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25 Sep 19 - 02:52 AM (#4010358) Subject: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG Went to a memorial sing around last week. There were lots there so the organiser said if duos could only do one rather than asking everybody if they could keep it short. My husband and I were regarded as a duo so I didn't even bother to tune up. Went home without contributing. We went to a sing around last night and they were short of time to get everybody in the last round so we - as the only married couple there - were asked to do one between us. I said no - why not ask all the other contributors to do one between two. Any thoughts! FloraG |
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25 Sep 19 - 03:08 AM (#4010360) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: BobL Surely the point of any partnership, including marriage, is that you can achieve more together than individually? That the whole is greater than the sum of its parts? Guess your repertoire needs a duet, something written or arranged expressly for two. |
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25 Sep 19 - 03:38 AM (#4010363) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG Were not really a duo. We developed a local barn dance band and did quite well -with me calling and my husband playing the base. Not really duo material. If were expected to do one duet - does that mean were still only worth half a solo singer? FloraG. |
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25 Sep 19 - 03:50 AM (#4010366) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: Acorn4 It's a tricky one. At our club we give duos a turn each but if we're running out of time near the end sometimes ask them just to do one so we can get round. We are a duo ourselves and make sure we lead by example on this. Where it gets tricky is trios, quartets - 52 piece male voice choir... |
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25 Sep 19 - 03:53 AM (#4010367) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: Joe Offer If you sing individually, then each should get a turn. But if you sing one song together, then that might well be considered to be the one and only turn for the both of you. |
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25 Sep 19 - 04:05 AM (#4010370) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: Backwoodsman I agree with Joe. I know several duos where one sings, and the other plays an instrumental accompaniment. I regard them as one 'act' who should get the same number of songs as if they were a solo performer. If both sing, two songs per 'turn' would be fair. |
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25 Sep 19 - 04:22 AM (#4010372) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: The Sandman The organisers of both events are getting one thing right , the event was well attended. The most important thing about the first event was that it was a memoriam concert, somebody was being remembered? why was the second event short of time? when events run short of time there must be a reason, so the root of the problem needs to be sorted, why is it running short of time did performers turn up late? |
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25 Sep 19 - 05:07 AM (#4010381) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG I know all my husbands songs - so can play an intro and/or sing along to the chorus. Its not being a duo - its being married for a long time. We don't do clever harmony singing - which I would expect from a duo. ( Not sure we are clever enough for that). If we are asked to do one thing only between us - who gets the turn? Is it worth me going if all I do is the above? I find we increasingly don't go to clubs that do that. We are happy to do one between us if the end is nigh - and the thing has been around a few times - but its us volunteering that - not being told by the organiser. Why discriminate against married couples who may or may not see themselves as a duo when others are not asked to do one between two? FloraG. |
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25 Sep 19 - 05:10 AM (#4010383) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: JHW Time runs out in FCs. This side of the sea we still have closing time. Round the room everyone gets a song or tune. A couple usually get two (though a pair of musicians will often do two medleys). As time runs to a close an organiser or mc has to find a way of winding up and may leave some folks out altogether and yes ask a couple could they just do one. Happened last friday. On monday a foursome played two songs each time they were asked, their decision, no stipulation. |
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25 Sep 19 - 05:45 AM (#4010392) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: banjoman I tend to agree with Flora as we were a duo for many years but each capable of doing a solo spot. Perhaps the answer is to advise the person running the event that you are two individual performers, Then if Andy requests someone accompanies his song then you can jump in. |
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25 Sep 19 - 05:52 AM (#4010395) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG That sounds fine. I would be more than happy with that. When I run sessions I think I do much the same. I think I was probably being a bit Bolshy last night by saying no, but it happens too many times that we get half the opportunities to play/ sing or none at all. FloraG |
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25 Sep 19 - 06:07 AM (#4010403) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST In the UK, the Equality Act (2010) is designed to protect people from discrimination based on certain ‘protected characteristics’: Age Race Sex Gender reassignment Disability Religion or belief Sexual orientation Marriage or civil partnership Pregnancy and maternity You’ll note that couples being forced to perform as duos in folk clubs is not among them. |
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25 Sep 19 - 06:28 AM (#4010406) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: Mo the caller I was at a Folk festival in Nantwich some years back at a round-the-room type session, and there was a German band there (brass band, accordion band, I can't remember). Not sure if they had come for the festival, they didn't seem particularly folky. They were asked if they would like to play something and introduced it as a Suite. After the first tune, they started the second and someone muttered about it being 1 tune each, but they were overruled as a) it was a Suite, b) there were a lot of them (they probably outnumbered the rest). Fair decision I think, though it put the organiser in an awkward spot as it wasn't quite what most had expected to hear. I take the point about medleys, maybe OK if others are expected to join in. Otherwise maybe '1 tune each or a medley between you'. But some songs have more verses than others, too. Most of the clubs I've been to have given couples a tune each, though actually a lot of the things I go to are 'jump in' and most people are careful to let others get their turn. It can be a pain when someone 'hogs' a session (and we all know someone who does). |
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25 Sep 19 - 09:25 AM (#4010427) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: Stilly River Sage If Flora asks to be treated as an individual and take a turn like other individuals, her marital status has nothing to do with it. |
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25 Sep 19 - 10:43 AM (#4010454) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,CJ Make a point of sitting on the opposite side of the circle to your husband. |
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26 Sep 19 - 03:03 AM (#4010556) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG Thanks for all the comments. I'm on chemo at the moment so it takes a lot of effort to get anywhere and then to be ignored! FloraG. |
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26 Sep 19 - 03:46 AM (#4010565) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: Jack Campin This kind of thing is why I don't like singarounds very much. "Jump-in" session/singarounds tend to share the venue with an audience, and putting on a performance they'll appreciate is a large part of the aim. Who performs what next is decided by what's most effective in the moment, and the idea of having the right to that time slot would be just plain nuts. |
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26 Sep 19 - 05:03 AM (#4010579) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: The Sandman Flora wishing you a speedy recovery get well soon |
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26 Sep 19 - 05:03 AM (#4010580) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Jerry I agree with Jack, in that a jump in session allows you to share the performance with the audience better. If you go around the room in turn, you inevitably get several unaccompanied ballads one after the other, or conversely several almost identical tunes one after another, simply because kindred performers tend to sit together, if only for moral support. Otherwise, the best idea in the posts above must be to sit well apart from each other.. |
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26 Sep 19 - 05:04 AM (#4010581) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST Whether two people are viewed as a duo, and therefore ‘one act’, at a ‘session’ might also be affected by whether the norm for that session is that everyone joins in with a number if they know it. If that’s the case, the second of the two people, joining in, is just being a normal member of the session even if they are adding something that no one else is, or is capable of, adding. If no-one else normally joins in then the second person is likely to appear to be part of the ‘act’ and the two people will appear to be a duo whether or not they are adding a specific accompaniment, harmonies or just singing in unison. (I have read that, despite the Copper Family, harmony singing was not usual in tradition English music so perhaps adding harmonies should not be the main criterion.) That still doesn’t address the question of whether it should always be one song/tune per person or per act but it might go some way to explaining the reasons why, at a particular session, a decision is taken. |
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26 Sep 19 - 05:31 AM (#4010588) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Jerry I rather think that was Flora’s original point - your first paragraph. |
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26 Sep 19 - 05:35 AM (#4010589) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge I `ad that Flora in my cab the other day. She was engrossed in something on one of these `ere smart phones, the ones you flick all the pictures around with your finger. I said, "Morning Flo. Whatcha got there then? You checking on the `orse racing or something?" She said, "No Jim. I`m reading the comments on a thread I started on that Mudcat about `ow many songs or tunes you get at a session. `ere, you`ve been at it for years. What do you think about it?" I said, "Cor Blimey, they all get a bit precious about it , don`t they? But I do remember we played it to our advantage once. We were punting for gigs down in Sussex once so Tony, `is wife and two daughters and me and `er indoors went down this open mike night. We`d taught the others `ow to get noises out of spoons, Jaw`s `arps, tambourines and castanets. When we got there the bloke running it said, "`ow many?". We said six. `e gulped but gave us six consecutive numbers in each `alf. We `ogged the night got the booking, nice little earner!" Whaddam I Like?? |
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26 Sep 19 - 07:33 AM (#4010603) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG Thanks Jim - but me - a smart phone! I only learn new things on the computer when the cat sits on the keyboard. FloraG |
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26 Sep 19 - 09:04 AM (#4010615) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Jerry Shouldn’t the cat should sit on the mouse mat? |
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26 Sep 19 - 09:05 AM (#4010617) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: Howard Jones You may not regard yourselves as a performing duo, but if you frequently join in on your husband's songs then that is how you may appear to other people. If it is happening regularly you should explain to club organisers that you are two separate solo performers and expect to be treated as individuals. However don't then join in with each other, as it may appear you are trying to have it both ways. |
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26 Sep 19 - 09:46 AM (#4010624) Subject: RE: Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG Your probably right Howard. I think I'm being extra grouchy at the moment. Usually duos are more interesting than solos, so perhaps they should get 3 times the time- if they do 3 very different things, than a single performer. Its when they get half the time that I tend to think odd. At one club we used to go to to they usually gave everybody 2 -but if it was very busy then you only got one. We were always happy enough when it was 2 ( one each) even if it meant we did less than others, but when it was one I always let my husband take the lead which I sometimes joined in with and sometimes not. I think what I could of done was have him sing - and me - do 20 different tunes between each verse. I never did - we just don't bother to go. At the club we went to the other night there were quite a few just reading from music- so they could have easily done one thing between each 2. Why pick on us? FloraG |
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26 Sep 19 - 07:39 PM (#4010710) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Captain Swing When I ran a club I reached the conclusion that using the number of songs as a measure was not useful for good time keeping. Obviously, some people had very short songs and some the opposite. Also, some people would add to their time on stage with eg, tuning, jokes, banter, starting again because they had made a mistake. And what about instrumentalists who could string four or five tunes together and call it an item? My solution was to ask people to think of their slot as 12 minutes. They could perform as many songs or tunes or jokes or indulge in banter as much as they liked as long as they kept within the 12 minutes. This tended to make people consider the slot as a whole entity rather than just two songs. Generally speaking, it worked quite well. It doesn't really address the discrimination against duos issue but I did apply it to all of the acts. |
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26 Sep 19 - 09:07 PM (#4010716) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: PHJim Could you get around this by simply not telling anyone that you were a couple and just performing as individuals? We had a folk club in Cobourg where we had the "3 songs or 15 minutes, whichever came first" rule. |
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27 Sep 19 - 03:06 AM (#4010736) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG We've been around too long in the same area for people not to know were a couple. I think arriving in the same car at the same time gives it away. The 12 minute rule makes it sound more like open mike. Singer guitarists singing from music can be quite tedious. Why not 12 minutes per instrument? |
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27 Sep 19 - 03:55 AM (#4010741) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Jack Campin 12 minutes per instrument sounds great. The session I was at on Wednesday, my bag held 4 recorders, 4 whistles, 6 ocarinas, flute, clarinet, chalumeau, washboard and scallop shells. For the second half - "my friend the moothie player will start with the Marine Band in C, then a D/G tremolo, Lee Oskar in G harmonic minor..." |
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27 Sep 19 - 04:53 AM (#4010745) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST I think if it happens just very occasionally then it seems reasonable to comply as it will help out the organiser who is trying to make everything fit into a limited time. If it happens a lot then extremely annoying and unfair. |
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27 Sep 19 - 06:13 AM (#4010758) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Big Al Whittle I suppose the problem arises when one member of the duo wants to sing The Famous Flower of Serving Men and the the other wants to do Desolation Row - that's half the evening gone. |
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27 Sep 19 - 06:17 AM (#4010760) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Mo the caller Train your husband to ask pointedly "Are you going to do one or shall I?" |
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27 Sep 19 - 06:21 AM (#4010761) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Mo the caller Or, work out some sets where a song he likes to sing can be merged with a tune you like to play (maybe 20 is going a bit far). But that would be accepting yourselves as a duo so counterproductive. Are any of the MCs at these clubs Mudcat members? |
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27 Sep 19 - 06:30 AM (#4010762) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Ian I attend a singaround where, first time around, individuals perform two songs and duos perform three. Second time around (if there's time) every act might get a chance to do one more. It works well largely because everyone is good natured and realises that the organiser does their best to be fair an equitable. |
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27 Sep 19 - 08:31 AM (#4010780) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Howard Jones I know of plenty of couples who turn up together but only perform as individuals, and no one has ever confused them as a duo because their behaviour makes it quite clear they are not. From how you've described some of your behaviour (such as joining in with your husband) it may have given the impression that you are a duo, at least part of the time. To change this not only do you need to explain it to the organiser but you probably also need to reinforce it by performing your solo spots entirely independently without joining in with each other. |
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27 Sep 19 - 09:54 AM (#4010794) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Starship https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43997/the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner-text-of-1834 Big Al, put it to music and make that your opening number the next time you're given "three songs' instead of a time limit. |
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27 Sep 19 - 03:31 PM (#4010838) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG I think I was most annoyed at the memorial sing around when my husband did a solo on the parting glass - he does that well- and I was ignored. The family had asked for some Steel Eye and I had a song ready in my head. There were also 2 very good duos ( not us) who only got one song between them and quite a few tedious solo singers. Never mind. Got in today and had a phone message - can we do something to help raise money for a local church? I'm sure we can. FloraG. |
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27 Sep 19 - 08:45 PM (#4010867) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Tattie Bogle It happens sometimes to one of my friends and I: she will accompany me on a song, but then, a singer herself, not get asked to do one. We are not a formal duo either. We have got wise to this, over the years, and if they try to move on to the next person after us, I will usually say, "What about L? Give her a turn". While I appreciate time constraints in a session, neither of us sing particularly long songs, tho there is always some totally insensitive someone who will launch into a 40-verse dreich ballad just when time is running out and half a dozen or so people are still hoping to get a song in! |
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27 Sep 19 - 10:46 PM (#4010869) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Big Al Whittle Yes goodwill and unselfishness is at the heart of the enterprise. |
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28 Sep 19 - 07:33 AM (#4010903) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Howard Jones Why should a duo be entitled to do more songs than anyone else? A performance is a performance, whether it's by a solo performer, a duo or a large band. Someone who is also a soloist as well as performing in a duo or band might hope to get a solo spot as well, but when time is tight they should expect to be among the first to be cut out if they've already had a chance to perform. The problems both FloraG and Tattie Bogle describe arise because they appear not to be consistent, and sometimes play alongside a partner while both still wanting to be treated as soloists. If you don't want to be regarded as a duo, don't perform as one. |
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28 Sep 19 - 07:43 AM (#4010905) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Backwoodsman BINGO! The answer in a nutshell, Howard! |
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28 Sep 19 - 09:26 AM (#4010914) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Tattie Bogle Fair enough to only take one turn if the session is very crowded and it's a struggle to fit everyone in, but if there is plenty of time, then why on earth not? My friend and I also tend to choose rather different material from each other, we both sing, and we play different instruments, which can complement each other or how the song sounds. Plainly we'll have to agree to differ with some of you on this one. Is there also "positive discrimination"? E.g.when so-and-so group, maybe slightly famous, wanders into a session, and immediately gets asked to sing, out of the usual run of things. Then "Oh well, there are four of you, so let's have 3 more songs"! It does happen: the performance is usually very enjoyable, but may mean that someone who has been patiently waiting for ages has to be left out. Now that IS stretching it a bit. |
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28 Sep 19 - 09:55 AM (#4010924) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Howard Jones I agree, and as I said previously, if there's time then there's no reason why members of a duo/band shouldn't also perform solo. It's when time is short that it becomes an issue, and then you can't expect to have it both ways. If someone new comes to a session, and especially if they are any good or even "slightly famous" why on earth wouldn't you take advantage of their presence to hear something different? You can go back to listening to the same old singers and the same old songs the following week. |
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28 Sep 19 - 10:31 AM (#4010929) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Tattie Bogle "Same old songs" - with a few exceptions most of my singer friends seem to manage to come up with different ones each time! And I would normally expect anyone new at a session to take their turn, like the rest of us: at one session I go to, anyone who arrives late is given their turn after everyone else who arrived on time, rather than in order of seating. |
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28 Sep 19 - 11:20 AM (#4010938) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,John from Kemsing This idea of how many songs or tunes one is entitled to perform at sing and play evenings or sessions etc., it really is banal and tedious; as if there is some democratic rule that was established and introduced in clubs, moons ago, which there was not. Why not just go along, do your thing, not counting how many you are and expecting how many to do and listen and enjoy others. I`m sure when you review the events you have attended over the course of a year you will be pleasantly surprised at what you heard and learned and you will also have had a fair crack of the whip. |
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29 Sep 19 - 03:02 AM (#4010993) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG John - your probably right. Being on Chemo it takes a lot more effort than usual to get myself to a do, pack the car, tune the instruments, find somewhere to park, walk to the pub, find a seat, sort out a drink and be ready. To then be ignored for the evening because my husband sang a song - not one I know- was a bit of a downer. ( His song was good - he'd bothered to learn it ). I tend to avoid clubs like that but it was a special memorial evening. FloraG. |
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29 Sep 19 - 03:40 AM (#4011000) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Guest 'Discriminated against'? Again? At a 'special memorial evening?' @#&*!!! Sorry you're not well, Flora, but your sense of entitlement screams off the page. That may be the very reason you don't get the kind of attention you crave. |
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29 Sep 19 - 04:11 AM (#4011007) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: The Sandman What an unkind spiteful cowardly post guest guest, furthermore hiding behind anonymity, yiou should be ashamed of yourself |
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29 Sep 19 - 06:04 AM (#4011023) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Jerry Yes, quite. I wasn’t at the memorial session in question, but I can picture the scenario. Lots of people all wanting to contribute, so clearly limited opportunities for everyone to contribute, but pretty galling if you had made the effort to prepare a poignant contribution but there is no time for it because others have wasted precious time fumbling through their dog eared ring binders looking for stuff they couldn’t even bother to learn for the event. What sort of memorial is that? |
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29 Sep 19 - 07:14 AM (#4011027) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Sol To me, it's much better if you have a competent emcee. They can read the situation and ensure the mix of the singers & players is balanced. I have no problems doing a duet when time gets tight however, it really irks me when others brazingly follow on with a 20 verse ballad or play a medley of a half dozen tunes. |
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29 Sep 19 - 08:27 AM (#4011036) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG Been thinking about who I would eliminate if time was short. People with music stands people with written words Those who do over long song introductions on the guitar that are just chords Adults who sing teenage angst songs People who aren't tuned up ready Those who play unknown tune sets those who don't drive electric cars lots to choose from. I rather like the idea of asking each couple sitting next to each other to do one between them. Could make the evening a lot more interesting if its the first time they have met. Could keep the MC very busy. FloraG |
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29 Sep 19 - 10:12 AM (#4011042) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,HiLo Electric cars ????? |
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29 Sep 19 - 10:48 AM (#4011053) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Jack Campin I'm sure there are some people who would like to be commemorated by a show where performers arm-wrestle for their spot in the limelight, but I'm not one of them. When I pop off please do NOT organize an event which sets up any sort of competitive behaviour. |
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29 Sep 19 - 01:18 PM (#4011087) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST "Been thinking about who I would eliminate if time was short. People with music stands people with written words Those who do over long song introductions on the guitar that are just chords Adults who sing teenage angst songs People who aren't tuned up ready" The way the folk clubs I've been in the past 5 years are run, that should make for fairly short evenings. |
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29 Sep 19 - 02:49 PM (#4011094) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST "What an unkind spiteful cowardly post guest guest, furthermore hiding behind anonymity, yiou should be ashamed of yourself" Ron Trueman-Border, if you're wondering, Mr. Anonymous-Sandman. You certainly send me to sleep. |
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29 Sep 19 - 05:18 PM (#4011122) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: The Sandman all the regular members, know who i am ,my name is Dick Miles. |
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29 Sep 19 - 05:18 PM (#4011123) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,ripov Instrumentalists generally limit themselves to a tune played three times through. How many times have you wished that singers would limit theselves to three verses? This would allow many more circuits of the room! |
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29 Sep 19 - 07:58 PM (#4011143) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG Please - no ill will. The initial thought was about why assume married couples are duos. Some are , some aren't. When I attend a session I like to think I contribute to the joy of it. I don't play any of my strange Norwegian tunes - No gallic songs - No written music - if a tunes worth playing or singing its worth learning - and nothing too long. I get my melodeon tuned regularly. I'm not sure I always get it right - but I do think about it and try my best. FloraG. |
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30 Sep 19 - 01:54 AM (#4011164) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Jack Campin I wouldn't go anywhere near a session/singaround where the ethos was that Norwegian tunes or Gaelic songs were unwelcome. |
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30 Sep 19 - 04:06 AM (#4011180) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,henryp Different things upset different people. |
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30 Sep 19 - 04:34 AM (#4011181) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,FloraG Jack - its not that they are unwelcome - just hard to listen to and even harder to join in with. Me - I really like them but I keep them for home playing. FloraG. |
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30 Sep 19 - 07:35 AM (#4011194) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Sol One thing I find really annoying (especially when there's a problem with time running out) is extended frivolous dialogue used to set up a song however, I do appreciate some songs require pre-explaining. I was at the butt end of this type of selfish behaviour a few years ago. The chosen "penultimate" singer spent longer spouting out his preamble than he did singing his lengthy ballad that followed. So much so that, the session ran over time and ended the moment he finished. |
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30 Sep 19 - 10:35 AM (#4011207) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Tattie Bogle Ok, solution: will take the tip from Guest CJ way up the thread and sit on the opposite side of the room from my friend. When she starts a song, I can join in, and then, when it comes to my turn, vice versa, So now it's as Guest on 26.09.19 suggested, and let other folk join in if they want: I don't mind that so long as they don't try to take over the song by changing time signature, key or tempo. (We've all been there, I guess!) And, slight thread drift, excuse me for that, but it's also about people making assumptions. At some singing events I've been to, there is an MC who picks and chooses people to sing, but seems to only pick those he/she knows. By definition, at this sort of event, at least 90% of people there are singers, with just a very few being "only here to listen". There IS time to fit everyone in, if only the MC would ask that vital question "Is there anyone who wants to sing, who hasn't sung yet?" But no, they go back and ask those with better-known faces (to them!) to sing again. I really do find this practice objectionable, especially after the MC has introduced the session as being "a chance for everyone to sing". |
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30 Sep 19 - 11:33 AM (#4011221) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Acorn4 On an already rather controversial thread I tentatively introduce that dreaded word "storytellers"! |
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30 Sep 19 - 01:36 PM (#4011243) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Tattie Bogle I am conditioned from childhood to fall asleep when storytellers start! And some of them are prone to that lengthy preamble before even starting on the story! But we do have stories and poems in some of our sessions: not just songs and tunes. |
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01 Oct 19 - 04:50 PM (#4011481) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: JHW Just reading about Stately Home Hotels in my National Trust mag reminded me that couples are the norm for pricing rooms, cabins etc. and if you're not a couple expect to pay extra. It works both ways. |
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01 Oct 19 - 05:26 PM (#4011484) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: GUEST,Starship FloraG, I hope you are feeling much better, soon. Regarding the session, you've made your concern/objection known to the organizer(s), and more you cannot do. If it doesn't change, voting with your feet might make how strongly you feel about your stated position clear to him/her/them. Best to you and good luck with both the chemo and session. |
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03 Oct 19 - 03:37 AM (#4011670) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Mo the caller On the subject of grouses against MCs - I'd been going along to a folk club just to listen, for a while, then practised a tune to take along. At the start of the evening I told the MC, but he left me shaking in my shoes for most of the evening before he asked me to play. No complaints in general though, he ran a good club. |
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03 Oct 19 - 06:10 AM (#4011689) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: Johnny J Yes, sitting opposite or a few seats away from a "musical" friend or partner is always a good move as Trish has observed. Then the MC can't accuse you of "collaborating" Especially so for tune players. If you are seen to "join in", then some hosts will assume or argue that you've "had your tune". I've also noticed that if you decide to "sit out" when asked the first time because you aren't quite ready, then you are unlikely to get asked again in many places. :-(( Now one of my biggest gripes. Singers and other instrumentalists who don't listen or give tune players the same order as singers, story tellers etc. This is understandable in a regular pub session but there is no excuse in an organised "Come All Ye", "Singaround" or "Round the room session" scenario. @Flora G.... Re Norwegian and Gaelic tunes etc etc " its not that they are unwelcome - just hard to listen to and even harder to join in with. Me - I really like them but I keep them for home playing." The discussion is about the more organised session/singaround. So, you don't have to "join in"(It may not always be welcome, anyway) and it is more about listening. Individual set instrumental pieces and many songs may indeed be "hard to listen to" but that is what is usually expected. Of course, many songs and tunes are ideal for "joining in" and most performers will welcome this. However, less well known and more serious pieces are usually better left alone. |
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04 Oct 19 - 12:46 PM (#4011915) Subject: RE: Duos - Discriminated against again From: PHJim I recall going to the open mic at a local folk club prepared to share a song that I was excited about. One of the other performers asked me if I'd play the banjo to back her up. When it came time for me to do my song, I was told that I had already had my performance slot. I was a bit pissed off, but understood that they had limited time on the open stage. I was a bit surprised when the host told me that if I had done my song first, then I would have been allowed to accompany the other singer. I couldn't see the logic. |