On Monday, May 14, 2007 4:37 PM [GMT+1=CET],
STRUDWICK.FAMILY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> The issue of entertainment is difficult I know, firstly I have to
> disagree with Mike Stevens, the only entertainment besides Chucklefoot
> was jazz on Saturday. Yes there were bands playing on the island on
> other days but you can't sit and listen to them, they just give a
> pleasant background "musac" to the event. So if the event can't afford
> more entertainment then at least have the groups play one set in the
> Entertainment marquee each day.
The full schedue for the jazz & blues bands was :
Saturday - Steve Strickland
2:30 during the pageant
4:30 beside the Pool
Kinda Blu
4:15 in the amphtitheatre or ents tent depending on weather
in the evening for the boaters in the ents tent
Sunday - Bob Dwyer
Performance times not as scheduled because they had travel
problems. I think they ended up playing at about 5pm on the island and
again there at 8:30 before & during the iluminated boats.
Monday - Bill Bailey
12:00 in the pool
3.00 in the amphitheatre
5.00 in the pool.
I've already mentione the problems of finding enough money to put on a
richer entertainment programme. One other added dimension is you get more
performaces per pound by booking a group for the whole weekend than by
booking separate groups on different days - which is why Chuckefoot
appeared in the programme so often.
Another is that one of our sponsors, some of whose sponsorship is earmarked
for entertainers, happens to own the amphitheatre in Sheldon Square and so
want to see entertainers there.
> Finally I agree that the theme for the Saturday Pageant seems to be
> getting harder over the years, which could explain why there has been
> a decline in entrants. This years theme is a case in point "Canals
> Combating Congestion" gave little scope except running a laden
> working boat.
I take that point. As a theme for the event "Canals Combatting Congestion"
was, in my view, a roaring success as it got a lot of public & press
attention for a crucial IWA policy - when was there last footage of a
barge carrying 50 tonnes of gravel on prime-time regional TV?. But as a
theme for the pageant it was a dismal failure. Perhaps we need separate
themes for the pageant and the rest of the event. That's the sort of thing
we'll be discussing in the Committee's wash-up meeting in a couple of weeks.
Mike Stevens
narrowboat Felis Catus III
web-site www.mike-stevens.co.uk
Defend the waterways.
Visit the web site www.saveourwaterways.org.uk
