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BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Sun Nov 12, 2017 7:55 amby Uncle Roy
Please note due to low attendances I have decided to cancel the December BSS workshop meeting and all following meetings at Siston, I haven't taken my decision lightly but after 40 years of these meetings have seen the attendance slowly reduce to very few members. I would like to thank the members that have supported the society and myself in the past 40 years of these meetings.
Regards
Roy.
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:08 amby JohnDavisStringsHere
Roy I am gutted to here this news, your monthly meetings have been the bedrock of the BSS and if it were not 4 hours away from me I would never have missed it!, just another example of lose it if you don't use it..... Very sad in this part of the world to hear this... 
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:09 amby RonMc
Sad to hear this Roy, it gives the impression if an end of an era, perhaps attendance figures have been due to an ageing membership and its accompanying restrictions, personally I cant drive much farther than the local supermarkets and I'm sure I am not alone in that respect.
I think we are all grateful for the efforts you have made over the years to nurture and further interest in the pedal steel, your still a winner Roy.
Best Regards Ron Mc.
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Sun Nov 12, 2017 10:44 amby Ken Byng
Sad news Roy. I have a regular gig on the first Saturday of every month, otherwise I would have been there more often.
Maybe someone else can pick up the baton and resurrect the meeting at another venue. Unfortunately, apathy is the villain of the piece, and it needs a bit of lateral thinking of how to get people off their backsides and attend steel meets in England. The Scottish and N. Irish communities seem to have their scene nailed really well, so maybe its a question of looking to see what they are doing right.
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:34 pmby Danny Mitchell
How very sad, Roy. I'd always imagined your meets to be well attended, I'm sure it will be sorely missed.
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Sun Nov 12, 2017 4:35 pmby Donny Johnston
Roy,this is absolutely tragic, after so long, all the effort and dedication you have put in all these years. I'm sure you must have put in a lot of thought before making the decision. AWERABEST . Donny
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Sun Nov 12, 2017 6:37 pmby Ken Byng
All is not lost!
Just heard that the meetings will continue from next month (1st Sat in December). This will be at the Frenchay Village Hall, Beckspool Road, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1NU. Lets hope that a few who don't normally go will boost the numbers of those stalwarts who have supported the Siston meetings through thick and thin. There will be someone else at the helm, and I think that those who attend should perhaps put forward ideas of different structure to the future meetings. I'm not criticising Roy in any way as he has worked miracles to keep the BSS meetings going for 40 years. That is a heck of an achievement. However, it won't hurt for folks to voice their ideas of how the meetings can be made more interesting and appealing to those who haven't been attending for whatever reason.
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Mon Nov 13, 2017 2:27 pmby Tony Smart
Have any players thought of doing a turn at one of the many guitar clubs there are around the country?
I know Spence has at some of the Shadows clubs, but it might introduce the instrument to these players who may in turn, take it up. You never know.
It may also give steel players an outlet as many are just bedroom pickers.
Just a thought.
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:26 pmby Ken Byng
Tony Smart wrote:Have any players thought of doing a turn at one of the many guitar clubs there are around the country?
I know Spence has at some of the Shadows clubs, but it might introduce the instrument to these players who may in turn, take it up. You never know.
It may also give steel players an outlet as many are just bedroom pickers.
Just a thought.
That's a great idea Tony. 
Re: BSS workshop monthly meetings cancelled.
Posted:
Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:20 pmby Will C
I turned up with a friend at an open mic event so we could do a few songs - some he wrote, some covers. I was just helping him show off his voice, which is good, but to my surprise the presence of the steel attracted a lot of attention.
The indie/covers/folk/what-have-you band that I play in (Hopeless Causes) also get a lot of comment from bystanders along the lines of "Wow, what is that, it sounds great, really different, extra something for the sound of the band", and so on. There's a lot of people who have never heard of the steel, so I think getting out there in an ambassadorial role is a great idea. "Spread the word, brothers" - and sisters!