Oh Dear Sidmouth

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 09:24 AM

"Thanks for the info - and, Steve in Sidmouth (SeeRed) - good to know who you are! You sound quite a character indeed, facing up against the more stupid aspects of bureaucracy.

However, a name and an email address on the website is always helpful - unless you've had loads of hate mail, of course. Aologies if they are there and I've missed 'em."

For people who can't use the internet, try my home page - photo as well as email address!

http://www.seered.co.uk

Always ready to consider amendments to folk webpages if you think I've got something wrong.

The latest (tongue a bit in cheek) page is here - for women to read only. I need a feminine perspective on all this.....

http://www.seered.co.uk/folkdanceclothes.htm

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: The Barden of England
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:50 AM

I will, as always, go to the concerts I want to go to, put what little money I have (I am unemployed at the moment, and have been since early February)in the collection tin in The Bedford, where I spend a lot of my time, and take in the wonderful atmosphere that is Sidmouth Folk Week. My wife is once again a volunteer steward and plans to be so next year. My hat goes off to the orgnisers who each year work so hard so that so many of us can still enjoy Sidmouth Folk Week, which since 2004 has not had £60,000 from the EDDC.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Mr Red
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:40 AM

Quite a character, indeed!

And I don't think it wise to provide e-mail addresses on website unless they are carefully hidden from spammers' web-bots. eg images &/or JavaScript.

And people with outspoken views or opinions probably hide their contact details after a few hearty rejoinders.

I can think of three Festival Organisers with more than robust opinions and a desperation to pull-in the punters (you know who they are) who don't dare have Mudcat identities. PM's would fly.

Sidmouth Organisers are not in it for the money AFAIK. There are a lot of enthusiasts on t' committee and we can gripe all we want but I would like to applaud them for keeping it going. And I don't particularly get on with one of the organiser. The particular irksome trait is what actually gets things moving behind the scenes.

If the fringe is all you support - then support it. I don't favour concerts, I love the free ceilidhs and sessions but have got a ticket this year.

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Rumncoke
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:39 AM

I think that there is a tailing off point though, where in an effort to increase income by setting a fixed cost it starts to put people off attending.

To go to all the themed sings at the Woodlands would have cost 48 pounds - I think, if there is one on the Friday - I was so dispirited by the time I reached Wednesday of the program...

O.K. I admit I did not give much in the collection, but at least it was given.

This year I will probably be on the sea front and spending the money on ice cream. I can resist anything but temptation, and mint ice cream with chocolate chips.

Anne Croucher

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 07:18 AM

Thanks for the info - and, Steve in Sidmouth (SeeRed) - good to know who you are! You sound quite a character indeed, facing up against the more stupid aspects of bureaucracy.

However, a name and an email address on the website is always helpful - unless you've had loads of hate mail, of course. Aologies if they are there and I've missed 'em.

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 06:51 AM

Jerry Milne and I will be 'Doing Our Thing' in The Newt , as usual !

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 06:00 AM

I can sympathise with where you're coming from, Anne - it's a difficult year for lots of people. The organisers would absolutely LOVE to produce a festival with lots and lots of free events. Unfortunately, the finances of the festival need to be stabilised, and while we have made concerted (and successful) efforts to gain extra funding from both local businesses and local councils this year, it makes sense that people who actually use the festival's amenities contribute to the real cost of putting it on.

The great thing about Sidmouth as a festival is it is different for every single person who comes. There are so many events that you can pick and choose to create the festival that best suits you. The best value at Sidmouth, as in life, is bulk-buying - season tickets and groups of workshops are probably the most cost-effective option for most people.

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Rumncoke
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 05:16 AM

I believe it was the 25th Sidmouth when I last got a season ticket - and a tee shirt.

A few years after that I stopped attending concerts, then the arena. Somewhere along the way I stopped eating in restaurants, cut out recorded music purchases, didn't look at the craft tents or the instruments.

I have been coming to Sidmouth for a very long time, just not attending the same parts of the festival.

I think the best year for me recently was the one where there wasn't suposed to be a festival at all.

I would love to be able to attend everything that took my fancy, buy all that caught my eye and donate to the organisation, but it is just not going to happen.

Anne Croucher

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:43 AM

"a book of 5 workshop passes can be bought, either
at the door or at the Festival Box Office. The pass costs £32
giving you a 20% discount to attend 5 workshops and can be
'traded in' at any workshops marked W in the events listing."


This makes 5 workshops come in at just over £6 each. And of course a season ticket gives unlimited access to as many workshops as you like.

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:30 AM

Seered is Steve in Sidmouth!!
Derek

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:30 AM

Apparently his name is Dr Stephen J Wozniak, Will.

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Rumncoke
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:28 AM

Hi Kitty

The Faulkener is now top of my list.

Unless I get lots of work in the next three weeks (ha ha) talks and workshops will not be diverting me from joining you.

Anne Croucher

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 04:22 AM

The SeeRed website you quoted, Steve, is an odd compilation of stuff - driven by one person's continuing battle with everything. It's odd - he raves on about all sorts of secrecies and cover-ups in local government, and then tells you everything about himself but his actual name and email address (unless I missed it). Who is this character?

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:22 AM

Rumncoke - we'll be seeing you in the Faulkner bar singarounds, then?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Alan Day
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:20 AM

What has happened to the excitement of going to Sidmouth ? People moaning about line ups of concerts before they go,now charges to watch.
I agree ,please give the organisers a chance. The fact that it is on at all is good news.
Al

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 09:14 PM

It's probably a matter of an expensive week or no week at all.

Reading between the lines, it nearly WAS no week at all?

http://www.seered.co.uk/folk121.htm

There have been a lot of changes this year in response to feedback last year - give the poor organisers credit for trying their best!

Subject: RE: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Nick
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 09:14 PM

So what did you do last year and what did it cost you?

I was at Sidmouth for a week last year and know what it cost me.

Subject: Oh Dear Sidmouth
From: Rumncoke
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 08:06 PM

I just downloaded the program for Sidmouth 09, and it seems that I will be almost entirely on the fringe this year.

Prices for workshops are up, set charges now apply for events which used to have a collection.

I can still afford to be in Sidmouth, just not in the main fastival.

Anne Croucher