The Session >> Discussions >> Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
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Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
OK, I realise that this is a bit of mischief and there's a risk of this topic becoming another "performance" thread!
However, do you think playing in a busy pub actually adds to the atmosphere and/or momentum of a session or would you prefer being in a "back room" or lounge where there is only room for the musicians and, perhaps, one or two very respectful listeners?
As with most questions here, the answer is "It depends" but what do you all think? Also, which do you usually prefer?
Re: Dose anyone actuall think punters are actually necessary at a session?
Only if they clap in the correct key, bearing in mind the doricness or ionian subtelties inherent in the melody player's exclusive vision of the soul of the tune, otherwise they disturb those of us "who think about what we are playing and how it sounds".
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Dose as in 'a dose of medicine' ? I think he probably does mean does, does anyone agree? As for punters, they're great until they GET SO NOISY you can't even hear the tune you are trying to play yourself, as sometimes happens at one of my local sessions !
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
only if by punters, you mean kickers, and by kickers, you mean dancers. mostly because dancers are awesome, and if you really feel like it, because it's dance music and damnit, people should be dancing.
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Sitting in your kitchen with three mates, you can have a cracking session - without any punters, so for me John, the answer is NO!
The same can be said for the same group sitting in a Bar Snug.
However, in a pub, the presence of some friends & a number of interested, encouraging regular punters & yes, even a few curious tourists, can envelope your session in a warm protective blanket of joy.
As I do enjoy the weekly experience of our 'performance' amongst the punters I would have to say - not necessary but enjoyable.
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Having just got up after the session in our kitchen which finished around about5 6 this morning - the answer is an audience is not necessary.
In fact they can sometimes be a damned nuisance. At a recent session up at Macens in Newcastle we had to decant into the conservatory to get a bit of peice to hear ourselves playing because the punters were so fecin loud.
But I do love an appreciative audience that can discern good music from bad.
And as for a session being a performance - no no it's therapy
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Punter noun
1. someone who propels a boat with a pole
2. (football) a person who kicks the football by dropping it from the hands and contacting it with the foot before it hits the ground
3. someone who bets [syn: bettor]
Yes, we actually definately need a dose of those at our sessions.
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Removing, for a moment, the availability of recorded music and instructional videos, how would the music survive if always played proficiently behind closed doors? Was this music not created by those who took pleasure in inspiring their friends and neighbours to dance?
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
a session without spectators, interested or otherwise (or "punters" as described above) would be sterile and self indulgent, though I can see that that might be attractive to some, perhaps to me, on a bad day.
A lot of good session players that I know began as "punters" and I hope that more will have the opportunity to follow.
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Well, they can add enormously to the atmosphere and ambiance, so much so that sometimes you can barely hear yourself think. And they are good for the odd whip-round and free drink, not to mention the occasional song. On the other hand, requests for "Fields of Athenry" are a great annoyance.
Personally I neither try to encourage or discourage punters, although even the term itself is a misnomer, as they have hardly paid for us to be there, unless we are talking of a gig.
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Yes, but they do become bothersome. Today we had a bunch of punters crowding around where we were playing, setting their beers down on the tables in front of us and crowding closer and closer. One guy stepped back right as I started a down bow and got a bow in the ribs. That's why I don't use my good bow at a session. There is a happy medium, and certainly without the punters' business the hospitality that we enjoy wouldn't be possible.
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
It doesn't matter. However, if you stay in a small community, it's nice for the locals and the community to have a bit of a tune going in one of the bars - as long as they don't get too noisy!
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
I really miss the Saturday night sessions back home. Great music in the corner with Match Of The Day on the box overhead and the punters revelling in Rooney, Keano etc......Those were the days
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
pub patrons have just as much right to be in a pub as musicians, as long as they keep their distance there is not a problem but when one try's in vain to bridge that huge gap the results can be embarrasing or even devastaing
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
As far as sessions at the bar. If there were no punters, there would be no pints on the house. If no pints on the house, how long would the session last. Now as for the kitchen, well thats a different session altogether now isn't it? Also, punters in the kitchen are usually of the invited sort.
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Many of the sessions in the back room bar of the Blythe are almost punter free zones. A handful of listeners are usually outnumbered 2:1 by players. Often, you forget who's playing and who isn't. So maybe listener should be a more representative term here than punter as this blanket term (the P word) presumably includes all pub patrons, listening or not.
Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
OK, I realise that this is a bit of mischief and there's a risk of this topic becoming another "performance" thread!
However, do you think playing in a busy pub actually adds to the atmosphere and/or momentum of a session or would you prefer being in a "back room" or lounge where there is only room for the musicians and, perhaps, one or two very respectful listeners?
As with most questions here, the answer is "It depends" but what do you all think? Also, which do you usually prefer?
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Back for a while
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Didn't you mean Dose? I don't think we NEED punters, but it gives a bit more atmosphere if there are some around.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by bowburner
DOSE anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Of course, sorry.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Back for a while
Re: Dose anyone actuall think punters are actually necessary at a session?
Only if they clap in the correct key, bearing in mind the doricness or ionian subtelties inherent in the melody player's exclusive vision of the soul of the tune, otherwise they disturb those of us "who think about what we are playing and how it sounds".
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Backer
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
We defintely need them because some noise they make could cover up minor mistakes we make.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by slainte
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
There isn't room for punters - too many musicians' partners standing in the middle of the room and shouting to their friends in the corners.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Dose as in 'a dose of medicine' ? I think he probably does mean does, does anyone agree? As for punters, they're great until they GET SO NOISY you can't even hear the tune you are trying to play yourself, as sometimes happens at one of my local sessions !
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by flossie
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
After reading earlier thread, I get the 'dose' thing now.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by flossie
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Flossie, you're not actually telling me you've read the whole of the original 'dose' thread are you? Mind you, I have, sad git that I am.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Punters are an optitional extra.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
I 'see', dafydd ... but only because I've just come back from the opticians myself
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Of *course* punters are necessary. Otherwise, who would make up the audience. After all, sessions *are* performances, you know.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
only if by punters, you mean kickers, and by kickers, you mean dancers. mostly because dancers are awesome, and if you really feel like it, because it's dance music and damnit, people should be dancing.
--DtM
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Dan the Man
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Sitting in your kitchen with three mates, you can have a cracking session - without any punters, so for me John, the answer is NO!
The same can be said for the same group sitting in a Bar Snug.
However, in a pub, the presence of some friends & a number of interested, encouraging regular punters & yes, even a few curious tourists, can envelope your session in a warm protective blanket of joy.
As I do enjoy the weekly experience of our 'performance' amongst the punters I would have to say - not necessary but enjoyable.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Having just got up after the session in our kitchen which finished around about5 6 this morning - the answer is an audience is not necessary.
In fact they can sometimes be a damned nuisance. At a recent session up at Macens in Newcastle we had to decant into the conservatory to get a bit of peice to hear ourselves playing because the punters were so fecin loud.
But I do love an appreciative audience that can discern good music from bad.
And as for a session being a performance - no no it's therapy
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by breandan
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Punter noun
1. someone who propels a boat with a pole
2. (football) a person who kicks the football by dropping it from the hands and contacting it with the foot before it hits the ground
3. someone who bets [syn: bettor]
Yes, we actually definately need a dose of those at our sessions.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Backer
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
You saying we need some bettor people at our sessions Backer?
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by bowburner
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Removing, for a moment, the availability of recorded music and instructional videos, how would the music survive if always played proficiently behind closed doors? Was this music not created by those who took pleasure in inspiring their friends and neighbours to dance?
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by oldstrings
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
a session without spectators, interested or otherwise (or "punters" as described above) would be sterile and self indulgent, though I can see that that might be attractive to some, perhaps to me, on a bad day.
A lot of good session players that I know began as "punters" and I hope that more will have the opportunity to follow.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by millionyears_bc
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Not necessary, no, but the're very handy for buying the odd pint.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by woops
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Well, they can add enormously to the atmosphere and ambiance, so much so that sometimes you can barely hear yourself think. And they are good for the odd whip-round and free drink, not to mention the occasional song. On the other hand, requests for "Fields of Athenry" are a great annoyance.
Personally I neither try to encourage or discourage punters, although even the term itself is a misnomer, as they have hardly paid for us to be there, unless we are talking of a gig.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Except for the occasional loud drunk - we appreciate them as much as they appreciate us.
Not necessary, just nice to have around.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by morning star
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Yes, but they do become bothersome. Today we had a bunch of punters crowding around where we were playing, setting their beers down on the tables in front of us and crowding closer and closer. One guy stepped back right as I started a down bow and got a bow in the ribs. That's why I don't use my good bow at a session. There is a happy medium, and certainly without the punters' business the hospitality that we enjoy wouldn't be possible.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by dwdeacon
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Of course you need them! that's the point of a session. if you don't want punters then start up a folk club in somone's back room.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Daniel Gott
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
It doesn't matter. However, if you stay in a small community, it's nice for the locals and the community to have a bit of a tune going in one of the bars - as long as they don't get too noisy!
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Ron P
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
They are necessary for the publican as musicians tend to be very modest drinkers these days. See
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/12326
...especially those middle class "adults" who have just been to traditional music classes....
Also, punters=buy drink=are necessary so manager can organise a lock in===so more drink and tunes for those in the session.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Back for a while
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
I really miss the Saturday night sessions back home. Great music in the corner with Match Of The Day on the box overhead and the punters revelling in Rooney, Keano etc......Those were the days
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Strathfoyle
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
pub patrons have just as much right to be in a pub as musicians, as long as they keep their distance there is not a problem but when one try's in vain to bridge that huge gap the results can be embarrasing or even devastaing
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by Ripthecalico
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
As far as sessions at the bar. If there were no punters, there would be no pints on the house. If no pints on the house, how long would the session last. Now as for the kitchen, well thats a different session altogether now isn't it? Also, punters in the kitchen are usually of the invited sort.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by fife
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Many of the sessions in the back room bar of the Blythe are almost punter free zones. A handful of listeners are usually outnumbered 2:1 by players. Often, you forget who's playing and who isn't. So maybe listener should be a more representative term here than punter as this blanket term (the P word) presumably includes all pub patrons, listening or not.
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
Sorry, that should be ...........a handful of listeners IS usually outnumbered.........(in case any grammar cops are reading.)
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Nick Splease
Re: Does anyone actually think punters are necessary at a session?
A pub with a conservatory?
# Posted on January 15th 2007 by Leftheris