So what happens at a Mudgather?

Subject: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Banjiman
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:34 PM

It has been suggested that I should declare a Mudgather as part of the Winter Warmer Weekend at Kirkby Fleetham Folk Club.

Now, is this a good idea?

Being fairly new to Mudcat and not having attended such a gathering, I don't know what to expect.

Are there any rituals I should be aware of (images of the Masons keep spring into my mind.....too horrible for words!!!!), or secret signs I should know? Do you have to have a beard? Are there painful and humiliating initiation tests? How many traditional songs do I need to know? Do I need a working knowledge of everything collected by Cecil Sharp? Do I need to sit a test?............Are 5 string banjo players allowed?

What do people expect? Who'd come? Do people expect free beer? Will they mix with the normal folkies? Will they pay for tickets? Do they need a separate space? Is there a secret handshake that is checked on the door? Do people sing?.........so many questions....please can you help?

Paul

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: gnu
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:37 PM

Why sure stranger... as I understand it, the more banjos, the better.

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:38 PM

Beards and Banjos are mandatory !!

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:39 PM

Don't forget the bodhrans!
G

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: nutty
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:40 PM

Selling piles of raffle tickets to boost Mudcat funds is obligatory

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Banjiman
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:43 PM

wow that was quick...but seriously...what do people expect?

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Emma B
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:43 PM

Chocolates! - need I say more? :)

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:46 PM

I suspect
Expect
Is
Too
Strong

So What
Kind of
verse
is this
?

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: MMario
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:48 PM

speaking from my own experience - which may or may not relate in any way to others experiences or the reality of a mudgather:

it can be as simple as two 'catters meeting and chatting

to a "meet and greet" type thing for multiples

to a really great music round robin

to a three day event with lotteries, music, meals, tours, concerts, all night sessions, gift exchanges and a heck of a good time.

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:52 PM

Yes, they differ according to facility, other events that may be going on, and organizers' personality. Suggestion-- delegate this GREAT idea to an expected attendee who has been to or organized one. There will be details, large or small, to work out, that you can handle right here in this thread.

So first thing is to give some details on the where, when who, what that you already know, and ask others to add what they know.

Have FUN!

~Susan-who-has-hosted-the-home-version

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:52 PM

What happens at a Mudgather... STAYS at a Mudgather.

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 01:56 PM

I thought it was to sing.



Scooby.

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: John J
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:01 PM

Nah, what gave you that idea? It's to eat lots of CHOCOLATE...isn't it Hils? Oh, and perhaps the odd sing.

JJ

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:03 PM

Oh, and what needs to be organized is just the environment-stuff, not activity-stuff. Most Catters will pitch in and make it happen; a few will want the moon. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: gnu
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:04 PM

GIOK! Don't scare the poor lad off!

hrannergnu

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:06 PM

There is a 'secret sign', usually it takes the form of a Mudcat Tshirt or name badge, or both.

A Mudgather is as formal as you want it to be. You can sit people down in a room and play, or just chill out and shoot the breeze in the garden. If there are enough of you going to an event, you could ask Mudcatters to take a raffle prize and sell tickets to raise money for the Mudcat.

If you have the facilities, have a 'bring and sing' meal. Everyone brings a food offering and in turn sings a song/plays their instrument whilst everyone eats. Anyone who doesn't bring food or sings has to pay with the money going towards the Mudcat.

Pick a venue and a time, publicise it here and when people turn up, see how it goes. If you've got some exotic visitors not normally seen in the north, it's polite to introduce them and ask them to sing or play. Discretion is yours and the better part of valour if one of them is a banjo player.

Free beer is not usually provided (well, never at any of the gathers I've been to!).

Enjoy!

LTS

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Banjiman
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:12 PM

Winter Warmer w/e is confirmed for 15th/16th/17th Feb with all the good stuff mentioned above.

with "performance" in the large restaurant/ back room and participative (singaround & musician session) in the 2 bars. I have organised indoor camping facilities (with heating but no showers) in the Village Hall which is 150 yards (metres!) from the pub. There is a large car park for campers/ caravans/ vans and limited B & B at the pub. The landlord says that the very hardy (plain daft!) can pitch tents in the pub garden! Pub facitities with be available to campers/ vanners overnight)

Acts conirmed include.......

Jez Lowe, Duncan McFarlane Band, Wendy Arrowsmith, Keepers Fold, Brother Crow, 2 Black Sheep & a Stallion, Anna Shannon, Zoox, Acoustica, Chris Milner, Pillowfish, Stan Graham, David Kidman, Zike Deighton,Tony Levy,Rod Baxter, Diad + more and singarounds/ sessions

Tickets: Friday 15th: £5, Saturday 16th: £8, Sunday 17th: £5
Bargain weekend ticket for £15. Check Kirkby Fleetham Folk Club for further details over the weekend.

KFFC Mudcat thread for the truth......

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:13 PM

There is the secret phrase of course, which you will need to practice as often as you can; and here I am divulging a state secret.

This phrase is......................................................................




The next round is on me!



Now keep repeating until it stops hurting, or you run out of money!


Cheers !



Giok

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Banjiman
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:14 PM

So ....does anyone want volunteer to organise something as part of the KFFC Winter Warmer Weekend...details as posted above?

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Peace
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:19 PM

Decide to meet somewhere at a given time, say hello and go from there.

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: EuGene
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:20 PM

Folks, I'm sorta nervous 'bout them banjos . . . we got them boogas all over these here Ozark hills, but I wuz at a bluegrass pickin' and sangin' last weekend and the mandolin player announced that St. Peter gives each soul a harp when he/she enters the pearly gates, but if you ended up going below you get a banjo down there!

So, just to be on the safe side, when you throw the Mudcat Gathering you might have the banjo players meet in the next town.

Eu

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Banjiman
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:28 PM

I don't know, I mention organising something and everyone goes quiet!

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: MMario
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:37 PM

errr - it's only been 14 minutes.

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: My guru always said
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:38 PM

Well, I'd offer to help out but it sounds a bit far from Surrey. Does sound like a brilliant weekend though & extremely tempting (especially with indoor camping & not hving to pull caravan)!! This Banbury thread might give you an inkling on what happens at our MudGathers down South *grin* Basically you do need Chocolate!!

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:42 PM

" in turn sings a song/plays their instrument whilst everyone eats. "


I have never eaten a banjo. What is the proper way to prepare one?

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Llanfair
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:49 PM

First chop them very, very small..............

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Banjiman
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:50 PM

and season lightly with dried guitarist.......

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 03:03 PM

then dip the parts in the chocolate.



Scooby.

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 03:06 PM

I am about to start ajitating for attendees at the SIXTH Loughstock mudgather a fortnight before your bash Paul! Portaferry does have an advantage in that its a free weekend - All you have to do is get there , find a place to sleep and eat , and then decide where YOU want to go for a pint of BackStuff and a session .

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Mrs Banjiman
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 04:11 PM

Llanfair - You have no idea how delighted the two young children of this house would be to find the banjo chopped into fine pieces!

However, Banjiman...they might have something to say about the dried guitarist as seasoning!!!

Mrs B

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 04:19 PM

I find that knowing the words for Marcus Turner's Chocolate song comes in handy..... not sure about chocolate-coated banjos though!

Kitty

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 05:10 PM

Listen here, Banjiman, bonnie lad!!

Aah went te me first Mudgather at Banbury 2006 and aah wez worried aboot the format and whether aah'd put me foot in it or anythin'.

Nowt te worry aboot - They wez the most welcomin' bunch aah've met since aah left the RN - The' aall seemed te knaah each other but me and The Lovely Shirl were made right welcome. - (Even more so when, a month later we went up te 'the winter sing' in Ashwell).

Aah knew nowt aboot raffles etc so aah didn't tek a prize but aah bought loads of tickets te boost the coffers - It aall gans te 'feed' the Mudcat so that the site is well maintained.

Gerramongstit Banjiman - ye'll love it!

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 07:42 PM

Don't worry if they say clothing optional...it is totally up to you...mg

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Banjiman
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 05:54 PM

Hey, it's all gone quiet....I take it I now know everything I need to?

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Peace
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 05:56 PM

Absolutely. And if you want Mayo with that, well, it's another thread.

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Irene M
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 11:29 AM

Am I the only one worried about beards being obligatory?

Subject: RE: So what happens at a Mudgather?
From: Peace
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 11:36 AM

"Am I the only one worried about beards being obligatory?"

Doesn't have to be on one's face.