BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!

Subject: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 10:37 AM

There's a plan to build a bandstand in Beacon Park in Lichfield Staffordshire (UK) -- great idea, I think. But it's been opposed by a councilor on the grounds that "it could become an attractive venue for unsavoury types of behaviour like alcohol abuse, substance abuse, vandalism, graffiti and deviant sexual behaviour".

What kind of band are they planning to book?!

And who would go in for deviant sexual behaviour on a bandstand? Everyone would see!

I'd be interested to know what you folks think, either about erecting the bandstand, or what you might get up to on it. Now where did I put my music stand?

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 10:52 AM

Well, the one on Peckham Rye survived when I was living in Sarf Lunnon and that was a fairly,er, vibrant neighbourhood. Same argument could be used against 'bus shelters.
"I led a sheltered childhood: 'bus shelters, air-raid shelters, bike shelters..."
I'm sure the good folk of the city of three spires would behave in the best of Midlands decorum and thus provide a venue for the Sage of Stonall to take his banjo and sand tray to.
Seriously (?),providing a venue for live music might give people something else to do (perform or listen) rather than engage in anything more antisocial. Do local councillors have to have a frontal lobotomy or does the job make them turn into pillocks?
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 10:52 AM

Hmm, I never thought of a bandstand.

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: kendall
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 11:01 AM

that would be a great place for the mudcat calendar photos!

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 11:09 AM

ha haaaa...

Actually... My small market town in the Welsh borders has a rather nice victorian band stand... Which is lovely white iron, nice slated roof and an oasis of aww ness next to the river... (I made one word up)

But I can safely say... that last year - or the year before....

Look I was drunk...

Me and a load of mates were sitting out on the river bank (outside a pub) and in our drunken state towards the end of the night we noticed a couple... Up to the wild thing right on the steps of the band stand.

We all thought we were seeing things... but one of the sober ones amongst us verified what we were seeing...

But this is the only evidence we have seen..

Apart from that you get the usuall... Skateboarders... but after that... NO on else except musical bodies bother

Ella

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 11:11 AM

ooo not that the bodies were musical...

oooooh I think I should stop there...

Funny thing... the day after the local Salvation Army band were performing in the band stand - PLAYING MUSIC

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Willie-O
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 11:27 AM

Perth Ontario has a nice cupola-style bandstand, which is screened by waist-high walls on all sides except the steps...unfortunately it's right behind the cop shop/city hall. No, wait, they just moved the cop shop to the edge of town...boink away! However, neighbouring Stewart Park would be more private and aesthetically pleasing for a nice bit of crumpet. Commercial activity is prohibited in the park, though, but not on the bandstand, so if one wanted to be on the safe side one's choice would depend upon the nature of the relationship being celebrated...

I never!
W-O

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 11:31 AM

Thought you were talking about naught behavior of band members. I had the unfortunate experience of sitting in the front row at the Met. Bored musicians were passing around a copy of Hustler and leering. There was a nose picker and a napper. Totally distracting. Poor Musetta was singing her heart out and some lout with a fiddle was picking his nose.

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 12:07 PM

We used to have a band shell in a public park. There were no problems during the daytime, and during actual concerts, but the "rowdies" would congregate there after dark with spray paint, drugs, loud stereos and blankets. The city finally got tired of re painting and complaints from the neighbors and tore it down.

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Wesley S
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 12:52 PM

So if all of this "naughty" behavior was located in one place wouldn't it make it easier for the police to find it??

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 01:01 PM

Bandstand? BANDSTAND?? We have ourselves a durn STADIUM right up the street. What do we need with a bandstand?

"Makin' love on the grass grass, behind the stadium with you, brown eyed girl..."

--M

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: mousethief
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 01:05 PM

Our bandstand in my tiny town (population 4k or 8k, depending on which brochure you read) is where the roughs, toughs, rowdies and ne'er-do-wells hang out after dark. I never see them doing the Big Nasty there, however. I am of the opinion that perhaps the reason they're so rough, tough, and rowdy is that they don't get enough --um-- affection during the hours they aren't hanging out at the bandstand. Then again maybe if they weren't hanging out at the bandstand, they would be better able to find --erm-- love.

alex

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Willie-O
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 01:20 PM

ummmmm....I might speculate that the problem is not that "the louts have a place to go", it's that they have no place to go, and nothing to do when they don't get there. Anyway, don't you really mean "teenagers"?

Just wondering

Willie-O

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: mousethief
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 01:25 PM

Actually in our town they seem to be in their young 20's.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: okthen
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 01:26 PM

maybe they should just build a public bed?

seriously tho' folks, if it were well lit and in a public or populous place,it could be an amenity.

if they learn from the mistakes of other similar buildings it could be good.

cheers

bill

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 01:38 PM

Bath has a lovely cupola style band stand that they built about 5 or 6 years ago. It stands in Library Park next to the Patten Free Library and the pond. In the center of the pond is a Zorach statue. Crossing a wing of the pond is a sweet foot bridge.

No rowdies, no toughs, no "wild thing" and not much vandalism.

I like Bath.

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Melani
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 01:51 PM

People who are determined to engage in "deviant behavior" will find a place to do it with or without a bandstand. City Hall, for example...

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: GUEST,Kernow Jon
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 06:01 PM

Victoria Park in Hackney had a bandstand when I were a kid and most things the councillor mentions happened there. Our only complaint was there was only one bandstand!
KJ

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: NightWing
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 06:19 PM

Don't recall that I've ever lived in a place with a bandstand. But I have fond memories of stashing a Playboy centerfold into the high school band director's music folder ... halfway through a long piece. Luckily we all knew the music well and there was nothing important coming up 'cause he stopped directing for almost a minute. Just stood there staring. hee hee

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: paddymac
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 10:08 PM

Hmm. Sounds to me like the Councillor might need a counselor.

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 03:38 AM

You talk of deviant sexual behaviour. I guess then that normal sexual behaviour on a bandstand is considered OK?

Thank goodness for that!

Peace

mcmoo

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 06:44 AM

What do you mean by "normal", exactly? I suspect that any kind of sexual behaviour done on a bandstand would be considered, er, out of the ordinary by many people.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: sophocleese
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 07:18 AM

Well I had never thought about this before. It looks like I'll have to get out my flashlight and head to the bandstand in the park some evening. I'll wait for the warmer weather though. I suppose if we cut down all the trees, remove all playground equipment, and put a lot more light in the park we could expect no naughty behaviour there but it wouldn't be a great place for reasonable behaviour either.

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 08:08 AM

Actually, last time they had a bandstand-type of thing in Beacon Park (they have those tent-like things and do "Proms in the Park" every now and then) They had Terry Wogan on it. Myself, I know what I'd prefer ...

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Wavestar
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 10:10 AM

Willie-O has a very good point. My freshman year in highschool, they had a local referendum arguing whether or not the local kids (read, us) could hang around the library after school. We didn't have another place to go. In February in New Hampshire, outside is not inviting. We'd hang about, certainly, talking but often reading as well. The problem was, we intimidated librarians, and they wanted us out. We couldn't even hang around outside the building. When we complained, they told us to go to the local rec center, a building with no furniture and no heat. (Again, NH in winter...) we spent an afternoon there, with people on the floor, and me on the enpty mantlepiece because it was slightly warmer... then went back to the library, and to hell with them. Kids have to go SOMEWHERE. They won't even trash it is they like it enough.

And, as Melani said, determined people will find somewhere, bandstand or not. ANYWHERE, in fact.

-J

Subject: RE: BS: 'naughty' behaviour in bandstand!
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 11:08 AM

I was just amused by the words of the Good Burgher of Lichfield Steve! You are of course right about "normal"!

mcmoo