Daddypig, DsD and Tincanman have all expressed tentative interest in a northern social. I have sort of offered to try and sort something out - probably in Leeds, as it's fairly easy to get to. Is there anyone else who would be interested? And does anyone know the general form of these things? Would I have to book a room somewhere, or do anything technical? Or could we just meet under the clock at 6.00 and go and have a beer?
Ideas on a virtual postcard please ... I'm thinking October (avoiding half term week) or early November (avoiding Christmas rush)?
34 comments:
If it's the weekend of 24th Oct, I'd be interested. (It's my dad's 80th and I'll be making a short visit to the area - I live in Spain). I'll probably be flying to and from Liverpool but my family are in Middlesbrough so an overnight stop in Leeds isn't entirely unfeasible.
Makinavaja - that's a good starting point - what does anyone think of Saturday 24th October?
It's half term but is everyone around?
Hope you'll have time for a java while in Liverpool Maki.
As for (semi)Northern social, love the idea. Entire weekends of oct 17 and Oct 31 are impossible for me.
Dates oct 10 and nov 6 are out.
eJay is probably best to ask for hosting tips. I'll bring crusty rolls.
I'd be up for that - Leeds is doable & I think the 24th's ok.
Definitely up for a formal Social. Leeds is good with me.
Family plans for the half-term week not sorted yet.
But Ali? Did you know The Unthanks are supposed to be playing a candlelit gig at Halifax Parish Church on that Saturday 24th October.
If you want any help with the organizing, just call. We do normally try to find a venue with a room we can have to ourselves, and decent food is always a bonus. If it goes 'national', then we'll need to point out possible accommodation to those coming from afar.
Leeds good for me too, dates I'll let you know ASAP, we're pretty booked up with lots of comedy and Pixies (YEAH!) dates, plus away for half term. The Unathnks are here near Xmas DsD, and I've just found out Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy are playing a local primary school in Feb! Wow!
I'm definately up for it!
Any Saturday In October in Leeds is good for me (at the moment atleast). 24th October will make it a bit of a busy weekend (family do the night before, City match the next day)but I'm sure I'll manage.
I can't really point you in the direction of anywhere appropriate in Leeds. It's years since I've been out for a drink there but keep me posted and I might be able to express a view about any proposed location.
24th Oct is good for me and Leeds is very convenient. But other dates are OK too, though 17th Oct is the day after my wedding anniversary....
I've a friend who's in charge of the Leeds Guide and I'm sure could help identify a good venue with the right size room, music-playing facilities, bar.. Do we usually try and get somewhere for free or could we share any room-hire ??
...and food of course - just re=read DSD's comment.
So it's looking good for Makinavaja, Tinny, Exodus, DsD, TracyK, Gordonimmel, Daddypig and me so far. Can I suggest we pencil in October 24th?
Daddypig, I'd be really grateful for help in choosing a venue, I work in Leeds but rarely go out there in the evening. I'm happy to chip in to book a room / food, don't know what others think. I doubt we'd get anywhere for free.
I'll check out some venues too.
24th is great for me! Yay! Quit-ish pub that does food? Curry break early evening? I'll get on to my Leeds mates too and ask around.
OK, the 24th is pencilled in in my diary.
And I'm willing to put my hand in my pocket if necessary to hire a room.
Have a great time - love from Steel city.
I'll start the venue search in the next couple of days (perhaps starting with The Adelphi near Leeds Bridge, if they've got a function room). I've got a bit of work to do the next couple of evenings, as well as my compulsive habit of dubious-quality posting to keep up, but I'll get working on it v. soon.
Any idea from past socials what sort of numbers to work to ? 20 or so ?
Near train station would be helpful
Let's try not to pay for a room; must be plenty of places happy to have us just for the extra takings.
And re numbers - we normally plan for around twenty, DP, but rarely manage it by the time the night comes around. Warn prospective hosts it could be anything from one to two dozen.
I guess price will depend on demand for function rooms on a Saturday. Friends have used them for parties fairly recently, so I can check the state of the market.
The Adelphi is the nearest decent pub to the station (I don't think the Wetherspoons at the station itself has a function room / suitable space) and is 5-10 mins walk away; but there are lots of bars / clubs nearer.
gremlin, do come if you can; but I appreciate it's a schlepp from south Yorks (with a not-brilliant train service), especially if you've got football commitments early on the Sunday.
The spectre of the 'RR social CD' now raises it's head - what's the deal with that?
By tradition, your bring something to the social - that something being a mix Cd with enough copies for each (or you dropbox it if you are counting your pennies or carbons). Topic/theme is whatever you like - many have tried to do unknown gems, but we've all been doing the RR thing so long there's not so many secrets anymore. So personal faves, some topical theme, songs that begin with your favorite letter, whatever you like.)
OR, you just bring yourself which is absolutely just fine too.
I'll see if the footie allows me to make it - there are some people I'd very much like to meet - as far as the CD goes, i'm a bit wary of that - the last time i bust a bollock making one for a RR-er i ddin't even get an acknowledgement (so imagine the hassle for 12 people...) and still havent.
Daddypig - the Adelphi sounds good though I think the room is quite big. Whitelocks have an upstairs bar (though might be hard to find for those who don't know it) - the other thought I had was the Victoria Hotel behind the Town Hall, I recall having a Xmas lunch in a side room there, at some time. Let me know if you want me to do anything.
I know one thing DaddyPig could do - book it in Ali's name so we don't have to walk into a bar and say ''I'm with DaddyPig.''
[DsD can be heard at the far end of a room frantically flicking through piles of CD-Rs, and trying to get his malfunctioning memory to work. Mumbles of "Did he...? Did I...? Wasn't me, guv - or was it?" Looks up to see PC screen blinking, footsteps approach, hisses "Damn, I left this thing on!" CLI**]
Tincanman - I laughed out loud. I have such a daft name, I've never considered anyone else's as being even dafter. Mind you, I have to live with mine on a general-usage basis!
My children call me Daddy Pig all the time. Last week they came to see where daddy works and were yelling it across an open-plan office. Oink.
I guess we need some music to keep us going, but I'm happy to go without a CD; finding time to listen to a couple of new things each week on RR, plus my occasional purchases, is enough of a challenge. And although I've got a few 'donds' this week, my usual success rate suggests that people could survive without a CD from me ?!
No! Trust me DaddyPig, making the Social CD is worthwhile. I think I can speak for most attendees when I say that receiving said gift creates an obligation to give it more attention than we feel from a mere online comment on a Friday. Some of the songs contained in those CDs, from very unexpected sources, have become firm DsD faves. And I've had similarly warming feedback from others too.
FIND THE TIME AND DO IT!
Just quickly compiled off the top of my head - I'm sure there's loads more ...
Without RR Social CDs, it is highly unlikely I'd now own multiple albums by:
Down By Law, Remy Zero, Shuggie Otis, Kitchens Of Distinction, Goldmund, Doll By Doll, Bell X1, Death Cab For Cutie, Emiliana Torrini, Band Of Horses, etc., etc.
Songs I'd be GUTTED if my mp3 player had to do without:
Johnny Boy – You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes…
Primitive Radio Gods – Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth …
Aphrodite’s Child – Four Horsemen
Gil Scott-Heron – Your Daddy Loves You
Jack – Emperor Of New London
Buckwheat Zydeco - Cryin’ In The Streets
Chambers Brothers – Time Has Come Today
And how’s this? I DID already own Ellington/Coltrane’s In A Sentimental Mood, courtesy of ejaydee on a CD he did for the second RR Social.
And as for the mighty, MIGHTY sane resident of Norfolk that frequents these parts, and also the world's coolest Swedish-speaking auntie, my collection is SO indebted I can never thank them enough.
So come on DaddyPig, and gremlin too if you can make it, get a disc compiled and leave your machine to burn a dozen copies; you shall be rewarded tenfold!
There is, thanks to DsD, a memory stick version containing the archive of social tunes. Would be nice if this could snail mail it's way around the world, for the geographically challenged amongst us. I should have thought to made a copy, but didn't. Suggest giving GF a gentle poke if you are interested in getting this musical baton.
No, I have it. He sent it to me. Anyone want it, let me know, or I can send it back to Shoey.
Sorry, I'm such a slacker, and I wasn't quite sure what to do with it.
There are two memory sticks.
If goneforeign has the one I gave to Shoey, and steenbeck still has the one (with added Talk Talk) that I sent up there, then by all means pass either of them on. I don't need them back. TonNL and Tempusfugit have had CD packs mailed to them in the past, but that may only have been the first two socials' worth.
As Blimpy said in his buke of aTartyTart, 'share the love, huh?'
;o)
Keep me posted fpr the social, ultimately it'll depend on ticket price and accommodation.
Maybe Japanther should be the next recipient of the memory stick.
As with ejay, keep me posted. I'll pass on the info to Tarxien as well.
Tarxien? Is that the one who only shows up in real life? What a strange collective we are.
She got a lot in the RR tens in the days of Lukethedrifter and Bradleythebuyer, if you check back on the Marconium! It'll be lovely to see everyone again, already stressing about the cd!
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