Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)

Subject: Tech: Flags and banners
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 03:07 AM

It crossed my mind that Ceilidh Bands and Morris sides appear in public without making it obvious who they are. How many bands or sides have a flag or a banner that proclaims who they are?

L in C#

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 03:33 AM

Looks like nobody is saluting this then?

L in C#

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 04:34 AM

Just for the sake of getting you the three posts that seem necessary to stimulate interest, I can report that one very large biker club near my home does have multiple elaborate banners proclaiming their club name.

Since they're also a "vets club" subgroups also frequently show military (unit) banners as well.

It's rare to see enough of them in one bunch to bring out all the gear except at "official parades" though.

One moderately popular band here a few years ago liked to play "behind a banner" but it didn't have a name on it so we guessed it was just so that the audience wouldn't notice that the xxxxx player's socks didn't match (or that he didn't have shoes on).

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 05:18 AM

All sorts of musicians, often those who sit down to play, use a range of devices to hold up music and declare who they are. Lots have those "music stand things" that hang from the music stand and generally have the name of the band.

Flags seem to a bit militaristic/nationalistic, although it does not need to be that way. Banners are often associated with the trade unions but not exclusively.

Either nobody uses them or nobody much has noticed my small request

L in C#
Of to carry a conceptual banner around our local Library whilst we still have a Library

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 05:40 AM

I'm sure I have seen North West Morris sides with banners, as many of their dances were originally processional dances. Also their bands are more likely to include a drum large enough to have the side's name painted on it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 05:55 AM

This is not entirely the case. One female side from Mumerset carry poles with brass filigree on top and at the head a leader carries a pole with a crossbar and a banner bearing the corporate logo of the side.
You will see them at Chippenham FF sometimes and Bath Ceilidhs too.

But don't ya think that the massed ranks of dancers, massed band (some barely making a noise) are a big enough burden on free tickets already. Have you tried dancing with a banner and keeping in step with the other pole bearer and fighting the wind, and it can get very heavy when wet. OK when they start but by mid-day and the 10th pint - geeze - health and safety alone would invoke the banners (if you see what I mean).

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 06:06 AM

I don't think I've ever seen anyone DANCING with the banner - just walking along in time to the music while the others dance.

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 06:51 AM

We are looking at the idae of "table top flag/banner" that might stand on a table near the front as we play as a Ceilidh Band or on a pub table in Sessions

L in C#

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: greg stephens
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 06:54 AM

We have one big banner that says "Boat Band" and another with a big picture of a dancer. We hang these at the back of the stage (a) when we think it's appropriate and (b) when we can be bothered.

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: bradfordian
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 07:07 AM

My choir has a couple of banners, one of which can be seen here.
Nottingham Clarion Choir

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 07:49 AM

Red Duster (Ron Baxter and Ross Campbell) have a real "Red Duster" (a bit tattier than that one) on a proper flag-pole, rescued from a friend's antique emporium before it got demolished.

I usually forget to bring it, but will be endeavouring to remember when we do Ron's Merchant Navy set "Farewell to the Clan Line" at Ellesmere Port at Easter. As we're also presenting "Adventurers, Buccaneers and Corsairs - an ABC of Piracy", I'll have to dig out the various versions of the Skull and Cross-bones I've been able to accumulate. So far haven't thought of banners or flags for the other theme shows we do. (Ron?)

Ross

Subject: RE: Tech: Flags and banners
From: Bernard
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 08:07 AM

I'm Chief Musician with the Earl of Stamford Morris, and have a large flightcase for my accordion. There's an A3 sized lamainated print of our badge on it, and there's another on our stick trolley.

Before we do a 'fun dance out' at pubs during the 'summer' (instead of practicing in the hall), we always arrange to put posters up to warn people of our impending visit!

Subject: RE: Flags and banners
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 08:29 AM

I quite fancy a flag pole complete with flag which we could run up, break and salute, boy Scout backround showing through, but probably getting completely carried away

L in C#

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Gy Morris man
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 11:07 AM

We have a flag on a collapsable pole that goes to every dance out.
And famously on the cropredy website.

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 11:10 AM

That sounds interesting Ms/ Mr Morris. Any pictures anywhere?

L in C#

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 11:27 AM

Morris sides are usually identifiable by the colour of their baldricks, badges etc. Morris enthusiasts generally know almost all the sides by their clothes. Also, before each dance, the Squire announces his side and the name of the dance. Some Northwest clog sides carry a banner. I wonder if this is because they often originated from the mills and factories of the North, and the workers used to have a banner for their marches? (Durham coalminers did this.)

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: GUEST,folkiedave
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 11:30 AM

Sheffield City Morris and Sheffield Giants both have flags.

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: JohnB
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 01:07 PM

Our side, Orange Peel Morris have a small banner as shown here third picture from the bottom on the left hand side.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 01:30 PM

Thanks John - great set of photos

L in C#

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 03:20 AM

I don't think you need extra festival tickets for banner carriers. A lot of festivals give reduced proce tickets for partners and family so why not make them work for their ticket. A lot of kids would be heartily pleased to carry the banner even if they of the age where they wouldn;t be seen dead dancing.

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Will Fly
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 04:46 AM

Les, when I played in the Egbert Sousé All Stars jug band in the late '60s in London, we had a round shield with the band's emblem that we hung from a mic stand. You can see it here.

As you can see, the band members are also wearing miniature ones!

The pic was taken at the our weekly residency, the Redan public house on the corner of Queensway and Westbourne Grove in Bayswater. Visible members of the band are (l-r) Ian Chisholm (mandolin), my guitar, singer Pete Charlton (now Professor Peter's Puppets), singer and harmonica player Brian Catchpole (who designed the shield), and the left-hand side of our washboard player Rita Foreman (ex-partner of singer John Foreman and mother of Chris Foreman of "Madness").

I still have my badge - found it in a box the other day!

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 05:14 AM

I've often thought it difficult to find out who is dancing, badges on the kit are sometimes not easy to read, (especially if it looks like you are peering too intenty at a lady dancers chest) :-)
The problem with a lot of sides nowdays is that it's difficult enough getting enough dancers never mind banner carriers.
Announcements often go unheard unless they are done by somebody with a very loud voice, we rely on an announcement and our shirt badges with our logo on & Southport Swords clearly written. Mind you I frequently find myself talking face to face with someone asking "where do you come from", so I point at the badge & they say "oh silly me". & then read Southport Swords & say "Stockport that's near Manchester isn't it" Grrrrr.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Marje
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 05:21 AM

Ceilidh bands, too, often fail to make it clear who they are. Regular dancers will usually know the name of the band, but people who are new to that kind of event may not. And if you attend a wedding, etc, where the dancing is a bit incidental to the whole function, it's often far from clear who the band is. All they need is some sort of declaration on the front of a big drum, or on some kind of banner or board to display the name of the band, but it's often completely absent.

Similarly, although it's true that morris sides will often recognise each other by their kit and even the sound of their music, outsiders (whose support is often crucial) won't have any way of knowing who they're watching unless they ask or are told.

Sometimes there is a perfectly good reason for there being no name, e.g. it's not really a band at all. I sometimes get a "scratch" band together for local village or pub events, and some people earnestly ask us what we're called and whether we have a CD. I have to explain that we are just session players who play together in pubs (and in most cases we've never actually all sat down to play these particular tunes together before, although I don't tell them that).

I think it's all part of the same thing - the folk world is primarily concerned with enjoying and participating in the music and dance, and less keen on publicity and PR. That's absolutely fine, but if people do want to make any money out of it, or even need to keep the public interested in order to secure future gigs/stands, then a little more attention to publicity would do no harm.

Marje

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 06:48 AM

Thanks people interesting as ever this place is. One reason for making our name, The Beech Band, better known is to encourage people to come to:
The Beech Inn
Beech Road
Chorlton
Manchester

Great little pub where we play every Wednesday

L in C#

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 08:47 AM

But Les - surely the purpose of Morris is to get in, dance and then get out before anyone knows it ever happened. At best, you should leave a question hanging in the air "Who were those rattling men???"
Banners, flags and other publicity just slow you down and leave people tapping watch faces and asking "Where the hell are they, then?"
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 09:23 AM

Grimsby Morris Men have a flag they take on dance outs it has Stanley The Boar as a motiff on it,

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: LesB
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 11:16 AM

Geoff,But I want the fame, the adulation & the groupies.
Cheers
Les ( now with my cookie back)

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 11:18 AM

Geoff,But I want the fame, the adulation & the groupies.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: LesB
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 01:22 PM

That's strange, how did I become Les from Chorleton?
Cheers
Les (from Southport)

Subject: RE: Flags and banners (Ceilidh Band & Morris Sides)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 02:04 PM

Will Fly, would you happen to have any other photos with Rita Foreman? I'm friends with Chris Foreman and I'm sure he'd get a kick out of seeing old photos of his mum.

Thanks!
Steve
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