Traditional Music Club Update

Subject: Traditional Music Club Update
From: wilco
Date: 05 Feb 04 - 11:02 AM

Several of us started a traditional acoustic music club here in East Tennessee last July. Our flier said it was "YMOMA," Yours and Mine OLd-Time Music Club, and it said that it included old time, bluegrass, blues, and gospel. It was all acoustic.
    we met in a local church, and we've had about 160 musicians through there since then, with about 25 to 30 each week. It got too big, so we started one across town, in a Sr. Citizen's Center, and we have about fifteen there each week. It looks like I'll have to start another one in the Spring.
    We meet from 6PM to 10PM, and pass a hat to cover utilities. there are no by-laws, no officers, and no newsletters.
    We sit in a circle, and pass the microphone around the circle. You can do a number, pass, or ask someone else to do a number. By an large, it's a "slow jam," with lots of musicians who needed to find others to play music with.
    Our problem has been that the very experienced musicians don't like it for the follwoing reasons: Too many people.
                                  Too wide a variety of styles.
                                  Bad timing with the newbies.
                                  Don't get enough individual
                                     practice (attention?)
    All in all, we have had about 200 musicians since 7/8/03.
    Any suggestions.

Wilco in Tennessee

Subject: RE: Traditional Music Club Update
From: Dr Will C U Now
Date: 05 Feb 04 - 12:44 PM

Remove a chair each time the mic is passed :-)

Subject: RE: Traditional Music Club Update
From: KateG
Date: 05 Feb 04 - 04:15 PM

Perhaps creating separate circles for the separate styles? And don't keep it slow all the time, push your beginners occasionally or they'll never grow. On the other hand, include a few tunes that everyone knows (Old Joe Clark is a tried and true example). Building speed and repetoire takes time, but it cannot be done alone.