Suffolk Meeting

[mick hearn]

Since we no longer have any local meetings in the Suffolk area I have pondered on the thought of running one. I have spoken to one or two and it appears that this may be a bit troublesome as there are always grumbles and for the organisers which is very frustrating. So in a nutshell before committing myself I would need to know what sort of response I am likely to get. I would need to know:-
1. How much are you willing to pay entrance?
2. How many hours would be the best for the event to run?
3. Would you want feeding or a bar?
4. What sort of structure would you want the day to take?
5. For those interested in giving us a sample of their playing or guest appearance - how long a spot would you want? (This is one area where there have been grumbles that 20 mins is not enough after travelling for 4 hours.

Your comments would be interesting to say the least.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Nice plan mick, here is an Idea to start with, work on the assumption that 20 people will attend find out the cost of the hall and divide that by 20,There you have your entrance fee and be prepared to pick up the tab if it falls short though I don't think those 20 would allow you to be out of pocket! just MHO.
2/ just in case it does fall short, hold a raffle to make up the difference, I would put up three sets of strings as a prize either E9th or C6th or 12 string Uni. which
ever the winner needed you sell the raffle tickets for a £ a strip and that's your shortfall gone>>>>>

Come on you guys get behind Mick on this we need a new meeting!!

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Well, there you have your answer Mick! 32 views and what do you get? TOTAL APATHY!! if there is no interest and they don't give a Rat's Arse then they don't deserve a nice new steelies meeting in Suffolk This is what you have to go through to get something off the ground, no wonder there are so few dedicated enough to have a go at it.

I am now ducking down behind the brickwork to avoid any flying objects

[Donny Johnston]

If anyone throws anything at you JD I'll send down the Scottish Team, that will sort it, Have you seen Willie Gamble in a temper, not pretty, stay behind the brickwork. Seriously if you don't have the support there is no point. Accept it and move on.

[Gretschnut]

Sorry for being one of the viewers and stuffed full of Apathy. However Suffolk does seem an awfully long way away but I wish you well with your plans.

[Jason Lynch]

For me, it's a lot nd way to travel just to try to be heard amongst a room full of players all drowning each other out, and going home feeling I've learnt nothing and I'm not as good as everyone else.
Well, you did ask...

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Not having a go at you Harry your nearly 300 miles away and yet you still post a little encouragement, that in itself is worth a lot.... Hell its not even my thread, don't know what I am doing here.....anyway, when I started organizing meetings about 7 or 8 years ago, there were more of us up for it and looking back,
we have lost quite a few, John Stannard was always there, Terry Smith, Jim Martin, not sure if Charles Hall is still with us or not but I know he is in and out of Hospital, and all the others I could list that through ill health can no longer make it, the list goes on.
It is not an easy thing to get going, I used to phone every player I know and try to talk them into coming and it is only when you really have it working that your able to attract the better players that the rest will come to see.

[Basil Henriques]

I'd support it..BUT would need more info re the proposed venue, date and length of slots..

[Donny Johnston]

Jason, There is no sense in wasting a day like that, you would be as well practicing at home. Going home feeling deflated is not going to encourage you to attend another function. I don't know where you have gone before but what you describe does not sound like a joyous occasion. I have twice packed my gear up at the first break when sitting in with bands for exactly the same reason there is no point. Many years ago doing a months tour in Europe sitting in with a band I had not met before and I was not able to walk away, I left one of the band members in Italy, we had not been getting along for the whole tour because I could not hear myself and constantly bickered, on the way back he started moaning about some of the venues, the way the tour was organised and anything else he could think of, I was not prepared to put up with another 2000 miles of that so I him out the van just north of Naples, never saw him again. Whoever organises the event must control it and lay down some guide lines, I'm sure JD and anyone who organises any kind of event would agree, there is no point. If you think you're not as good as the others you should get encouragement, not have to sit there and wish you weren't there, pack up and go home, if anyone asks why you're leaving, tell them. Anyone who chooses to try and hold an event needs all the support they can get but, the people who attend must leave feeling they have enjoyed it, they may have learned something and they would attend another one given the chance, otherwise we will get posts like Jasons. I think this must be the longest post I have put up since I joined the BSS but this particular complaint really me off. I'm coming down off my soapbox now. Donny.

[bob adams]

Surreal .... Mutual Passion again Donald you and I were evidently typing simultaneously! Albeit mine was a more general meeting overview, the irony is at these events it is almost always excitement that produces the volume.. but it has to be controlled! I've seen JD part his hair over that a few times! And you .. well enough said!

Looking at this post Mick .. my input is this! Playful panning of the post lead me to a PSG 'swingometer' Click the image at the bottom to get the drift!!

By complete fluke it started with Passion, finished with Pissed Off and peaked at Patience! Is there a lesson right there!

I hear you Jason, but we have to rise above it, I have had guys you know playing over me, walking in front of the camera or talking, all of which has rendered some potentially great footage being rendered completely knackered! Perhaps we need to speak out at the event and not afterwards! May take balls .... but if it needs to be said!

So to the famous five, Why/Where/ When/ What/ How?

Why: The answers are endless but can be summed up in one word! Sharing! ............Be it talent, experience, knowledge, personality, pleasure, and and!
Where: Anywhere it is practical to get a body of the like minded together.
When: Anytime that avoids statutory holidays when family commitments will always prevail.
What: Proportionate involvement from the novice to the Pro.
How: Don't let it rest on the shoulders of any one individual.

Be these events regional, periodic , seasonal or monthly .............. commitment is undoubtedly the pre-requisite!

The ISGF is run by a committee of professionals who silently give of their time and considerable finance to uphold a much loved event , it is my belief the attendees have no idea what goes on behind the scenes to produce the annual Dublin festival!

When I was able I broke ice to get to JD's meetings and if I was free to do so........ I'd do it all again tomorrow!
To be in a room full of mutual passion is warming in every regard.
I cherish my time with the guys at these meetings and am very saddened at our losses in recent years, John. Jim, Eric! and!

Dave did well in follow up also, much effort there too! I was sorry to have missed one of those though it was recorded'

Do yourself a favour and check these out! Go to..... Side tabs...and pick a year!
http://www.pedalsteel.co.uk/Events-Past

And the galleries too ... some heart warming and amusing shots there!
http://www.pedalsteel.co.uk/galleries

Seriously happy days!!!

As for us Scottish bunch! It is not always easy for some of us to attend for various reasons these days but much effort is made to produce as big a core as possible each month, I recall last winter Donny whilst doing his MC being reduced to tears at one stage due to shear physical exhaustion, that friends is dedication! ...But if you don't use it you'll lose it!

Perhaps we should hold a Scottish Bash! August/September Time .... And call it the 'Fretless Fringe'!

When I have less restriction on my time and can help pull that together! That could be really something! I might even supply the Haggis!


Mick ... Good luck in pulling your Suffolk meeting together! I do hope it comes to pass!