Open House Acoustic (Kent)

Subject: Open House Acoustic
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 22 Jul 05 - 03:38 PM

The name issue is now decided, and opening night will be a performers night with invited performers from the club's past incarnations. There will be some floor spots for those who turn up wanting to play, also some nibbles and a raffle.

Details as follows:-

OPEN HOUSE ACOUSTIC.

Song & Music club at
The Post Office Social Club,
Sandling Road,
Maidstone,
Kent

Opening night Monday 15th August 8.30 - 11.00pm
Free Admission for the Opening

Normally £2.00 (£1.50 for performers)

Hope to see some Catters there.
Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Jul 05 - 05:01 PM

That is a good name

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 22 Jul 05 - 08:36 PM

Yes Richard,

Intended to be all inclusive, it is backed by a logo of an open door with "Welcome" mat, and a wavy music stave with treble clef and notes, sort of wafting out of the doorway, and supporting the words Open House Acoustic above.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 04:47 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 07:07 PM

Good luck with it Don - Shame its so far away !!!

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: alanabit
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 07:24 PM

It's going to be great. See you in September.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 07:31 PM

Looking forward to it Alan. Do you know yet which Monday you will be here?

If I know when, I can get onto publicising it nice and early.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: alanabit
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 03:04 PM

Just so everyone else can see Don, I will mention that we agreed on Monday, September 27.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 07:40 PM

OOOPPS! Alan. Monday 27th Sept is a Tuesday.

We actually will be expecting you on Mon 26th.

LOL
Don T

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: alanabit
Date: 26 Jul 05 - 04:43 AM

Quite right. I mixed it up with the day we return home. Markus and I can't wait to get started.
We shall be putting the finishing touches to "Travellers's Tales" this week, so I hope to have MP3s up on the web site very soon.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 09:37 AM

Just over a week to go now, and I'm hoping to see some new faces at the club, as well as our well loved regulars.

Looking ahead, our Christmas do is confirmed as Mundy-Turners' Bonzer Aussie Christmas on 16th December, a superbly crafted evening by two ofmy favourite people. Put this one in your diaries, not to be missed.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 10:40 AM

I will be there.

I also heartily endorse Mundy-Turner: they played the predecessor club "Hazlitt Folk" when it was at the Style and Winch (which used to be the "Union Flag" before it was re-named to try to improve its image) and did a stonking couple of very contemporary sets some of which I can still probably sing along to after all these years, that's how big an impression they made.

I also have vivid memories of Jay needing to put a different endpin/output jack in his gorgeous Armstrong guitar, and the hole needed enlarging. The only drill bit I had that was large enough had a huge shank, and the only electric drill I had that was large enough was an enormous metal bodied Desoutter made in the early 1950's, probably about a horsepower and a half, a real brute of a drill, so it was with much nervousness that we did the job on my dining table covered with a couple of rugs, bearing in mind that the power in that drill would break the guitar apart and smash it to matchwood if anything went wrong! But it worked.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 10 Aug 05 - 08:42 PM

OOOPS! I said 16th December for Mundy-Turner.

That should be Monday 19th December.

BREAKING NEWS! Guide Cats Volume 2 "The Missing Persian Files" will be on general release from the usual outlets from September 5th 2005.
Distributors are Proper Records.

However the CD will be available for purchase at the opening of Open House Acoustic on August 15th, price £10, and also from BCAB online at http://www.bcab.org.uk/cd/guide-cats-info.htm, price £10 + p&p

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: GUEST,The Barden of England at work
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 03:19 AM

I'm looking forward to tonight, and will be along with guitar & voice (even after Sidmouth and Broadstairs)
The KM is not showing it as Open House Acoustic, but then again do they ever get it right?
John Barden

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 04:26 AM

If they ever got it right the strain on my ticker might be too much.
I gave up on KM long ago, and even asked them, at one point, to do us a favour and leave us out of their What's On listing. They got that wrong too............

Ah well
Don T.

P.S. See you tonight.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 08:22 PM

A magic first night. Many thanks to all who came, for your contributions to one of the best evenings I can remember.

I'm not too sure that I shall remember much in the morning, thanks to the excellent real ale on offer. Three different ons, no less.

I loved every minute, and we ran ten minutes over time with everyone doing just one spot.

Fabulous!

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 04:20 AM

Hmm.

Many excellent turns, no doubt, and good beer at sensible prices, but the acoustic is very dead (so the chorusses don't really "build" even when most are joining in) and the noise from the air conditioning can be annoying.

Perhaps a conscious policy to cluster into one corner or another would add to the atmosphere.

A map in adverts will assist many to find it, and the map could usefully indicate the localities of parking within walking distance.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 04:56 AM

Points noted Richard. We have permission for a PA rig, and will be considering that option, as well as your suggestion.

Acoustics are an odd thing. When I first visited that venue, someone was delivering a lecture, and the acoustics sounded good, but last night it was very flat.

We'll work it out.
Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: GUEST,Rihcard Bridge
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 07:22 PM

I think PA will further reduce chorus effect.

If you need a small PA I can hire you one - with engineer - me!

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 08:30 PM

Thanks Richard, but Clive and I recently bought a Peavey which should be adequate in that space. What we may do is to use the main seating area for singers nights, and the PA for the concert occasions.

I'm also going to try opening those curtains behind the stage to see if there might be a bit of reverb off the back wall.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 05 - 04:49 AM

Not to pre-empt anything Don or Clive (the Wild Rover) may say, but watch this space for further adjustments to your reality.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: mooman
Date: 23 Aug 05 - 04:55 AM

Hi Don!

Sounds like a good venue.

I'll try to call in sometime, while on one of my occasional trips between Belgium and the Big City.

All the best,

moo

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 23 Aug 05 - 05:14 AM

More news about the new venue.

Halfway through the first evening, several members of the PO social club committee appeared and asked to speak to myself, and another committee member.

They then told us what it would cost to use the venue. They are asking for a per capita fee that amounts to two thirds of our admission takings, an amount that would make it impossible to operate as a club booking professional acts.

We turned up early for our second night, yesterday, and held a meeting at which we decided that we could not accept this, so we decided not to run a club night, and spoke to their vice president, who is the one we dealt with in the first place.

He is very much in agreement with our position, and is going to push for a more realistic arrangement. He feels, as we do, that the bar takings, on what would otherwise be a dead night, are sufficient remuneration.

We are waiting for a response, but not for long, as we have another venue lined up, pending approval of the license under the new act.

That's all I have at the moment, but it looks likely that this one might qualify for the Guinness Book of Records, as the shortest lived venue of all time.

I'll update in due course.

Don T.

PS. Ah! the joys of running a folk club.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 08:27 AM

reefrsh

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 11:43 AM

If you are planning to go where I think you are planning to go, two things....

Can the landlady put proper beer on when there is to be folking?

Is there any way to get a wheelchair in from the rear access, as getting it through the pub and up the alley is a bugger (and a disabled loo would be handy too)? Not for me (yet) but for you know who....

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 05:22 PM

I will check, but, in any case she too is asking a fee (£10 per night), so that may be a non-starter also.

Failing a change of policy by the PO, we are considering a temporary arrangement with the Pilot, in Stone Street. The landlord is very keen, and in fact suggests that he might open the door that leads directly into the upper room, and curtain it off from the bar so we could charge admission.

For:

1. Disabled access.
2. Fully PEL & PRS licensed.
3. Good beer.

Against:

1. Long way from the trains, and out of the centre.
2. Difficult parking.

Bottom line: It may come down to choosing the lesser of two fees.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 08:46 PM

Major plus for the Pilot - Clive can walk there!

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 25 Aug 05 - 09:03 AM

Yes, but his keyboard can't.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Aug 05 - 09:42 AM

Big strong lad like that...

It's his vision that's the issue, not his arms!

The two main roads to cross could be a problem though!

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: alanabit
Date: 26 Aug 05 - 04:22 AM

Any news yet Don? There I was, planning a nice pint on the final evening of our Uk jaunt and... Hope you get it fixed soon.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 26 Aug 05 - 08:54 AM

Me too Alan,

This merry-go-round is driving me dotty, but we will have a venue by then.

I'll keep you informed.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 28 Aug 05 - 07:43 PM

No meeting of the club on Bank Holiday Monday.

Next Monday, 5th September we will run a free admission session at The Pilot, Upper Stone Street, Maidstone.

This, with the exception of the second Monday each month, will continue until our venue problems are resolved, which will, we hope, be soon.

On the second Mondays, why not join us at the well run, and most enjoyable sessions at The Greyhound, Wheeler Street, Maidstone, the pub where all the clientele come to listen to the music and song?

More as and when it becomes available.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: The Barden of England
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 07:03 AM

I really enjoyed seeing and hearing alanabit last night. It's a pity not many were there, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Anyway, thanks to all, it was fun
John Barden

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 08:49 AM

I agree John. A very small, but very appreciative audience, and a truly inspired performance from Alan and Markus. The choruses must have been audible half way across Maidstone, and a very good time was had by all.

Alan will be planning the next tour immediately. It could be April/May, or October next year, and he will be booked for a proper gig at Open House. I would recommend organisers to consider booking, and let him know, so he can plan ahead.

A genuinely professional class act, and well worth booking.

BTW. The landlord was so pleased that he donated towards the expenses fee we pay on showcase nights.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Sep 05 - 01:37 PM

My car was being serviced

Subject: RE: Open House Acoustic (Kent)
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Sep 05 - 10:34 AM

I am sorry I missed you Richard. I would have liked to meet you. Markus and I got back last night, having enjoyed ourselves very much indeed. We will return in late April/May next year and probably also again in October or November. I will write properly about it all later on. In the meantime, thanks very much to everyone who was there.