FSGW Getaway-October 1999

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Barry Finn
Date: 25 Jul 99 - 11:47 PM

Hi Bill, when you say 8 1/2 hr where are you starting from & do you drive moderate. I'll be looking forward to meeting up with you & all the others heading that way. Some here I've know since early 97. I'll have to check in with Dave Diamond (if he's sill local) & if I'm on my own maybe I'll team up with him. See you soon. Barry

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 26 Jul 99 - 12:07 AM

RE: rooming--If people request, we could try to put mudcatters in the same cabins or cabin areas. If there is anyone in particular you'd like to room with, note it on your registration form. We pretty well know who the mudcatters are anyway. But it won't matter too much--you'll probably be in the dining hall or one of the lodges jamming or singing or schmoozing, and only retire to your cabin when you're too tired to be sociable.

Barry--I'd guess the drive from Boston is 8 to 9 hours, depending on how fast you drive and how often you stop. That time includes time for refueling and pit stops, but not meals. And of course, any part of that time spent driving at rush hour(s) can add up to an extra hour or two. And from Bston to DC, you've got cities a-plenty with potential rush hours. The last one--from DC South to Prince William, can be a real doozy on a Friday afternoon, but if you've got three people in your vehicle, you can get on the HOV (High-Occupancy-Vehicle) express lanes and zip past most of the traffic jams.

There are several routings you could use from Boston to DC; some are slightly longer but avoid the bugger cities of Bos-NY-Wash.

Also another driving hint for those driving in from New England, New York , or New Jersey: When I-95 hits the I-495 Beltway around DC, you can go EITHER WAY around DC: clockwise or widdershins--it's equidistant!

If anyone would like customized travel directions from anywhere, you can send me e-mail at [e-mail], or use the Mudcat personal message system to request a routing. [I have many friends who call me before they call AAA.]

--Charlie Baum, Getaway organizer and mapfreak

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Jul 99 - 03:08 AM

This does look wonderful.

I get to organize the workshops and mini-concerts this year. I want to set up a session of "Music from the Mudcat Cafe." It can be anywhere from half an hour to an hour and a half, with each person/ group doing one, two or three songs. (Or it could be a song circle that's open to any of the Mudcatters who attend. Non-mudcatters can join in the choruses.)

How about e-mailing me if (a) you're too shy and definitely don't want to be included or (b) you'd really like to be in this session if it doesn't conflict with anything you care about or (c) wild horses couldn't keep you away.

An all-Mudcat session would introduce some of the Mudcatters to the other attendees and vice versa; make people more aware of the contribution the Mudcat is making to the fun this year; and give us 'Catters a chance to hear each other sing.

My e-mail is [e-mail].

If you're coming, even if you don't want to lead a workshop or anything, how about sending me your e-mail address. Also, anyone who has a special interest such as union songs or Irish music or Civil War stuff etc, just mention it & tell me if you'd feel most comfortable singing along, or maybe leading a workshop. I know a lot about the local musicians and the out-of-towners who are regulars but not so much about the music styles of the Mudcatters who are coming. - Rita F

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: bbc
Date: 28 Jul 99 - 09:33 AM

Duane D. & I are sending in our money. There's a possibility that my son, David, may even join us. Sounds like a great event & a *large* number of 'catters to meet. Can't wait!

bbc

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Susan A-R
Date: 01 Aug 99 - 10:48 PM

I'm trying to talk my husband into it (I've done three out of four vacations this year without him, so I want to make sure the next one is with him, and is something he'd like to do.) Sounds wonderful. Is there any way for non-drivers to get from DC out if I am unable to talk my brother and his family from coming?

Susan

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Ferrara
Date: 14 Aug 99 - 10:56 AM

Here are some thoughts that have come up in response to various people's e-mails.

Volunteer duty: Sign-up sheet at the registration desk. You pick the times when you'll do kitchen work and/or other volunteer duty. All adults *must* do two 1-hour stints in the kitchen. The usual practice is to look at the schedule of events for the weekend; ponder how late you're likely to stay up singing each night; decide which events you can't bear to miss; and choose a slot from the ones that are left that will cause as little pain as possible in terms of missing stuff. Many people also look to sign up in a slot that already has someone they know. Depending on how busy things are in the kitchen, you may find yourselfs singing veggie-chopping shanties....

I'll get out a preliminary version of the program sometime in September, maybe more than one, so people can start thinking about which workshops they want to participate in, what songs they want to do for each one, etc. The final program and schedule has to wait until enough registrations are in for me to know who's available to lead workshops and/or give concerts.

We have certain standard workshops that people would really miss if they didn't appear, such as a long C&W jam, sea songs, drinking songs, Sunday morning Gospel, Sacred Harp music, etc.

I think we'll try to have a Mudcatter concert, just 30 minutes or so, maybe more if enough people are interested. (Actually, since I wrote that I'm now thinking more in terms of two Mudcat concerts, one each morning for about an hour. There are an awful lot of us, including all the FSGW people.)

It would be listed as a concert, but really it would be a sing-around. The thing is, I'd like the non-performing Mudcatters to think about their repertoire. I bet everybody would find at least one piece that all their friends like to hear them play or sing, and they know it well enough to do it well no matter how nervous they are. For the folks who don't usually perform in front of strangers, maybe we can convince them on the grounds that (a) they're going to do a song they know really really well and (b) these aren't strangers, they're Mudcatters and (c) this isn't a performance, it's a way to get acquainted.

If you lead a workshop or mini-concert, expect a lot of coming and going. People are usually very quiet and respectful of whoever's performing, but they do tend to wander from workshop to workshop (it's hard to taste only one dish at a potluck, so to speak.) Don't feel there's something wrong or that it's a negative response to your concert or workshop. It's normal.

I think of these bits of wisdom as I e-mail specific individuals, but I need to post some of them to the Getaway thread for everybody who's coming. - R

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 15 Aug 99 - 10:06 AM

Just made Marge and my reservations at the Super 8 motel. Sounds like they are filling up.

Big RiB

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 03:39 PM

Gee, LEJ,

You comin' too? Or were you just helping things along knowing you can't come?

Big RiB

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Max
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 11:51 PM

I'll be there. Get there early to get signed up for kitchen duty and a cabin.

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jul 03 - 02:48 PM

alice still uses that name - bailes - and a proud name it is!

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Jul 03 - 03:49 PM

ummm...why revive this thread from '99?...some interesting things in it...but...

Subject: RE: FSGW Getaway-October 1999
From: Ferrara
Date: 25 Jul 03 - 04:56 PM

Well not sure why it was refreshed, but there is some useful info here about what the Getaway's all about. - Rita F