Folkies: Two Kinds?

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: meself
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 11:30 AM

'The good thing about the folk scene is its breadth and "all embracing" nature -both for participents and those who juat want to watch.'

I understand that this '"all embracing" nature' is particularly evident in the 'sinarounds" ...

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 11:18 AM

A pal of mine was bought a pint by an audient who asked him to sing 'Down where the drunkards roll'

My friend said he'd do it shortly & the audient wandered off.

He performed the request, but some time after, the requestor came over & asked when he was going to do it.

'I've done it'

'Well I didn't hear you'

'Well I'll do it again later, ok?'

My friend ended up doing it 3 times, but the other bloke missed it every time!

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Acorn4
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 11:09 AM

The good thing about the folk scene is its breadth and "all embracing" nature -both for participents and those who juat want to watch.

I think the most irritating thing is those who wander into a pub as "audience" and then try to demand that the musicians "play to the gallery" -usually lowest common denominator stuff like "American Pie", "Wild Rover" -takes a really strong organiser to "put them in theri place".

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 10:13 AM

It's about time someone started a ' sinaround ' permathread, people could add to it , then us as don't 'ave any could get some.
OK eric

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 09:45 AM

>>>>>>>>>"You know what a shower of in-bred, talentless, ugly barstools we are - we have to entertain ourselves somehow! :-) :-)"<<<<<<<<<<<<
I wouldn't say that John...No not at all..... but we are a lot of perverted backwoodsmen according to one self appointed 'authority' on the Cat eh? Some Countess or other wasn't she?

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 08:27 AM

"You know what a shower of in-bred, talentless, ugly barstools we are - we have to entertain ourselves somehow! :-) :-)"

Oh dear - have I let the cat out of the bag?

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 08:25 AM

wld,

LOL!!

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 08:22 AM

Yes two kinds at least....men and women for a start.

And some places they allow dogs in.

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 08:20 AM

I would agree with the premise. There is Folk and there is entertainment. And the difference is driven by money. So is the bickering.
It is a spectrum, and wouldn't it be boring if there was nothing in the middle? But pedant that I am - it is more like a 4 dimensional spectrum (because I can only think in 3D and time that's why).

There is the typical Folk characteristic of concern and consideration for fellow "non gender human". Not all Folkies are totally altruistic but you would expect to experience more of them in the Folk world. And less in the "OK entertain me" world. And the nearer Folk gets to the entertainment world the more it looks like the latter.

Mr Happy I wish to clarify how folk festival organisers may perceive & cater for potential customers
There are as many answers as there are organisers (money figures), some organisers have not sussed that insulting people publically disaudes people who are not in the firing line (lets call them nice people), and attracts some (lets call them the "me generation") who welcome the cut and thrust. Most punters wait until it really really gets their pet preferences.
Folkies have to see the inevitable and make their choices before they feel agrieved.

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 08:16 AM

Dave Hunt,

Ditto your response.

In my experience, the sessioneers are the extra customers in otherwise fairly deserted pubs.

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Dave Hunt
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 08:12 AM

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Ernest - PM
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:29 AM

Yes, sessions can exist without audiences - but how many would if the landlord wouldn`t expect additional customers?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re;the above

Well the monthly English music session that I have been running (for about 10 years now)does not bring in additional customers to the pub - there are only the regulars, and the landlady is perfectly happy to have us there, and always provides food too (which can be anything, sandwiches, satay sticks, sausage rolls, bread and cheeses, mince pies and mulled wine at Christmas - last night it was plates of bread and butter and dishes of scumptious chips for DIY chip butties - always popular that one!) plus the ocassional round of free drinks too.
Dave

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Gulliver
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:53 AM

"Hmmmm, local sinaround sessions... tell us more"

I too would be interested in finding out more about these. These are obviously frequented by a type of folkie we haven't seen around Dublin. Or maybe there's all these sinaround sessions going on here but I just haven't been invited to one yet. Sigh...

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: TheSnail
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:50 AM

But seriously...

I don't see why there needs to be a separation between those two groups. I see it as a continuum from those who are happy to sit in rows and be entertained through the active participants to the full time professionals. I think most folkies will cover a range of that spectrum rather than a single point.

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:45 AM

RUTH! STOP IT AT ONCE! You know what a shower of in-bred, talentless, ugly barstools we are - we have to entertain ourselves somehow! :-) :-)
J

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:44 AM

My point?

Instead of initiating further thread drift on the 쳌eFests Survival쳌f thread, I wish to clarify how folk festival organisers may perceive & cater for potential customers.

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: TheSnail
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:38 AM

"Hmmmm, local sinaround sessions... tell us more"

Eee, we 'ad to make our own entertainment in those days. That's why there's so many of us.

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Ernest
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:29 AM

Yes, sessions can exist without audiences - but how many would if the landlord wouldn`t expect additional customers?

Still I don`t see your point. My experience is that you find a lot more active musicians at folk concerts than concerts of other musical styles.

Best
Ernest (off to work again now)

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:25 AM

"Hmmmm, local sinaround sessions... tell us more"

very popular in Lincolnshire - especially when the TV reception cuts out again...


;0)

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:21 AM

Sessions in public places can exist witout audiences, there's many like this in my local area. The participants play & sing mainly for their own entertainment & enjoyment & the prescence of audients can be incidental but fine if we're giving them a good time too!

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:19 AM

Hmmmm, local sinaround sessions... tell us more         ;-)

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Ernest
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:17 AM

I play a little - mostly in my living room, sometimes with friends/at a session - but go to concerts etc. as well.

Without the concerts - and the contact to musicians (pro and semi-pro) - I wouldn`t have started playing at all, I presume.

I draw a lot of inspiration from hearing others at concerts AND sessions.

And neither pro`s nor semi-pro`s nor sessions at public places would exist without audiences.

So what is your point, Mr. Happy?

Regards
Ernest

Subject: RE: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:16 AM

I forgot, there쳌fs a 3rd kind, those who don쳌ft attend any live events, but listen to folky stuff at home on their stereos.

Subject: Folkies: Two Kinds?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Apr 08 - 07:07 AM

In response to the several 쳌ebickering쳌f threads, including the 쳌eWill Fests Survive쳌f one, it can be deduced that there쳌fs actually two main types of folkie, comprising:

Active participants; singers, musicians, dancers, story tellers, poets, mummers etc

Passive audients who pay their money for others to entertain them.

Of course, amongst both groups, there may be some crossover, but in the main, this is my impression of the folkie population of Britain.

I include myself in the active group & have little interest in concerts, folk clubs & so on, preferring the session/sinaround settings both locally and at festivals.

Comments?