Well, since the last time I posted a discussion, I have been exploring music sessions here in Glasgow and at first thought I was doing rather well till last night... Don't think I'm coming back to that one. In my experience so far Victoria Bar singing session is the most musician friendly the way they welcome and are patient enough to listen even to not so brilliant performance as some other places I don't want to mention push you out as rubbish or tell you you need to go to classesbefore you can even think about joining in... Is this the way sessions should be? Or are they about love of music after all?
It'd make for a great game show though. The musicians have to get through the tune as many times as possible before being hit in the face by punters, who would be lobbing rotten vegetables.
That assumes that the session would be friendly to at least one musician. Maybe if the musician not voted out got pelted with rotten vegetables for the finale, instead of winning cash.
I'm curious to know what was unfriendly about that particular session? Usually I take it to mean the venue (owner and/or staff and/or patrons) made the musicians feel unwelcome.
ENGLISH INTERPRETATION for those who can't (or won't )understand the first post here.
Your man in the starter on this thread is saying that he was pleased to think that he had found good sessions so far (in Glasgow) - but this new one is far superior to any of them because it is so 'musician friendly'.
He said "Don't think I'm coming back to that one" and I thought he may have been referring to The Victoria Bar. I thought this was strange as he went on to praise it!
He also seemed to question whether overdue friendliness was desirable or not?
So, I was just slightly confused. Anyway, my view is that sessions should be friendly and welcoming. However, this can sometimes conflict with the music and, perhaps, either slow things down or lead to some lowest common denominator. As a result, the quality may suffer.
Of course, there's room for many different types of arrangement and we can choose which type of session to attend. However, you can still get some cracking sessions which are welcoming and friendly to visitors and even beginners. It's just getting the balance right, e.g a good host might invite a visitor to lead a set etc and the visitor respects the existing set up if he/she wishes to participate.
Thank you Nick, this was exactly what I meant in my post! Yes I think sessions should be friendly and welcoming even if quality suffers a bit as some people find it difficult to join in if the standard is too high. And when other musicians are not flexible enough to compromise this standard, your imression of a particular session can be spoilt. This was the reason why I didn't like last Wednesday night session and may not be coming back to that one.
I've been exploring the sessions in Glasgow since January and I enjoy the Friday night music session at the Victoria Bar the most. There is the occasional song but it's mostly a tune session. Of all the sessions I've been to they have all been welcoming to some extent. Babbity's on Saturday afternoon tends to be a large group in a noisy pub so it's difficult if you try playing a tune no one else knows since they can't hear you. Monday night at Sharkey's is straight Irish tunes, run by Benny McHugh. Took me three weeks to find the place though (It's behind the Citizens theater, under the railway arch and round the corner!)The only session that is definitely not open for casual visitors is the Uisge Beatha on Thursday nights. While it might look like a session the organizer is clear that only those invited should go to play. As a result, several of us who used to drop in there are looking for another venue. We tried the Spirit bar which has great acoustics but for some reason was decided against. Last week we ended up in the Ben Nevis. Usually the music there is very high powered, mostly on Wednesday nights but there used to be (still is?) a Thursday night session which is a bit more amenable. I think we'll be in the Ben Nevis again next week if you want to meet up. We're a pretty friendly bunch
Hmmm.... Not saying anything (no one will be reading this thread anymore anyway).
Shushpan is female though so just to correct that minor technical point. And also I hope no one is genuinely put off from visiting Glasgow. It is a warm welcoming place, as are the sessions.
musician friendly sessions
musician friendly sessions
Well, since the last time I posted a discussion, I have been exploring music sessions here in Glasgow and at first thought I was doing rather well till last night... Don't think I'm coming back to that one. In my experience so far Victoria Bar singing session is the most musician friendly the way they welcome and are patient enough to listen even to not so brilliant performance as some other places I don't want to mention push you out as rubbish or tell you you need to go to classesbefore you can even think about joining in... Is this the way sessions should be? Or are they about love of music after all?
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by shushpan
Re: musician friendly sessions
Try all that again in English Shushpan
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by gedpipes
Re: musician friendly sessions
I don't understand, either. Are you complaining about The Victoria Bar being too tolerant or praising it because it is friendly?
I'm more familiar with the tune sessions there on a Friday, although I haven't actually played. They are usually very good.
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by Johannes J
Re: musician friendly sessions
I'd have said that a session that wasn't msuician friendly would be a pretty boring session. ;)
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by folkie musicie junkie
Re: musician friendly sessions
It'd make for a great game show though. The musicians have to get through the tune as many times as possible before being hit in the face by punters, who would be lobbing rotten vegetables.
Imagine the applause.
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by _Steph_
Re: musician friendly sessions
Maybe Surivor is a better model; who can last longest without getting voted out of a session...?
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: musician friendly sessions
That assumes that the session would be friendly to at least one musician. Maybe if the musician not voted out got pelted with rotten vegetables for the finale, instead of winning cash.
I'm curious to know what was unfriendly about that particular session? Usually I take it to mean the venue (owner and/or staff and/or patrons) made the musicians feel unwelcome.
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by _Steph_
Re: musician friendly sessions
I prefer those anti-musician sessions myself.
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by TheSilverSpear
Re: musician friendly sessions
Aye, I can't be doing with those sessions where the musicians go along. Spoils the experience if you ask me.....
# Posted on June 1st 2006 by Folkie Junkie
Re: musician friendly sessions
Okay. Marking Glasgow off the list of possible fiddle vacation destinations. Thank you for playing.
# Posted on June 2nd 2006 by Meri-pixie
Re: musician friendly sessions
ENGLISH INTERPRETATION for those who can't (or won't )understand the first post here.
Your man in the starter on this thread is saying that he was pleased to think that he had found good sessions so far (in Glasgow) - but this new one is far superior to any of them because it is so 'musician friendly'.
Isn't he?
# Posted on June 2nd 2006 by showaddydadito
Re: musician friendly sessions
Sounds like he means:
1. session in general were OK
2. session last night was not good
3. Victoria Bar singing session best so far.
# Posted on June 2nd 2006 by Nick Spencer
Re: musician friendly sessions
He said "Don't think I'm coming back to that one" and I thought he may have been referring to The Victoria Bar. I thought this was strange as he went on to praise it!
He also seemed to question whether overdue friendliness was desirable or not?
So, I was just slightly confused. Anyway, my view is that sessions should be friendly and welcoming. However, this can sometimes conflict with the music and, perhaps, either slow things down or lead to some lowest common denominator. As a result, the quality may suffer.
Of course, there's room for many different types of arrangement and we can choose which type of session to attend. However, you can still get some cracking sessions which are welcoming and friendly to visitors and even beginners. It's just getting the balance right, e.g a good host might invite a visitor to lead a set etc and the visitor respects the existing set up if he/she wishes to participate.
# Posted on June 2nd 2006 by Johannes J
Re: musician friendly sessions
I'm still wearing one of your(I think) tee shirts, Nick.
Highly topical just now with the recent "Old People(Git)" thread.
# Posted on June 2nd 2006 by Johannes J
Re: musician friendly sessions
Thank you Nick, this was exactly what I meant in my post! Yes I think sessions should be friendly and welcoming even if quality suffers a bit as some people find it difficult to join in if the standard is too high. And when other musicians are not flexible enough to compromise this standard, your imression of a particular session can be spoilt. This was the reason why I didn't like last Wednesday night session and may not be coming back to that one.
# Posted on June 2nd 2006 by shushpan
Re: musician friendly sessions
it has to be "your impression"
# Posted on June 2nd 2006 by shushpan
Re: musician friendly sessions
I've been exploring the sessions in Glasgow since January and I enjoy the Friday night music session at the Victoria Bar the most. There is the occasional song but it's mostly a tune session. Of all the sessions I've been to they have all been welcoming to some extent. Babbity's on Saturday afternoon tends to be a large group in a noisy pub so it's difficult if you try playing a tune no one else knows since they can't hear you. Monday night at Sharkey's is straight Irish tunes, run by Benny McHugh. Took me three weeks to find the place though (It's behind the Citizens theater, under the railway arch and round the corner!)The only session that is definitely not open for casual visitors is the Uisge Beatha on Thursday nights. While it might look like a session the organizer is clear that only those invited should go to play. As a result, several of us who used to drop in there are looking for another venue. We tried the Spirit bar which has great acoustics but for some reason was decided against. Last week we ended up in the Ben Nevis. Usually the music there is very high powered, mostly on Wednesday nights but there used to be (still is?) a Thursday night session which is a bit more amenable. I think we'll be in the Ben Nevis again next week if you want to meet up. We're a pretty friendly bunch
# Posted on June 4th 2006 by lildogturpy
Re: musician friendly sessions
Hmmm.... Not saying anything (no one will be reading this thread anymore anyway).
Shushpan is female though so just to correct that minor technical point. And also I hope no one is genuinely put off from visiting Glasgow. It is a warm welcoming place, as are the sessions.
# Posted on June 16th 2006 by No Cause For Alarm