A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
This idea came up in another thread, but maybe it's time to start a more serious, exploratory conversation about all of us getting together for a face-to-face session.
I realize that there will be all sorts of logistical difficulties, so let's take a long-range view and see where it leads us. I also think it would be wise to keep expectations to a dull roar--this would just be an opportunity to play tunes with friends we haven't met yet...not much different than any other session really. And we might be lucky to get 20 of us in the same room at the same time.
I'm curious to hear what the rest of you think, and I'm almost leary of suggesting any particulars at this point, but a few ideas might help kickstart the conversation. To wit:
Those of us in the States could organize a stateside session (certainly open to anyone willing to travel here from overseas, however) sometime in the next year or so. Folks in Europe and elsewhere could do the same. If these "regional" sessions are a success, then perhaps we could aim for a grand session in Ireland several years down the road.
There are lots of options for organizing a stateside session for The Session participants. We could take a poll of those interested and zero in on the state or city where most of us live (seems like NYC or Chicago would be likely). Or we could meet in some central city (Denver?). Or we could pick an existing Irish music festival, such as the one in Milwaukee every year, and come a day or two early for our own get-together. Or you could all come to beautiful Montana in the summer and save me the travel expenses
It also occurs to me that we could post tunes to build a common repertoire among the people who want to get together so we'd actually have something in common to play.....
Anyone else interested in the possibilities? Whaddyathink?
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hmmmm. Well....what if we took Brad's idea from another thread and hook that onto this one? We could have a sort of music camp all to ourselves, and make sure that there are as few expenses as possible, invite some folks in to teach, and basically live, breath and eat music for a couple of days. We could call it the Basic Subsistance Irish Session camp or something, and eat peanut butter sandwiches, sleep in camping gear, and play until we drop. Heh. How could we get the acronym to be BYOB and work, I wonder? *snicker*
If we did it in Denver, I bet I could find a camp someplace that we could rent somewhere pretty cheap...and I'd bet there's someplace in Montana similar... (and if you count Canada, then that's more in the middle than Denver, I'd think, although of course we have this major airport here...). Even if there was just fifteen or twenty of us, it could be really fun and worth it.
And if we decide to meet in Ireland, I've a line on the Rent An Irish Cottage folks in Corofin -- we could all chip in and rent four or five of the things (REALLY cheap on the off season!) and play into the wee hours in our own little village, drive into Ennis and Feakle and further for sessions, and such. Even the small cottages have three bedrooms and sleep six people easily, and the bigger ones sleep far more.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I think it is a great idea..
For starters, it probably would be a good idea to tie it onto another organized event; In order to ease the burden of those organizing it.
For those of us who would be prone to go to Ireland we could single out a festival (e.g. Wille Clancy week?) and try to make some arrangements from there?
Having said that, on the other hand, I can very easily see myself jumping on the wagon and join in in Zls idea of a "The Session Groupie thing".
In the long long run, in order for these Ideas go beyond the one-time-experience I think it would be wise to seek or establish some sort of stable pattern that can be repeated (at least 3 times ... with some common denominator/ key..and with or without arrangements......
The folkgroup that I played in my student days has a gathering every 2. year at basically the same time of year, which makes it easy to plan for and fit into the calendar. I've been taking part in most of them even though it's more than a decade (in the previous millenium) since I was a student..
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I think this sounds like so much fun! And I promise to bring my muzzle and wear it upon request. I live in the midwest, so the idea of Chicago or Milwaukee sounds handy. My opinion (mind you, this is only my opinion ) is that this first effort should be minimal--a couple of days where we get acqainted and play our brains out. If we decide to do it again, we can consider expansions and improvements. I Iove the idea of a list tune decided upon beforehand to give us some commonality. I also know that one tune leads to another and that other things will be played--after all, won't we want to swap and share? Jim and I no longer camp, and don't have the equipment any more, but cabins or something would be great. If there was golf nearby, my husband would have something to do. Montana would be beautiful. Colorado is also beautiful. Actually, most places are beautifu. There, in no particular order, are my random thoughts. This I do know--it would be splendid to actually meet all of you!
Cassie
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hmmm. NOT Willie Week or Milwaukee IF, I'm thinking, or anything too large -- it would simply cost too much at that point to find housing, would be my bet. (It's almost impossible to find housing during Willie Week anywhere near Miltown.) Unless someone has a vacation house or something in a place that they'd be willing to offer and we could all cram into and sleep on the sofas, floors and such. (Older session members get dibs on the beds, is my vote.)
Organizing something isn't much of a pain, so long as everyone follows through on what they need to. If we do it in Colorado, I'll be happy to organize the place and such. Hmmmmmm....hey, DIRK...what about that barn? *grin* ("Our piper might have a barn we could use!")
Not to worry about the muzzle, Cassie -- so long as we have the rug for Dirk, we'll be fine (private joke!).
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I vote for a camp-site or a hotel - For an american fleadh My vote goes for mid atlantic or chicago. I think that the mid atlantic would be good because of the density of Irish trad musicians (I didn't mean that harshly, I'm just reflecting on my experience while rambling around the US), but Chicago's nice & central. I'd rather not get teachers involved because then it turns into business. That's not what a session is about, I'd just rather a big informal fleadh-ceol without the money making overtones of a festival.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
You saying players are dense, Brad? *grin* The only trouble with Chicago is it will be more expensive (as most large cities are), although I suppose we could go out of the city itself...besides, I'm not sure we need a place that's dense with musicians, as we want this thing to be just dense with US...!
Kansas City, maybe? I still don't mind Montana, and of course Colorado would be easy for me. Lincoln could be nice, too, as it's quite small and so wouldn't be as expensive, has an okay sized airport for folks who are flying in, and I know some people there who would probably help us get organized...
What, aren't any of us multi-millionaires with large spreads? Sheesh.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well I think it would be good to have other musicians involved too - the more the merrier. Anyway I'm not sure where most session.org members are based, but I feel pretty safe in saying that the overwhelming majority is not in Montana or Colorado. I do know of 4 (at least) members in my own dinky state & I can think of a lot of others on the E Coast.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hmm, personally, I think that "where" might depend on "when". For example, I would prefer to avoid being eaten alive by mosquitoes and black flies, sweating to death in the middle of the summer at a very humid location, being buried alive in a 3' snowfall, well, you get my drift I'm sure. note that I was very careful not to say exactly where these fun experiences might occur
Sosaidh
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well, I guess it would depend on whether we wanted to find a place in the middle of everyone and most everyone travel to get there, OR try to figure out who would be willing to come and then go where ever most of them are.
Either way works, if you can get everyone to either agree to travel OR get everyone to commit to going ahead of time and say so.
I'm not sure it IS the more the merrier, actually -- I mean, isn't the point that we want to 1) keep it relatively small at first, and 2) be a gathering of the folks we've gotten to know at The Session?
I mean, whatever people think, but if it's just to get together and play, then surely there's other venues that are already organized for that?
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I think we should get together in a part of the US where ITM is more popular. If it turns into a a bigger event I do think it will provide more fun for everyone different players will be able to have their own sessions according to their skill & if there are people who aren't session.org member that's another new friend. Having it in an isolated location is just going to keep people from going.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I live in New Mexico, so Colorado is very close and it is beautiful in the summer, but then I have always wanted to visit Montana. If it came down to a vote, I would go with either of those. But, whereever it is, if I can get off work, I'll be there.
So, maybe someone could collect all the proposed places, dates and details (with a deadline for suggestions?) and we all vote...
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
First of all, A VERY BIG YES!!!! It is a wonderful idea. How much of it (of my part at least) is feasible in the end depends on so many things. I haven
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Geesh, a guy goes off snowboarding for the afternoon and all the pigeons come home to roost! Sosaidh, I know where you had in mind when you listed all those nasty natural disasters--mosquitos, blizzards, high humidity, forest fires--sounds like one typical springtime day here in Montana.
I share Zina's preference that we focus on Session members rather than inviting in other musicians from wherever. If it expands beyond this after a few trial runs, maybe that would be okay. But if we open it to too many people from outside the Session, we might get spread pretty thin trying to get to know and play with everybody.
As for when this happens, I'd vote for summer (when school's out for my kids), and far enough in advance so that more of us can fit it into our calendars.
Also, in the interest of keeping costs down and starting small, I want to suggest the possibility of doing this regionally within the US. Maybe one in Denver and another in Chicago and another on the East coast somewhere. This would give people more options, and wouldn't preclude going to more than one or from designating one of those as the "national" event. Just an idea, while we're still in the very early stages of thinking this through....
So far there are 8 of us kicking this around. Anyone else want to raise their hand?
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I'll raise my hand, just to post opinions...relatively new here, but by the time this thing might actually happen i'm sure i'll be hankering to meet you all.
If it came to a vote, I'd vote regional, and Chicago sounds like a lovely drive for me. And I like the idea of having it be just session.org-ers at first, in the interest of small and manageable.
Speaking of meeting some of y'all at other festivals, however, anybody planning to be at Tionol in St. Louis in April? If so, maybe we could arrange to introduce ourselves...
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well, as Zina said, my barn will probably be available, but it is a fairly small barn, and I don't know how bad the mosquitos are going to be yet. Anyway, if we have one of these regional things in Colorado, I'd be willing to help out. Even if the barn's too hot, or too small, I bet we could find a club house around Denver somewhere.
The rug, by the way is an idea that someone in our session had to quiet down my pipes, by throwing it over me.... You know, it's hard to come in on a tune without being noticed, heh heh.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hmmm. Okay, how about The Traveling Session Dog & Pony Show? We plan it out so that a bunch of session members get together. They travel to somewhere relatively close. Some go home afterwards, and others travel to the next place that's relatively close, and play with even more members, and then some go home afterwards, and some travel on to the NEXT place....
hehehe...Okay, so maybe not, but it was a sort of amusing idea....
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Actually Will, I wasn't thinking about Montana at all. There was this "canoe trip from hell" just north of Ohio (over the border) one July. I won't go into all the details, but, the leeches were the least of it. As for mosquitos and black flies, we proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there is no chemical strong enough to stop the little beasties if they want you - and oh, did they want me. Some portion of my rational mind left me on that trip, never to return...
Small and cozy the first year sounds fine (of course, larger and crazier is good too) and the summer is probably best for most people (Boston in the summer, yowsers). The chance of getting this off the ground is probably higher the smaller the number of people to work out logistics for.
Greetings! I've been with the Session for quite awhile, although a pretty quiet member. I'm just curious - are there any other hammered dulcimer players here?
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
This sounds like great fun. I've got an outbuilding--my ex-husband's ex-woodworking shop--and camping space on my property. I even host occasional music workshops in the building. I figure 15-18 musicians is about the capacity. If the weather's good, we could break into smaller groups around the property.
Geographically, I'm located "mid-Atlantic," a little more than an hour's drive from either Baltimore or DC, near historic Gettysurg, Pennsylvania.
I check into this site once in a while, but not daily, so feel free to e-mail me directly if you need me to answer something or put you on my calendar.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hello Fellow Europeans!
Where are you in this discussion?
I couldn't possibly make it over the Atlantic, but I might consider to join a European session if we decided to arrange one. It would shurely be great fun. It's just that I'm so f....ing broke right now.
But who would be interested in arranging something here on the east side of the Atlantic? May be on that green island? Or why not Germany as J
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I think it'd be great to do several small regional meetings -- the US/Canada could try West, Mid, and East, perhaps -- one or two in Europe, and then perhaps one big one in Ireland or England sometime (I mean, hey, wouldn't it be great to descend on Jeremy, since this is really his session?). That way we could position them so there's less travel and cost involved, as the groups will be smaller it'll be easier to possibly find more places for people to stay without having to go to hotels and such, and we can see whether the idea itself flys at all...
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Ok, I'm interested but I face a few problems....First, it would be hard for me to get anywhere that wasn't really close. I would either have to fly (I don't have to money) or have one of my parents drive me (I'm not old enough to drive). Also, I have school. There's probably more obstacles but those are the major ones.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well, I've been tantalized by this whole idea. I agree June (no bugs yet) or later Summer would be good since school is out then. I, personally, am taken by the location Marguerite has offered, even though I'm a Chicago girl. I do like the East for its history and beauty. But, for practicality, setting it up in a city or region in which most of us live makes sense. If I don't get run over by a beer truck between now and then, I'm in.
One thing to consider, though. Airfares are considerably cheaper (for those who will need to fly) going to the main cities. For example, round trip Chicago-L.A. can be half the cost of Chicago-Portland, Oregon. For myself, I'll drive if possible; I love to drive.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hi Lars,
A fellow european here.
I agree that most of us couldn't make it to the states, so I also think we sould try to organize a session in the old continent.
I vote for Ireland (where else) which is only a 2-3 hours flight from nearly everywhere in Europe. And is an english speaking country (sorry J
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hi! Great idea!! I'm ready to do something in Europe (ireland would be perfect!); I would have loved to go to US again, but it's not that easy anymore!... Just doing it on a weekend seems very short though... if we go there and rent something, it would be the opportunity to go to great irish sessions, or whatever... What do you think??
Does anyone come to the celtic festival in Lorient , in Britany,( usually in August)?
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I hope this discussion's not dead - it took me until now to get to it. EAST COAST! EAST COAST! That's my vote. Here's my idea - I'm going to go post a thread right called "locality" and we can all say where we are and how far we're willing to go (geographically, or course). The first group of five to agree on a time and place wins.
Also, we can post the sessions we attend in our hometowns so when sessioneers are travelling, they have a home away from home.
At first I was thinking about starting a new thread on this for the "European Connection" of The Session. Mainly because it is probably a lot easier to come to terms on both sides of the Atlantic if you don
This is based on the thread "A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?" which was started by Will in January. When I did send my mighty crack stuff to zina I closed the little note with something like an irish blessing: may we all meet by chance in the same pub in the west of ireland one day.
This is not only a blessing, but as well something like a faint dream I have since I get more and more pictures of TheSession-folks in my mind by following all the threads. Most practicable step to get this dream real is getting local and come in touch with TheSession-Members and ITMers in my (greater) n
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Good move, Volker. Hey, Rocky Mountain session members, when and where this summer? We're still willing to host you all in Denver if you like, or we can go up to Montana, or Kansas City, or wherever.
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
My summer's quickly being booked up. All of June already gone, and the first and last weeks of August. Which leaves me July, except for all the work piling up and a major house remodel project....Aaaarrrggghhh.
A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
This idea came up in another thread, but maybe it's time to start a more serious, exploratory conversation about all of us getting together for a face-to-face session.
I realize that there will be all sorts of logistical difficulties, so let's take a long-range view and see where it leads us. I also think it would be wise to keep expectations to a dull roar--this would just be an opportunity to play tunes with friends we haven't met yet...not much different than any other session really. And we might be lucky to get 20 of us in the same room at the same time.
I'm curious to hear what the rest of you think, and I'm almost leary of suggesting any particulars at this point, but a few ideas might help kickstart the conversation. To wit:
Those of us in the States could organize a stateside session (certainly open to anyone willing to travel here from overseas, however) sometime in the next year or so. Folks in Europe and elsewhere could do the same. If these "regional" sessions are a success, then perhaps we could aim for a grand session in Ireland several years down the road.
There are lots of options for organizing a stateside session for The Session participants. We could take a poll of those interested and zero in on the state or city where most of us live (seems like NYC or Chicago would be likely). Or we could meet in some central city (Denver?). Or we could pick an existing Irish music festival, such as the one in Milwaukee every year, and come a day or two early for our own get-together. Or you could all come to beautiful Montana in the summer and save me the travel expenses
It also occurs to me that we could post tunes to build a common repertoire among the people who want to get together so we'd actually have something in common to play.....
Anyone else interested in the possibilities? Whaddyathink?
Will
# Posted on January 20th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hmmmm. Well....what if we took Brad's idea from another thread and hook that onto this one? We could have a sort of music camp all to ourselves, and make sure that there are as few expenses as possible, invite some folks in to teach, and basically live, breath and eat music for a couple of days. We could call it the Basic Subsistance Irish Session camp or something, and eat peanut butter sandwiches, sleep in camping gear, and play until we drop. Heh. How could we get the acronym to be BYOB and work, I wonder? *snicker*
If we did it in Denver, I bet I could find a camp someplace that we could rent somewhere pretty cheap...and I'd bet there's someplace in Montana similar... (and if you count Canada, then that's more in the middle than Denver, I'd think, although of course we have this major airport here...). Even if there was just fifteen or twenty of us, it could be really fun and worth it.
And if we decide to meet in Ireland, I've a line on the Rent An Irish Cottage folks in Corofin -- we could all chip in and rent four or five of the things (REALLY cheap on the off season!) and play into the wee hours in our own little village, drive into Ennis and Feakle and further for sessions, and such. Even the small cottages have three bedrooms and sleep six people easily, and the bigger ones sleep far more.
More ideas?
zls
# Posted on January 20th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I think it is a great idea..
.
For starters, it probably would be a good idea to tie it onto another organized event; In order to ease the burden of those organizing it.
For those of us who would be prone to go to Ireland we could single out a festival (e.g. Wille Clancy week?) and try to make some arrangements from there?
Having said that, on the other hand, I can very easily see myself jumping on the wagon and join in in Zls idea of a "The Session Groupie thing".
In the long long run, in order for these Ideas go beyond the one-time-experience I think it would be wise to seek or establish some sort of stable pattern that can be repeated (at least 3 times ... with some common denominator/ key..and with or without arrangements.....
The folkgroup that I played in my student days has a gathering every 2. year at basically the same time of year, which makes it easy to plan for and fit into the calendar. I've been taking part in most of them even though it's more than a decade (in the previous millenium) since I was a student..
Hal
# Posted on January 20th 2002 by FiddleTramp
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I think this sounds like so much fun! And I promise to bring my muzzle and wear it upon request. I live in the midwest, so the idea of Chicago or Milwaukee sounds handy. My opinion (mind you, this is only my opinion ) is that this first effort should be minimal--a couple of days where we get acqainted and play our brains out. If we decide to do it again, we can consider expansions and improvements. I Iove the idea of a list tune decided upon beforehand to give us some commonality. I also know that one tune leads to another and that other things will be played--after all, won't we want to swap and share? Jim and I no longer camp, and don't have the equipment any more, but cabins or something would be great. If there was golf nearby, my husband would have something to do. Montana would be beautiful. Colorado is also beautiful. Actually, most places are beautifu. There, in no particular order, are my random thoughts. This I do know--it would be splendid to actually meet all of you!
Cassie
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by woman of the house
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hmmm. NOT Willie Week or Milwaukee IF, I'm thinking, or anything too large -- it would simply cost too much at that point to find housing, would be my bet. (It's almost impossible to find housing during Willie Week anywhere near Miltown.) Unless someone has a vacation house or something in a place that they'd be willing to offer and we could all cram into and sleep on the sofas, floors and such. (Older session members get dibs on the beds, is my vote.)
Organizing something isn't much of a pain, so long as everyone follows through on what they need to. If we do it in Colorado, I'll be happy to organize the place and such. Hmmmmmm....hey, DIRK...what about that barn? *grin* ("Our piper might have a barn we could use!")
Not to worry about the muzzle, Cassie -- so long as we have the rug for Dirk, we'll be fine (private joke!).
Zina
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I vote for a camp-site or a hotel - For an american fleadh My vote goes for mid atlantic or chicago. I think that the mid atlantic would be good because of the density of Irish trad musicians (I didn't mean that harshly, I'm just reflecting on my experience while rambling around the US), but Chicago's nice & central. I'd rather not get teachers involved because then it turns into business. That's not what a session is about, I'd just rather a big informal fleadh-ceol without the money making overtones of a festival.
My $.02
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by B Rad
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
You saying players are dense, Brad? *grin* The only trouble with Chicago is it will be more expensive (as most large cities are), although I suppose we could go out of the city itself...besides, I'm not sure we need a place that's dense with musicians, as we want this thing to be just dense with US...!
Kansas City, maybe? I still don't mind Montana, and of course Colorado would be easy for me. Lincoln could be nice, too, as it's quite small and so wouldn't be as expensive, has an okay sized airport for folks who are flying in, and I know some people there who would probably help us get organized...
What, aren't any of us multi-millionaires with large spreads? Sheesh.
Zina
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well I think it would be good to have other musicians involved too - the more the merrier. Anyway I'm not sure where most session.org members are based, but I feel pretty safe in saying that the overwhelming majority is not in Montana or Colorado. I do know of 4 (at least) members in my own dinky state & I can think of a lot of others on the E Coast.
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by B Rad
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Chicago is good for me.
And i might be able to host 1 or 2 musicians in my home.
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by glauber
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hmm, personally, I think that "where" might depend on "when". For example, I would prefer to avoid being eaten alive by mosquitoes and black flies, sweating to death in the middle of the summer at a very humid location, being buried alive in a 3' snowfall, well, you get my drift I'm sure. note that I was very careful not to say exactly where these fun experiences might occur
Sosaidh
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by chicagofiddler
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well, I guess it would depend on whether we wanted to find a place in the middle of everyone and most everyone travel to get there, OR try to figure out who would be willing to come and then go where ever most of them are.
Either way works, if you can get everyone to either agree to travel OR get everyone to commit to going ahead of time and say so.
Zina
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by Zina Lee
P.S.
I'm not sure it IS the more the merrier, actually -- I mean, isn't the point that we want to 1) keep it relatively small at first, and 2) be a gathering of the folks we've gotten to know at The Session?
I mean, whatever people think, but if it's just to get together and play, then surely there's other venues that are already organized for that?
zls
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I think we should get together in a part of the US where ITM is more popular. If it turns into a a bigger event I do think it will provide more fun for everyone different players will be able to have their own sessions according to their skill & if there are people who aren't session.org member that's another new friend. Having it in an isolated location is just going to keep people from going.
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by B Rad
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I live in New Mexico, so Colorado is very close and it is beautiful in the summer, but then I have always wanted to visit Montana. If it came down to a vote, I would go with either of those. But, whereever it is, if I can get off work, I'll be there.
So, maybe someone could collect all the proposed places, dates and details (with a deadline for suggestions?) and we all vote...
Sosaidh
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by chicagofiddler
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
First of all, A VERY BIG YES!!!! It is a wonderful idea. How much of it (of my part at least) is feasible in the end depends on so many things. I haven
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by Joerg Froese
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Geesh, a guy goes off snowboarding for the afternoon and all the pigeons come home to roost!
Sosaidh, I know where you had in mind when you listed all those nasty natural disasters--mosquitos, blizzards, high humidity, forest fires--sounds like one typical springtime day here in Montana.
I share Zina's preference that we focus on Session members rather than inviting in other musicians from wherever. If it expands beyond this after a few trial runs, maybe that would be okay. But if we open it to too many people from outside the Session, we might get spread pretty thin trying to get to know and play with everybody.
As for when this happens, I'd vote for summer (when school's out for my kids), and far enough in advance so that more of us can fit it into our calendars.
Also, in the interest of keeping costs down and starting small, I want to suggest the possibility of doing this regionally within the US. Maybe one in Denver and another in Chicago and another on the East coast somewhere. This would give people more options, and wouldn't preclude going to more than one or from designating one of those as the "national" event. Just an idea, while we're still in the very early stages of thinking this through....
So far there are 8 of us kicking this around. Anyone else want to raise their hand?
Will
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I'll raise my hand, just to post opinions...relatively new here, but by the time this thing might actually happen i'm sure i'll be hankering to meet you all.
If it came to a vote, I'd vote regional, and Chicago sounds like a lovely drive for me. And I like the idea of having it be just session.org-ers at first, in the interest of small and manageable.
Speaking of meeting some of y'all at other festivals, however, anybody planning to be at Tionol in St. Louis in April? If so, maybe we could arrange to introduce ourselves...
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by elia
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well, as Zina said, my barn will probably be available, but it is a fairly small barn, and I don't know how bad the mosquitos are going to be yet. Anyway, if we have one of these regional things in Colorado, I'd be willing to help out. Even if the barn's too hot, or too small, I bet we could find a club house around Denver somewhere.
The rug, by the way is an idea that someone in our session had to quiet down my pipes, by throwing it over me.... You know, it's hard to come in on a tune without being noticed, heh heh.
-Dirk
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by dirk
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hmmm. Okay, how about The Traveling Session Dog & Pony Show? We plan it out so that a bunch of session members get together. They travel to somewhere relatively close. Some go home afterwards, and others travel to the next place that's relatively close, and play with even more members, and then some go home afterwards, and some travel on to the NEXT place....
hehehe...Okay, so maybe not, but it was a sort of amusing idea....
Zina
# Posted on January 21st 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Actually Will, I wasn't thinking about Montana at all. There was this "canoe trip from hell" just north of Ohio (over the border) one July. I won't go into all the details, but, the leeches were the least of it. As for mosquitos and black flies, we proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there is no chemical strong enough to stop the little beasties if they want you - and oh, did they want me. Some portion of my rational mind left me on that trip, never to return...
Small and cozy the first year sounds fine (of course, larger and crazier is good too) and the summer is probably best for most people (Boston in the summer, yowsers). The chance of getting this off the ground is probably higher the smaller the number of people to work out logistics for.
Sosaidh
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by chicagofiddler
Dulcimer query
Greetings! I've been with the Session for quite awhile, although a pretty quiet member. I'm just curious - are there any other hammered dulcimer players here?
Susan near Seattle
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by Thelees01
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Ack! Posted in the wrong place. My abject apologies...
Susan near Seattle
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by Thelees01
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
This sounds like great fun. I've got an outbuilding--my ex-husband's ex-woodworking shop--and camping space on my property. I even host occasional music workshops in the building. I figure 15-18 musicians is about the capacity. If the weather's good, we could break into smaller groups around the property.
Geographically, I'm located "mid-Atlantic," a little more than an hour's drive from either Baltimore or DC, near historic Gettysurg, Pennsylvania.
I check into this site once in a while, but not daily, so feel free to e-mail me directly if you need me to answer something or put you on my calendar.
Marguerite Plank
mvhplank@netrax.net
http://www.ladyofthecreek.com
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by mvhplank
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hello Fellow Europeans!
Where are you in this discussion?
I couldn't possibly make it over the Atlantic, but I might consider to join a European session if we decided to arrange one. It would shurely be great fun. It's just that I'm so f....ing broke right now.
But who would be interested in arranging something here on the east side of the Atlantic? May be on that green island? Or why not Germany as J
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by lars
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I think it'd be great to do several small regional meetings -- the US/Canada could try West, Mid, and East, perhaps -- one or two in Europe, and then perhaps one big one in Ireland or England sometime (I mean, hey, wouldn't it be great to descend on Jeremy, since this is really his session?). That way we could position them so there's less travel and cost involved, as the groups will be smaller it'll be easier to possibly find more places for people to stay without having to go to hotels and such, and we can see whether the idea itself flys at all...
Zina
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Ok, I'm interested but I face a few problems....First, it would be hard for me to get anywhere that wasn't really close. I would either have to fly (I don't have to money) or have one of my parents drive me (I'm not old enough to drive). Also, I have school. There's probably more obstacles but those are the major ones.
Brent
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by Musicalbison
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well, I've been tantalized by this whole idea. I agree June (no bugs yet) or later Summer would be good since school is out then. I, personally, am taken by the location Marguerite has offered, even though I'm a Chicago girl. I do like the East for its history and beauty. But, for practicality, setting it up in a city or region in which most of us live makes sense. If I don't get run over by a beer truck between now and then, I'm in.
One thing to consider, though. Airfares are considerably cheaper (for those who will need to fly) going to the main cities. For example, round trip Chicago-L.A. can be half the cost of Chicago-Portland, Oregon. For myself, I'll drive if possible; I love to drive.
Linda
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by linda
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hi Lars,
A fellow european here.
I agree that most of us couldn't make it to the states, so I also think we sould try to organize a session in the old continent.
I vote for Ireland (where else) which is only a 2-3 hours flight from nearly everywhere in Europe. And is an english speaking country (sorry J
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by Toni Ribas
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Hi! Great idea!! I'm ready to do something in Europe (ireland would be perfect!); I would have loved to go to US again, but it's not that easy anymore!... Just doing it on a weekend seems very short though... if we go there and rent something, it would be the opportunity to go to great irish sessions, or whatever... What do you think??
Does anyone come to the celtic festival in Lorient , in Britany,( usually in August)?
# Posted on January 22nd 2002 by Cecama77
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
I hope this discussion's not dead - it took me until now to get to it. EAST COAST! EAST COAST! That's my vote. Here's my idea - I'm going to go post a thread right called "locality" and we can all say where we are and how far we're willing to go (geographically, or course). The first group of five to agree on a time and place wins.
Also, we can post the sessions we attend in our hometowns so when sessioneers are travelling, they have a home away from home.
here i go.
# Posted on January 23rd 2002 by Kerri Brown
Re: A Real World Session - European Connection!
At first I was thinking about starting a new thread on this for the "European Connection" of The Session. Mainly because it is probably a lot easier to come to terms on both sides of the Atlantic if you don
# Posted on January 23rd 2002 by Joerg Froese
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Lovely idea,
I couldn't afford a flight to Ireland, though. I
# Posted on January 24th 2002 by Irina
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Actually, Emden isn
# Posted on January 24th 2002 by Joerg Froese
Re:calling the dream from time to time
This is based on the thread "A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?" which was started by Will in January. When I did send my mighty crack stuff to zina I closed the little note with something like an irish blessing: may we all meet by chance in the same pub in the west of ireland one day.
This is not only a blessing, but as well something like a faint dream I have since I get more and more pictures of TheSession-folks in my mind by following all the threads. Most practicable step to get this dream real is getting local and come in touch with TheSession-Members and ITMers in my (greater) n
# Posted on May 9th 2002 by crannog
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Good move, Volker. Hey, Rocky Mountain session members, when and where this summer? We're still willing to host you all in Denver if you like, or we can go up to Montana, or Kansas City, or wherever.
Zina
# Posted on May 10th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
My summer's quickly being booked up. All of June already gone, and the first and last weeks of August. Which leaves me July, except for all the work piling up and a major house remodel project....Aaaarrrggghhh.
# Posted on May 10th 2002 by Will Harmon
Re: A Real World Session for Online Session Participants?
Well, we're not having it without you, Will -- so when works for you? Give us some dates to work with here...
Zina
# Posted on May 10th 2002 by Zina Lee