standards versus opportunity

Subject: standards versus opportunity
From: early
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 02:37 PM

time and again in the course of runninmg and visiting folk clubs I wonder how we manage to keep any traditions alive. The majority of clubs are either very good or very BAD, little wonder folk has such a poor rep in musical circles. How to strike a balance between being accessible to all levels and also provide a good atmosphere without putting off the more able singers / musicians or descending into a club which is packed with performers of a less able nature seems impossible. many new singers seem to attach so much reverence to the material that they end up virually reciting the song instead of giving it life - something some of these performers would fail to recognise if it hit them in the face.
How do you deal with this and other concerns when trying to promote maintain your folk club?

Subject: RE: standards versus opportunity
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 08:10 PM

Sigh....

I am a member of a club of acoustic musicians. I won't call it a folk club because it doesn't seem to bear much resemblance to the folk clubs discussed and dissected and damned with monotonous regularity on Mudcat.

Anyway, the club meets once a month and the meeting divides into three parts.

We start around 7:30 PM. We do group singing from a common repertoire, then have a singaround where anything goes. Once the singaround is over it is officially "late night". "Late night" will usually start somewhere between 10 and 11:00 PM. A number of excellent (by anybody's standards) musician friends of mine participate in the "late night" sessions. Some regularly, some irregularly. Some are willing to put up with the lesser lights and so attend the entire meeting. Some come late to avoid the first two parts.

IMHO it works.

Anyway,

During the regular meeting the least of my concerns is quality. I am simply happy to see people making their own music. I go out of my way to be supportive of them no matter what I think of the value of their contributions. This is not a pose. I sincerely want them to keep it up. Their participation in an oral/aural musical tradition is way more important than my aesthetic preferences.

But I also encourage them because I view the first two parts of the meeting as a "farm system." Over the years I've watched newbies grow into musicians that I love to play music with. I'm willing to pay some dues in the early part of the evening to reap my rewards in the latter part of the evening.

My advice:

If lesser musicians annoy you, avoid them.
If you are running a club, run 'em out.
If you cannot get rid of them find alternative musical outlets that cater to your tastes and standards. (I do this)
Organize private musical gatherings. In the states they are called "jams" or "parties." Invite only the worthy. (I do this too)

Just stop whining.

Subject: RE: standards versus opportunity
From: GUEST,guest listener
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 08:11 PM

pass over the poor performers next time round or ask then to do a request everyone can sing!!!please

Subject: RE: standards versus opportunity
From: early
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 08:16 PM

russ i was not whining - i have run an open club for 11 years in the uk encouraging all standards of performers some of whom have gone on to produce cd's and get regular bookings My question is based on what i see as a move away from clubs of many good performers due to a drop in standards overall and an increasing polarization of clubs

Subject: RE: standards versus opportunity
From: Bert
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 09:43 PM

How do you deal with it? Why you set them an example.

BTW, I've seen more bad manners and bad behavior from accomplished and established musicians than I have from newbies.