hosts who think they are IT

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 09:24 AM

Of the several sessions I go to, the ones that seem to work best are those that DO go round the room "like a clock hand". OK, you can end up with too many unaccompanied ballads or some other style/ type following each other, but I've seen this evened out by (a) hosts knowing most of the attendees and asking a couple to move around the room to mix it up a bit and (b) performers taking note of the "balance" themselves and adjusting what they sing or play accordingly. If I was planning an unaccompanied song and the 3 people before me have all done unaccompanieds, I'll pick up the guitar or mando and do somethign accompanied. It just makes sense.

I find it's usually MUCH more "patchy" where the "host" dodges about between performers...you never know whether (s)he's trying to achieve a balance or favouring mates, or whatever....and it doesn't work anyway unless it's such a regular attendance list (no newcomers) that the host can predict pretty well what each individual is likely to do.

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: stallion
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 06:16 AM

MMMMM interesting, the point about ego's running singarounds is a moot one but agree that they tend to die out by people not attending. I do take issue with the repetative bit though, what i have discovered is that people turn up to sessions for a sing but not neccessarily to lead songs so, certainly in the sessions i go to, the non chorus ballads tend to bomb and we are continually asked to do the same old same old because they have learned the chorus and are wanting a sing, see, they are not there to listen to us they have come for a sing, the other stuff we do around our kitchen tables for our own enjoyment. Oh and I am no fan of the going around the room like a clock hand but a more balanced format re styles and content, that requires a dagree of co-operation from all the contributers.
Peter

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,bob
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 05:48 AM

sounds like some of these people posting would be elegable for big head host status by your wordings,dont take it so bloody serious people and dont spend all your time typing on computers pm each other get out and sing!

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Acorn4
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 04:39 AM

Big fish in little ponds ?

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 10:42 PM

oh come on..
these kind of corrupt selfish egotistic people are rife in most social activities..

sadly they are too active and intent on personal power empire building in small town local voluntary and charity community associations..

surely I can't be the only 'innocent' victim who lost work and money and social respect
due to the pernicious golf club string pulling and back tabbing whispered lies of
these people in the pockets of small town councils...???

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 10:28 PM

That's definitely my two bob, mate...

:-)

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,bob
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 10:23 PM

I am another bob ....

That's my two bob, mate...

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 10:22 PM

QUOTE
"GUEST,bob - PM
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 03:31 AM

sorry if I caused a bit of a stir but anonymously "leadfingers" says,who is leadfingers when he or she is at home"
UNQUOTE

Leadfingers (a whistle player called Terry - got his handle from the old concept of lead whistle mouth pieces) is someone with whom I have spent many hours chatting on the Mudchat, with whom I have sent private messages back and forth, and who has a profile page because he is a member, and is thus not 'anonymous'. Anyone who only posts as "GUEST, XXXX" has none of those capabilities, and thus IS 'anonymous' on Mudcat. Anyone can use that moniker, even I can post as that, pretending to be you.... some people have even used that nickname for me ...

SO... which non-member 'bob' are you?

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,999
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 10:33 AM

Well, your memory ranks up there with your class, Terry.

Try peace and message away.

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 10:13 AM

Hosts are in a position to get in the way. I was a supervisor when I had a real job. I figured out it was my duty to make those who worked for me successful in their jobs, and sometimes all that meant was to get out of their way and let them shine on their own. While a host doesn't supervise people, he does supervise the venue, and I believe the best ones try to make the guests successful so everyone has a great time.

Now, I'm off to mull over the concept of a 'rostafarian'.

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 10:05 AM

Bruce - Clicking on the 'pm' clickie gets me these options
amron528999
celtman_1999
Jumpstart999
Kat999
Nirv999

Which makes you anonymous as is Bob !

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,999
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 09:50 AM

ANYONE who post in this forum as " GUEST" IS Anonymous


Bullshit. I post as guest and you can message me anytime you want, Terry.

Bruce M

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 08:59 AM

ANYONE who post in this forum as " GUEST" IS Anonymous - At least as a Member I CAN be identified , and even still have an entry in the Members Info and photos . Guest Bob , IF you were a member I would have a discussion with you in PM s , but as you are an anonymous guest , I have to raise my objection to your post in Open Forum .

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 08:45 AM

You must have visited some very badly run clubs. As A host our club is run on a strict basis of everyone who attends is equally important. And as others said if you get it wrong you don't last, and the opposite applies of course. Basically if the Host is 'big headed' and you're seeing too much of then, they aint good hosts

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,bob
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 03:31 AM

sorry if I caused a bit of a stir but anonymously "leadfingers" says,who is leadfingers when he or she is at home?Im not slagging anyone personaly,just commenting on big head hosts and those culprits who try and take over when they are not really required to do so,the repetition of some artists week in week out,believe me I can say not all clubs or meets suffer this its just a few where nobody bigheads have given themselves the role of host or its their turn on a rosta to show a bit of power over others probably due to nobody really paying them any attention in their life.As I said in post before we should all have a sense of humour.

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 12:03 AM

Amen Leadfingers ...

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: bobad
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 08:49 PM

Who's posting anonymously?

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 08:41 PM

What annoys me is people who post anonymously and slag off what other peoiple are doing !

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 04:59 PM

I've never seen that as being much of a problem. I've given up on my local singaround, but it never had many very long songs, nor did the format shut would-be performers out very often. What it did have was singers who did the same damn thing over and over. This was excusable in the case of one guy with advanced dementia, but not for somebody still in full possession of their marbles. It was an environment where making mistakes was perfectly acceptable - there was no excuse for being note-perfect and just plain boring, and particularly when your repertoire is contemporary stuff the audience can just go buy on CD if they want mechanical fidelity to the original.

And yeah, people who want to use a club/singaround as a platform to promote their own act are a pain.

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,999
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 03:47 PM

What can be done with them or those who make a song twice as long as it needs be? Any suggestions?``

Double your attention span OR, do you carry guns in Britain (qm)




The thing that kills sessions or sing arounds or whatever they are called where you live are idiots who give musicians instructions like `You have three songs.` Then people get uptight when the musician does Child Ballad 64F, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands and The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. An hour and twenty minutes later . . . . Give time slots, ie., 15 minutes or 10 minutes.




Another problem are singers who come into sessions and take them over. Fer crissake, toss them out or tell them time`s up.

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Alan Day
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 03:37 PM

Well I think I have been to the same club.
Never again, they can dominate the evening on their own as far as I am concerned.
High Brooms was enjoyable as was T/Wells and Frittenden.
Al

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 02:11 PM

Thats my experiencre too Rob. I'd appreciate knowing which ones are to be avoided.
We do have some intermittent poetry at Faversham FC singarounds but much outnumbered by singers.
The repetition is a bit teeth gritting though II must admit. (Thats not ay Faversham of course).

Al

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 12:02 PM

I go to about 5 different sessions or singarounds in Kent fairly regularly, and I can only think of one of them where this might apply slightly. The others are very inclusive, with low-key "organising" and the "spot" mainly passing around the room in order, rather than the "host" picking out mates to play.

I'd like to know which ones I should avoid,as I seem to have been lucky so far :-)

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,bob
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 11:22 AM

thanks dibs im not the only one then!Agree the dull dreary repeat and repeat crap never fresh,what somtimes is amusing is they have a music stand and whilst they do song week in week out still read the words!!!!There are talented people believe me but generaly mild people who never brag on just perform a good well rehearsed song and always up for a friendly chat later in bar,the big heads too busy signing autographs!

Subject: RE: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,Dibs
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 11:13 AM

Totally agree, some hosts are shocking big-headed trumpet blowers where the sheer power of co-ordinating a meeting seems to go to their heads. They should go on a course and see how the best around Kent do it almost behind the scenes and everyone feels valued. What about the artists who repeat stuff over and over? What can be done with them or those who make a song twice as long as it needs be? Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: host who think they are it
From: GUEST,999 -- there ya go.
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 10:09 AM

Subject: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,BOB
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 10:02 AM

the post seemed to disapear!My grumble was about hosts or co ordinators at kent folk meets,there are a small nimber who love to"be incharge and do what I say" attitude when really its generaly a simple singaround and is a host even needed?The offenders are those who love to do 3 or 4 songs first,in general pretty boring from experience then they choose who goes next,their friends get best helpings usualy while genuinely good players are ignored,they harp on about their homade cd s and offer them somtimes as prizes(dont laugh) as im sure no one would ever have any urge to purchase them!One has offered to "run a summer festival" without consulting the original host and their plans how it will be run,groannn,on and on and on and on.......All I ask is just keep it to simple singaround,if you want to go on and on and on and on sod off to the bar and tell someone who is interested.At another venue which is termed sing around why do we get bloody poetry recitals,its a sing around not a flamin dead poets society,we have to politely laugh and applaud when bodylanguage tells a different story.Do I qualify for grumpy old men status????Good job I have a sense of humour!

Subject: hosts who think they are IT
From: GUEST,BOB
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 10:02 AM

the post seemed to disapear!My grumble was about hosts or co ordinators at kent folk meets,there are a small nimber who love to"be incharge and do what I say" attitude when really its generaly a simple singaround and is a host even needed?The offenders are those who love to do 3 or 4 songs first,in general pretty boring from experience then they choose who goes next,their friends get best helpings usualy while genuinely good players are ignored,they harp on about their homade cd s and offer them somtimes as prizes(dont laugh) as im sure no one would ever have any urge to purchase them!One has offered to "run a summer festival" without consulting the original host and their plans how it will be run,groannn,on and on and on and on.......All I ask is just keep it to simple singaround,if you want to go on and on and on and on sod off to the bar and tell someone who is interested.At another venue which is termed sing around why do we get bloody poetry recitals,its a sing around not a flamin dead poets society,we have to politely laugh and applaud when bodylanguage tells a different story.Do I qualify for grumpy old men status????Good job I have a sense of humour!

Subject: RE: host who think they are it
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 09:41 AM

Who wants to be it? You have to run all the time chasing some other dude down and when you're not it you can take breaks when you aren't being chased.   So only a dumbass really wants to be it.

Then again, we had this bully type who used to really enjoy being it just so he could whack the crap out of whatever poor schmuck he tagged. He was standing over my friend Mark one evening after knocking him to the ground with one of his "tags." I had a good angle with the element of surprise and I kicked him in the balls from behind.....got him really good too! He threatened retaliation but never did a thing.

So if you have a host who thinks they are it I'd let 'em be until you have a good chance to smash their nuts!

Spaw

Subject: RE: host who think they are it
From: alex s
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 09:29 AM

Am I missing something here? Do you have anything specific in mind?

Subject: RE: host who think they are it
From: GUEST,bob
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 09:13 AM

yes agree with you only well run and supported venues last

Subject: RE: host who think they are it
From: kendall
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 08:57 AM

Such venues usually die out.

Subject: host who think they are it
From: GUEST,bob
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 08:54 AM

I go around the kent folky scene and seems to be more than fair share of bigheads who try and take over as unofficial host,they try and get their foot in the door where ever and even offer to organise summer festivals without consultation of the regular host of small groups.They in general are very full of themselves and usualy only second rate "performers" but allow themselves plenty of songs if they are hosting but restrict genuinly good playes to give them and their cronies more show off time,they love making announcements over what they achieved and promoting or offerering to give away as prizes their home made cd s   The im in charge attitude still is present by a few hosts and if your a culprit then be aware,people do notice!