UK club regulars - look after strangers!

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Barry Finn
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 01:55 PM

One other question. Do people bring any type of material to read/sing from & to keep this from happening, how or is it widely known not to do this as the excepted norm, provided that it doesn't happen. It sounds like that with the amount of good singers you have it just wouldn't be tolarated.
Barry

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 01:57 PM

Parking a camper at the back of the Lion is no problem at the moment, Sooz, but we are in for a change of Landlord soon. We are hoping things will stay the same but I can't promise they will:-(

Cheers and hope to see you soon anyway

DtG

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: stallion
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:14 PM

Barry, we visited new york last year and met up with loads of people, al and barbra, charley, the Johnson's et al, they were wonderful hosts. The South Street Chanty sing was excellent.
I think one of the problems in the US (or maybe New York?) is that to be tolerated in the bars you have to be very good or the punters get upset, we witnessed this both singing in bars like Chumleys and a poor pianist getting short shrift at The Greenwich Village bistro on Carmine Street and then finishing the evenings entertainment there! Had we known before we went I think we would not have been so brazen! As it was we "punched above our wieght" and pulled it off. Here people sing and play for the joy of it not neccessarily to please everyone in the place and often in spite of everyone else, Nick may confirm, the Tap sessions are really noisy and they are not for the fient hearted or voiced, we get big chorus', we get by that way.
Peter

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:49 PM

MMM indeed Sooz -
Don't you get in a fret there - I've been to Gainsborough, several times, and have felt very welcome. You and Mike do a grand job and yes it is obvious that newcomers are greeted with very open arms. And in an atmosphere like that, a 9 o'clock start is no problem. Yes you "do it rather well" and maintain a brisk pace, so I've absolutely no complaints about your club and would recommend it to anyone.

Those clubs where you have to jump in to get a turn - they can be quite fun (but not if you're feeling knackered after a hard day at work and just want to relax with a song or two), though sometimes quite intimidating if the "hoggers" are there in force. I tend to find that the more keen you are to sing or play, or if you have a new song you need to sing out, then the less chance you'll get in those clubs, that's just how it seems to go.

The biggest problem for those who have a quieter style of performance or a less forceful voice that needs listening to, can lie in the noisier non-separate-room pub environment. It does help if the organisers can make folk aware when they enquire of the type of room/ etc to expect before they turn up.

DtG - as it happens, I've not made it to Swinton yet, but certainly plan to do so in the near future. Your club has a good reputation, and it's been on my list of ones to visit for some time. See you soon.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Sooz
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 02:46 AM

Thanks for those kind words MM.
Barry, any night of the week or indeed every night of the week if you are so inclined! Usually in a separate room of a pub, but often in a sports club or similar or even in a village hall.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 04:29 AM

Obviously dont ask to sing in a 'concert club'unless you really are very good

I have many experiences of visiting new places and will not hesitate to name names (but not here) as to clichey (that how to spell it?) clubs

If you travel a distance to a new club for the first time the organiser should be able to tell a singer or at least ask (and no I wont got the trouble of phoning first)needless to say the regulars should stand down (I do) ~ some regulars are a bl**dy pain and full of self importance

and its no use saying come on a singers night as distance may preclude ~ summer is a good time unless the club is closed for the summer!

Everyone gets asked at Barnsley Folk Club to tap dance, tell a joke, sing, monologue or party piece

And the old joke 'we could do with more ladies in the club'

Is often trotted out

Ray

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Sooz
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 12:03 PM

Well we are just back from our holidays and have visited two clubs that we haven't been to before.
First one - warmest of welcomes (still chatting in the car park at around 00.45am!)Great night although a problem with the smoke. (Message to self - always check in advance to avoid disappointment!)
Second one - arrived early and introduced ourselves and were told they could probably fit us in. None of the organisers spoke to us again until nealy 10.30pm when we were invited to do two songs. The organiser and his mates had all done 30 minute sets by then! We got a very warm reception from the large audience. The organisers filled the last forty minutes or so between them.
Takes all sorts I suppose. I know which one we will be going back to even if we have to wait for the law to change!

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Tootler
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 12:07 PM

How about naming and shaming (or praising in the first case)?

After all others going to the same area will know where to go and where to avoid.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: GUEST,George Hewitt
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 12:16 PM

I went to a folk club in Eltham (S London) it was like walking into the last chance saloon - all the heads turned - nobody talked to me' except this big menacing looking bloke with tatoos who growled "two quid" I got to do one song and most of the people talked through it and a woman went round selling raffle tickets - won't be going there again.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Nick
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 12:46 PM

One (or two) that hasn't/haven't been mentioned here that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone for a nice welcome is/are Wigan on a tuesday and a thursday. Joan who runs it was lovely and people pretty much universally friendly. Nice places.

And (shameless plug) we always try and make people welcome at Thompsons Arms Flaxton N Yorks on a Wednesday night (and hopefully succeed as they usually come back sometime). Not as big as many but hopefully the welcome is and EVERYONE gets treated the same - if it's your turn to sing or play you can.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: ossonflags
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 01:17 PM

Thanks for them kind words, Nick.

Glad to see this subject refreshed.

My humble opinion is, you aint gonna please everyone whichever format you choose.

I do believe that to make any singaround/playaround more inclusive is to have someone leading/organising it in a fair, consistant and positive manner.From past experiance not the easiest task, but it works for me.

As someone who is little louder than others I have no problem with the old "free for all diving in session" but I do try and encourage people who look a bit lost to have a go.I think a few of the more confident and seasoned hands among us should do the same.It never ceases to amaze me the amount of musical talent out there and if not encouraged we are going to lose it.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Rasener
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 02:25 PM

I still like the one mentioned to me from Sue Dewsbury.

Two sets of cards all numbered.
As people come in they are asked if they want to perform whatever.
If yes they get a number from the one pack of numbered cards.
Once all the cards have been handed out, the same numbers from the other pack are shuffled.
The MC then draws a number and the person with that number does their party piece. At the same time as drawing the first number, the next one is drawn to allow that person to be ready.
It carries on until all the numbers have been drawn.
They are then shuffled agin and the same procedure is carried out.
If some body comes in the middle of the singaround, they are given a number and go into the draw.
The locals can drop out if they would like somebody from afar to have a better chance to sing.
No favouratism.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 02:35 PM

"One other question. Do people bring any type of material to read/sing from & to keep this from happening, how or is it widely known not to do this as the excepted norm, provided that it doesn't happen. It sounds like that with the amount of good singers you have it just wouldn't be tolarated.
Barry"

Can't speak for any but my own, Barry, but my attitude has always been that if it's good enough for the Royal Philharmonic, I'm not about to outlaw music stands or sheets.

One of our regulars is a bloody good singer with a very poor memory, and I think that letting him read his songs is much the best of the bargain for the audience.

Don T.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Sooz
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 03:26 PM

OK - the first one was Swinton.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Gervase
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 03:38 PM

Sooz - that second night out wasn't at the dire Cardigan Bay Folk Club was it?
I was delighted to find that there seemed to be a regular folk club near me, and when some friends (also singers) came to stay we made an evening of it.
What a mistake!
It was like no folk club I've ever experienced before. The two organisers had a PA set up, and proceeded to churn out blue-grass (played very well, it has to be said) for an hour before inviting a friend up from the floor. The audience seemed to be recruited from the local old folks' home, and all sat there without a sound as the amplified guitars reverberated around the room.
When one of our group asked during a break in hostilities if there would be any chance of a spot for visiting floor singers, the organiser evasively said: "You know this is a performance venue - I don't know that unaccompanied singing would go down well."
Our friend asked again and was grudgingly told that we could each sing a song at the end of the evening - which duly happened (with the organiser pointedly ignoring us) before we were hustled off and the evening closed.
So that was our first and last visit to what we all agreed had to be the rudest, most unwelcoming folk club it had ever been our misfortune to visit.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Sooz
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 03:51 PM

No, Gervase but thanks for the tip if we ever visit Wales!

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 04:09 PM

Been there, done that in instrumental sessions. :(

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Myrtle
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 05:28 PM

Swinton is a great club Sooz, I've been there many times, in fact it was there I plucked up the courage to sing for the first time....yes, they have a lot to answer for!!!
Regards,
Myrtle.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 10:12 AM

well I took me harp to a party quite recently, and had the same experience as D the G. After about two hours sitting there, I thought to myself............ well they DO need the practice.

Subject: RE: UK club regulars - look after strangers!
From: Lady Policeman
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 10:45 AM

I can second Gervase's remarks about the Cardigan Bay Club I was there with him that night. A woman appeared half way through the session clutching a guitar and the organiser announced "Oh good another singer!" and invited her up to sing. Obviously the advice about taking a guitar case along would have helped us out on that occasion but we shouldn't really have to! The organiser's wife did show interest when I sang and asked me about the song afterwards but we were left with the impression tha twe were interrupting their practice session!
At Pennymoor in Devon we make a point of welcoming strangers and all get a song. I remember the first time I went there I was immediately approached and welcomed by Len the MC and asked if I sang. They hold a very friendly singaround with a jam session to start and finish it off. Another friendly session was Bodmin Club where we were welcomed and even given a extra song at the end of the night as visitors!