There was no real ITM session in London, Ontario, Canada for a while. I would travel 2 1/2 hours for a slow session at the Tranzac in Toronto twice a month. Fortunately we now have a strong session a 15 minute busride away once a week. I still travel to other sessions within an hour of London to go visit and play with other musician friends on occasion. Any big session commuters out there?
I have to march with my box and flute on my back every Thursday all the way down the hill to the Blythe. It must be a good 200m. It's even worse on the way back as it's uphill.
I have often travelled 1/2 mile. Even more on occasion.
Danny, surely you dont walk all that way??? I know your a triathlete but 200m then a session then 200m uphill is a dangerous combination of sport and tomfoolery.
I drive up to Armagh which usually takes an hour just to go to a big session that happens there.
In my mind it dosent matter how far you travel....but the music that you hear when you get there.
I've got a two day a week contract 240kms away - 2 1/2 hours one way or 3 hours another depending on the roads. It just happens to be within an hour of a couple of sessions I used to frequent, so for the forseeable future I'm doing about a 600 km round trip every Thursday to Saturday. I got them to agree to only arrange meetings for Thurs or Fri, since the sessions are Weds, Fri & Sat. Does that count?
Used to have a session right up the street from me, but the publican is going through a tough time, and the locals and hideous. Plus, he's got the place decked out in big screen TV's and jukeboxes. We gave up because it was so obnoxious.
However, we've been welcomed with open arms in a grand old-style (read: no TV, no jukeboxes) pub the next town over, so now that's the local. Only about a half hour drive.
We occasionally road trip up to Tampa sometimes, but that's a 2-2.5 hour drive one way, so those marathons are few and far between, unfortunately. Miami is a good1.5-2 hours, same deal there.
I don't. The nearest is 45-60 minutes away, at a time not particularly convenient for me, and I'm tired of the turf wars and posturing. I've finally admitted to myself that I am not really a musician's musician, that what I really love is playing for people who don't have musical instruments in their homes and think we're magicians.
We're no closer than 35 minutes away to our local session in Saratoga Springs and 45 minutes to Glens Falls. We regularly travel an hour and a half to attend a session in Vermont. Then, of course, there are the 4 and 5 hour drives to Montreal and beyond...
Most are within 30 minutes of my house, but once a month a group of us make the drive 125 miles north from San Diego to Long Beach to host a session there.
Anywhere from 5 minutes to 50 minutes. My favorite session was almost an hour away, but it has unfortunately disbanded after getting kicked out of 5-6 different establishments. But as Michael says, "most are within 30 minutes..."
All my sessions are within a 45 minute drive. One includes a ferry and a short walk. I guess I would consider going farther.
In theory, I would walk, cycle, bus.......but I don't in practice.
One hour to Baltimore, two to Philadelphia. There are sessions closer to me, but... let me put it this way: five musicians, three music stands, and one lap dulcimer.
I used to travel from Folkstone to London to play every sunday .
Then when I lived in Weardale 50 mile round trip to Greenside.
But now a 20 min drive I must be getting old
I have a few nearby in Seattle that I've never really found comfortable on a regular basis. Those are 20 minutes away, but I rarely go.
On the other hand, I found a session in Bellingham, WA on Sundays that is absolutely lovely, welcoming and always very interesting. I find myself driving 2 hours each way almost once a month to get my fill at the Skylark Cafe.
I spent an hour catching the wrong trains only to get to Danny's session as it was closing, and got a minicab home
Oh well, better than sitting in my hotel watching telly
sometimes we go out to a country pub for a few tunes, someone lines it up with the publican, texts go out and various scrapers squeezers and plunkers just converge
I have to cross the Bay to San Francisco, 45 minutes typically, depending on traffic. It was hard at first, but now I think nothing of it. Some are local, but many come from much farther.
I was going to a session about an hour and a half away but it disbanded last summer, and now I can't find anything with in a reasonable driving distance (even by those standards)
I got lucky and found a nice pub right near where I work. It's also right off the train stop. It's about a 25-minute ride from the station nearest my home. They have a fairly serious session every Sunday and, apparently, an open session one Saturday per month. They also play trad music on Thursday nights, but that's a performance rather than a session.
The nearest session is a 45-minute drive from home, and I had to start that one. My other regular session is closer to 90 minutes each way, with one toll bridge. And the first one I started playing at--and attended the last two Sundays--is a 45-minute drive, then a 35-minute ferry ride, each way. Luckily, it's a 3-minute dawdle from the ferry terminal to the first "free" pint.
At this rate, I am slowly going broke, getting those free pints. But hey, you can't take it with you, right? ;>}
I started playing at a session about a half mile from my house, but the folks there recommended that I play at a better session a bit further away. I've had many similar recommendations from good ITM folks since, and now I travel almost 90 miles to play. I'm still getting advice to play somewhere else that would be more suitable to my skill level, so I'm probably improving as I go along.
Twice a month, I have to drive a mile or two to get to Cregeen's for a Session. Twice a month, there are Sessions about twenty-five to thirty miles away in Conway. Then on the last weekend of the month, if I am wiling to drive for ninety minutes, there is a Session in Hot Springs Village.
How far do you travel to find Sessions?
How far do you travel to find Sessions?
There was no real ITM session in London, Ontario, Canada for a while. I would travel 2 1/2 hours for a slow session at the Tranzac in Toronto twice a month. Fortunately we now have a strong session a 15 minute busride away once a week. I still travel to other sessions within an hour of London to go visit and play with other musician friends on occasion. Any big session commuters out there?
Rob
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by mellow_bellows
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I have to march with my box and flute on my back every Thursday all the way down the hill to the Blythe. It must be a good 200m. It's even worse on the way back as it's uphill.
200 metres that is. Not miles.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I have often travelled 1/2 mile. Even more on occasion.
Danny, surely you dont walk all that way??? I know your a triathlete but 200m then a session then 200m uphill is a dangerous combination of sport and tomfoolery.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by session savage
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
KML,
how wide is that road?
could be you're travelling (travailing) twice as far as you think and don't even know it...
give yerself some credit!!!
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by Sunnybear
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I drive up to Armagh which usually takes an hour just to go to a big session that happens there.
In my mind it dosent matter how far you travel....but the music that you hear when you get there.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by HBX KING
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
15 Mins to my local-
jim,,,,
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by FIDDLE4
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I've got a two day a week contract 240kms away - 2 1/2 hours one way or 3 hours another depending on the roads. It just happens to be within an hour of a couple of sessions I used to frequent, so for the forseeable future I'm doing about a 600 km round trip every Thursday to Saturday. I got them to agree to only arrange meetings for Thurs or Fri, since the sessions are Weds, Fri & Sat. Does that count?
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by bc_box_player
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Used to have a session right up the street from me, but the publican is going through a tough time, and the locals and hideous. Plus, he's got the place decked out in big screen TV's and jukeboxes. We gave up because it was so obnoxious.
However, we've been welcomed with open arms in a grand old-style (read: no TV, no jukeboxes) pub the next town over, so now that's the local. Only about a half hour drive.
We occasionally road trip up to Tampa sometimes, but that's a 2-2.5 hour drive one way, so those marathons are few and far between, unfortunately. Miami is a good1.5-2 hours, same deal there.
Yup, it's tough living in the country.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I don't. The nearest is 45-60 minutes away, at a time not particularly convenient for me, and I'm tired of the turf wars and posturing. I've finally admitted to myself that I am not really a musician's musician, that what I really love is playing for people who don't have musical instruments in their homes and think we're magicians.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by cathrynb
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
that has to be sarcastic yeah?
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
We're no closer than 35 minutes away to our local session in Saratoga Springs and 45 minutes to Glens Falls. We regularly travel an hour and a half to attend a session in Vermont. Then, of course, there are the 4 and 5 hour drives to Montreal and beyond...
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by vonnieestes
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Most are within 30 minutes of my house, but once a month a group of us make the drive 125 miles north from San Diego to Long Beach to host a session there.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by Michael Eskin
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Anywhere from 5 minutes to 50 minutes. My favorite session was almost an hour away, but it has unfortunately disbanded after getting kicked out of 5-6 different establishments. But as Michael says, "most are within 30 minutes..."
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by Reverend
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
5-6?!? You blackguards, Reverend! Making with the drunk and disorderly again, are ya?
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
3 blocks away is the closest.
45 minutes away is the furthest - either North Adams or Amherst.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by grumblingoldwoman
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Most sessions are kicked out in 30 minutes?
I've known sessions that proved obnoxious to the management and were asked to find other places of resort, but seldom that quickly.
Ah! Perhaps he means packing-up time at the end of a night. Yes, thirty minutes seems reasonable in this context.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by nicholas
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
All my sessions are within a 45 minute drive. One includes a ferry and a short walk. I guess I would consider going farther.
In theory, I would walk, cycle, bus.......but I don't in practice.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by oldstrings
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
1826 to 2015 km, depending whether I'm for a session in Dublin or in Ennis. .
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by EastPole
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
One hour to Baltimore, two to Philadelphia. There are sessions closer to me, but... let me put it this way: five musicians, three music stands, and one lap dulcimer.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by hotsauce
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I used to travel from Folkstone to London to play every sunday .
Then when I lived in Weardale 50 mile round trip to Greenside.
But now a 20 min drive I must be getting old
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by bazouki dave and the real tooty flutey
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Not far in NYC.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by Whiddler
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I have a few nearby in Seattle that I've never really found comfortable on a regular basis. Those are 20 minutes away, but I rarely go.
On the other hand, I found a session in Bellingham, WA on Sundays that is absolutely lovely, welcoming and always very interesting. I find myself driving 2 hours each way almost once a month to get my fill at the Skylark Cafe.
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by dirtyheel
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I spent an hour catching the wrong trains only to get to Danny's session as it was closing, and got a minicab home
Oh well, better than sitting in my hotel watching telly
sometimes we go out to a country pub for a few tunes, someone lines it up with the publican, texts go out and various scrapers squeezers and plunkers just converge
# Posted on April 1st 2008 by Bren
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I have to cross the Bay to San Francisco, 45 minutes typically, depending on traffic. It was hard at first, but now I think nothing of it. Some are local, but many come from much farther.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Keith Dubinsky
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
The sessions I go to regularly are just a 10-minute drive away. The drive back takes much longer though. *hic*
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Phantom Button
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Ilig, no sarcasm. I have found sessions and a fiddle club to be five parts hassle to one part craic.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by cathrynb
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I was going to a session about an hour and a half away but it disbanded last summer, and now I can't find anything with in a reasonable driving distance (even by those standards)
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Fellenbaum
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
ok...15 minutes (on a busy Sunday hitting the red lights) once a week,
and in my home (a Scottish fiddle thingy) once a month so no travel time, but a lot more "setup" time
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Sunnybear
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I got lucky and found a nice pub right near where I work. It's also right off the train stop. It's about a 25-minute ride from the station nearest my home. They have a fairly serious session every Sunday and, apparently, an open session one Saturday per month. They also play trad music on Thursday nights, but that's a performance rather than a session.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Scott Esch
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
The nearest session is a 45-minute drive from home, and I had to start that one. My other regular session is closer to 90 minutes each way, with one toll bridge. And the first one I started playing at--and attended the last two Sundays--is a 45-minute drive, then a 35-minute ferry ride, each way. Luckily, it's a 3-minute dawdle from the ferry terminal to the first "free" pint.
At this rate, I am slowly going broke, getting those free pints. But hey, you can't take it with you, right? ;>}
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by mickray
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
3 days by donkey and carrot.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Bodhi
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
I started playing at a session about a half mile from my house, but the folks there recommended that I play at a better session a bit further away. I've had many similar recommendations from good ITM folks since, and now I travel almost 90 miles to play. I'm still getting advice to play somewhere else that would be more suitable to my skill level, so I'm probably improving as I go along.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by Stuporman
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
You're not being sarcastic when you say you prefer playing for people who don't have a clue what they are listening too?
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Stuporman, you play a large piano accordian and people at your session keep recommending different sessions for you?
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Every session I go to is 10-55 minutes walk, depending, except when it isn't.
# Posted on April 2nd 2008 by lazyhound
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
in 10 minutes I can dander in to the cobblestone in dublin any night and i'm sure to see some one i know playing.
# Posted on April 3rd 2008 by dílis
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Usually about 30 seconds to the main street then any one of the many pubs is bound to have a session going on
# Posted on April 4th 2008 by Stíofán
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
When can I move in?
# Posted on April 6th 2008 by jrathbun
Re: How far do you travel to find Sessions?
Twice a month, I have to drive a mile or two to get to Cregeen's for a Session. Twice a month, there are Sessions about twenty-five to thirty miles away in Conway. Then on the last weekend of the month, if I am wiling to drive for ninety minutes, there is a Session in Hot Springs Village.
# Posted on April 8th 2008 by fauxcelt