What does it take to get you to go to a trad Irish music event, concert, or workshop? I am surprised at how often amazing music is happening and no one turns out for it. Even in one's own town! It's nearly insulting to the artists!
What do you all, as lovers of Irish traditional music, need in order to inspire you to get out of your kitchens?
Usually just a babysitter. I get out to sessions quite a lot lately, it's my main source of active listening and learning these days.
There isn't all that much straight trad - sorry, ITM - performing here, but when it comes, it's usually a priority for me. It tends to come in bunches. I hear the out of town bands/performers when they come through town. Some get high attendance, but sometimes it's surprisingly light too.
I remember a bohola show in San Francisco a few years ago that was an amazing night of music, with almost no one there to hear them - it was a shame. This was at a pub, not a concert hall or club. I think publicity is a big part of it.
Sadly, there is really nothing like what you've been doing in Minneapolis here in San Francisco right now (as far as I know...). We have some great sessions, and there is an annual piper's club thing, but no broader workshop scene.
There's this kindda malaise. Who wants to do anything if there isn't any money in it anymore? There's no money in live Irish trad around here. In my case, all it would take to get me out to gigs or sessions or workshops or the like is for them to happen in something somewhat less than a 1,500 km radius.
De Selby is right. Many people in a potential audience are likely to be players, so would rather play than listen. And I suspect that quite a few players in the band would much rather be sat round a table than up on stage. Last Friday I had the choice to go either to a very nice, classy session, or go to a very local gig with The Long Notes. I decided to go to the gig but in the end I fell asleep in the evening and did neither. Pathetic but true. Not apathetic, just knackered.
These days SO and I are most often out at events, at least once a week, however small and local, that we ourselves are playing in, for at least a part of the time. Gigs uptown are rarer. Much of our audiencing is at a couple of Folk Festivals a year, certainly not exclusively ITM.
And we are talking London, Engerland(*), not a desert of music with the odd oasis.
*That's how the football ( soccer ) supporters pronounce it.
In the past I've been at workshops and recitals with people like Cathal McConnell, Brian finnegan, Marcus OMurchu and Patsy Hanly, these workshops are fairly well advertised in Belfast, but to my amazement most of the 5 to 8 attendees are in the 'learner' category, very few established players go.
Please don't tell anyone, I'm hoping to get 5 people at Kevin Crawford tomorrow, great for me, but dissappointing for the organiser and Kevin.
Who wants personnal tution from a living legend for £10.
I'm in California, and I used to go all the time to events at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena (now gone) and at McCabe's in West Los Angeles (in the days when they booked trad pretty consistently). Then there was the California Traditional Music Society, which still exists, but does not book as much Irish trad as they once did. House concerts down in Orange County and West L.A. were other venues I frequented; these are now gone.
So the scene here, though not completely dead, is not what it once was from the early '80s until some time in the 90s.
Kate, that's a question I've had to ponder regularly over these past few years, having become involved with a Celtic music festival that also organizes events the rest of the year.
When I'm in the role as promoter/semi-organizer, I really have to try and step back and take a long view: What is it that is going to get people to leave their comfortable(?) homes -- which often contain a number of entertainment options (DVDs, CDs, YouTube, etc.) -- get in their car, spend x number of dollars on gas (and maybe parking) to get to the venue, and then pay xx number of dollars for tickets to the show; depending on circumstances, then you might also add in money spent on snacks and refreshments, and perhaps buying a CD.
The point being: It adds up.
So, as a consumer, I would certainly have to consider the venue. Is it intimate, where you feel like you're in someone's parlor? Is it more of a concert hall setting, but with (hopefully) good acoustics and sight lines so you can enjoy the event both visually as well as aurally? How far away is it? And -- might there be an upcoming event (like a festival) in a reasonably close vicinity where this particular performer or group will be appearing in the not-too-distant future? Or is this a rare, once-in-a-blue-moon visit? Am I going to get a chance to talk to the performer(s) afterward, even if it's just a quick "Hello, can you sign this?"
I'm likely over-analyzing here, but it does seem as if you can't take anything for granted anymore when it comes to putting on a music event.
What does it take?
What does it take?
What does it take to get you to go to a trad Irish music event, concert, or workshop? I am surprised at how often amazing music is happening and no one turns out for it. Even in one's own town! It's nearly insulting to the artists!
What do you all, as lovers of Irish traditional music, need in order to inspire you to get out of your kitchens?
- Kate Dowling
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by kate-dowling
Re: What does it take?
Usually just a babysitter. I get out to sessions quite a lot lately, it's my main source of active listening and learning these days.
There isn't all that much straight trad - sorry, ITM - performing here, but when it comes, it's usually a priority for me. It tends to come in bunches. I hear the out of town bands/performers when they come through town. Some get high attendance, but sometimes it's surprisingly light too.
I remember a bohola show in San Francisco a few years ago that was an amazing night of music, with almost no one there to hear them - it was a shame. This was at a pub, not a concert hall or club. I think publicity is a big part of it.
Sadly, there is really nothing like what you've been doing in Minneapolis here in San Francisco right now (as far as I know...). We have some great sessions, and there is an annual piper's club thing, but no broader workshop scene.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: What does it take?
There's this kindda malaise. Who wants to do anything if there isn't any money in it anymore? There's no money in live Irish trad around here. In my case, all it would take to get me out to gigs or sessions or workshops or the like is for them to happen in something somewhat less than a 1,500 km radius.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Clear Drops
Re: What does it take?
Irish music concerts are usually fairly painfull events in which all concerned, on and of the stage, would rather be playing music down the pub.
As far as festivals are concerned, there are ususally too many people. You'd have a job getting a seat in any decent session.
The good summer schools in Ireland are nearly always full... where's the problem?
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Finbar Saunders2
Re: What does it take?
De Selby is right. Many people in a potential audience are likely to be players, so would rather play than listen. And I suspect that quite a few players in the band would much rather be sat round a table than up on stage. Last Friday I had the choice to go either to a very nice, classy session, or go to a very local gig with The Long Notes. I decided to go to the gig but in the end I fell asleep in the evening and did neither. Pathetic but true. Not apathetic, just knackered.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: What does it take?
These days SO and I are most often out at events, at least once a week, however small and local, that we ourselves are playing in, for at least a part of the time. Gigs uptown are rarer. Much of our audiencing is at a couple of Folk Festivals a year, certainly not exclusively ITM.
And we are talking London, Engerland(*), not a desert of music with the odd oasis.
*That's how the football ( soccer ) supporters pronounce it.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: What does it take?
In the past I've been at workshops and recitals with people like Cathal McConnell, Brian finnegan, Marcus OMurchu and Patsy Hanly, these workshops are fairly well advertised in Belfast, but to my amazement most of the 5 to 8 attendees are in the 'learner' category, very few established players go.
Please don't tell anyone, I'm hoping to get 5 people at Kevin Crawford tomorrow, great for me, but dissappointing for the organiser and Kevin.
Who wants personnal tution from a living legend for £10.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Andyras1
Re: What does it take?
I'm in California, and I used to go all the time to events at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena (now gone) and at McCabe's in West Los Angeles (in the days when they booked trad pretty consistently). Then there was the California Traditional Music Society, which still exists, but does not book as much Irish trad as they once did. House concerts down in Orange County and West L.A. were other venues I frequented; these are now gone.
So the scene here, though not completely dead, is not what it once was from the early '80s until some time in the 90s.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Ailin
Re: What does it take?
Kate, that's a question I've had to ponder regularly over these past few years, having become involved with a Celtic music festival that also organizes events the rest of the year.
When I'm in the role as promoter/semi-organizer, I really have to try and step back and take a long view: What is it that is going to get people to leave their comfortable(?) homes -- which often contain a number of entertainment options (DVDs, CDs, YouTube, etc.) -- get in their car, spend x number of dollars on gas (and maybe parking) to get to the venue, and then pay xx number of dollars for tickets to the show; depending on circumstances, then you might also add in money spent on snacks and refreshments, and perhaps buying a CD.
The point being: It adds up.
So, as a consumer, I would certainly have to consider the venue. Is it intimate, where you feel like you're in someone's parlor? Is it more of a concert hall setting, but with (hopefully) good acoustics and sight lines so you can enjoy the event both visually as well as aurally? How far away is it? And -- might there be an upcoming event (like a festival) in a reasonably close vicinity where this particular performer or group will be appearing in the not-too-distant future? Or is this a rare, once-in-a-blue-moon visit? Am I going to get a chance to talk to the performer(s) afterward, even if it's just a quick "Hello, can you sign this?"
I'm likely over-analyzing here, but it does seem as if you can't take anything for granted anymore when it comes to putting on a music event.
# Posted on June 14th 2008 by sts