Suffolk Meeting

[nevada150]

I don't want to hijack the original post, but regarding Nick's comments. Yes, the meeting of the north East Steelies is mainly focused around the Round Robins, but also attendees are asked if they wish to play any tunes that they have prepared. Some attendees learn the tunes to the BIAB Round Robin tracks and others don't even bother. As far as imparting knowledge goes, if any questions are asked, the rest of the attendees are more than ready to help where they can. I'm talking as a Lap Steel Player, so I can't help the PSG guys. I do know however, that a few mechanical PSG problems have been resolved at the meetings.
Concerning the NESGF. Saturday is the day that players get the chance to show how they have progressed from the previous year. Sunday is a much more relaxed day with attendees talking about Steel playing and players showing their "licks" to anyone interested, technical subjects also come up in this session. All in all it's a great function in friendly surroundings and a great venue.
My viewpoint is : You have to put something in to get something out.
Keith.

[Jason Lynch]

Nobody?
That answers that then.....

[Will C]

Depends on your point of view, Jason. I know I have *some* experience, and *some* understanding. I'd be happy to share what I know, but I have no idea whether I should have stuck my neck out as you asked for "experienced players". You know, the likes of Mick Hearn etc. <stirring the pot a bit there> I think most of us are genuinely unsure as to what we know, or whether others would be interested to hear it. Sure, I can do stuff this year I couldn't do last year, so I have improved, but "have I improved enough to start teaching anything to others"? Tough question to answer...

[mick hearn]

Just got back from a week in Hunstanton where there was no internet and no mobile signal so at least a week of complete relaxation. Didn't even take a lap steel which was very unusual.

Basil - thanks for the offer but I have started afresh now. I managed to recover files but apparently they were unusable.

Jason - I would be quite willing to show people how I go about things if you would like to call that teaching - but then again I don't think I am a very good player. I don't read music or understand most of it. I had been playing guitar for ten years before I could quote the notes of open strings. I didn't have to know that - I know what they sounded like and could tune up without tuners so long as I had a start point. I still cannot name the open strings on E9 or E13 but I know what they sound like. I am just a person who can get a tune out without knowing what I am doing. At JD's last meeting I was tinkering around with "Raising the Dickens" and in the third part someone was looking over my shoulder and said "It's the ninth that makes that part there sound interesting". OMG! What did he just say? It went straight over the top of my head. I could not tell you in technical terms what I was doing but I could show you how I did it. Now if that sort of thing is useful then I would only be too willing to share.

Again at JD's last meeting he was trying to get across the importance of knowing your chord inversions and I am sorry to say he was having a bit of difficulty in demonstrating with an example (No reflection on you JD) and I could not readily think of an example. Of course since then questions have been raised in the TAB section on Blue Jade. Now this is a classic example of having to know inversions and could have been used to get the message across. OK it's down to planning but more importantly knowing what people want.

Will C - Mick Hearn? Experienced player? I would not call myself that but thanks anyway.

At Bristol I would be willing to answer any questions that are thrown at me either during the sets or after so don't be afraid to shout. On the other hand you may sit there and think "How long before he finishes???"

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

[Danny Mitchell]

Well said John.
I can't see how you could improve on your format. I think the point might be, these events are 'meetings', of like minded folk, and not 'seminars' or 'courses'. & I doff my cap to all who take on the task of organising any such meet
If it was up to me you'd all be on the honours list alongside Lord Donald of Newmilns; ie, Lord Davis of Stringshere, Lord David of Jam (Hartley's) and Lord Roy of the Newsletter. To name a few

[Gretschnut]

Thanks for taking the time with this topic John. I really enjoyed the last Barford session but unfortunately this, and all the others mentioned, involve long distance travel - Gt Barford for example was an eight hour round trip. Fortunately Bob, who must also know about travelling, captured many of the sessions for Utube so I can share the enjoyment in that way.

[David Hartley]

Well done John. That was a good idea, recording your thoughts and posting a video.

[Nick Bidmade]

Sorry for late response.
All comments thoughtful - I stick to my opinions. I don't want to detract from the considerable support and effort people put in to make local meetings a success - Keith and Derek put in a huge effort to provide backing tracks which are circulated in advance of our north east meetings and Shaun did the same to keep our London meetings focused. We have a great venue at Thornton Watlass but I'm sure it helps that Tony is a regular. I remember how difficult (and expensive!) it was to find a venue in London with parking... I do my best as 'whipper-in' providing write-ups here on the forum and contacting all those who have ever expressed an interest. There are a number of steel players in the Yorkshire and North East area who have never attended our meetings and it would be great to welcome new members.
These meetings only happen because of the effort and energy people put into them and as Keith said, you only get out what you put in. What we do need to do, I think, is to keep our objectives to the forefront and we have to have contributions from all attendees - so we meet the needs of as many people as we can.
And yes, it is fun!