I just sent out a reminder email for tonight's session, with a link to a YouTube clip of the song that introduced Bugs Bunny cartoon shows: "Overture, curtain, lights! This is it, tonight's the night!" (We know we're superstars--none of that "it's not a performance" nonsense for us!)
Any other suggestions for keeping session reminder emails from getting monotonous?
I did those sorts of email for about 8 years for our local sesh. I usually tried to say something funny about last week's session, and mention any highlights--visitors, new tunes or songs, the punter who bought us all a round, etc.
I also included a list of any upcoming, local Irish-music related events--concerts, step dance school news, ceilis, new cds launching, and so on.
But the main thing was to simply set a friendly, welcoming, personal tone.
The woman who sends the e-mail reminders about our local sessions titles them "friendly" reminders. I jokingly asked her if I missed too many sessions in a row, would she send me an "unfriendly" reminder? She laughed and said she wouldn't do that to me.
I do these for our session. It's just basically a quick note to friends, more or less. I always try to recap who was there last time, what notable fun went down, and who will be there for sure next time.
Why is it that people need a reminder? Isn't this the high point of the week? Somebody else besides me must have noticed the paucity of free beer in our lives?
I still do this by phone, partly because email is all newfangled and partly because some people might not get or read an email in time. Still, I have the impression that if I didn't call around, I'd be sitting all alone in the pub (not you Grego!).
On the other hand, I do appreciate the reminder from that other session. It's reassuring to know that they haven't packed up and moved to another pub without telling me.
Ya Wohl! Herr SWFL Fiddler!
Seriously, though, sometimes I have to miss sessions because the hospital where I work does need me to work an evening shift occasionally if someone calls in sick or is on vacation. It is difficult to say no because we do need the extra money which I can earn by working overtime. Also, I get paid evening shift differential in addition to my regular pay if I work the evening shift.
what is that SS? My session's in my house once a month - I make them bring their own beer and if there's any food around it's because someone forgot to take it home the month before. The least I could do is send a "very friendly" reminder...
I only do it out of fear, really--out here in the boondocks, it's a thin line between a session and a solo gig. Sometimes a fiddler's got to do what a fiddler's got to do.
We don't send out reminders for our sessions any more, but in the early years it helped build a core of regulars. Also, we played in a place that would not normally have stayed open late on Tuesday nights--but they did just for us. If a session wasn't going to happen on a given Tuesday, it was only curteous for me to let them know ahead of time, so they wouldn't have staff logging billable hours with no one to serve beer to.
It's also easier sending out one mass email to all the players, rather than answering phone calls and emails all week from people wondering whether the session is "on" or not. That happened to me a lot before I started doing the weekly emails.
I don't send out reminders - it's every Thursday night (tonight) 9.00pm, in The Blythe Hill Tavern, Stanstead Road/Blythe Hill Lane, Forest Hill, London SE23. (Just thought I'd get a plug in though I don't even think I need to do that either.)
Since it is weekly everyone who wants to know already knows. The trouble always starts when the session is on some wierd time, like 6.00am on the 3rd Monday of every 2nd month or something, and nobody can remember, or (quite rightly) can be bothered remembering when the next one is.
I've been through that thing of email reminders, and before that squaring the value of my phone bill by endlessly phoning round people, often with poor results as a return. Never again.
Hey Och-Aye MacKay, I don't use my surname on here for a reason! There is at least one good musician in Aberdeen called Brendan and maybe people will think I'm him
Haven't you seppos discovered texting yet?
90% of known sessions in the UK are convened by text, don't you know.
Although I feel sorry for the guy at Stoney folk fest last year who turned up at the St Leonards expecting to see Christie O'Leary. He should read his texts more carefully.
session reminder emails
session reminder emails
I just sent out a reminder email for tonight's session, with a link to a YouTube clip of the song that introduced Bugs Bunny cartoon shows: "Overture, curtain, lights! This is it, tonight's the night!" (We know we're superstars--none of that "it's not a performance" nonsense for us!)
Any other suggestions for keeping session reminder emails from getting monotonous?
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by John Galt
Re: session reminder emails
I did those sorts of email for about 8 years for our local sesh. I usually tried to say something funny about last week's session, and mention any highlights--visitors, new tunes or songs, the punter who bought us all a round, etc.
I also included a list of any upcoming, local Irish-music related events--concerts, step dance school news, ceilis, new cds launching, and so on.
But the main thing was to simply set a friendly, welcoming, personal tone.
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: session reminder emails
The woman who sends the e-mail reminders about our local sessions titles them "friendly" reminders. I jokingly asked her if I missed too many sessions in a row, would she send me an "unfriendly" reminder? She laughed and said she wouldn't do that to me.
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: session reminder emails
That's funny mickray, I like the video aid!
I do these for our session. It's just basically a quick note to friends, more or less. I always try to recap who was there last time, what notable fun went down, and who will be there for sure next time.
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: session reminder emails
LOL! An 'unfriendly reminder', fauxcelt? "You slacker, get your behind to the session, STAT!"
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: session reminder emails
Oh yes, and my first two words are always: "Hello Friends!"
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: session reminder emails
maybe one of you could remind me to send a friendly reminder about my session? I'm amazed that people remember to show up.
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by airport
Re: session reminder emails
Why is it that people need a reminder? Isn't this the high point of the week? Somebody else besides me must have noticed the paucity of free beer in our lives?
I still do this by phone, partly because email is all newfangled and partly because some people might not get or read an email in time. Still, I have the impression that if I didn't call around, I'd be sitting all alone in the pub (not you Grego!).
On the other hand, I do appreciate the reminder from that other session. It's reassuring to know that they haven't packed up and moved to another pub without telling me.
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by Gzeg
Re: session reminder emails
That too Greg! I enjoy getting them from other sessions I can't make it to that often.
airport, that's the trick I use. I never remember until I get the reminders from the out-of-town sessions.
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: session reminder emails
Ya Wohl! Herr SWFL Fiddler!
Seriously, though, sometimes I have to miss sessions because the hospital where I work does need me to work an evening shift occasionally if someone calls in sick or is on vacation. It is difficult to say no because we do need the extra money which I can earn by working overtime. Also, I get paid evening shift differential in addition to my regular pay if I work the evening shift.
# Posted on August 13th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: session reminder emails
I find the concept of a reminder for our sessions utterly laughable.
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Steve Shaw
Re: session reminder emails
what is that SS? My session's in my house once a month - I make them bring their own beer and if there's any food around it's because someone forgot to take it home the month before. The least I could do is send a "very friendly" reminder...
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by airport
Re: session reminder emails
I only do it out of fear, really--out here in the boondocks, it's a thin line between a session and a solo gig. Sometimes a fiddler's got to do what a fiddler's got to do.
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by John Galt
Re: session reminder emails
ratstar. I meant "why" is that
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by airport
Re: session reminder emails
We don't send out reminders for our sessions any more, but in the early years it helped build a core of regulars. Also, we played in a place that would not normally have stayed open late on Tuesday nights--but they did just for us. If a session wasn't going to happen on a given Tuesday, it was only curteous for me to let them know ahead of time, so they wouldn't have staff logging billable hours with no one to serve beer to.
It's also easier sending out one mass email to all the players, rather than answering phone calls and emails all week from people wondering whether the session is "on" or not. That happened to me a lot before I started doing the weekly emails.
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: session reminder emails
I don't send out reminders - it's every Thursday night (tonight) 9.00pm, in The Blythe Hill Tavern, Stanstead Road/Blythe Hill Lane, Forest Hill, London SE23. (Just thought I'd get a plug in though I don't even think I need to do that either.)
Since it is weekly everyone who wants to know already knows. The trouble always starts when the session is on some wierd time, like 6.00am on the 3rd Monday of every 2nd month or something, and nobody can remember, or (quite rightly) can be bothered remembering when the next one is.
I've been through that thing of email reminders, and before that squaring the value of my phone bill by endlessly phoning round people, often with poor results as a return. Never again.
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: session reminder emails
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# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Lint - upon - Tweed
Re: session reminder emails
how interesting
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: session reminder emails
bloody hell, you'll be having session "committees" next
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Bren
Re: session reminder emails
And you'll get reported to the Session Politburo, for your subversive comments O'Leary, so you better watch your step.
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: session reminder emails
It's so funny how everyone misses the point on these whenever we have this conversation.
It's NOT for totalitarian purposes, it's to keep a group of folks connected who live spread out over the suburban wasteland of America.
...and yes, now they're all used to it, so if I don't send one, I get emails asking "OMG, is it still on this week?!? Where's your email?!?"
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: session reminder emails
For certain sessions the converse may prove attractive: email those you DON'T want to show up.
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by yhaalhouse
Re: session reminder emails
Hey Och-Aye MacKay, I don't use my surname on here for a reason! There is at least one good musician in Aberdeen called Brendan and maybe people will think I'm him
Haven't you seppos discovered texting yet?
90% of known sessions in the UK are convened by text, don't you know.
Although I feel sorry for the guy at Stoney folk fest last year who turned up at the St Leonards expecting to see Christie O'Leary. He should read his texts more carefully.
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Bren
Re: session reminder emails
Sorry Bren. So you want fame by proxy, then?
# Posted on August 14th 2008 by Rudall the time