How is it for you?

Subject: How is it for you?
From: nutty
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 12:01 PM

I know that many of the threads on Mudcat are concerned with normal folk club business in the UK. Who's appearing where? New Venues for club nights. Festival news etc.

I know that things are organised differently in other parts of the world.

So -- HOW IS IT FOR YOU??

Do you regularly meet with other folkies.

Do you have to travel distances vast to reach a folk club or gathering.

I'm not being nosey - just interested.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 12:18 PM

Most people in Lincolnshire will travel 20/30/or more miles to see a gig. Its pretty rural.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 12:37 PM

Yup...it's the same in Suffolk! There's plenty going on....but often many miles away from base camp!

Best Wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: GUEST,Guest CannieShields Laddie
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 01:52 PM

Only one mile for us tonight

http://www.southshieldsfolkclub.co.uk/

Maybe a bit further othertimes.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: treewind
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 02:08 PM

Huh! SSFC may be only a mile for you, but it's 246 miles for us, and we're shortly to make our fourth visit there.

We must be mad!
Anahata

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: treewind
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 02:13 PM

I should add that we travel a long way for our music too, even when we're not booked performers. Suffolk is certainly like that, with regular trips to the Everyman (70 miles) and a regular session nearly 40 miles away in Bedfordshire, both monthly events that we get to when we can.

But then tonight there's a tune session only 5 miles away.

Anahata

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 03:06 AM

I hope that you are able to get out of there after the gig treewind. Someone ought to explain the token system which is now in operation to ex - pats and visitors LOL.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 03:14 AM

You'd think in London there would be lots going on... usually there is, but thanks to the vagaries of London Transport, there's no way of getting back home before 2.00am, unless I leave a gig at half time or take out a second mortgage for a car park ticket and refrain from drinking.

LTS

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 04:15 AM

the trick is to live near the motorway - then it doesn't seem as far. I've recently got a satnav. my heart sinks a bit when I've got to negotiate the one way system of some town I haven't been before. you can sometimes spend as long, looking for a place and parking spot - as you did whizzing down the motorway.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 06:07 AM

Sydney's public transport could take me to all Sydney clubs, but I don't like getting a train back late at night.

My club is 2 bus rides away, or a 15-20 min car/taxi ride (taxi cost $18, used occasionally)

JennyO's club is also easily reached by 2 buses, or a slightly longer car/taxi ride. As a taxi costs $26, the only time I've ever used one was was the Sunday I woke late & eventually realised it was an hour later than I thought, & I only had about 20 mins, not 1 hr 20 mins to get there & take the money off the waiting crowds! I was a tad late, naturally.

Alison's club is far too distant to get there without a car, so it's been years since I visited, and the other clubs are similar distances & can only be visited if someone is driving.

Another regular venue is an easy 15 min train ride, & I either get a ride back to my door or somewhere where I can catch a taxi.

sandra

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 06:16 AM

When I first got interested in folk music, 40 years ago, I could walk to my favourite folk club.

My current favourite club is a 45 minute drive away.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: the button
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 06:34 AM

When I first got into the music, I was 3 miles away from my nearest club, with a couple of others maybe 20-25 minutes drive away. You could easily get to a ceili 2 or 4 nights a week if you wanted.

Living in London now, I'm a bus-ride away from my nearest club, plus I work near a venue that has folk gigs quite regularly. (Although that's closing down, I understand).

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: GUEST,Cannie Shields Laddie
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 06:52 AM

I hope that you are able to get out of there after the gig treewind. Someone ought to explain the token system which is now in operation to ex - pats and visitors LOL.

It's simple Dave. Just obtain a token from behind the bar at the end
and pop it in the machine when leaving.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 07:55 AM

Here in Maine the closest public session is about an hour's drive away in Portsmouth NH.

SINSULL has opened her home, ten miles away, for a singaround once a month and for the occasional house concert, although the latter may not happen much longer due to the lack of real interest, which translates into small fees for performers. Otherwise it's just the occasional folk festival, generally at least a couple of hours away and some a lot more than that, that keeps me in the loop.

Coming from Hertford, where I could get to a folk club within a 20 mile radius just about every night of the week if I wanted to I do feel I'm missing out but make up for it by visiting as many UK clubs as I can manage when I go back for a visit.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Fidjit
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 02:04 PM

Just to my living room from the kitchen.

When I visit you lot however, it takes a 2 - 4 hour car journey then a 2 hour flight. and another 2 hours plus by car.

Locally it's just down the road or it can be up to 130km or more. Depends on whats on and where it is. I'm off to Stockholm in a couple of weeks. Now thats a 6 1/2 hour drive one way.

We folk junkies will travel for our enjoyment.

Chas

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Fidjit
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 02:06 PM

this is what I'm going to Stockholm for.

Chas

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 02:34 PM

Depends. If it's a great gig I'll go fifty or more miles each way no problem. If I'm playing I'll go... as far as necessary. Usually. Especially if they at least cover my expenses (carbon non-neutral, I'm afraid!)

Me and my correspondents have developed a mileage rating for acts. So-and-so is "only" a twenty mile act, whereas such-and-such is a sixty mile act.

--
Hamish

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 02:47 PM

In August Kris and I drove 2500 miles each way to play a coffeehouse gig for US$25 and tips.

Well, it was where both our children lived, but that's our story and we're sticking to it....

Peter.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 02:49 PM

very good Hamish, I have other classifications:-

1) gotta see it, will drag the wife along if necessary
2) gotta see it
3) no - its a long way
4) its not a long way, but I'm not really tempted
5) would cross the road to avoid and make up excuses to avoid
6) would explain in offensive detail why I'm not going if put on the spot
7) oh well if you're driving, and I can get pissed - so I don't have to listen too hard
8) Hetty Wainthrop Investigates. I wonder what it is she investigates, I'll stay in tonight and find out.

Subject: RE: How is it for you?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 08 Oct 07 - 08:00 PM

These days I'm (mostly) lucky, as the local folk club (for the last two years) is five minutes walk away from my door, and I'm resident singer and head raffle ticket seller there; additionally the small Electric Theatre is also five minutes walk away, and Electric Voices puts on quality acts there (and in Cranleigh and Farnham), so I'm spoiled for choice if I want to go to gigs as audience (other than the club of course, where I wear several hats). I also get to go and sit on the box office desk in Godalming ,10 -15 minutes away on the bus, for the monthly ceilidhs.

As I don't drive a car these days I hardly ever go to the club that I first started going to in 1990 - the Ram Club in Claygate. In those days I drove 21 miles up the A3, and 21 miles back every Friday;(probably less likely to go there these days, as the type of artist that they tend to book now doesn't really equate for the most part with my current tastes).Very occasionally I used to drive the 14 miles there and back to Dorking on a Wednesday, or slightly more regularly the longer journey to Bracknell Folk Club, and did the odd occasional floor spot at both clubs.

Other than that, I have been known to traipse up to London occasionally in the last year or so,to see the guest or down to Lewes (normally resulting in a 1.5 hour train journey down there, followed by a 1 hour car journey to Ashford to stay with the friend that goes with me.) Also obviously the occasional weekend trip to other events further afield.
If I had a car, then you can bet your bottom dollar that I'd probably be travelling a bit further afield and more often !!

Maybe next year??