I was going to place this in the "Sessions" section but since this isn't official yet, I'm posting it here.
I need some help.
I have a blessing from the owner of my local Irish brew pub to start a session on a monthly basis. But I have zero experience in organizing or leading sessions. I'd like to find someone who is experienced as a leader of ITM sessions to actually lead it and of course some players to participate.
I was hoping to get two per month, one slow session for beginners to intermediates and another faster one for intermediate to advanced players.
The pub is Ruth McGowan's Brew Pub located in Cloverdale, CA. http://www.myspace.com/ruthmcgowansbrewpub
You can check out the pubs MySpace page or e-mail me directly from my profile here. At that point we can exchange phone numbers to talk more.
The possibility also exists for a bluegrass/old time folk session as well.
Thanks in advance for any help you have to offer.
Chris
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Why not get a tune list to start, get a conspiratorial guitar player or banjo or whatever, then advertise. If you build it they
will come.
The key is a central core of musicians that
are committed to playing the session. Once you
get other musician people coming, then all the debates on this board open up.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Hello Fishmonger,
Trying to start a session without a core group is going to be difficult.
When I started my session, I had a core of myself (guitar), a whistle player and a fiddle player, so at least the three of us would show up and play. I also play sessions with other musicians who came and played out of curiousity. At every I session I played at, I also told people that I had started a session.
Now, about 9 months later we have anywhere from 6 to 16 musicians showing up. Instead of having a slow session and regular speed session, I would suggest that you have one session where the first hour is beginner to intermediate, with the rest of the session being at full speed. The beginners have the option of trying to play full speed or sitting the tunes out and listening to them.
We also have a CD of 11 tunes which we hand out to new players so they have a starting point. One of our newest players took the CD and made sheet music with tabs for his mandolin, and jumped right in.
But the fact remains that you can't have a session without musicians; if there are no players in your area, you are doomed. And please, do not combine Irist Trad with Folk and Bluegrass. Though similar, you will get neither if you do that.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
I first tried to get this started at my home. I've been looking for a core group for a long time. Because I knew it took a crowd to attract a crowd. I'm still looking for them.
With a suspended drivers license I can't get to other sessions. And I've tried looking for rides. Buses don't run late enough.
I had no intention of combining the ITM & bluegrass sessions. Each would be on a different night.
We've got a beautiful pub with a BIG room that wants a session night. This is a forum for session players. How many registered users are there from the northern S.F. bayarea? A lot I'd bet.
C'mon Sonoma, Mendo & Marin counties... [insert emoticon with eyes rolling up] we've got a place to play. Isn't that enough to at least communicate a bit? Send me an e-mail for Christ sake! Let's talk.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
It takes more than just music or "a place to play" to make a session work. A successful session is as much or more about craic and social compatability as it is about a common interest in the tunes. Is there room for improvement along those lines?
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
There is room for improvement in every way you can imagine as right now there is nothing but a nice pub, the blessing of the publican and me with a really nice guitar and a desire to play.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Dogmageek, Celtic Guitar and Will CPT, thank you for the replies. I appreciate the advice. Sorry if I sounded frustrated, but I am... very frustrated. I never imagined finding other musicians to play with would be so difficult.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Hang in there, Chris. Persistence can pay off in the long run.
I'm sorry I can't help you with getting core players, being that I live in Colorado. I have played with some wonderful folks up around Petaluma and the Napa area, but nobody quite as far North as Cloverdale.
Your idea of growing a scene from within is something that can work, but may take you some time. I was raised (musically) in a tune learning session (that I now lead), and quite a number of the players that I play with on a regular basis are also products of that session. But it would probably take you a couple of years to get (dedicated) people up to playing a regular session. And that might be more difficult if you're the single point of learning and inspiration for the people. Your idea of starting the slow session at home might be a good place to start, but it would help if you had a good session going in public that inspired new people to try taking it up.
The brew pub looks like a large, open room, which can be tricky for a session, depending on the acoustics. I have found that wide-open rooms like that tend to be noisy, and can make hearing each other difficult at times. But it would be difficult to know just how much of a factor that will be until you play there.
Another thought might be to see if the pub would offer to make it a paid session. In that case, you might have a better chance of "importing" your core group from further away to start off with.
I also sent you a private message with some other information.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Ah Chris, you're breaking my heart. There's got to be someone around you. I'd love to stop by for some tunes but I'm about two hours south of Tampa, Florida.
The good Reverend Pete is a wealth of knowledge for getting things set up and running.
Oh, here's an idea. Are they any Cultural Clubs near you? Goodle says 11% of Cloverdale's residents claim Irish ancestry.
Also, there's an Old TIme fiddle festival in your town? There's got to be some of them that play Irish too! I know here in Florida the Bluegrass, Contra and Old TIme musicians love to come play Irish with us, and do it well and resepectfully.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Chris, it's not likely to be easy for a backing guitarist who's only played two years to kick start a session. Just on those facts alone, some people will shy away. It would be easier for a melody player--someone who can actually lead the tunes. Until you find that person, you're more likely to attract with honey than sour grapes, so consider your tone and approach to all this. It's a bit like dating--desperation is NOT an aphrodisiac.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Yup, Reverend Pete is good people.
The city council either has or is about to close our performing arts center. Fortunately, my fav publican is going to run for mayor again (she has been mayor before). Anyway, yeah you would think there would be fiddlers in the area. The festival is right across the street when it's on. This year I was knocked out by a nasty flu bug and missed it. I was looking forward to it too. Bummed me out.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
You might try to contact some Irish-type bands and offer to promote a gig at your nice pub, to generate some local interest. There might be a band within a few hours' drive who would like the opportunity to do a gig. Put up some posters, phone the local papers (college paper too, if there is one), try to get some word-of-mouth going. And when you get up to introduce the band at the gig, tell the audience about the great Irish session that is starting up at the pub.
If nothing else, you will have contacted some Irish musicians, who might pass the word along to some local player who is not aware of the possibility of a session there. "Six degrees of separation" and all that.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Hey Chris,
If it wasn't such a schlep I'd come up and play--Maggie too. But we gig most weekends and I'm a commuter in the opposite direction on weekdays... Best of luck! You should try to hook up with the Santa Rosa sessions. Believe me, there are a LOT of folk musicians lurking in the redwoods Also, it seems you have a cadre of musician friends. Are they all rockers? If so, convince them to take on something challenging. ITM will bust their shred loving butts.
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
The local Session here was started with two or three people who could lead the group of mixed nuts and two backup musicians as well as a bodhran player. This was usually all that showed up at Sessions for the first year or two. When we moved from the bar of a local restaurant to a local bookstore, more musicians and more listeners started showing up.
Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
I was going to place this in the "Sessions" section but since this isn't official yet, I'm posting it here.
I need some help.
I have a blessing from the owner of my local Irish brew pub to start a session on a monthly basis. But I have zero experience in organizing or leading sessions. I'd like to find someone who is experienced as a leader of ITM sessions to actually lead it and of course some players to participate.
I was hoping to get two per month, one slow session for beginners to intermediates and another faster one for intermediate to advanced players.
The pub is Ruth McGowan's Brew Pub located in Cloverdale, CA. http://www.myspace.com/ruthmcgowansbrewpub
You can check out the pubs MySpace page or e-mail me directly from my profile here. At that point we can exchange phone numbers to talk more.
The possibility also exists for a bluegrass/old time folk session as well.
Thanks in advance for any help you have to offer.
Chris
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Why not get a tune list to start, get a conspiratorial guitar player or banjo or whatever, then advertise. If you build it they
will come.
The key is a central core of musicians that
are committed to playing the session. Once you
get other musician people coming, then all the debates on this board open up.
-dogma
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by dogmageek
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
I've been scouring message boards, MySpace, CraigsList, you name it for about a year now, looking for conspiritors.
I get nothin but crickets.
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Hello Fishmonger,
Trying to start a session without a core group is going to be difficult.
When I started my session, I had a core of myself (guitar), a whistle player and a fiddle player, so at least the three of us would show up and play. I also play sessions with other musicians who came and played out of curiousity. At every I session I played at, I also told people that I had started a session.
Now, about 9 months later we have anywhere from 6 to 16 musicians showing up. Instead of having a slow session and regular speed session, I would suggest that you have one session where the first hour is beginner to intermediate, with the rest of the session being at full speed. The beginners have the option of trying to play full speed or sitting the tunes out and listening to them.
We also have a CD of 11 tunes which we hand out to new players so they have a starting point. One of our newest players took the CD and made sheet music with tabs for his mandolin, and jumped right in.
But the fact remains that you can't have a session without musicians; if there are no players in your area, you are doomed. And please, do not combine Irist Trad with Folk and Bluegrass. Though similar, you will get neither if you do that.
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Celtic Guitar
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
I first tried to get this started at my home. I've been looking for a core group for a long time. Because I knew it took a crowd to attract a crowd. I'm still looking for them.
With a suspended drivers license I can't get to other sessions. And I've tried looking for rides. Buses don't run late enough.
I had no intention of combining the ITM & bluegrass sessions. Each would be on a different night.
We've got a beautiful pub with a BIG room that wants a session night. This is a forum for session players. How many registered users are there from the northern S.F. bayarea? A lot I'd bet.
C'mon Sonoma, Mendo & Marin counties... [insert emoticon with eyes rolling up] we've got a place to play. Isn't that enough to at least communicate a bit? Send me an e-mail for Christ sake! Let's talk.
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
It takes more than just music or "a place to play" to make a session work. A successful session is as much or more about craic and social compatability as it is about a common interest in the tunes. Is there room for improvement along those lines?
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
There is room for improvement in every way you can imagine as right now there is nothing but a nice pub, the blessing of the publican and me with a really nice guitar and a desire to play.
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Allow me to rephrase myself.
I live in Cloverdale, CA. I'm looking for ITM musicians who want to play music here.
E-mail me, I will give you my phone number, we will talk first, we'll get together to play ASAP.
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Dogmageek, Celtic Guitar and Will CPT, thank you for the replies. I appreciate the advice. Sorry if I sounded frustrated, but I am... very frustrated. I never imagined finding other musicians to play with would be so difficult.
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Hang in there, Chris. Persistence can pay off in the long run.
I'm sorry I can't help you with getting core players, being that I live in Colorado. I have played with some wonderful folks up around Petaluma and the Napa area, but nobody quite as far North as Cloverdale.
Your idea of growing a scene from within is something that can work, but may take you some time. I was raised (musically) in a tune learning session (that I now lead), and quite a number of the players that I play with on a regular basis are also products of that session. But it would probably take you a couple of years to get (dedicated) people up to playing a regular session. And that might be more difficult if you're the single point of learning and inspiration for the people. Your idea of starting the slow session at home might be a good place to start, but it would help if you had a good session going in public that inspired new people to try taking it up.
The brew pub looks like a large, open room, which can be tricky for a session, depending on the acoustics. I have found that wide-open rooms like that tend to be noisy, and can make hearing each other difficult at times. But it would be difficult to know just how much of a factor that will be until you play there.
Another thought might be to see if the pub would offer to make it a paid session. In that case, you might have a better chance of "importing" your core group from further away to start off with.
I also sent you a private message with some other information.
Best of luck!
Pete
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Reverend
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Ah Chris, you're breaking my heart. There's got to be someone around you. I'd love to stop by for some tunes but I'm about two hours south of Tampa, Florida.
The good Reverend Pete is a wealth of knowledge for getting things set up and running.
Oh, here's an idea. Are they any Cultural Clubs near you? Goodle says 11% of Cloverdale's residents claim Irish ancestry.
Also, there's an Old TIme fiddle festival in your town? There's got to be some of them that play Irish too! I know here in Florida the Bluegrass, Contra and Old TIme musicians love to come play Irish with us, and do it well and resepectfully.
http://www.cloverdalehistoricalsociety.org/fiddle/
Good luck buddy!
Ian
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Chris, it's not likely to be easy for a backing guitarist who's only played two years to kick start a session. Just on those facts alone, some people will shy away. It would be easier for a melody player--someone who can actually lead the tunes. Until you find that person, you're more likely to attract with honey than sour grapes, so consider your tone and approach to all this. It's a bit like dating--desperation is NOT an aphrodisiac.
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Yup, Reverend Pete is good people.
The city council either has or is about to close our performing arts center. Fortunately, my fav publican is going to run for mayor again (she has been mayor before). Anyway, yeah you would think there would be fiddlers in the area. The festival is right across the street when it's on. This year I was knocked out by a nasty flu bug and missed it. I was looking forward to it too. Bummed me out.
Thanks, I'll take all the luck I can get.
Chris
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
You might try to contact some Irish-type bands and offer to promote a gig at your nice pub, to generate some local interest. There might be a band within a few hours' drive who would like the opportunity to do a gig. Put up some posters, phone the local papers (college paper too, if there is one), try to get some word-of-mouth going. And when you get up to introduce the band at the gig, tell the audience about the great Irish session that is starting up at the pub.
If nothing else, you will have contacted some Irish musicians, who might pass the word along to some local player who is not aware of the possibility of a session there. "Six degrees of separation" and all that.
# Posted on March 31st 2008 by mickray
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
Hey Chris,
If it wasn't such a schlep I'd come up and play--Maggie too. But we gig most weekends and I'm a commuter in the opposite direction on weekdays... Best of luck! You should try to hook up with the Santa Rosa sessions. Believe me, there are a LOT of folk musicians lurking in the redwoods
Also, it seems you have a cadre of musician friends. Are they all rockers? If so, convince them to take on something challenging. ITM will bust their shred loving butts.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by gw
Re: Trying to start a session at my local brew pub
The local Session here was started with two or three people who could lead the group of mixed nuts and two backup musicians as well as a bodhran player. This was usually all that showed up at Sessions for the first year or two. When we moved from the bar of a local restaurant to a local bookstore, more musicians and more listeners started showing up.
# Posted on April 8th 2008 by fauxcelt