My wife and I are hosting a house concert for a local musician, and plan to have a session after the performance for those who wish to stay and play, which includes us.
Don't worry, I'm not going to advertise the concert here, but this has started us thinking about hosting Irish music sessions in our home - we're wondering whether any of you have experience, knowledge, or other wisdom to offer?
No wisdom here but I've played and hosted many house sessions. I enjoy them much more than pub sessions. People seem much more at ease which is strange to me as my second home has always been bars or pubs. You can choose your guests which is also nice. No cigarette smoke. On the other hand you're usually not making contact with as many people as you would in a pub session.
We have set dancing in our kitchen about once a month and sometimes a session after the dancing. We start about 3 pm, dance for about 3 hours, then have a potluck. Its great for me when more musicians show up, but if that doesn't happen, I'm very happy to play for the sets. It has become a pleasant social occasion, a refreshing way to get ready for the next week, and really just a good fun time. No advice or wisdom from my experience beyond just relax -- after all, your at home.
Here too, including something similar to what John describes, but that was when we were in a house and the neighbours were also supportive. The version akin to John's started early and we were often up past midnight... Other house sessions tended to be more intimate and invitation only, generally not more than half a dozen musicians... I also enjoyed some similar events while living and visiting Ireland, and sometimes just two or three of us, though also in some very small country pubs, small converted rooms in a house, just a couple of tables... Intimate and great craic...
Shanty: Where on Earth do you live because you allude to situation where fag smoking is still allowed in some pubs or bars near you (hence your necessity to host your thing in your 'No cigarette smoke' abode)?
Coz' I'll move there! Especially if they have a session culture!
yhaalhouse- the Pub I'm thinking of went non smoking only last yearor so . I'm thinking of it prior to that. A great pub but my clothes always stank like hell from the cirarette smoke.
Our local session (13 years running now) started off as a house session among friends and neighbors. But we moved into public places when so many people we didn't know kept inviting themselves in. It can be awkward to invite a stranger into someone else's home.
Only had a problem with it once or twice--mostly people turning out to be musically not up to speed and causing a bit of a row.
The smoking reference is funny - when we lost our Wednesday venue, we were playing at this flute player's place for a while, and everyone felt it a great advantage that the smokers didn't feel the need to go outside to light up. Even the non-smokers seemed pleased that half of the crew wasn't outside half the night, and nobody complained about the smoke.
Now we're at a bar, and it's a two-hour session, and there's no room to come and go, so the smokers stay in their chairs, but the house session seemed much more civilized - not least because everyone felt a little more welcome.
House sessions are great when the following requirements are met:
No time limit,
Loads of drink,
Loads of food,
Loads of pitch-dark jungle outside to have a pee in when the loo is taken,
Deaf neighbours or none at all,
Some really riveting albums to put on when the musicians are slumped. I first heard recordings of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Altan at about three in the morning in / after house sessions.
Preferably no overweening drunkenness or dogs that eat instruments. Two of my whistles got eaten by a dog.
Good thinking, RichardB, but I don't think so. It was too hysterical to be peed on without one knowing it, even if one was fairly drunk. (Nice animal, actually...)
In a blink of an eye it chewed two of my whistle tops (plastic), writing off one and leaving toothmarks in the other which endure to this day, and maybe some dents in the tube. (It still plays OK.) "Two of my whistles got eaten by a dog" sounds more impressive than the truth, but the speed at which the dog took advantage was impressive enough.
The most my cats are ever likely to do is to sneak under the couch to the litter tray and stink the place out !
But home sessions, yes, can be fun. Have done this on occasion when the bar was shut.
It's worth noting that after playing for an hour or so for the house concert, the local musician in question might not be that excited to play a session afterwards... Just sayin'.
But in general, nicolas' rules are good ones. It's also a good plan to have flop space available for the people who are too drunk/tired to drive home afterwards.
Yes, georgi - I'd forgotten the sleepover facilities. Some of those huge Seventies cushions, perhaps. And central heating, or at least good insulation. And huge sweaters to borrow. It's horrible waking up in the small hours and finding you're freezing cold and about to be sick. I'm not saying that's an actual memory, it just sort of occurs to me. Oh, and unlimited quantities of coffee and associated substances, a kettle that works well and fast, a fridge and cupboards well-stocked with snack and breakfast food, and a spare key to come back in with when you have tried to climb the mountain out the back when you couldn't get back to sleep and felt restless.
My experience of house sessions has included occasions on which the meeting of all the requirements I have listed has been surprisingly complete.
dfost, I have not been the host of an ongoing house session. However, I am eternally grateful to those who have given so many musicians a place to play. For even considering it may be worth your effort ~ cheers!
Back to 'history' - our involvements included monthly and an open invitation and welcome, with regulars, including the local folkways organization, which sponsored music, dance and a monthly ceili as well ~ to small and intimate and just a few invited close friends ~ an average of six, ranging from a few to a dozen, and the unexpected or uninvited were always welcome, usually brought along by one of the regulars...
Over years I can count on one hand, a few fingers, the number of times we had any problem and had the discomfort of having to address that. In one case it was someone that came just to eat and started up doing that before anyone else was prepared, something we'd announce after setting up the tables. In another case it was a pushy local musician who thought highly of himself and decdied he was more important and started up his own little session in the kitchen, in the way of everyone working there and ignoring the rest of those present. Lastly, a local Royal Scottish Country Dance group came with instruments and in costume, including a particularly awful synthesizer, and proceeded to take over and dominate things, pushing their own agenda and ONLY playing Scottish and wanting to convert us all to their take on the music and dance. So, maybe just those three over a number of years. But, you do tend to remember such rudeness, however rare it is. Assholes seem to make a large splash in upsetting the good craic they impose themselves on...
For one of our monthly gatherings we didn't limit it to just music and dance, always with the first focus on the 'social craic', we sometimes played volleyball, sometimes charades, sometimes finishing with a song circle and other madness, with plenty of laughter...
Home sessions?
Home sessions?
My wife and I are hosting a house concert for a local musician, and plan to have a session after the performance for those who wish to stay and play, which includes us.
Don't worry, I'm not going to advertise the concert here, but this has started us thinking about hosting Irish music sessions in our home - we're wondering whether any of you have experience, knowledge, or other wisdom to offer?
Thanks.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by dfost
Re: Home sessions?
Home sessions are really, really nice. The best. Also: a pot of soup is good for feeding a horde of musicians.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by markinpdx
Re: Home sessions?
No wisdom here but I've played and hosted many house sessions. I enjoy them much more than pub sessions. People seem much more at ease which is strange to me as my second home has always been bars or pubs. You can choose your guests which is also nice. No cigarette smoke. On the other hand you're usually not making contact with as many people as you would in a pub session.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by shanty
Re: Home sessions?
We have set dancing in our kitchen about once a month and sometimes a session after the dancing. We start about 3 pm, dance for about 3 hours, then have a potluck. Its great for me when more musicians show up, but if that doesn't happen, I'm very happy to play for the sets. It has become a pleasant social occasion, a refreshing way to get ready for the next week, and really just a good fun time. No advice or wisdom from my experience beyond just relax -- after all, your at home.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by John Culhane
Re: Home sessions?
Here too, including something similar to what John describes, but that was when we were in a house and the neighbours were also supportive. The version akin to John's started early and we were often up past midnight... Other house sessions tended to be more intimate and invitation only, generally not more than half a dozen musicians... I also enjoyed some similar events while living and visiting Ireland, and sometimes just two or three of us, though also in some very small country pubs, small converted rooms in a house, just a couple of tables... Intimate and great craic...
Best of luck...
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Home sessions?
Shanty: Where on Earth do you live because you allude to situation where fag smoking is still allowed in some pubs or bars near you (hence your necessity to host your thing in your 'No cigarette smoke' abode)?
Coz' I'll move there! Especially if they have a session culture!
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by yhaalhouse
Re: Home sessions?
yhaalhouse- the Pub I'm thinking of went non smoking only last yearor so . I'm thinking of it prior to that. A great pub but my clothes always stank like hell from the cirarette smoke.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by shanty
Re: Home sessions?
Just in from a home session, good food company and craic. Nothing to frantic, could have stayed on but have to get up in the morning.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by Solidmahog
Re: Home sessions?
Our local session (13 years running now) started off as a house session among friends and neighbors. But we moved into public places when so many people we didn't know kept inviting themselves in. It can be awkward to invite a stranger into someone else's home.
Only had a problem with it once or twice--mostly people turning out to be musically not up to speed and causing a bit of a row.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: Home sessions?
The smoking reference is funny - when we lost our Wednesday venue, we were playing at this flute player's place for a while, and everyone felt it a great advantage that the smokers didn't feel the need to go outside to light up. Even the non-smokers seemed pleased that half of the crew wasn't outside half the night, and nobody complained about the smoke.
Now we're at a bar, and it's a two-hour session, and there's no room to come and go, so the smokers stay in their chairs, but the house session seemed much more civilized - not least because everyone felt a little more welcome.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Home sessions?
House sessions are great when the following requirements are met:
No time limit,
Loads of drink,
Loads of food,
Loads of pitch-dark jungle outside to have a pee in when the loo is taken,
Deaf neighbours or none at all,
Some really riveting albums to put on when the musicians are slumped. I first heard recordings of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Altan at about three in the morning in / after house sessions.
Preferably no overweening drunkenness or dogs that eat instruments. Two of my whistles got eaten by a dog.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Home sessions?
The dog was probably taking revenge for being pee'd on in the dark.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by RichardB
Re: Home sessions?
Good thinking, RichardB, but I don't think so. It was too hysterical to be peed on without one knowing it, even if one was fairly drunk. (Nice animal, actually...)
In a blink of an eye it chewed two of my whistle tops (plastic), writing off one and leaving toothmarks in the other which endure to this day, and maybe some dents in the tube. (It still plays OK.) "Two of my whistles got eaten by a dog" sounds more impressive than the truth, but the speed at which the dog took advantage was impressive enough.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Home sessions?
The most my cats are ever likely to do is to sneak under the couch to the litter tray and stink the place out !
But home sessions, yes, can be fun. Have done this on occasion when the bar was shut.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Home sessions?
It's worth noting that after playing for an hour or so for the house concert, the local musician in question might not be that excited to play a session afterwards... Just sayin'.
But in general, nicolas' rules are good ones. It's also a good plan to have flop space available for the people who are too drunk/tired to drive home afterwards.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by Georgi
Re: Home sessions?
Yes, georgi - I'd forgotten the sleepover facilities. Some of those huge Seventies cushions, perhaps. And central heating, or at least good insulation. And huge sweaters to borrow. It's horrible waking up in the small hours and finding you're freezing cold and about to be sick. I'm not saying that's an actual memory, it just sort of occurs to me. Oh, and unlimited quantities of coffee and associated substances, a kettle that works well and fast, a fridge and cupboards well-stocked with snack and breakfast food, and a spare key to come back in with when you have tried to climb the mountain out the back when you couldn't get back to sleep and felt restless.
My experience of house sessions has included occasions on which the meeting of all the requirements I have listed has been surprisingly complete.
# Posted on March 24th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Home sessions?
dfost, I have not been the host of an ongoing house session. However, I am eternally grateful to those who have given so many musicians a place to play. For even considering it may be worth your effort ~ cheers!
# Posted on March 25th 2011 by Ben Steen
Discussion: The simplicity of his music greatly impressed the audience.
# Posted on March 25th 2011 by Ben Steen
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/27134
# Posted on March 25th 2011 by ceolachan
Re: Home sessions?
Back to 'history' - our involvements included monthly and an open invitation and welcome, with regulars, including the local folkways organization, which sponsored music, dance and a monthly ceili as well ~ to small and intimate and just a few invited close friends ~ an average of six, ranging from a few to a dozen, and the unexpected or uninvited were always welcome, usually brought along by one of the regulars...
Over years I can count on one hand, a few fingers, the number of times we had any problem and had the discomfort of having to address that. In one case it was someone that came just to eat and started up doing that before anyone else was prepared, something we'd announce after setting up the tables. In another case it was a pushy local musician who thought highly of himself and decdied he was more important and started up his own little session in the kitchen, in the way of everyone working there and ignoring the rest of those present. Lastly, a local Royal Scottish Country Dance group came with instruments and in costume, including a particularly awful synthesizer, and proceeded to take over and dominate things, pushing their own agenda and ONLY playing Scottish and wanting to convert us all to their take on the music and dance. So, maybe just those three over a number of years. But, you do tend to remember such rudeness, however rare it is. Assholes seem to make a large splash in upsetting the good craic they impose themselves on...
For one of our monthly gatherings we didn't limit it to just music and dance, always with the first focus on the 'social craic', we sometimes played volleyball, sometimes charades, sometimes finishing with a song circle and other madness, with plenty of laughter...
# Posted on March 25th 2011 by ceolachan