Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?

Subject: RE: Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 02:17 PM

Good thread WYSIWYG but the question is much too wide to answer
there is SO VERY MUCH in a folk club that they are all at variance

TRY to get the fair and come and see for yourself it's GREAT over here!!!!

Jo-Jo

Subject: RE: Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 01:20 PM

NP-- ...this post may be replaced by more apposite ones later.

Oh no! I may organize them a bit, but no post will be considered definititve and/or replace others.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?
From: greg stephens
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 01:13 PM

Folk clubs certainly evolve and change. When I started going to folk clubs they were full of incredibly attractive young people aged about 18, such as myself.. Nowadays thy tend to be not-very-full of not-so-attractive people in their 60's, such as myself.

Subject: RE: Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 01:09 PM

GP-- Purpose? uh....[thinking].... boundless curiosity? Wanting to flesh out an emerging suspicion that I don't know everything? hm.... wanting to be a better friend to my new UK friends by understanding the world a bit better? Wanting to make a few things simpler for US/UK conversation around Mudcat? Stuff like that. The person-to-person view of a complex world. I much prefer that to research, but research is OK too if that's what folks want to contribute.

And Scrump-- GREAT post.

~S~

Subject: RE: Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 01:08 PM

Well, someone has to start, and bearing in mind this is a moderated permathread, this post may be replaced by more apposite ones later.
But, from personal experience.

It depends on size, size of venue, number of members/attendees.

It depends on whether there is a stated guest, or it is just an 'open mike' session where everyone who wants can get up & sing. Bearing in mind that these type sessions will not necessarily even possess a 'mike'.

Usually it is on licensed premises, in fact under the new laws, that seems a legal requirement. But I was referring to an alcohol license.
On licensed premises it will usually have a room of its own for the evening, with drink served in a separate room. This means less distractions for the singers, and (if the organisers wish it) the presence of a younger element to continue the traditions.
The premises will usually sell "Real Ale". This may confuse some, but the main difference between this and 'keg beers' or lagers is that the beer continues fermenting within the barrel, and so is not reliant on overpressurisation or added gas to serve. A constant need to belch (or worse) can be most off-putting to a singer.

Payment: there may be a charge 'on the door', or there may be a raffle (possibly for a bottle, or a tape/CD gifted by a previous guest). There may be both.
If there is a cover charge made at the door, this will often be increased on Guest nights, and possibly reduced for those who have shown some commitment to the club by buying an annual membership.

Annual memberships also allow some clubs to prepare a periodical newsletter (even if only one page of A4 folded) but this lets them improve the chance of getting enough people in to make guest nights successful.

Usually you will spot a table with adverts for other clubs, forthcoming events etc.,

Finally (to give someone else a chance to comment) Some clubs may have a recognised charity to which they contribute any profits. But most clubs seem to be non-profit making concerns. I somehow doubt though that this is a deliberate policy!

CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?
From: Gedpipes
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 01:02 PM

What is the purpose behind your questions Susan? It might be useful for you to provide a context. If it is a reseach question it might be helpful to say so. The responses you get may tend to be different than a thread for the sake of it.

Subject: RE: Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?
From: Scrump
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 12:48 PM

Blimey, a lot of questions, and difficult to answer.

As no-one else has said anything, here's my 2 penn'orth to get the ball rolling:

IME each club is different, with its own atmosphere, unwritten rules, etc. Some have PAs, other are 100% acoustic. Some encourage floor singers, other don't and are more like concert-type venues in the way they are managed. They are usually more or less friendly places though.

As an amateur performer I like to go to the smaller local clubs where I can have a go myself in front of an audience. But I also like to go as a member of the audience to see established acts at the 'concert' type clubs.

Clubs may also vary in the type of music that's 'acceptable' to it. Some are very traditional in outlook and might frown upon anything contemporary, others are more relaxed - I guess it comes down to that horse thing again. Some will encourage audience participation, some might not be so keen, but it depends on who's performing.

It helps if the club has access to decent ale too, but that's just my personal preference ;-)

Sorry for the rambling nature of the above, in no particular order, but at least you've got a response.

Subject: Q & A: What is a UK Folk Club?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 12:35 PM

I'm hoping that Joe Offer will authorize this to be converted into a permathread, so responses may get edited a bit as time goes on.

I've seen the differences between US and UK venues pop up time after time, in lots of threads. I've seen the faraway look on the faces of the visiting UKers who tried to share the feel of clublife. I can't afford the airfare to come absorb it through my skin. So let's go ahead and tackle it as a discussion. Can those of you with experience of UK clubs help me out?

My brain is a bit challenged these days-- please help me by focusing on the questions posed, and PM me any new questions you think we ought to include. I'm sure eventually we'll get to it all, but I want to try to avoid sparking off "thread creep" that gets ahead of my ability to understand what you're posting.

----------------------

First questions--

1. When you think of the club you like to go to best, what do you think of first? What's the setting? What's the atmosphere like at "your" club?

2. How do clubs start? How do they evolve-- do they change? What's different between a brand new club and one that's been around since anyone can remember?

Thanks!

~Susan

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I think we're still in a position where we want most threads to grow naturally, without being known from the onset as edited threads. Let's leave this a regular, unedited thread.
-Joe Offer-