Jerball asked this question in a recent thread.
Although I learned my trade as singers accompanist in the pub, I gained my tunes experience playing at peoples houses. In other countries which do not have the pub setup like the UK, people have to advertise sessions which happen elsewhere.
Personally, I like the social aspect of the pub and the fact that potential folkies/musicians are seeing instruments being played, but it doesn't HAVE to be this way.
pub (noun): public house; house open to the public; house available for members of the public to come into, generally financed by sale of refreshments to the members of the public who come in.
Seems like a pretty good place to have a session if you want it to be accessible to the public, and not to have to do a lot of admin work. Alternative venues would be: cafeterias and such, private houses or rented space. Private house sessions lose the public availability aspect, although the beer is cheaper, and rented space costs money and needs much more paperwork and is likely to attract the attention of people who want you to be licensed, insured etc. If the weather is suitable you could try sessions in the park.
Hi Geoff,
the thing about pubs is that they are places where people go to relax. The music can be incidental, which means that the musicians are free to play for each other, and the patrons of the pub can pay as much or as little attention to it as they like. The consumption of alcohol creates an uninhibited atmosphere, on both sides of the musical divide, which can have its downside (people making so much noise you can't hear the banjo player next to you - or maybe that's an upside). But most of all the great thing about playing in a pub is the feeling you are playing in a public place, not somewhere that people have to arrange to go to so hear you play.
That's what I reckon, anyway.
Last friday night was one of those sessions where the talkers got louder and louder and the players had to play louder and louder etc etc.
Came the point where I put the mandolin away and hauled out the banjolin so I would be able to hear myself. Even then I was really belting away at it to be able to hear myself. Above the sound of the music I could still hear the guy on the other side of the room shouting to someone that he had got an identical instrument at home. I found myself wishing that he was there too.
In my view, it's near enough implicit in the definition of "session" --- ie instead of saying "irish music pub session", just say session. You can of course have them in people's houses, community halls, and so on, but a session in a pub is to me the genuine article. I used to do a session in the postgraduate club at Glasgow Uni (I think Craig might still use that as a rehearsal venue), that was the nearest to a regular thing not in an actual pub, but was near enough, just full of hairy faced post grads instead of normal people, and the beer was cheaper.
Hey Geoff, does the Red House in Sheffield still have a session? Used to do a wicked pint of Wards, but that must have changed.
LOL -- "fridge vultures"...at my house, I've only just gotten my bandmates to feel comfortable about getting their own glass out of the cupboard, much less help themselves to the cupboards, which I wish they would so I wouldn't have to feed them myself. Feckin' overly polite Yanks, I guess...
Don't get me wrong; I love pub sessions. But then again, I love the pub. But would I love the pub if there were no beer... That's quite a thought for Halloween.
I just have heard one too many players complain about pub sessions like they're the only thing going. I try to maintain a healthy perspective on things. If a session sucks one week because the freak of the week crashes it or it's really loud, well, next week might be better. Or if I'm really jonesing for good tunes I can always call somebody up for a bit of a play at the house.
Historically, they didn't always have to be. Reg Hall thinks that pub sessions mostly are a result of post-war emigration to USA and (especially) Britain: young Irish workers living in rented digs couldn't have people back to their homes, so they moved a lot of activities (singing, dancing, talk, playing) traditionally done in the kitchen into the pub.
Yes, I've heard that and it makes sense. Although there was already a tradition of pub music making in England it was quite different in format to the sessions we know and was probably not much in evidence in London (apart from the 'piano' pubs).
BTW, is Reg Hall's work available on the Internet?
I've been reading here for some time, but haven't posted - ever... Sorry, I'm kind of shy, and topped off with you folks being full of enough for me to think about with out putting my two cents in.
Until now. You knew that was coming, eh?
However, having lived in a very small house of 1895 vintage for nearly a dozen years now, I can perhaps offer a suggestion as to why session are held in pubs. Except for the extremely large houses - both Victorian and current era - the houses of the 1900's
have not been really large. We have a Yule party every year, but it gets really crowded (and there's only one bathroom). Being old, this house likes the music, but it's a challenge to fit everyone in. Can't imagine holding a regular session here. We'd have to clean more too.
Of course, I asked this question tongue-in-cheek as I prefer jigs and jugs (fnaar fnaar), but it isn't like that all over the world.
Select house sessions are still a good idea - Some friends in Leeds chip in a fiver each and invite a certain well known box player around to their house to host a session once a month.The box player is very happy to do so and it is an educational experience all round.
Dom - the Red House is still very busy and has folk music on 6 nights a week (I think), of varying traditions. Wards brewery is no more, but there are at least 3 micro-breweries to take its place.
SOME sessions should be in pubs for all the reasons set out above PLUS the musicians get free drink [and for soemone with my capacity for the Powers thats a big plus].
BUT we also need to cater for younger musicians and the Comhaltas does a lot of good work with sessions in local halls, schools etc.
I also like the kitchen session as this is a bit more intimate and we have such from time to time in one another's houses.
Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Jerball asked this question in a recent thread.
Although I learned my trade as singers accompanist in the pub, I gained my tunes experience playing at peoples houses. In other countries which do not have the pub setup like the UK, people have to advertise sessions which happen elsewhere.
Personally, I like the social aspect of the pub and the fact that potential folkies/musicians are seeing instruments being played, but it doesn't HAVE to be this way.
# Posted on October 30th 2003 by geoffwright
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
pub (noun): public house; house open to the public; house available for members of the public to come into, generally financed by sale of refreshments to the members of the public who come in.
Seems like a pretty good place to have a session if you want it to be accessible to the public, and not to have to do a lot of admin work. Alternative venues would be: cafeterias and such, private houses or rented space. Private house sessions lose the public availability aspect, although the beer is cheaper, and rented space costs money and needs much more paperwork and is likely to attract the attention of people who want you to be licensed, insured etc. If the weather is suitable you could try sessions in the park.
Dave
# Posted on October 30th 2003 by showaddydadito
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Hi Geoff,
the thing about pubs is that they are places where people go to relax. The music can be incidental, which means that the musicians are free to play for each other, and the patrons of the pub can pay as much or as little attention to it as they like. The consumption of alcohol creates an uninhibited atmosphere, on both sides of the musical divide, which can have its downside (people making so much noise you can't hear the banjo player next to you - or maybe that's an upside). But most of all the great thing about playing in a pub is the feeling you are playing in a public place, not somewhere that people have to arrange to go to so hear you play.
That's what I reckon, anyway.
# Posted on October 30th 2003 by Ottery
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Ottery - bang on.
Last friday night was one of those sessions where the talkers got louder and louder and the players had to play louder and louder etc etc.
Came the point where I put the mandolin away and hauled out the banjolin so I would be able to hear myself. Even then I was really belting away at it to be able to hear myself. Above the sound of the music I could still hear the guy on the other side of the room shouting to someone that he had got an identical instrument at home. I found myself wishing that he was there too.
Bless them, they're cute at that age.
Dave
# Posted on October 30th 2003 by showaddydadito
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Pubs are better than houses because:
1)if someone spills a drink, it's not on your carpet and you don't have to clean it up!
2) musicians might happen to wander into a pub by accident, hopefully not something you would want to happen at home
3)more chance of meeting a pretty young lady/young man at the pub.
4)They never run out of beer (unless Big Dave is in)
5)A bouncer takes care of undesirables
6)People can go to the loo and not feel rude, if you know what I mean
7) No matter how many musicians say otherwise, we enjoy having an audience
9)your fridge is safe from vultures
10)people can't comment on your crap wallpaper/garden/bathroom
QED
Con
# Posted on October 30th 2003 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Well said Conan, I'm sick to death of people saying that my kitchen is an 'interesting' colour!
# Posted on October 30th 2003 by Ottery
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
In my view, it's near enough implicit in the definition of "session" --- ie instead of saying "irish music pub session", just say session. You can of course have them in people's houses, community halls, and so on, but a session in a pub is to me the genuine article. I used to do a session in the postgraduate club at Glasgow Uni (I think Craig might still use that as a rehearsal venue), that was the nearest to a regular thing not in an actual pub, but was near enough, just full of hairy faced post grads instead of normal people, and the beer was cheaper.
Hey Geoff, does the Red House in Sheffield still have a session? Used to do a wicked pint of Wards, but that must have changed.
# Posted on October 31st 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
LOL -- "fridge vultures"...at my house, I've only just gotten my bandmates to feel comfortable about getting their own glass out of the cupboard, much less help themselves to the cupboards, which I wish they would so I wouldn't have to feed them myself. Feckin' overly polite Yanks, I guess...
# Posted on October 31st 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Don't get me wrong; I love pub sessions. But then again, I love the pub. But would I love the pub if there were no beer... That's quite a thought for Halloween.
I just have heard one too many players complain about pub sessions like they're the only thing going. I try to maintain a healthy perspective on things. If a session sucks one week because the freak of the week crashes it or it's really loud, well, next week might be better. Or if I'm really jonesing for good tunes I can always call somebody up for a bit of a play at the house.
# Posted on October 31st 2003 by jerball
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Historically, they didn't always have to be. Reg Hall thinks that pub sessions mostly are a result of post-war emigration to USA and (especially) Britain: young Irish workers living in rented digs couldn't have people back to their homes, so they moved a lot of activities (singing, dancing, talk, playing) traditionally done in the kitchen into the pub.
# Posted on October 31st 2003 by coyotebanjo
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Yes, I've heard that and it makes sense. Although there was already a tradition of pub music making in England it was quite different in format to the sessions we know and was probably not much in evidence in London (apart from the 'piano' pubs).
BTW, is Reg Hall's work available on the Internet?
# Posted on October 31st 2003 by Paul_draper
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Hello all,
I've been reading here for some time, but haven't posted - ever... Sorry, I'm kind of shy, and topped off with you folks being full of enough for me to think about with out putting my two cents in.
Until now. You knew that was coming, eh?
However, having lived in a very small house of 1895 vintage for nearly a dozen years now, I can perhaps offer a suggestion as to why session are held in pubs. Except for the extremely large houses - both Victorian and current era - the houses of the 1900's
have not been really large. We have a Yule party every year, but it gets really crowded (and there's only one bathroom). Being old, this house likes the music, but it's a challenge to fit everyone in. Can't imagine holding a regular session here. We'd have to clean more too.
Love and Music,
Chris Johnson
Wire Harper
# Posted on November 2nd 2003 by Devinstorm
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
Of course, I asked this question tongue-in-cheek as I prefer jigs and jugs (fnaar fnaar), but it isn't like that all over the world.
Select house sessions are still a good idea - Some friends in Leeds chip in a fiver each and invite a certain well known box player around to their house to host a session once a month.The box player is very happy to do so and it is an educational experience all round.
Dom - the Red House is still very busy and has folk music on 6 nights a week (I think), of varying traditions. Wards brewery is no more, but there are at least 3 micro-breweries to take its place.
# Posted on November 2nd 2003 by geoffwright
Re: Why do sessions have to be in the pub?
SOME sessions should be in pubs for all the reasons set out above PLUS the musicians get free drink [and for soemone with my capacity for the Powers thats a big plus].
BUT we also need to cater for younger musicians and the Comhaltas does a lot of good work with sessions in local halls, schools etc.
I also like the kitchen session as this is a bit more intimate and we have such from time to time in one another's houses.
The thing is to get the mix right.
# Posted on November 3rd 2003 by breandan