Folk Club Manners

Subject: RE: Folk Club Manners
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 03:44 PM

Regarding singing 'Other Peoples Songs' - What about stealing arrangements ?? Happened regularly local to me after 'The Trio' split !
I just took it as a complimentt to how good we COULD have been !

Subject: RE: Folk Club Manners
From: melodeonboy
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 03:39 PM

"NEVER sing a song which you know someone does regularly."

I'm not so sure about that one. We don't have a problem with that at the clubs that I go to. In fact, on a number of occasions someone's sung a song which others have enjoyed so much that they've been stimulated to go away and learn it themselves. Nobody owns a song, and it actually becomes very interesting to hear how different people interpret and sing/play a particular song.

This does, of course, all have to be done with respect, and if I'm aware that someone gets a special pleasure out of singing a particular song, then I'd be considerate enough not to do it before them on every occasion.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Manners
From: GUEST,Pete the hat
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 03:26 PM

Hi I am Pete The Hat from the Tudor Barn home of Folkmob Eltham. Folkmob.com

Our code is you shut up when folk are performing.and if people are to noisey we ring a bell to shut them up before the performer/s start. You dont cut across performers line of vision on route to the loo or anywhere else, you wait till the performer is finished

All our Smokers sit by the main door to the barn so they can go puff outside when they wish without disturbing singers or players.

I sit with the smokey noisey naughty lot has we are known but we do have respect for fellow performers and we expect the same in return
Regards Pete the Hat

Subject: RE: Folk Club Manners
From: Bernard
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 03:16 PM

The best approach with mobile phones is to point out that the club appreciates people may have emergencies requiring them to leave their phones switched on. However, there is a charge of five pounds for charity each time one rings...!

Subject: RE: Folk Club Manners
From: Acorn4
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 03:14 PM

I think flicking through folders of words to decide what you're going to sing next when others are doing their bit can be a bit offputting.

I've occasionally resorted to it, I will admit, when arriving a bit late, and wanting to try something new out, but only ever briefly. Some folks seem to have the need to do it incessantly, made even worse when they're the organisers.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Manners
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 03:09 PM

Big signs up all round our folk club calling for silence while people are performing. Once I was in the middle of a number - a pretty difficult number, at that* - when someone's phone rang. And rang. And rang. It was the standard Nokia ringtone, as immortalised by Dom Joly. It turned out to be the MC's phone, which he'd left behind (switched on) while he went to the bar downstairs.

You've got to laugh, really.

*Round Midnight. This was before I got heavily into trad.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Manners
From: paula t
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 02:56 PM

Kathryn and Sarah were playing at Banbury festival last weekend. A guy's 'phone rang and then he proceeded to have his conversation while sitting right in front of them. Luckily ther girls were not too upset and in fact thought it was quite funny.Sarah actually invited the guy on the other end of the 'phone to join in with the song too.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Manners
From: breezy
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 02:39 PM

Did he perform?

Why were you not looking at the performer yourself ?

Does the club not have signs to guide folk club virgins through the mine field?

One sign had words to the effect of 'eat crisps at your peril' and Fleggy did, ! what happened next was borrowed from Joe Stead gig 1969 ish

perhaps he was bored !!

Subject: Folk Club Manners
From: GUEST,Amber
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 01:59 PM

We had a new person at our folk club last night, he had a couple of guitars and a dulcimer. He waas obviously looking for gigs andhad a list of folk clubs which he had visited. Very talented if you like folk rock.

BUT Oh dear, oh dear, he:

                     Looked bored when other people were performing

                     Played with his guitar strap instead of
                     looking at the performer

AND WORST OF ALL HE CRUNCHED CRISPS AND NIBBLED NUTS.

Set me thinkin about folk club manners. When my son first started in folk at the age of 16 I told him:

NEVER come in or go out when people are performing.

NEVER sing a song which you know someone does regularly.

What examples of bad folk club manners can you give?

What advice would you give?

Amber