Lewes is now owned by a greedy capitalist brewery company called Greene King who brew in...- well dang me as we Goths say - Bury St Edmunds.

Now we didn't have to fight to get our local beer back into our local pubs. (Congratulations on winning that one by the way - but it does worry me that you had to do it. I suspect the landlord and brewery might not take to a three piece Goth Band as easy as the members of the folk club might do if that's his attitude).

We struggle to choose good pubs with excellent beer, there are so many. Tonight we are off to the Kashmir Curry Centre on Spital Hill, which as well as being famous for its food is also famous for its mixed cricket team - not just asians and whites, but men and women!!) Then onto

http://www.thefatcat.co.uk/ and all of fifty yards to....

http://www.kelhamislandtavern.co.uk/

It's a tough life up north.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 09:45 AM

Folkiedave
The nose bleed that arises as I move gently south is mostly related to the price of beer.
But it's so much better! You're stuck with Hardy and Hanson's brewed in a chemical factory in Bury St Edmunds but we've got Harvey's back into the Arms. HOOORAH!
Decent beer is a major factor in preventing the Collapse of Folk Clubs (although, possibly not the Collapse of Folk Singers.)

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 09:11 AM

Dave doesn't sell that kind of book!

Correct. I read all my books. I would be able to play something by now had I read books like that at least once.

And to Dave (BC) it was me selling books at the lamented National. Thank you for your purchases.

The nose bleed that arises as I move gently south is mostly related to the price of beer.

Does that make me an unreconstructed northerner? I do hope so......

(Aside - at Shepley Festival those from the effete south did not realise that beer could be sold at such low prices - overheard "Nice to come to a festival and not feel you are being ripped off at the bar"). Prices were OK I thought.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: treewind
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 08:56 AM

". . . not to mention the Anahata/Mary Humphreys theme which seems to be emerging at nearly all points"

Ahem.
(jumping in a bit late, I know, but my ears are burning)
I think we're entitled to a bit more of an explanation of what that was about, given that we weren't mentioned by name anywhere earlier in the thread.

Anahata
(the same as mentioned, presumably)

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave Earl
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 07:21 AM

"Dave doesn't sell that kind of book!"

My fellow resident was only jesting I'm sure but is that Dave the man wot ran a stall at the National Festival when it was running at Sutton Bonnington ?

Cos if it is I've bought one two things from him in the past.

Dave

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Sooz
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 06:31 AM

Dave doesn't sell that kind of book!

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 06:03 AM

Folkiedave
I shall be selling books at the Gate To Southwell Festival

"Play in a Day: The one chord trick for guitar"
"The acoustic bass - which way up to hold it"
"Aryhthmic drum patterns in traditional gothic music"

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 05:55 AM

Georgiansilver
No-one is forced to do anything.
I know that really. It was just a rhetorical device to make a point of my own.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 05:44 AM

The Snail....it is not a forced thing....help/encouragement/support and even constructive criticism is given if it is what the new performer wants....No-one is forced to do anything.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 05:39 AM

Gosh. I'd forgotten we had a constitution. Since it is simply a statement of what we all know and believe there was no real need to remember.

Sooz seems to have it right as well. The only quibble would be with -

3) To advise, support, encourage and otherwise help (where possible) any new performers in an effort to project them forward onto the Folk Circuit.

Nobody has to aim for the Folk Circuit if they don't want to. If you just want to sing your songs and play your tunes amongst friends, that's fine.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave Earl
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 04:32 AM

"Beleive you me if you were not so far south I would. My problem is I get a nose bleed once south of Nottingham."

So it's a form of altitude sickness that prevents us having your company.

Unfortunately we are not enough of a movable feast to get up to you.

Dave

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 04:30 AM

From the Lewes Arms Folk Club's constitution:

LEWES ARMS FOLK CLUB RESIDENTS' COMMITTEE: Booking policy

Programming objectives

1.        To provide a programme which reflects the club's long-established interest in traditional music and song and contemporary folk music/song derived from the tradition;

2.        To provide a programme reflecting the major interests of the residents and those attending regularly in unaccompanied song, accompanied song and tunes;

3.        To provide a programme with a mix of local performers who perform bookings regularly, regional and national performers;

4.        To provide periodic opportunities for competent local performers who are not regularly booked at other clubs to perform;

5.        To provide opportunities for in-depth musical development via workshops;

6.        To apportion bookings equitably between performers as far as is possible in a situation where there are far more performers than opportunities to offer bookings;

7.        To vary formats from time to time, e.g. theme evenings, longer guest spots, while retaining a policy of offering floor singers at least one item;

8.        Where necessary to ensure that new members/visitors are able to perform floor spots by asking the residents to stand down.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 04:15 AM

Get yourself down here. I promise,

Beleive you me if you were not so far south I would. My problem is I get a nose bleed once south of Nottingham.

Which is a bit of a nuisance because I shall be selling books at the Gate To Southwell Festival next week and that is nearly south of Nottingham.

(Now how about that for a carefully worked blatant advertisement).

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Sooz
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 02:15 AM

Mission Statement - Gainsborough Folk Club
Music of the people, by the people, for the people

Gainsborough Folk Club intends to further the cause of Folk and ancillary music/songs, in a sustained effort to preserve the Lore of the land in musical history.

It will always attempt to present quality performances and a diverse, Folk based menu of music/songs. The Club will welcome all "interested" parties into its confines as performers, listeners and critics.

The Club will accurately advertise any professional acts, employed for one or more evenings in the Club and exact payment as necessary to cover the cost of those acts.

The Club will maintain a regular schedule, so that all who travel to the Club will know exactly when the Club functions.

Aims and objectives.

1) To provide a myriad of Folk music/songs, ranging from traditional to modern and ancillary music/songs which may have developed therefrom.

2) To provide entertainment and space to perform the above, not only for our own Club but in support of others.

3) To advise, support, encourage and otherwise help (where possible) any new performers in an effort to project them forward onto the Folk Circuit.

4) To provide performances, not only for other Clubs but for Festivals and Concerts as requested and if convenient.



All those who are considered Members of Gainsborough Folk Club, are expected to represent the Club in a positive light and not to bring it in any way into disrepute.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 01:50 AM

"Well, I was pretty amazed to find that some people didn't know Tom McConville. We can't all know everything and everybody."
Sorry - not unknown but not remembered - old age you see!
I assume that, because people have not come up with basic standards and long term objectives for the clubs, that they have neither.   
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: redsnapper
Date: 31 May 07 - 06:22 AM

Indeed. Tom has been around so long in various bands, e.g. Dab Hand, Pauline Cato and Great Northern Roadshow, and solo, and is such a regular at festivals and all-round friendly and likeable person, that I find it strange too.

RS

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 31 May 07 - 05:50 AM

redsnapper
I personally find it hard to believe that some here do not know of the likes of Len Graham and John Lyons but there you go...

Well, I was pretty amazed to find that some people didn't know Tom McConville. We can't all know everything and everybody.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: redsnapper
Date: 31 May 07 - 05:42 AM

I can't help but agree with Diane that booking policies in many clubs (not necessarily those cited many times here) seem to err on the safe as houses side. Many moons ago, when I organised a club for five years, I went out on a limb with emerging artists and we were rarely disappointed.

There are some great new artists out there but many rosters stick to the same familiars (many of whom I know are extremely good at pushing themselves forward I know from experience but will name no names... you and they know who they are).

I personally find it hard to believe that some here do not know of the likes of Len Graham and John Lyons but there you go...

RS

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 May 07 - 06:06 PM

Folkiedave
Dave and the Goths next?
Get yourself down here. I promise, you'll get that floorspot. If we did book you, bear in mind that you'd only be paid the take on the door and the potential audience would already have seen you.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave Earl
Date: 30 May 07 - 06:02 PM

"can recommend really recommend Len Graham.".

Fine but :-

a) Mr Miles said he lives in Ireland so we aint gonna see him over here too often are we?

b)Bryan (The Snail) said we need to feel that the judgement of whoever recommends an artist is in line with our club ethos (all right thats my words for what he said)

However Maybe one day (withholding any decision on the Goth band though)

Dave

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 May 07 - 05:48 PM

we get an enthusiastic endorsement from someone whose judgement we really trust and from what you have said, that seems unlikely.

I can recommend really recommend Len Graham........if he turns out to be as good as I say.......Dave and the Goths next?

Aw go on..............

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:58 PM

You are welcome to view our guest list for the rest of the year on www.tigerfolk.com Whether they would be cosituted as dull or safe I don't know but four names there will be making their first appearance at our club which celebrated its sixteenth birthday last February. There is also a date to be confimed for Andy Irvine to be slotted in who will also be making his debut at the club (sorry WLD).
Since this thread has reached this many posts it must be obvious that some people still care about the folk clubs.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:41 PM

Folkiedave
I take it we don't get a booking until you have seen us then?

Dave and the Goths
Fraid not unless we get an enthusiastic endorsement from someone whose judgement we really trust and from what you have said, that seems unlikely. Then it would have to go before the committee. Could take a while. I hate to pre-judge things but I think we might decide that you weren't quite what our audience were interested in.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:26 PM

I take it we don't get a booking until you have seen us then?

Dave and the Goths

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:25 PM

...and I forgot to say, the "odd replies to Dave about his Goth band" were mine and mine alone not Breton Cap's.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:17 PM

Diane Easby
the forward booking programmes are just so dull, dull, dull
A forward booking programme is a list of artists. You're saying it's the list that's dull not the artists? Sorry you've lost me.

Jon Boden? Lisa Knapp? Hazel&Emily Askew?
You'd scarcely need to research THEM on MySpace. Everybody in the world (OK I exaggerate but only a bit) knows who they are.

Not when we booked them. I should have made myself clear. Certainly for Jon Boden and probably for the others that should have read "given people their FIRST bookings".

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 May 07 - 04:03 PM

It is the BOOKING POLICIES in general, not yours in particular, that I described as dull, not the artists. Necessarily . . .
Dull and safe. Zzzzzzzzzz.

Jon Boden? Lisa Knapp? Hazel&Emily Askew?
You'd scarcely need to research THEM on MySpace. Everybody in the world (OK I exaggerate but only a bit) knows who they are.

The first time I saw John Spiers & Jon Boden as a duo was at the Royal Oak. About 5 years ago. I think it was their first duo gig. But they were already well known in the session scene.

The only times I have seen any artist I didn't already know at a club in the past several years (a decade at a guess) has been at Islington (Booking policy: 'from the fiercely traditional to the frankly eccentric'). Now, there's an example . . .

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 May 07 - 03:55 PM

If I lived in TunbridgeWells[id be disgusted],ButIdont.
LenGraham,JohnLyons and myself all live in Ireland,Rather far for a floorspot.
I have played your club on numerous occcassions in the past although not for some years,and can also do concertina workshops,including song accompaniment.
Len Graham/JohnLyons are outstanding singers,try googling LenGraham,There is plenty of information,if Vic Smith hasnt heard of him i,ll eat my tam oshanter.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 May 07 - 03:55 PM

Jim Carroll
My comment on my having to give up (long list) was not aimed at you
I know that. I was just trying to point out that the Lewes Arms is probably closer to the position you are defending than the one you are attacking.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: TheSnail
Date: 30 May 07 - 03:43 PM

Folkiedave
But you allowed my punk band........:-)
to do a floorspot. Sorry, but I don't think we'll be booking you.
I'd take a chance on Len Graham!!
I'm sure Len Graham is absolutely wonderful but, mea culpa, I know nothing about the chap. Is he likely to tour southern England anytime?

Diane Easby
This is what I come up against in my very occasional attempts at promotion in the highly incestuous and inward-looking f*lk club village. If an artist hasn't been and done 976 floor spots at 'our club' or appeared at one of the three festivals we've ever been at, for us they just don't exist.
We have, from time to time, given people bookings on the basis of one floorspot. Jon Boden, Lisa Knapp and the Askew sisters spring to mind.
Yet you organisers all apparently have computers nowadays, and you do know how to use a search engine? And access MySpace? No wonder the forward booking programmes are just so dull, dull, dull. With a handful of notable exceptions, you just haven't a clue who's out there.
What performers sound like on a recording is very often a poor indication of what they are like live. We have booked people on the basis of personal experience that we would not have done from their MySpace slot or demo CD which often don't do them justice. I can only repeat what I said to Jim. Would you like to look at our guest list and while you are at it, our workshops and then apologise to all the excellent performers you have just described as "dull, dull, dull".

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 May 07 - 03:33 PM

ooooOOOOOoooo, touchy Mr Dave Silly Hat!
I DID say 'with a number of notable exceptions', and as you already know, I include the Royal Oak among them.
I would, as it's hard to go anywhere without falling over Tina, Vic, Dan or Will.
As for the Lewes Arms, as I said, I've never actually been but I do know about your workshops and have been in correspondence with Valmai about them.
That was why I was so astonished at your odd replies to Dave about his Goth band.
I'll be in Lewes again on 21 June, with Funi.
Last people I saw there were either Spiers&Boden or Kerr&Fagan.
But the main reasons for ever going are Dan&Will. Obviously . . .

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: Dave Earl
Date: 30 May 07 - 03:17 PM

"With a handful of notable exceptions, you just haven't a clue who's out there."

You are jumping to conclusions.

You don't know where we get to and who we see and have contact with.

Personally I get to far more than three festivals and I know that other people in my club get to several as well. We are also in contact with other clubs and organizers.

Our Club(s) are thriving and although we can all strive to improve we fell we are getting it right in the main.

You said you have been to the Royal Oak (to see who I wonder) was it just good luck that Vic,Tina,Dan and Will found the artist - of course it wasn't they are out there networking regularly as are the Lewes Arms team. And we do use our pooters for part of this.

Dave

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: GUEST
Date: 30 May 07 - 02:57 PM

Snail
"Shall we say that he didn't exactly present himself in an endearing way to start with by being extremely judgemental on the basis of very little evidence"
I was trying to respond to what I am reading in this thread, if I have misinterpreted this, I apologise (again). My comment on my having to give up (long list) was not aimed at you, but to a suggestion that we separate folk clubs from folk song and go off and sing glees - not aimed at you.
Jim Carroll
PS Thank you Diane - the cheque's in the post.

Subject: RE: Collapse of the Folk Clubs
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 May 07 - 02:56 PM

Good grief.

This is what I come up against in my very occasional attempts at promotion in the highly incestuous and inward-looking f*lk club village. If an artist hasn't been and done 976 floor spots at 'our club' or appeared at one of the three festivals we've ever been at, for us they just don't exist.

Yet you organisers all apparently have computers nowadays, and you do know how to use a search engine? And access MySpace? No wonder the forward booking programmes are just so dull, dull, dull. With a handful of notable exceptions, you just haven't a clue who's out there.