....does anyone do a q&a with them on stage or wherever at any point or is it the usual p.a. three songs and off scenario?

The Q and A session are something that I've banged on about for a number of years. Most people who bring acts to UK won't do them. The reckoning is that there's no demand.

When we got the Dynodynamics Production Team together a few years ago (for the first time on 40 years), we set up a whole afternoon where we asked them about their lives in music. A simple set up of a couple of mics, a set of turntables to play the odd track (or parts of) being discussed and I have to say it was a great afternoon. What made it even better was that we had young American record collectors/fans with us and they loved it.

To be fair, at Prestatyn there was always the afternoons prior to the Main Saturday night show to interview the artists and that was also great but to do it in front of an audience with all the questions being furnished from fans in that audience is a special way of doing it in my opinion. The artists seem to get a real buzz out of being reminded about their former lives from the 'shop floor' scenario.

The recent Kenny Gamble interview with Richard Searling and Ralph Tee to promote the upcoming CD of Philadelphia's TSOP era is a great example of an opportunity that could have been opened up to such an audience. Some real answers to some real questions could have been gotten. We do it with sportsmen, politicians, other people of note so why not our heroes too?

I'd pay for an structured evening with some of the artists, that's for sure and I know plenty of others that would.

Good thread. Nice One.

Regards,

Dave

It's obvious that people would want to hear about their lives I think.

I think as many people pay their cash to be in the same room as them as hear them sing, so hearing a bit about their lives from the horses mouth would be of major interest - it's amazing what little juicy tit bits of interest come out when you let some of the names rattle a bit.

was one a few years back

can't remember details now, but was a stand alone "audience with..." q and a type of affair

melvin davis?

I think it would be good in a separate room after the performance, where people can go and ask questions from the audience. If it was half an hour of questions in the main room, with everyone standing around on the dancefloor, that would just kill the night stone dead for me.

Also I think it depends if it's a dayer, weekender, niter or soul night.

Edited October 25, 201212 yr by Matt Male

To be honest in many cases I am equally interested, if not more so, in hearing them speak. I think that provides a great opportunity for them to know they are loved and cherished, sometimes more than just applause.

Many times the performance leaves me wishing I had seen them at their peak and therefore the applause is as much for the joy they have brought in the past as their performance. Although the look on their faces at people cheering them is worth the admission price alone for me.

I think it would be good in a separate room after the performance, where people can go and ask questions from the audience. If it was half an hour of questions in the main room, with everyone standing around on the dancefloor, that would just kill the night stone dead for me.

Also I think it depends if it's a dayer, weekender, niter or soul night.

Absolutely. I'd rather see an evening set up where there was buffet served and a bar open or something and the artists relaxed but in semi formal setting, similar to an after dinner speech scenario but without too much formality.

Hey......I can feel an event coming on here........lets see how much support SSers would have for that type of set up?

Regards,

Dave

I think it would be good in a separate room after the performance, where people can go and ask questions from the audience. If it was half an hour of questions in the main room, with everyone standing around on the dancefloor, that would just kill the night stone dead for me.

Also I think it depends if it's a dayer, weekender, niter or soul night.

For me the performance could be in a separate room also, too many nights killed by live acts (for me),

where it got to the point that if someone was on live- I wouldn't go.

Nevertheless, it would be interesting to hear them talk--howabout "An Audience With.............." type of event ??

Tony

To be honest in many cases I am equally interested, if not more so, in hearing them speak. I think that provides a great opportunity for them to know they are loved and cherished, sometimes more than just applause.

Many times the performance leaves me wishing I had seen them at their peak and therefore the applause is as much for the joy they have brought in the past as their performance. Although the look on their faces at people cheering them is worth the admission price alone for me.

100%.

When Gloria Jones appeared a few years ago she was obviously struggling badly and a few people asked me why I clapped so loud after such a poor performance. My answer was exactly what you posted "I'm not clapping for the last 15 minutes, I'm clapping for the last 30 odd years'.

https://youtu.be/evzyrBSbnUs

Regards,

Dave

Count me in, what about an all day event, where the afternoon saw a Q&A scenario, with an Allnighter/Soul Night afterwards (break for dinner of course) with a live performance from said artist(s).....

Production teams/writing teams where groups of people from the industry, like the Dynodynamics Production Team at Hitsville is a great example but Im sure there are others out there still, that may wanna share there lives with us too, as opposed to just the single artist scenario.

I bet Lorraine Chandler would be fantastic in this kinda environment.

Best Russ

Count me in, what about an all day event, where the afternoon saw a Q&A scenario, with an Allnighter/Soul Night afterwards (break for dinner of course) with a live performance from said artist(s).....

Production teams/writing teams where groups of people from the industry, like the Dynodynamics Production Team at Hitsville is a great example but Im sure there are others out there still, that may wanna share there lives with us too, as opposed to just the single artist scenario.

I bet Lorraine Chandler would be fantastic in this kinda environment.

Best Russ

The Hitsville Tenth Anniversary in 2014 will hopefully encompass that scenario Russ. Irons are in the fire as we speak.

A great opportunity in UK would be at Prestatyn in March. Set it up in The Old Vic with one afternoon dedicated to a Q and A with Mr Carl Fisher. I did over 30 hours of interviews with the man. He's a mine of information and a gent to boot. Massive catalogue to go at and lots of memories of the Chitlin' Circuit, some great producers including Carl Davis, Gamble and Huff etc. He's been performing since he was a member of The Jayhawks in the 1950s!

Regards,

Dave

was one a few years back

can't remember details now, but was a stand alone "audience with..." q and a type of affair

melvin davis?

Johny Beggs and I did one back in 2005 with Melvin Davis

Sidney Barnes did one at The Howard a few years ago - superb !!!

Put me down, great idea

Absolutely. I'd rather see an evening set up where there was buffet served and a bar open or something and the artists relaxed but in semi formal setting, similar to an after dinner speech scenario but without too much formality.

Hey......I can feel an event coming on here........lets see how much support SSers would have for that type of set up?

Regards,

Dave

A Soulmans Dinner?

A Soulmans Dinner?

Gladys Knight has some interest in a soul food shack with her nephew. I saw it on Man v Food on the fooodie channel. Gladys could fry some good old chicken, fries and slaw for the evening.

Gladys, get chip pan on love!

There was a Q & A session with a live artist (sometimes more than one) at every Prestatyn Weekender (both the March & October events). They went out live on Channel 6 (weekender radio), usually around Saturday teatime.

There was a Q & A session with a live artist (sometimes more than one) at every Prestatyn Weekender (both the March & October events). They went out live on Channel 6 (weekender radio), usually around Saturday teatime.

Yeah but that was just you asking your questions ...what about the rest of us?

Only joking Pal, they were great shows, especially like the Bobby Patterson one. Now there's a real DJ.

Regards,

Dave