FASH CHAT - Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde's introduction to folk singing
There are singers who engage with their audience, who entertain. And others who make their toes curl. Which are you? Read on, and find out about the magic potion that turns Mr Hydes into Dr Jekylls.
My day job involves standing up in front of people and agreeing a shared understanding of a business problem. I'm what's politely called a consultant. I see a lot of fellow consultants who don't engage their audiences and don't get the necessary free flow of information and opinions. How can a group of people agree on anything if half of them are asleep?
I have seen top executives who have bored their audiences rigid. One who springs to mind started out with the less than encouraging words that he'd not seen the presentation until a few minutes earlier so he didn't really know what he was talking about. Thanks very much: but you're the boss, so feel free to waste my time and to make me realise just how unimportant I am.
You've probably been there, too, maybe at work, a committee meeting, the quiz night. People who turn up late, haven't got their notes, apologise, mumble. They don't look you in the eye, you can't hear them properly. They've got some technology-assisted notes which are too small to read. That's if the technology's working properly. Embarrassing, isn't it? "Why am I wasting my time here? I could be doing something useful..."
Hopefully you've also seen how it should be: where the speaker is enthusiastic (and audible), the technology works, and everybody's tuned in and making the appropriate contributions.
Meanwhile, back at folk singing... you're probably way ahead of me, it's not that hard, but if you're the apologetic mumbler, "haven't had time to rehearse", not tuned up, then you're Mr Hyde. And your audience will be wishing that they were somewhere else.
The Dr Jekylls are enthusiastic and well prepared. Those two aspects go together. It's hard to be enthusiastic when you know that you're under-prepared. And there's an inevitability in starting with an apology – everybody, including yourself, expects failure. Most seemingly confident performers are bluffing at least part of the time. But that bluff often starts a self-reinforcing process taking the person "into the zone".
So what's the magic potion? Preparation X? No: just preparation. If you think that a room full of people should give you their time, then you owe it to them to have given of yours. Knowing what you're doing will lead to confidence and enthusiasm and that makes for a performance that will make your audience glad to have invested their time in listening to and engaging with you.
More about Hamish Currie and Dr Jellyroll at www.hamishcurrie.me.uk
Hamish Currie
Letter from Eastleigh Folk Dance Club
Like most of the other folk clubs, we at Eastleigh have been concerned about the rising average age of membership. Several years ago we were finding that whenever our club evening fell in a school holiday, our attendance dropped because a number of our members were involved with grandchildren.
We therefore decided to hold a Family Barn Dance on such evenings to encourage members to bring their children and grandchildren. The caller was chosen with the mixture of ages and dancing experience in mind, so that the programme could have general appeal.
These events have proved very successful and some younger people have come to the club on other evenings as a result. Perhaps other clubs might like to try this idea, but take note – you will need to buy more biscuits than usual!
Our next Family Barn Dance is on Monday October 22nd and we would love to see you there, with or without your children or grandchildren.
Dorset Buttons
Whilst at Upton-on-Severn Folk Festival, my own enjoyment of the Morris dancing was enhanced by the evident appreciation of the crowds watching the many sides performing.
The dancers and musicians were all having fun, smiles and laughter followed slight deviations from what should have been danced or played and the spectators clearly had tremendous admiration for what they were being treated to.
The overall picture was one of everyone having fun, laughing and enjoying themselves. Can one really ask for more when people are enjoying what has typified "Merrie England" since the Middle Ages and must be continued if we are to keep our identity in a multi-cultured society.
The desire for sportsmen and women to win seems to have undermined our ability to enjoy sport for the sheer fun of participating. 'Tis far better to lose a good game than win a bad one'.
Likewise, we have the purists in the folk scene but how many people join Morris sides to perform perfect dances. I would hazard a guess that when spectators see musicians and dancers having fun performing with smiles and laughter, they are far more likely to think that they too would benefit from this type of exercise and social intercourse.
As a member of The Dorset Buttons, a mixed side incorporating Ladies North West and Men's Rapper Sword dancing, I was delighted to see 10 (yes ten!) new members, ages ranging from 14 upwards who are dancing out this season and enjoying what they set out to do – have fun. Our first dance out was on Easter Monday in perfect weather and both sides were a credit to their tutors, and yes they all had smiles on their faces. It was brilliant to see. The musicians in our band also enjoy the practise evenings in the winter and the dance outs during the summer.
One excellent aspect of folk festivals is the number of youngsters, both musicians and dancers, who are on the scene. Let's do our best to keep them playing and dancing by encouraging them to join in with the older ones and have fun, exercise and contribute to the enjoyment of the spectators – some of whom will doubtless be thinking – "I wish I could join in with that sort of enjoyment".
Handing out leaflets when dancing out and giving details of who to contact is the way and you never know, your sides could be recruiting ten new members like we did.
Wareham Wail
See www.wail.org.uk for details of a singing weekend from August 31st to September 2nd. Ted FitzGerald tells me it is to be recommended and I especially like the notes that point out that it is a non-profit making group and any profit is eaten in the Medieval Banquet!
Paul Hawkins is involved with what looks like a good day out at Titchfield on Saturday 15th September. See his advert in the magazine or follow the link. The programme includes the Askew singers, a talk on George Gardiner, 2 concerts, a history walk and a comedy singaround.
Gosport Living Village
Shep Woolley and Friends in the open air at Little Woodham, Gosport on 23rd September 2-5 p.m. Tickets £5 adults, £3 children. Real Ale from Oakleaf Brewery. Bring your own seat. Enquiries and ticket booking to Helen Tudor-Powell 02392 356289 Helen.tudor1@ntlworld.com. See also www.littlewoodham.org.uk
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