Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2007!/How's it doing?
From:
The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 07:46 AM
Funny you should mention that Vectis...as usual, a great week, but there's always a "but". This year's was a couple of sessions, one allegedly run by the bright young things who should have been taught better, and the other by an old and well-loved pro who should have known better.
First the bright young things - with lots of their little friends playing very clever tunes and arrangements. They didn't address the room once during the session, not even to introduce themselves, and when someone else eventually had the temerity to contribute, reverted to their mobile phone text messaging and a discussion of what they were going to do after the festival. The grown up who appeared to be with them meanwhile got up during someone else's playing and started distributing leaflets and talking over the music. Thank God some of them left, presumably 'cos it was time for their afternoon nap, but everyone else in the room seemed at turns to be both bored and embarrassed. If they're looking to make a living, they need to learn better manners.
Then the other one - a brief acknowledgement that there were other people in the room, including telling one punter that he shouldn't be there (probably a sense of humour clash)- and, again, an almost total disregard of the room, including getting up and standing talking on the fire escape when others started a set.
Now maybe I'm a grouchy old sod, but there is a convention of good manners, (etiquette, even) in these matters which, when neglected really pisses me off. So if your idea of leading a session is basically to put down those around you, even accidentally, go away and learn to behave properly, then we can all enjoy your undoubted talents and enjoy ourselves at the same time. Ed Rennie and John Kirkpatrick could give you lessons if you speak nicely to them.
And having got that off me chest, special thanks to the staff of the Fishermen's Rowing Club for their untiring good humour and warm welcome, and to all those who work so incredibly hard to make the whole thing happen. And if anyone's got the words to Maggie's outstandingly vulgar song about her lovely muff, let's all be having a look. At the words, that is...exit pursued by a bear...
KYBTTS
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sj
