Pool Tables in Folk Clubs

Subject: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 08:48 AM

In the recent Borefolk thread there was reference to a rib crackingly funny (not) episode where the club organiser arrives one night to find that the pub have installed a new snooker table in the club room.
Imagine how I laughed last night when I arrived at our room which we have been using for the last eighteen years to find a brand new pool table in place. The landlord (who actually moves on in a couple of months) was on hand to explain that there is huge demand for the one existing table in the pub and since the upstairs room is more often vacant than used then the decision is obvious.
The table is situated in the lower part of the room where on an average night there can be a bit of a gap so on the plus side it will encourage audience to sit nearer the front of the room and make the place look more cosy. Certainly the 35 - 40 who turned up to see Rosie Stewart last night didn't complain and it is not something that we can not work around. However, towards the end of this year and early 2010 we have nights which will quite probably attract our capacity audience (80)and then we will have problems.
Do we look for new premises after 18 years residence or do we present our "bigger" nights elsewhwere at a venue where we will probably have to pay for the hire of the room??
No doubt we will find a resolution for this in the next few weeks but at the moment I feel that there are forces other than incompetent club organisers who are killing folk music.

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 09:00 AM

The rooom that we use in the Wimborne British Legion Club each Thursday has a pool table and, on occasion we turn up and find it in the middle of the room. The solution is simple - we simply lower its wheels and push it to the rear wall. Last week, with its protective wooden top on it, it made an excellent table for the cake and other goodies brought along for one of our number's birthday celebrations.

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 09:04 AM

I can remember the infamous Freemason's Club in Coventry (1980's) that had 2 pool tables in the bar that we used for the club.

No problem, we just got some plywood covers made which were put on top, and they were pushed to one side. Instant place to put beer glasses and everyone was happy.

Don't forget that the landlord has to have a viable pub for the other 6 nights of the week when the club is not there.

Be pragmatic and work with them (unless you can find another folk-friendly pub elsewhere of course). Or move the 'big' nights elsewhere if there is not enough room in the existing venue.

I lament the changes to the pub trade as much as anyone, but remember that pubs are closing down at a rate of knots, so the alternative to the pool tables may just be NO PUB!!

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: BB
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 02:49 PM

We too make use of the pool table for displaying CDs, leaflets, etc. But we have got a big room, so it's not really a problem.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 02:50 PM

At the Tap and Spile in Grimsby you know you are doing all right when the pool players stop playing and come into the main part of the bar for a listen.

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 03:15 PM

We had just the opposite at the Rose and Crown in Writtle. For the Blackmore folk club, they removed the pool table from the function room to accomodate the growing group. We haven't been there a year yet.

At Nags Head in Lower Stoke (not really a club and only 4 sessions old) they move the table right into the back corner and put a plywood board making a good place to put instrument cases.

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 03:24 PM

Is there a factory somewhere, then, that makes the plywood boards? An unrecognised folk industry? Like Virginia Tam, we've found them extremely useful....

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 04:01 PM

Didn't somebody used tosing a song about this...Jackie Daly or Jimmy Crowley are lurking unbidden...

Baz

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 05:01 PM

Maybe the plywood boards could be made thick enough to clog-dance on?

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Peace
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 05:10 PM

"In the recent Borefolk thread there was reference to a rib crackingly funny (not) episode where the club organiser arrives one night to find that the pub have installed a new snooker table in the club room."

Takes balls to do that!

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: bill\sables
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 05:46 PM

The Pool Song.

May the lord upon high who rules the sky look down on your pubs and your bars
And the women and men all seated within neglecting their pints and their jars
The craic it is bad and the atmosphere sad every man has a face like a mule
For all he can do is to grab an old cue and starting playing that game of pool

When I was a boy it was always my joy to go to the pub each night
There were arguments, scraps and killings perhaps and everyone thought he was right
There were badgers and dogs and men from the bogs and young fellows acting the fool
But now there's no craic for every man jack has his arse in the air playing pool

To the local ale house after milking the cows every customer made their way
And there he would dwell and drink till he fell while the fiddles and pipes they did play
The jigs and the reels, the rattling of heels, polkas and slides were the rule
But now there's no chance of a tune or a dance for every one's playing the old pool

Well this pool you will find is a game that's designed for foolish illiterate louts
You put in four bob and pull out an old knob and a big shower of balls they come out
They're placed on the table and then if you're able you knock them all into a hole
More money goes in you start over again and you loose every bob of your dole

Now in the Irish free state all the people are bate from watching and playing this game
In their necks they have ricks that no doctor can fix and their backs and their shoulders are maimed
Their arses protrude in a manner most crude from being hoisted aloft in the air
And their eyeballs are sore and dripping with gore and they act in a manner most queer

So if you meet a young man whose face it is wan and his eyes have a vacant stare
His jaw it is slack and his head is thrown back and he can't tell a cob from a mare
His nostrils dilated his brow corrugated his manners like those of a fool
On your shirt you can bet that you have just met a man that's gone mad playing pool

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Rasener
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 06:03 PM

When I used to run Market rasen Folk Club at Walesby, they had a pool table in the middle of the room, and I had to move it to the back. Well 3 of us :-)

Surely the table is movable, or it may be the owner giving you a hint.

Find a village Hall with 100 capacity. I did and it works fine.

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 09:37 AM

.....great memories of the '80s & Sean Cannon's rendition of the Pool song!

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Diva
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 10:42 AM

As I recall there used to be a pool table at the Auld Hoose Kilmarnock. It was downstairs and folk club was upstairs but was very useful on the rare occaisions we were were bored. The most famous incident was when Macoll and Seeger were doing the party political broadcast......so we went down for a game. I managed to get on of the the balls to bounce off the table and nearly hit the barmans toes. I think I'm still banned

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 12:09 PM

Been there seen that - pool tables are a great facility for the sound-man! Once got told off for putting my speakers on the bingo machine but the best was the night when I asked where the stage was and the landlord pointed to the goldfish pool complete with running waterfall. He produced a sheet of plywood from behind the bar and turned the water off. Happy days!
Ray

Subject: RE: Pool Tables in Folk Clubs
From: Gedpipes
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 07:46 AM

When did you write that Bill? - its 16/- now for a game of pool (or so I've been told)
Cheers
Ged