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 <[email protected]>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, <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Send Organizers mailing list submissions to >> [email protected] >> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >> [email protected] >> >> You can reach the person managing the list at >> [email protected] >> >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >> than "Re: Contents of Organizers digest..." >> >> >> Today's Topics: >> >> 1. Open Bands (Jeff Kaufman) >> 2. Re: Open Bands ([email protected]) >> 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 <[email protected]> >> To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]> >> Subject: [Organizers] Open Bands >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> 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: <[email protected]> >> To: "A list for dance organizers" <[email protected]> >> Cc: <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> 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 >> >> --- [email protected] wrote: >> >> From: Jeff Kaufman <[email protected]> >> To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]> >> 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 >> [email protected] >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 3 >> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:08:32 +0000 >> From: barb kirchner <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> 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: [email protected] >> > To: [email protected] >> > CC: [email protected] >> > 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 >> > >> > --- [email protected] wrote: >> > >> > From: Jeff Kaufman <[email protected]> >> > To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]> >> > 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 >> > [email protected] >> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Organizers mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 4 >> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:12:55 -0500 >> From: Merle Mceldowney <[email protected]> >> To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands >> Message-ID: >> <CAK4w+gprKxrSx5B3bw5YYLs3TySwrvx_XnKNrJ85rtTg= >> [email protected]> >> 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, <[email protected]> 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 >> > >> > --- [email protected] wrote: >> > >> > From: Jeff Kaufman <[email protected]> >> > To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]> >> > 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 >> > [email protected] >> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Organizers mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > 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 <[email protected]> >> To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [Organizers] Open Bands >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> 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 <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] >> 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: >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 7 >> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:25:12 -0500 >> From: Michael Barraclough <[email protected]> >> To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]> >> 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.html >> >> 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: >> > [email protected] >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Organizers mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Organizers mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/organizers >> >> >> End of Organizers Digest, Vol 34, Issue 8 >> ***************************************** >> > >
