First Night Nerves. (for some)

[Stephen Hawkins]

Tonight was our Folk Club's first evening at our new venue, and it all went very well indeed.

A few members of other local Folk Clubs came along to show their support, and to make their own musical contribution to our inaugural evening in our new "home."

I can't ever remember an evening during which so many gaffs were made, but I guess it was due to first night nerves. The room, despite its size, was absolutely packed, making it difficult to wield an accordion. I chose to play through the interval, when many people had left the room to buy drinks, get something to eat, or have a cigarette.

There were still thirty odd people left in the room to hear me play, most of whom sang along. A small crowd gathered around me while I was playing, all interested in this unusual instrument.

I have been invited to play at a U3A Folk Club tomorrow afternoon. Brenda & I are involved with AGE UK groups in our region, and this seems to be a similar idea. The organisers of the U3A event also organise a Folk Club, and have invited us to attend their Sunday evening meeting. I imagine that we will go, if we are not too tired by then.

It is highly likely that I will take both my instruments to these events, as there are tunes I prefer to play on one but not the other.

Busy, busy, busy.

Stephen Hawkins.

 

[JerryPH]

Great news about the new location, and it seems you were a bit of a hit both by the locals and by being asked to play at other events... well done!

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Jerry,

If only that were true, but I fear the interest was more to do with the accordion than in my playing of it.

I cannot honestly claim to have visited every Folk Club in my region but, of the ones I have visited, only one can boast an accordionist. He plays a battered old 8 Bass ...... very well.

The invitations I have received are therefore not necessarily due to any talent of mine, and I personally believe the reasons are more prosaic.

Stephen Hawkins.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

I turned up at the U3A Folk Club on Friday, only to find the venue empty. The club meets on the first & third Friday of the month, and I had forgotten that the previous Friday was the 1st.

The realisation only dawned on me after I had lugged both my instruments from the car to the front door of the venue. Brenda had remained seated in the car, as she very soon feels the cold (and had forgotten to bring a suitable jacket).

I laughed it off, but was nevertheless dejected. Still, mustn't grumble; we have to be philosophical about these things, don't we?

Stephen Hawkins.

 

[JerryPH]

But of course!
Have you decided if you are going next week?

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Jerry,

Yes, I think we will put in an appearance next week. In the meantime, the same people who run the U3A event have invited us to their own Folk Club. They meet every Sunday evening, making it impossible for me to get it wrong.

The club is only around 6 to 8 miles from where we live, and I know the area very well. The other two Folk Clubs that these people are involved and associated with are only 4 & 12 miles away respectively, and we also have open invitations to visit them.

Anyway, we are both looking forward to meeting new people tonight. Brenda will doubtless take extra care with her appearance as it is a new venue, whilst I wait looking at the clock and wondering just how long she will take this time.

All The Best,

Stephen.

 

[dak]

If only that were true, but I fear the interest was more to do with the accordion than in my playing of it.

I cannot honestly claim to have visited every Folk Club in my region but, of the ones I have visited, only one can boast an accordionist. He plays a battered old 8 Bass ...... very well.

The invitations I have received are therefore not necessarily due to any talent of mine, and I personally believe the reasons are more prosaic.

You make it sound as if they were planning to mug you and sell the accordion. Assuming that they are not just courting you for your pretty face and stately figure, they would not seem to consider your playing beyond hope.

 

[JerryPH]

[quote="dakAssuming that they are not just courting you for your pretty face and stately figure, they would not seem to consider your playing beyond hope.[/quote]

I was thinking along the same lines... I may be dense sometimes, but I know a little modesty when I see it. :ch

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Dak & Jerry,

I used to cut a dashing figure, but that was many years ago.

It is the scarcity of Piano Accordions which creates such interest; little to do with anyone wanting to mug me for my instrument.

As for any suggestion that I am talented, I'm afraid I must decline to comment. My repertoire is, as yet, quite small, though I am pretty good with the tunes I know.

Our visit to the new (to us) Folk Club went very well indeed, and the welcome we received was kind and generous. It is much smaller and more intimate than our regular club, though the room is roughly the same size. We have promised to visit again very soon, and also to attend the U3A club next Friday.

Comparisons between different Folk Clubs are often very subjective, especially when there are so many positive aspects to consider. The one we visited tonight is far more like the ones I played at in my youth, bringing back a flood of memories from those halcyon days. The thing is, I like them both, but no conflict exists as I can easily visit both.

The dynamics are different, but equally good in both clubs.
One chap finished his tune and asked: "Did anybody spot the deliberate mistake?"
I asked: "Which one?" , which caused the assembled company to fall about laughing.
Later, we chatted for a while, and he told me that he loved the humour.

I guess that Brenda and I are now members of two (possibly three) Folk Clubs, so I really should practice more than I currently do.

Stephen Hawkins.

 

[losthobos]

I too know this feeling so well i've taken to introducing myself as the accordion 'owner' rather than the accordion player...

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Losthobos,

Last night, as I introduced myself, I asked if anyone liked the Piano Accordion. There came a resounding "Yes" from the members, to which I responded: "Well, we'll soon change that."

Stephen Hawkins.

 

[losthobos]

I've often had the "my grandma used to play one off those so beautifully" to which I responded once...we'll you'll soon wish this one was burned or buried with her... not the best retort...(only kidding)

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

losthobos,

I've come across quite a few people who claim that an elderly or deceased relative played the PA. On closer examination, however, many of these people had actually played Concertina.

Still, better than a Banjo.

Stephen Hawkins.

 

[george garside]

one way of easing first night nerves is to remind yourself that you can play the bloody thing and they can't!

george

 

[dak]

As for any suggestion that I am talented, Im afraid I must decline to comment. My repertoire is, as yet, quite small, though I am pretty good with the tunes I know.

A folk club might not necessarily be looking exclusively for finished material and acts. I suspect that youll be quite surprised at just how inflexible you are with the tunes you know to be pretty good with: playing alone is different from playing with prepared material with others and is totally different from jamming with others.

Accordion (like piano/keyboard) is fundamentally a solo instrument. In a band setting, you need to let that go and focus on the stuff that adds something good to the mix. Youll likely have better guys to fill in bass and rhythm parts than your left hand, for example. Or not. It depends on whos there. So you can focus on making a difference rather than running the show.

 

[george garside]

Different folk clubs have different ways of doing things and regulars will know exactly how best to 'fit in' with the goings on. Some stick pretty well to ''their' tunes and don't seem particulary keen on somebody turning up and playing stuff the regulars are not familier with.

Others work on a sort of 'sing around'( or play around') basis where each in turn if given the chance to play or sing something of their own choosing. Conventions vary as to whether or not others are encouraged or not encouraged to join in so if playhing a tune it can be a good idea to ask others to join in or not as the case may be.

The format I personally prefer is the more spontaneous one of somebody ( randomly) starting a tune or song and others joining is as can. In such a setting joining in is fine even if you are not particularly familier with a tune as the 3 times through convention gives you chance to pick it up ( or at least some of it) by 3rd time through. In this setting it is advisable if starting a tune to go for one on your ''sunday best'' list** as you may find that their is only you that knows it!. Alternatively and perhaps more wisely go for one that you are fairly sure others will be able to play.

** sunday best list = tunes you have honed to perfection (ish)! as opposed to tunes you can join in with if others are playing.

george

 

[TomBR]

I think I'd call most of what you're talking about a "session" George. I'd expect a folk club to be one person or group up at a time with a (hopefully) listening audience and other people only joining in on song choruses.

 

[george garside]

That as well Tom!

george

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

The "sing around" format, which George accurately describes in his latest contribution, is precisely the model with which I am familiar. As I have said elsewhere, members drag their instruments through the door and play whatever they fancy.

People are free to join in as they wish, so my occasional wrong note gets lost in the strumming of half a dozen guitars and assorted banjos & ukes. Even if no-one else notices that I have fluffed a note, I am acutely aware of it. On the next occasion I play the same tune, I will have corrected my mistake/slip up.

Stephen Hawkins.

 

[george garside]

or you could call the 'mistake' it a new arrangement!
george