New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.

Subject: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 03:39 AM

As Ripon FC is sadly no more, and Friday 13th FC closes tonight for the summer, there is a Sunday singaround at the Knox Arms, Harrogate, North Yorks, UK.commencing about 8.30 pm.
We only have 3 rules:
No smoking,
No poetry-it's a singaround
No singing from crib sheets(if you have to use one, you don't know the song yet)
The first highly successful session was last week - thanks to all who attended and contributed to such a great night.

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: GUEST,Wotcha in Italia
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 03:34 PM

About time ... missed you by 15 months ...

Cheers,

Brian

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: nutty
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 06:12 PM

I use a crib sheet .... not because I don't know the song but because I am at an age when the memory plays silly tricks.

I would rather have the words at the ready than suffer the embarassment of getting halfway through a song (that I have probably been singing for the past 20 years) and suddenly not be able to remember ...a word or a line or a verse.

Fortunately the folk clubs I go to are more understanding than yours.

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 07:19 PM

I have the same problem..memory is not just what it used to be.
Nutty if you are near enough please come to Gainsborough Folk Club..
Alternate Fridays at the Drovers Call on Lea Road, Gainsborough from 8.30pm onwards....Talent/fun/no smoking/great atmosphere and you would be made welcome...crib sheet and all..I use mine much of the time as do a few others.
Be Blessed.

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 02:30 PM

I'm with you all the way Nutty and Georgiansilver. Being of advancing years is not an excuse, it's a fact of life, and no clubs worth their salt should be so dismissive.

Like yourself, Nutty, I'd much rather be able to give a better performance of a song and not have to worry about the lack of the safety net just to satisfy the ego of a particular member of the audience (however "professional" he/she happens to be).
As a matter of fact, some of the best singers I know (including some "professionals") always have a "prop" handy, and most times they don't even need to do any more than briefly glance at it (if that!). Needing that prop is NOT an indication either of lack of ability to learn a song or of lack of commitment (rather the reverse, I find).

Hey Greycap, your new singaround is otherwise most welcome in an area where there's nowt much happening on a Sunday (or Saturday too come to think of it).

But any potential attendees be warned - I have encountered similar snobbery in other local clubs and a distinct bias against some perfectly good singers I know.
(And why the exclusion of poets too? How uncharitable..... I thought "folk" was for everyone.)

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: GUEST,buzzy
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 12:36 PM

There are arguements on all sides but from one who is knew to this game learning a song fully both words and lyrics makes you practice all the more and is therefore beneficial to all. No one is asking as far as i know for perfection but simply that the songs are learnt
before being performed.
With regards to poetry at folk clubs i agree with the organiser, i cant see poetry societies welcoming a person with his guitar, bango, harmonica, etc, etc
before being performed.

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: red max
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 05:21 AM

What happened to Ripon folk club?

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: Nick
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 09:31 AM

Having sat next to Nutty (nice lady) a while back and almost completely forgotten the words and chords to a song I know (damn nerves) I should have done the sensible thing and had an aide-memoire. Been better for those listening and better for my self esteem if I had had a crutch to support me.

Still each to their own. You are obviously a much higher standard than we are. In our little club I think we would have folded sometime over the last eighteen months if we had discouraged everyone to perform who '[doesn't] know the song yet'. As it is we continue to grow and expand by encouragement. You perhaps also have more choice of performers.   

When we get good enough we will perhaps come over and visit sometime as we are in North Yorkshire too. Hopefully you will still be going when we are ready to meet your standards.

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: GUEST,Tyke at home for the bewildered
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 02:14 PM

Well what I have to say about people with cribs sheets is this…Err I've forgotten
Err Laptops that's it laptops with the Digital Tradition installed and even better Karaoke Folky Amplifiers. Radio Mikes so I can sing from the pub next door if I forget and leave my Folk collection the size of the encyclopaedia Britannica there should be provided for all!

Don't people know how to go out and have a good time any more or is all this serious, I'll tell you what you can't do, meant to be FUN? Oh and while your there don't Drink and Drive home whilst singing from your Crib Sheet and taxing on your mobile phone. I could have made all this rhyme but I though better of it just in case!

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: GUEST,Gin
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 05:57 PM

Still, what DID happen to Ripon Folk Club?

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 06:29 PM

At the general ludd we have one rule.... Listen with enjoyment and tolerance.

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 04:33 AM

Guest, Gin,
Ripon Folk Club was severely inconvenienced when the landlord and landlady of the Oak Tree at Copt Hewick did a midnight runner. As far as I know,the pub's still closed.
Norman & Anne Garbutt, the folk club organisers, don't seem to be able to find another suitable venue.

Subject: RE: New Sunday Singaround at Harrogate, U.K.
From: The Beast of Farlington
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 07:57 AM

Would a fiddle player be allowed to use sheet music, or would that also be considered 'not knowing the song'?