mayby i am just getting old but i wonder if it is really worth playing in pubs ..with the noise and sometimes sheer agression to the music by some general public We are lucky here in fingal to have the seamus ennis center where it is nice for listeners and musicians alike.not to mention the wine.
YES, they're worth it. What we need to do is destroy all televisions in pubs. I mean beat them with bats, hurling sticks, and what have you. Well, maybe ask the proprietor to shut them off during the session at the very least. There's no getting away from them, in the States, anyway. Attention spans are short and conversations are boring and loud here because all anyone knows how to do is watch the stupid TV and pretend that they are on it. Kill all the TVs and let the devil sort them out. Appreciation of the tunage will follow.
There's a pub I frequent with my fiddle that lacks TVs and most of the time the folk are much appreciative of the music. People have stood rounds, clapped, cheered, even expressed a heart-felt "thank you."
If the pub is too noisy, then you're in the wrong pub. If we agree that the music is more
for the musicians than a performance, then you
can't expect punters to shut up and listen, if they're there to chat eachother in the first place. It's their night out.
Best to move on and find a suitable place or play at a different time.
Whether it's a performance or not, it still is going to sound great, or like shite, or somewhere in-between. If it sounds great, most people will enjoy it. If it sounds terrible, they might start throwing things. If I was out with my friends at the pub I wouldn't want the night to be spoiled by some awful caterwaul in the corner...
The only reason our Sydney sessions happen in the pub is that there's free beer. It's true: there are too many intoxicated rowdy people, juke boxes, blaring televisions and pokey machines for a pub session to be pleasurable. A lot of the time we just buy a whole load of beers and pile into someone's living room to play, or we find an excuse to throw a party.
It’s a bit like the arms race, “oh I see, gonna talk loud are we, well let’s see what you do when I turn this up” and on and on.
Pubs are great ‘cos you can have a whole load of different little things going on.
Auld fella in the corner tapping his feet, a group in the corner solving the world’s problems, another group in the other corner
playing music. Bring in a PA and the casualness of it is gone. Plus, you’ll never encourage the shy to participate in it.
Actually, to expand on that above analogy: If you _don't_ play with a PA, does that mean you're practicing "unsafe ITM"?
Of course, then you'll get people who say that PAs aren't 100 percent effective, and the safest thing is abstinence.
...which in some people's case might not be a bad idea, come to think of it. I was going to say something there about shaky eggs, but in the context of this analogy that might prove a bit too fertile for the imagination.
"I think he means the speakers provide a safety barrier between you and the audience in case they are carrying diseases."
Hmm. William Manchester once wrote about Marilyn Monroe essentially "making love to the camera" and thereby "arousing lust in her audience." Not sure if I've encountered a similar situation playing "The Bird in the Bush" at a pub session, but maybe there's something to what you're saying.
They didn't use condoms in those days (when actresses made love to the camera), they used a piece of nylon stocking across the lens with holes burnt out for the simpering eyes.
I'm hardly cold in my grave and you beggars are already dividing up my possessions? Some friends you are. Well I have to let you know it's great up here. I can see this big tunnel with a light at the end and someone beckoning me. Wait... isn't that...he's getting closer... yes, it's Frankie Gavin.
Depends on where you are. If you on "the old sod" and it's an authentic part of the local culture, YES! By all means! Enjoy!
If you're out on the west coast of the US competing with big screen TVs and the sport of the moment, playing through your 1000 watt PA so you can be heard over the banshee wailing of the punters who couldn't care less about what you're doing, and getting the paltry recompense of free beer to salve your annoyance, then it's rather a different story.
Come to my place in the sticks and we'll shoot around some tunes. I'LL give you free beer, and there's a B&B next door where you can sleep it off.
Once you set up a PA -- it's definately a performance.
The sessions at the local pub I play at used to be woeful because of the din from the punters. The pub was wedged every Sunday and there was about 20 musicians all vying to have their tunes played. It was a dog-pile on ITM… and at the end of the night I felt like a casualty of war.
Then a variety of things changed everything. It seemed like a new Irish pub opened every month, the “dot com” bubble popped, Bush was selected, the economy went south, 9/11 happened, the economy went south, Iraqi invasion, the economy went south… etc., and now all that’s left is a few local punters. The publican continues to support ITM even though it seems to have no effect of bringing in a lot of heavy drinkers. (He deserves a plaque or medal or something) And on occasion – ITM appreciators that come to listen outnumber the punters. Now it’s relaxing and enjoyable to have a tune with your pint – and definitely worth it. One of the great things is that because SF is an international tourist destination – we get a lot of visiting musicians.
Of course, they are. If the punters (though the management can be just as difficult)are that bad, pick another pub.
If the music is bad or doesn't suit you-ditto.
However, it's great to listen to good players, even if you don't know all the tunes. I heard some fantastic stuff over the last fortnight, though much of the repertoire was unfamiliar. Even the standards were not "my standards" but it was still great, even although I didn't play very much.
Yes, pakooper, that would seem to be the case. If you can't squeeze at least one free beer out of the landlord, what's the point of playing in a pub? (Yes, I know, bla bla bla, love of the music, yadada yadada. I can love the music fine in the privacy of my kitchen and buy bottles for half the price at the corner store.)
So, Jack, are they letting musicians across the border again? That's good news. I thought they had a special camp set up for them somewhere in New Guinnea...
My 2 cents? NO Public Address System/Everyone is welcome/If a landlord is not providing you with something (afterall YOU are providing him or her with something) then you are being used.
If I didn't go to pub sessions, where would I go? Like it or not, sad old gits like me probably have no alternative. The local young hotshots are not about to invite me round to their bedsits.
Re: PA's, or miked up sessions - they have this in the Quiet Man in Melbourne, but you're not aware of it when you're in about the musicians, it's more for the punters further up the pub. It works out a lot better than you'd think.
The landlord of the Dolphin in Southampton has rigged up some discreet ambient miking around the session area. I do the regular bluegrass session there, and sometimes the Irish one on another night, and there's all sorts of different (acoustic) music happeneing at other times.
There are sets of small speakers placed high up, and spaced evenly throughout the (big) pub, so the music volume is kept at the same level as say, hearing it 2 metres away from the session tables. That way anyone in the pub can listen to it, or talk if they want without upsetting anyone.
pub sessions are they worth it ?
pub sessions are they worth it ?
mayby i am just getting old but i wonder if it is really worth playing in pubs ..with the noise and sometimes sheer agression to the music by some general public We are lucky here in fingal to have the seamus ennis center where it is nice for listeners and musicians alike.not to mention the wine.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by corncrake
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
The thing I like about the pub is you can't be precious about the music. I agree that it's crap when it's rowdy though
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by ...
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
A PA is not the way. If you amplify your self, so do the punters.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by ...
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
YES, they're worth it. What we need to do is destroy all televisions in pubs. I mean beat them with bats, hurling sticks, and what have you. Well, maybe ask the proprietor to shut them off during the session at the very least. There's no getting away from them, in the States, anyway. Attention spans are short and conversations are boring and loud here because all anyone knows how to do is watch the stupid TV and pretend that they are on it. Kill all the TVs and let the devil sort them out. Appreciation of the tunage will follow.
There's a pub I frequent with my fiddle that lacks TVs and most of the time the folk are much appreciative of the music. People have stood rounds, clapped, cheered, even expressed a heart-felt "thank you."
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by grymater
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Depends on the pub.
If it's a fight just to hear yourself, and you're not made welcome, then no.
If you're welcomed and people who choose to listen to the music do so politely, then yes.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
If the pub is too noisy, then you're in the wrong pub. If we agree that the music is more
for the musicians than a performance, then you
can't expect punters to shut up and listen, if they're there to chat eachother in the first place. It's their night out.
Best to move on and find a suitable place or play at a different time.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by BegF
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Whether it's a performance or not, it still is going to sound great, or like shite, or somewhere in-between. If it sounds great, most people will enjoy it. If it sounds terrible, they might start throwing things. If I was out with my friends at the pub I wouldn't want the night to be spoiled by some awful caterwaul in the corner...
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by glenn
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
The only reason our Sydney sessions happen in the pub is that there's free beer. It's true: there are too many intoxicated rowdy people, juke boxes, blaring televisions and pokey machines for a pub session to be pleasurable. A lot of the time we just buy a whole load of beers and pile into someone's living room to play, or we find an excuse to throw a party.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
I personally hate it when I see a PA in a pub.
It’s a bit like the arms race, “oh I see, gonna talk loud are we, well let’s see what you do when I turn this up” and on and on.
Pubs are great ‘cos you can have a whole load of different little things going on.
Auld fella in the corner tapping his feet, a group in the corner solving the world’s problems, another group in the other corner
playing music. Bring in a PA and the casualness of it is gone. Plus, you’ll never encourage the shy to participate in it.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by BegF
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
PA....piano accordion?
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by bt
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
That's it. I'm off to slit my wrists. :¬(
Conán
(Disillusioned Piano Accordion player)
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Now you know how victimized I feel as an English concertina player!
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
No, Conan really, no, look, please? Can you put the razor down? It's not worth it.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Yeah, use it on the accordian, not on your wrists !!!
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by BegF
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
LOL that's cruel!
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Boo hoo p¬(
Goodbye cruel world *sniff*
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Conan - when you're dead can I have that shirt?
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Can I have your nose?
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Is he dead yet ?
I miss him.
We can use the accordian for fire wood to keep us warm.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by BegF
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
BegF we can put the accordion on our tune bonfire!
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Hurrah !
Hey which thread am I on ?
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by BegF
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Um, Bribanjo, I just read the first part of your response above, and for some reason it's starting to feel warm in here...
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by sts
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Actually, to expand on that above analogy: If you _don't_ play with a PA, does that mean you're practicing "unsafe ITM"?
Of course, then you'll get people who say that PAs aren't 100 percent effective, and the safest thing is abstinence.
...which in some people's case might not be a bad idea, come to think of it. I was going to say something there about shaky eggs, but in the context of this analogy that might prove a bit too fertile for the imagination.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by sts
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
I think he means the speakers provide a safety barrier between you and the audience in case they are carrying diseases.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Kerri Brown
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
"I think he means the speakers provide a safety barrier between you and the audience in case they are carrying diseases."
Hmm. William Manchester once wrote about Marilyn Monroe essentially "making love to the camera" and thereby "arousing lust in her audience." Not sure if I've encountered a similar situation playing "The Bird in the Bush" at a pub session, but maybe there's something to what you're saying.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by sts
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
They didn't use condoms in those days (when actresses made love to the camera), they used a piece of nylon stocking across the lens with holes burnt out for the simpering eyes.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Kerri Brown
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
I'm hardly cold in my grave and you beggars are already dividing up my possessions? Some friends you are. Well I have to let you know it's great up here. I can see this big tunnel with a light at the end and someone beckoning me. Wait... isn't that...he's getting closer... yes, it's Frankie Gavin.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Course they are
Here Conan, that Roddy Doyle 2nd part of Henry Smart Trilogy is out "Oh, play that thing".
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by jdcorcra
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Nice one! Maybe this is Roddy's way of telling me to quit contemplating my own demise and get back on the old PA.
Cheers!
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Pub sessions...are they worth it?
Depends on where you are. If you on "the old sod" and it's an authentic part of the local culture, YES! By all means! Enjoy!
If you're out on the west coast of the US competing with big screen TVs and the sport of the moment, playing through your 1000 watt PA so you can be heard over the banshee wailing of the punters who couldn't care less about what you're doing, and getting the paltry recompense of free beer to salve your annoyance, then it's rather a different story.
Come to my place in the sticks and we'll shoot around some tunes. I'LL give you free beer, and there's a B&B next door where you can sleep it off.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by KC Gross
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Once you set up a PA -- it's definately a performance.
The sessions at the local pub I play at used to be woeful because of the din from the punters. The pub was wedged every Sunday and there was about 20 musicians all vying to have their tunes played. It was a dog-pile on ITM… and at the end of the night I felt like a casualty of war.
Then a variety of things changed everything. It seemed like a new Irish pub opened every month, the “dot com” bubble popped, Bush was selected, the economy went south, 9/11 happened, the economy went south, Iraqi invasion, the economy went south… etc., and now all that’s left is a few local punters. The publican continues to support ITM even though it seems to have no effect of bringing in a lot of heavy drinkers. (He deserves a plaque or medal or something) And on occasion – ITM appreciators that come to listen outnumber the punters. Now it’s relaxing and enjoyable to have a tune with your pint – and definitely worth it. One of the great things is that because SF is an international tourist destination – we get a lot of visiting musicians.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Ok, back up. Free beer in Sydney? Is everybody else but me getting free beer?
Is it time to start ording drinks for Conan's wake? I'll have a Trinity Red, to start things out on a reverential tone.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by pakooper
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Of course, they are. If the punters (though the management can be just as difficult)are that bad, pick another pub.
If the music is bad or doesn't suit you-ditto.
However, it's great to listen to good players, even if you don't know all the tunes. I heard some fantastic stuff over the last fortnight, though much of the repertoire was unfamiliar. Even the standards were not "my standards" but it was still great, even although I didn't play very much.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Yes, pakooper, that would seem to be the case. If you can't squeeze at least one free beer out of the landlord, what's the point of playing in a pub? (Yes, I know, bla bla bla, love of the music, yadada yadada. I can love the music fine in the privacy of my kitchen and buy bottles for half the price at the corner store.)
So, Jack, are they letting musicians across the border again? That's good news. I thought they had a special camp set up for them somewhere in New Guinnea...
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Kerri Brown
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Hahaha... Yea, the sessions are brilliant in Guantanamo I hear.
# Posted on September 2nd 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
when they are full of Female Spanish Tourists ..oh yes !
# Posted on September 3rd 2004 by ArseBiscuit
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
My 2 cents? NO Public Address System/Everyone is welcome/If a landlord is not providing you with something (afterall YOU are providing him or her with something) then you are being used.
# Posted on September 3rd 2004 by most bass
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
Don't know. I only go there for the beer.
# Posted on September 3rd 2004 by Cath
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
If I didn't go to pub sessions, where would I go? Like it or not, sad old gits like me probably have no alternative. The local young hotshots are not about to invite me round to their bedsits.
Re: PA's, or miked up sessions - they have this in the Quiet Man in Melbourne, but you're not aware of it when you're in about the musicians, it's more for the punters further up the pub. It works out a lot better than you'd think.
# Posted on September 3rd 2004 by Bren
Re: pub sessions are they worth it ?
The landlord of the Dolphin in Southampton has rigged up some discreet ambient miking around the session area. I do the regular bluegrass session there, and sometimes the Irish one on another night, and there's all sorts of different (acoustic) music happeneing at other times.
There are sets of small speakers placed high up, and spaced evenly throughout the (big) pub, so the music volume is kept at the same level as say, hearing it 2 metres away from the session tables. That way anyone in the pub can listen to it, or talk if they want without upsetting anyone.
Jim
# Posted on September 4th 2004 by Worldfiddler