17 Jan
2012
17 Jan
'12
4:59 p.m.
One last point - we also only have mics on the musicians who want them.
This allows the more beginning musicians to have the experience of playing
with the band, but not being as much a part of the sound. So maybe just
the front row might have mics.
We get the best of both worlds that way, good music and an opportunity for
all to play.
Dennis
On Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 5:43 PM, Dennis Merritt <dennismerritt1(a)gmail.com>wrote;wrote:
Last year's Splash Dance weekend everyone really
enjoyed the music and
it's all open bands and open mic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_KflHcq84M
We've had more success with our open bands at our regular dance as well.
The formula we've been using, both for them and Splash Dance, is to make
sure we have two good musicians to lead each of the open bands, one rhythm,
one melody.
Here's a clip from one of our regular Thursday dances -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NotY1Zavyw
For our Thursday dances, we compensate the two band leaders as we would
any band. We also compensate the leader of the open mic as well.
In our announcements of the open band nights, we usually point out that an
open band provides a 'big band' sound that you simply can't get with a
normal 2-4 member contra band. It really is something unique and special,
we think.
Dennis
On Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 2:25 PM, <organizers-request(a)sharedweight.net>wrote;wrote:
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Today's Topics:
1. Open Bands (Jeff Kaufman)
2. Re: Open Bands (mreddig(a)theriver.com)
3. Re: Open Bands (barb kirchner)
4. Re: Open Bands (Merle Mceldowney)
5. Re: Open Bands (Jeff Kaufman)
6. Re: Open Bands (Michael Barraclough)
7. Re: Open Bands (Michael Barraclough)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:31:10 -0500
From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu>
To: A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Organizers] Open Bands
Message-ID: <20120117173110.GA9908(a)melfpelt.swarpa.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Open bands have a reputation for being less enjoyable to dance to.
I've heard dancers say they avoid open band nights, or that while they
understand the role of the open band in fostering musicians they wish
they weren't needed. Now that I'm helping organize them with BIDA,
however, I'm not seeing this. In fact our attendance is higher, people
have a great time, and I don't hear complaints. Afterwards a dancer
wrote that they had "never seen that much positive engagement between
the band and the dancers."
A video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MENiFoiMq5Y
I see two explanations: (1) open bands are not actually unpopular and
I was just listening to the small number of people who don't like them
or (2) BIDA is doing something right. I don't know which it is, but I
figured I would describe what BIDA has been doing in case it's (2).
(BIDA has had four open band nights. I've only been involved with the
most recent three, so what I have below is about these three.)
In scheduling the open band we first find a band leader. We've had
Peter Barnes twice and Debby Knight once, both have been great. They
both primarily played piano, but also can play other instruments if
someone else wants to take a turn on piano. This is the only paid
role; everyone else playing pays admission on a $0-$10 sliding scale.
We have two rows, sorting people by experience. We mic everyone in the
front row and most of the people in the back, though there are often
some who don't want to be mic'd or who need to take turns with limited
mics. It's helpful that we have a large stage. Everyone plays at
once. At our most recent dance we had: (front row) caller, piano, 6x
fiddle (back row) double bass, whistle, recorder, fiddle, octave
mandolin.
Reading through this, nothing sounds very different from other open
bands I've been to. Which makes me think it's not actually about how
we run the band and instead about the musicians who decide to
come. Maybe what's going on is that we're drawing from a different
group? I wonder if there's an effect where when an open band has been
around longer many of the best musicians move on and you have mostly
people who aren't interested in or aren't able to get booked for other
dances? If this were happening I would expect that in general open
bands that were newer would be better; are they?
Jeff
( Also a blog post: http://www.jefftk.com/news/2012-01-17.html )
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:40:41 -0800
From: <mreddig(a)theriver.com>
To: "A list for dance organizers" <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Cc: <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands
Message-ID: <20120117094041.D4903DF9(a)resin03.mta.everyone.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
I have two possible reasons for your success.
1) Open Bands can help build your community by bringing in new people
(stakeholders) with enthusiasm.
2) Peter Barnes and Debby Knight are masters at creating dynamic music
from an otherwise disconnected group of musicians. I suggest it is not the
quality of musicians in the Open Band, but the quality of the band leaders
that gives life to the band.
Mike
--- jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu wrote:
From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu>
To: A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Organizers] Open Bands
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:31:10 -0500
Open bands have a reputation for being less enjoyable to dance to.
I've heard dancers say they avoid open band nights, or that while they
understand the role of the open band in fostering musicians they wish
they weren't needed. Now that I'm helping organize them with BIDA,
however, I'm not seeing this. In fact our attendance is higher, people
have a great time, and I don't hear complaints. Afterwards a dancer
wrote that they had "never seen that much positive engagement between
the band and the dancers."
A video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MENiFoiMq5Y
I see two explanations: (1) open bands are not actually unpopular and
I was just listening to the small number of people who don't like them
or (2) BIDA is doing something right. I don't know which it is, but I
figured I would describe what BIDA has been doing in case it's (2).
(BIDA has had four open band nights. I've only been involved with the
most recent three, so what I have below is about these three.)
In scheduling the open band we first find a band leader. We've had
Peter Barnes twice and Debby Knight once, both have been great. They
both primarily played piano, but also can play other instruments if
someone else wants to take a turn on piano. This is the only paid
role; everyone else playing pays admission on a $0-$10 sliding scale.
We have two rows, sorting people by experience. We mic everyone in the
front row and most of the people in the back, though there are often
some who don't want to be mic'd or who need to take turns with limited
mics. It's helpful that we have a large stage. Everyone plays at
once. At our most recent dance we had: (front row) caller, piano, 6x
fiddle (back row) double bass, whistle, recorder, fiddle, octave
mandolin.
Reading through this, nothing sounds very different from other open
bands I've been to. Which makes me think it's not actually about how
we run the band and instead about the musicians who decide to
come. Maybe what's going on is that we're drawing from a different
group? I wonder if there's an effect where when an open band has been
around longer many of the best musicians move on and you have mostly
people who aren't interested in or aren't able to get booked for other
dances? If this were happening I would expect that in general open
bands that were newer would be better; are they?
Jeff
( Also a blog post: http://www.jefftk.com/news/2012-01-17.html )
_______________________________________________
Organizers mailing list
Organizers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:08:32 +0000
From: barb kirchner <barbkirchner(a)hotmail.com>
To: <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands
Message-ID: <SNT134-W159A37EF753CDC992AEADDE800(a)phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
i think the point about strong leaders is the key. peter and debbie are
great. sue songer does a great job with portland megaband. open band
night at glen echo is amazing fun.
somebody who not only knows HOW to play for a dance, but can TEACH a
group, is a valuable resource.
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:40:41 -0800
From: mreddig(a)theriver.com
To: organizers(a)sharedweight.net
CC: organizers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands
I have two possible reasons for your success.
1) Open Bands can help build your community by bringing in new people
(stakeholders) with enthusiasm.
2) Peter Barnes and Debby Knight are masters at creating dynamic music
from an
otherwise disconnected group of musicians. I suggest it is not the
quality of musicians in the Open Band, but the quality of the band leaders
that gives life to the band.
Mike
--- jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu wrote:
From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu>
To: A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Organizers] Open Bands
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:31:10 -0500
Open bands have a reputation for being less enjoyable to dance to.
I've heard dancers say they avoid open band nights, or that while they
understand the role of the open band in fostering musicians they wish
they weren't needed. Now that I'm helping organize them with BIDA,
however, I'm not seeing this. In fact our attendance is higher, people
have a great time, and I don't hear complaints. Afterwards a dancer
wrote that they had "never seen that much positive engagement between
the band and the dancers."
A video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MENiFoiMq5Y
I see two explanations: (1) open bands are not actually unpopular and
I was just listening to the small number of people who don't like them
or (2) BIDA is doing something right. I don't know which it is, but I
figured I would describe what BIDA has been doing in case it's (2).
(BIDA has had four open band nights. I've only been involved with the
most recent three, so what I have below is about these three.)
In scheduling the open band we first find a band leader. We've had
Peter Barnes twice and Debby Knight once, both have been great. They
both primarily played piano, but also can play other instruments if
someone else wants to take a turn on piano. This is the only paid
role; everyone else playing pays admission on a $0-$10 sliding scale.
We have two rows, sorting people by experience. We mic everyone in the
front row and most of the people in the back, though there are often
some who don't want to be mic'd or who need to take turns with limited
mics. It's helpful that we have a large stage. Everyone plays at
once. At our most recent dance we had: (front row) caller, piano, 6x
fiddle (back row) double bass, whistle, recorder, fiddle, octave
mandolin.
Reading through this, nothing sounds very different from other open
bands I've been to. Which makes me think it's not actually about how
we run the band and instead about the musicians who decide to
come. Maybe what's going on is that we're drawing from a different
group? I wonder if there's an effect where when an open band has been
around longer many of the best musicians move on and you have mostly
people who aren't interested in or aren't able to get booked for other
dances? If this were happening I would expect that in general open
bands that were newer would be better; are they?
Jeff
( Also a blog post: http://www.jefftk.com/news/2012-01-17.html )
_______________________________________________
Organizers mailing list
Organizers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers
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Organizers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:12:55 -0500
From: Merle Mceldowney <merle.mceldowney(a)gmail.com>
To: A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands
Message-ID:
<CAK4w+gprKxrSx5B3bw5YYLs3TySwrvx_XnKNrJ85rtTg=
mMw4Q(a)mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I am a very basic recorder player. I did a band workshop with Peter at
pinewoods. It was an amazing experience. I believe we sounded really
good.
Beyond the basics that Peter taught us he was able to provide an
inspiration that was really amazing. I had a great time, people loved
listeneing to us, and wanted us to do it again.
Peter is an extraordinary and unusual talent. He has a combination of
musicianship, leadership and inspiration that wil make others sound good.
The challenge to community bands is to be able to get it done with people
of lesser talents.
Can I ask the icky question. Is Peter paid to do this?
M
On Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 12:40 PM, <mreddig(a)theriver.com> wrote:
I have two possible reasons for your success.
1) Open Bands can help build your community by bringing in new people
(stakeholders) with enthusiasm.
2) Peter Barnes and Debby Knight are masters at creating dynamic music
from an otherwise disconnected group of musicians. I suggest it is not
the
quality of musicians in the Open Band, but the
quality of the band
leaders
that gives life to the band.
Mike
--- jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu wrote:
From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu>
To: A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: [Organizers] Open Bands
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:31:10 -0500
Open bands have a reputation for being less enjoyable to dance to.
I've heard dancers say they avoid open band nights, or that while they
understand the role of the open band in fostering musicians they wish
they weren't needed. Now that I'm helping organize them with BIDA,
however, I'm not seeing this. In fact our attendance is higher, people
have a great time, and I don't hear complaints. Afterwards a dancer
wrote that they had "never seen that much positive engagement between
the band and the dancers."
A video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MENiFoiMq5Y
I see two explanations: (1) open bands are not actually unpopular and
I was just listening to the small number of people who don't like them
or (2) BIDA is doing something right. I don't know which it is, but I
figured I would describe what BIDA has been doing in case it's (2).
(BIDA has had four open band nights. I've only been involved with the
most recent three, so what I have below is about these three.)
In scheduling the open band we first find a band leader. We've had
Peter Barnes twice and Debby Knight once, both have been great. They
both primarily played piano, but also can play other instruments if
someone else wants to take a turn on piano. This is the only paid
role; everyone else playing pays admission on a $0-$10 sliding scale.
We have two rows, sorting people by experience. We mic everyone in the
front row and most of the people in the back, though there are often
some who don't want to be mic'd or who need to take turns with limited
mics. It's helpful that we have a large stage. Everyone plays at
once. At our most recent dance we had: (front row) caller, piano, 6x
fiddle (back row) double bass, whistle, recorder, fiddle, octave
mandolin.
Reading through this, nothing sounds very different from other open
bands I've been to. Which makes me think it's not actually about how
we run the band and instead about the musicians who decide to
come. Maybe what's going on is that we're drawing from a different
group? I wonder if there's an effect where when an open band has been
around longer many of the best musicians move on and you have mostly
people who aren't interested in or aren't able to get booked for other
dances? If this were happening I would expect that in general open
bands that were newer would be better; are they?
Jeff
( Also a blog post: http://www.jefftk.com/news/2012-01-17.html )
_______________________________________________
Organizers mailing list
Organizers(a)sharedweight.net
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers
_______________________________________________
Organizers mailing list
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http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers
--
*Merle McEldowney*
*212-933-0290*
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:17:04 -0500
From: Jeff Kaufman <jeff(a)alum.swarthmore.edu>
To: A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands
Message-ID: <20120117181704.GA11986(a)melfpelt.swarpa.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Merle Mceldowney wrote:
Can I ask the icky question. Is Peter paid to do this?
As I wrote before, the band leader (twice Peter, once Debby) is the
only paid role. They get $75 base plus $25 mentoring. Peter got
another $25 travel. Then there's profit sharing, and because there
are so few paid performers to split profits that tends to be more than
usual.
Jeff
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:13:16 -0500
From: Michael Barraclough <michael(a)michaelbarraclough.com>
To: organizers(a)sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands
Message-ID: <1326827596.3329.35.camel@The-Beast>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
This is what we say on the (Glen Echo) Friday Night Dancers web-site
about our Open Band, which plays every month on the 2nd Friday in the
month. Band attendance is usually between 30-60 people. Dancer
attendance is usually a little smaller than usual (say 25o instead of
275) on Open Band nights, in part because some of the dancers are in the
band. My personal view is that the band sounds better (tighter?) when
it is smaller, but it is always dance-able.
Michael Barraclough
Open Band
On the second Friday of each month, the "Fabulous Glen Echo Open Band"
provides the music for the dance. Both amateur and professional
musicians are welcome to sit in and are admitted free. One of our Open
Band members, penny-whistler Jim Stahler, has compiled an 18-year list
of tunes played by the Glen Echo Open Band and how many times they were
played. Newer members are encouraged to download the shorter list of
recently played tunes so they can practice the most frequently played
tunes. Both lists are Word .doc files. Here is a podcast that offers the
sets of songs along with the page info in some of the popular books such
as the Portland Collection and Fiddlers Fakebook. For more information
regarding the open band, check out the Open Band FAQ or send email to
Jim Stahler: jstahler at earthlink dot net. If you would like to play or
call for a Friday Night Dance, send email to FND Booking at:
fndgigs(a)petml.com
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:25:12 -0500
From: Michael Barraclough <michael(a)michaelbarraclough.com>
To: A list for dance organizers <organizers(a)sharedweight.net>
Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands
Message-ID: <1326828312.3329.39.camel@The-Beast>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Ok - so the 'net police' turned my post into plain text and lost the
links!
The18-year list of tunes played by the Glen Echo Open Band is at
http://www.fridaynightdance.org/OPEN_BAND_EIGHTEEN_YEAR_LIST_1993-2011.doc
The posdcast is at
http://www.openbandonline.com/Open_Band/Open_Band_Podcast/Open_Band_Podcast…
The Open Band FAQ is at http://www.fridaynightdance.org/openbandfaq.html
Michael Barraclough
On Tue, 2012-01-17 at 14:13 -0500, Michael Barraclough wrote:
This is what we say on the (Glen Echo) Friday
Night Dancers web-site
about our Open Band, which plays every month on the 2nd Friday in the
month. Band attendance is usually between 30-60 people. Dancer
attendance is usually a little smaller than usual (say 25o instead of
275) on Open Band nights, in part because some of the dancers are in the
band. My personal view is that the band sounds better (tighter?) when
it is smaller, but it is always dance-able.
Michael Barraclough
Open Band
On the second Friday of each month, the "Fabulous Glen Echo Open Band"
provides the music for the dance. Both amateur and professional
musicians are welcome to sit in and are admitted free. One of our Open
Band members, penny-whistler Jim Stahler, has compiled an 18-year list
of tunes played by the Glen Echo Open Band and how many times they were
played. Newer members are encouraged to download the shorter list of
recently played tunes so they can practice the most frequently played
tunes. Both lists are Word .doc files. Here is a podcast that offers the
sets of songs along with the page info in some of the popular books such
as the Portland Collection and Fiddlers Fakebook. For more information
regarding the open band, check out the Open Band FAQ or send email to
Jim Stahler: jstahler at earthlink dot net. If you would like to play or
call for a Friday Night Dance, send email to FND Booking at:
fndgigs(a)petml.com
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------------------------------
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End of Organizers Digest, Vol 34, Issue 8
*****************************************