Duos - Discriminated against again

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 07:14 AM

To me, it's much better if you have a competent emcee. They can read the situation and ensure the mix of the singers & players is balanced. I have no problems doing a duet when time gets tight however, it really irks me when others brazingly follow on with a 20 verse ballad or play a medley of a half dozen tunes.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 08:27 AM

Been thinking about who I would eliminate if time was short.
People with music stands
people with written words
Those who do over long song introductions on the guitar that are just chords
Adults who sing teenage angst songs
People who aren't tuned up ready
Those who play unknown tune sets
those who don't drive electric cars
lots to choose from.


I rather like the idea of asking each couple sitting next to each other to do one between them. Could make the evening a lot more interesting if its the first time they have met.

Could keep the MC very busy.
FloraG

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 10:12 AM

Electric cars ?????

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 10:48 AM

I'm sure there are some people who would like to be commemorated by a show where performers arm-wrestle for their spot in the limelight, but I'm not one of them.

When I pop off please do NOT organize an event which sets up any sort of competitive behaviour.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 01:18 PM

"Been thinking about who I would eliminate if time was short.
People with music stands
people with written words
Those who do over long song introductions on the guitar that are just chords
Adults who sing teenage angst songs
People who aren't tuned up ready"

The way the folk clubs I've been in the past 5 years are run, that should make for fairly short evenings.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 02:49 PM

"What an unkind spiteful cowardly post guest guest, furthermore hiding behind anonymity, yiou should be ashamed of yourself"

Ron Trueman-Border, if you're wondering, Mr. Anonymous-Sandman. You certainly send me to sleep.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 05:18 PM

all the regular members, know who i am ,my name is Dick Miles.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,ripov
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 05:18 PM

Instrumentalists generally limit themselves to a tune played three times through. How many times have you wished that singers would limit theselves to three verses? This would allow many more circuits of the room!

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 29 Sep 19 - 07:58 PM

Please - no ill will. The initial thought was about why assume married couples are duos. Some are , some aren't.
When I attend a session I like to think I contribute to the joy of it. I don't play any of my strange Norwegian tunes - No gallic songs - No written music - if a tunes worth playing or singing its worth learning - and nothing too long. I get my melodeon tuned regularly. I'm not sure I always get it right - but I do think about it and try my best.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 01:54 AM

I wouldn't go anywhere near a session/singaround where the ethos was that Norwegian tunes or Gaelic songs were unwelcome.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 04:06 AM

Different things upset different people.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 04:34 AM

Jack - its not that they are unwelcome - just hard to listen to and even harder to join in with. Me - I really like them but I keep them for home playing.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 07:35 AM

One thing I find really annoying (especially when there's a problem with time running out) is extended frivolous dialogue used to set up a song however, I do appreciate some songs require pre-explaining. I was at the butt end of this type of selfish behaviour a few years ago. The chosen "penultimate" singer spent longer spouting out his preamble than he did singing his lengthy ballad that followed. So much so that, the session ran over time and ended the moment he finished.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 10:35 AM

Ok, solution: will take the tip from Guest CJ way up the thread and sit on the opposite side of the room from my friend. When she starts a song, I can join in, and then, when it comes to my turn, vice versa, So now it's as Guest on 26.09.19 suggested, and let other folk join in if they want: I don't mind that so long as they don't try to take over the song by changing time signature, key or tempo. (We've all been there, I guess!)

And, slight thread drift, excuse me for that, but it's also about people making assumptions. At some singing events I've been to, there is an MC who picks and chooses people to sing, but seems to only pick those he/she knows. By definition, at this sort of event, at least 90% of people there are singers, with just a very few being "only here to listen". There IS time to fit everyone in, if only the MC would ask that vital question "Is there anyone who wants to sing, who hasn't sung yet?" But no, they go back and ask those with better-known faces (to them!) to sing again. I really do find this practice objectionable, especially after the MC has introduced the session as being "a chance for everyone to sing".

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: Acorn4
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 11:33 AM

On an already rather controversial thread I tentatively introduce that dreaded word "storytellers"!

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 30 Sep 19 - 01:36 PM

I am conditioned from childhood to fall asleep when storytellers start! And some of them are prone to that lengthy preamble before even starting on the story!
But we do have stories and poems in some of our sessions: not just songs and tunes.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: JHW
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 04:50 PM

Just reading about Stately Home Hotels in my National Trust mag reminded me that couples are the norm for pricing rooms, cabins etc. and if you're not a couple expect to pay extra. It works both ways.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 05:26 PM

FloraG, I hope you are feeling much better, soon. Regarding the session, you've made your concern/objection known to the organizer(s), and more you cannot do. If it doesn't change, voting with your feet might make how strongly you feel about your stated position clear to him/her/them. Best to you and good luck with both the chemo and session.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: Mo the caller
Date: 03 Oct 19 - 03:37 AM

On the subject of grouses against MCs - I'd been going along to a folk club just to listen, for a while, then practised a tune to take along. At the start of the evening I told the MC, but he left me shaking in my shoes for most of the evening before he asked me to play.
No complaints in general though, he ran a good club.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: Johnny J
Date: 03 Oct 19 - 06:10 AM

Yes, sitting opposite or a few seats away from a "musical" friend or partner is always a good move as Trish has observed. Then the MC can't accuse you of "collaborating"

Especially so for tune players. If you are seen to "join in", then some hosts will assume or argue that you've "had your tune".

I've also noticed that if you decide to "sit out" when asked the first time because you aren't quite ready, then you are unlikely to get asked again in many places.    :-((

Now one of my biggest gripes.

Singers and other instrumentalists who don't listen or give tune players the same order as singers, story tellers etc. This is understandable in a regular pub session but there is no excuse in an organised "Come All Ye", "Singaround" or "Round the room session" scenario.

@Flora G.... Re Norwegian and Gaelic tunes etc etc

" its not that they are unwelcome - just hard to listen to and even harder to join in with. Me - I really like them but I keep them for home playing."

The discussion is about the more organised session/singaround. So, you don't have to "join in"(It may not always be welcome, anyway) and it is more about listening.

Individual set instrumental pieces and many songs may indeed be "hard to listen to" but that is what is usually expected. Of course, many songs and tunes are ideal for "joining in" and most performers will welcome this. However, less well known and more serious pieces are usually better left alone.

Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again
From: PHJim
Date: 04 Oct 19 - 12:46 PM

I recall going to the open mic at a local folk club prepared to share a song that I was excited about. One of the other performers asked me if I'd play the banjo to back her up. When it came time for me to do my song, I was told that I had already had my performance slot. I was a bit pissed off, but understood that they had limited time on the open stage. I was a bit surprised when the host told me that if I had done my song first, then I would have been allowed to accompany the other singer. I couldn't see the logic.