News: Call out for dancers / original Northern Soul fans

[Maryam Snape 30]

News/Article/Feature Highlight:

BBC are filming at the Northern Soul night at The Night Owl in Birmingham this Friday, they want to interview/film some original soul fans and dancers

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[Hooker1951 708]

SEND FOR RUSS AND THE CASINO DRUG SQUAD THEY WILL GIVE THE BBC ALL THE RIGHT INTERVIEWS HOW EVERYBODY DANCED ON SHREDDIES AND WEETABIX ECT. THE BBC MIGHT GET LUCKY AND HE MIGHT SHOW THEM HIS FRANK WILSON ORIGINAL.SERIOUSLYTHOUGH GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR VENTURE.

ML

[Byrney 1,967]

I'm sure you'll be inundated with requests to be involved, but have to ask what the BBC mean by original soul fans, do they mean those at the start of the scene, or at the overground commercial period (they usually mean this e.g. Wigan), the Stafford up to mid 90s 'underground' periods....

My point is, in my view you're as much an original if you're 19 and been doing the 100 Club for the last 2 years as someone who was 19 and did 2 years at the Casino. 

Heres hoping they get it right and I don't have to hide behind a cushion again :)

 

Edited July 20, 2015 by Byrney

[epic 259]

They usually mean Wigan & Wigan & Wigan .................. nothing before or after is considered "interesting" enough ..... or indeed actually existed !!!

 

[Maryam Snape 30]

I'm sure you'll be inundated with requests to be involved, but have to ask what the BBC mean by original soul fans, do they mean those at the start of the scene, or at the overground commercial period (they usually mean this e.g. Wigan), the Stafford up to mid 90s 'underground' periods....

My point is, in my view you're as much an original if you're 19 and been doing the 100 Club for the last 2 years as someone who was 19 and did 2 years at the Casino. 

Heres hoping they get it right and I don't have to hide behind a cushion again :)

 

Good point Byrney, they want a mixture of old and young fans - people who saw the scene evolve and people who are new to it but just as passionate

They usually mean Wigan & Wigan & Wigan .................. nothing before or after is considered "interesting" enough ..... or indeed actually existed !!!

 

Not just Wigan..

SEND FOR RUSS AND THE CASINO DRUG SQUAD THEY WILL GIVE THE BBC ALL THE RIGHT INTERVIEWS HOW EVERYBODY DANCED ON SHREDDIES AND WEETABIX ECT. THE BBC MIGHT GET LUCKY AND HE MIGHT SHOW THEM HIS FRANK WILSON ORIGINAL.SERIOUSLYTHOUGH GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR VENTURE.

ML

Cheers

[TattooDave 3,788]

If you'd pay my return flight I'd come over, haven't been to Birmingham since Mick's 60th

[Byrney 1,967]

They might struggle Maryam with the old fellas who watched the scene evolve as that's the rare breed who carried on once the casino closed - but in my experience the people most likely to step away gracefully from the camera leaving it to those who did a couple of years peak time to tell us all about it. 

much rather see the better looking, more clued up younger ones then them ;) ;)

[Maryam Snape 30]

They might struggle Maryam with the old fellas who watched the scene evolve as that's the rare breed who carried on once the casino closed - but in my experience the people most likely to step away gracefully from the camera leaving it to those who did a couple of years peak time to tell us all about it. 

much rather see the better looking, more clued up younger ones then them ;) ;)

Haha well it doesn't really matter, I'm guessing it's more about the passion, obviously if people look the part and can dance then even better ;)

If you'd pay my return flight I'd come over, haven't been to Birmingham since Mick's 60th

Not sure where you're flying from Dave but pretty sure we won't be able to sadly haha

[Mark S 2,598]

Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggggg

[Maryam Snape 30]

Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggggg

What's up haha?!

[Mark S 2,598]

What's up haha?!

No explanation needed my comment was astute , incitefull and perfectly phrased . 

[nz soul 96]

that's all we need another  micky mouse thing on telly

northern soul the most overground sceen   on the go

[Maryam Snape 30]

It's not mickey mouse, the club is Northern Soul & Motown and one of the owners is a old Wigan regular. 

It's a small back street club, they want to film a regular night, I've done a good job of spreading the word and so press are interested.

The last time I spoke to people who came down last weekend they said let them know when we had filming so that's what I'm doing.

Don't be so negative we're all real fans of the music!

[MAK 464]

Maybe all real soul fans , but do you all understand it .Please for god's sake don't let it be edited like a Weetabix advert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Maryam Snape 30]

It's a news piece I doubt it will be done that stylized 

Isn't it good to spread the word about a small independent venue owned & promoted by real music fans? It needs to be busy every weekend to survive.

Are there rules about how to appreciate good music? 

I've been listening to Motown since I was a toddler and the way I enjoy it is to sing & dance along, like a lunatic, looking completely uncool, is that OK with the soul police?

[Dean 450]

Maryam, however well intentioned I think some of the sniping and concern comes from many examples of misrepresentation, and embarrassing misrepresentation at that, together with the reasoning that for those joining in the early 70s there was a sense of belonging to something created by enthusiasm outside of mainstream media driven culture. I can't speak about earlier. I tend to think if it had been as easy to access then as it is now I wouldn't have bothered. The more we shine a light on this the more we lose what was special about the scene. And before I'm shouted down about attracting younger people, I'd rather have 1 young person at a venue who has found the scene rather than 10 where the scene found them.

[Maryam Snape 30]

Ok I see where you're coming from, but it's hardly underground anymore, I think people need to accept it's out there now, and there's no reversing it. 

The club is a tiny independent club on a back street, it's not some big corporate entity, the fact people are taking such an interest is because Northern Soul & Motown are so popular, that's not our fault

I did speak to people who are from the old scene and said post on the forums and Facebook etc. to let people know about stuff like this so that's what I've done.

I think accept that it's out there and welcome genuine music lovers, friendly & welcoming like the old scene was famed for.

 

[Guest]

Good luck with it,hope it comes across better than blackpool YouTube posts, which on the whole are frankly embarrassing, hopefully won't turn into wiganesque Recreation 

[Maryam Snape 30]

Good luck with it,hope it comes across better than blackpool YouTube posts, which on the whole are frankly embarrassing, hopefully won't turn into wiganesque Recreation 

Thanks, this isn't the 70's and we're not pretending to be, it's a soul club for now

[Dean 450]

It's not mickey mouse, the club is Northern Soul & Motown and one of the owners is a old Wigan regular. 

It's a small back street club, they want to film a regular night, I've done a good job of spreading the word and so press are interested.

The last time I spoke to people who came down last weekend they said let them know when we had filming so that's what I'm doing.

Don't be so negative we're all real fans of the music!

I would be wary of "They want to film a regular night". The BBC will understandably want to film a programme that appeals, either by curiosity, revelation, fun, but I doubt "regular". Whilst applauding and agreeing with your sentiments around embracing the demise of any underground nature and looking forward to a more public aware future, along with good marketing, I would be aware. If they wanted to film a regular night why not just have the regular attendees without the request for "dancers". You are more likely to attract "15 minutes of fame" wanabees than people with interest and history. 

[Guest]

Thanks, this isn't the 70's and we're not pretending to be, it's a soul club for now

cheers for reply maryam, hope your club puts across what nsoul is about. Best wishes with the whole thing n hope u all enjoy the experience. 

[Maryam Snape 30]

I would be wary of "They want to film a regular night". The BBC will understandably want to film a programme that appeals, either by curiosity, revelation, fun, but I doubt "regular". Whilst applauding and agreeing with your sentiments around embracing the demise of any underground nature and looking forward to a more public aware future, along with good marketing, I would be aware. If they wanted to film a regular night why not just have the regular attendees without the request for "dancers". You are more likely to attract "15 minutes of fame" wanabees than people with interest and history. 

I think there has been a misunderstanding, they have told me that at the night they want to film dancers and that they want vox pops with old & new fans, of course there should be people like that anyway but I spoke to a couple of northern dancers last weekend who suggested posting on forums and social media about it, so perhaps it's me going along with that which has caused the upset? It wasn't meant to. I see where you're coming from though 

[nz soul 96]

the micky mouse was not a attack on ur club 

but u just have 2 look at the way tv puts across our sceen

[Guest johnny hart]

Maryam Snape, my dear,by virtue of the fact you would consider inviting more news media into our SWONS totally obliterates any northern credentials you pretend to have.Itried to come up with a suitable anagram for your moniker,almost got there,as my Gaelic ancestors would say "Pog Mo Thoin" LOL johnny

[Steve L 1,878]

I think there has been a misunderstanding, they have told me that at the night they want to film dancers and that they want vox pops with old & new fans, of course there should be people like that anyway but I spoke to a couple of northern dancers last weekend who suggested posting on forums and social media about it, so perhaps it's me going along with that which has caused the upset? It wasn't meant to. I see where you're coming from though 

Don't take it personally but you ned to try and understand that this kind of thing doesn't sit well with a lot of people. We all know that things aren't like they used to be and never will be again but a lot of the exposure that the scene has had over the years in the mainstream media has been embarrassing to say the least. 

As has been said, they usually ignore the "real" scene and portray a caricatured version of things that people don't like being associated with

[paultp 813]

Been there done that (about 15 years ago), the BBC were really nice on the phone initially but after a bit of pushing it turned out they just wanted to take the piss. Thankfully, I turned them down and our small club continued to be as obscure as we all liked it to be.

Hope you have a better experience but at the end of it all they just want telly footage that is interesting to the general public. The general public tend not to be on the soul scene.

[Guest]

Nice to hear from someone who's had dealings with TV producers 

[Byrney 1,967]

The BBC will need to create this to have an appeal to a wide audience, to do that they will inevitably focus on spectacle and the novel aspects as that what will offer a narrative that gives people with no or little interest in Northern a reason to watch. Therefore it will show outlandishly dressed people dancing strangely. You will also get a narrative that Northern Soul was around in the mid 70s, disappeared but now it's back - and here's some young people to prove it. That quite frankly happens every time and is an insult to the DJs, Record Dealers, punters and characters that kept this scene going post Wigan. 

I could be wrong, everything from Paul OGrady, Shredded Wheat, Trevor Nelson to that recent BBC doc makes me fear the worse.

I really do think you're heart is in the right place Maryam, the BBC's won't be. 

 

 

[billywhizz 950]

you keep on keeping on ,young lady, and enjoy cheers billy

Edited July 21, 2015 by billywhizz

[Maryam Snape 30]

Maryam Snape, my dear,by virtue of the fact you would consider inviting more news media into our SWONS totally obliterates any northern credentials you pretend to have.Itried to come up with a suitable anagram for your moniker,almost got there,as my Gaelic ancestors would say "Pog Mo Thoin" LOL johnny

I don't pretend to have any Northern credentials!? I DJ a range of genres. My boss is a Northern fan from about 40 years ago, I claim nothing. Not sure where you've got that idea.

What are 'credentials' anyway? I just like good music...

the micky mouse was not a attack on ur club 

but u just have 2 look at the way tv puts across our sceen

Fair enough but my job is to promote the club if the BBC want to film surely I'd be mad to say no?

[nz soul 96]

be carefull   could put a lot of people of if they piss take

[Maryam Snape 30]

be carefull   could put a lot of people of if they piss take

Are there rules I should be following? What exactly do you mean? I'm promoting a new club and media want to cover it this isn't anything crazy of course I'm going to say yes!

Tell me what to say to them to keep everyone happy!?

[Dean 450]

You'll never manage to keep everyone happy Maryam, especially in promoting. There are some sharp keyboards and wits on here, but mostly people mean well, even if experience has taught us to be sceptical, or perhaps we started as sceptic and grew into grumpy.

There's no rules, similar to there is not a northern soul dance (I'm sure the BBC would like there to be a northern soul dance to show how to do it!). I think your best advice on here comes from Paultp above.

Be wary of a minibus pulling up that looks like it's come straight from the BBC wardrobe department, as you said above this night is 'out there now', not a night in the 70s. I cringe at the fancy dress portrayal often seen, together with the mock badges that claim membership of something people wish they had belonged to rather than engage with the northern soul scene circa 2015. Or perhaps the retro outfit is the NS scene 2015? 

Take note of Paultp's post above, and get ready for the flack IF it turns into another Oh FFS moment on TV. And please try to ensure anyone interviewed has some teeth in.

[Mal C 2,249]

I'm really surprised at how well this club has gone, along with Second City Soul crew, I grew up in Birmingham and it was devoid of anything really bar the Rigger and one or two small do's in Digbeth on occasion... I wish all this was going in the eighties and nineties, would have been great... as for the BBC, well that makes it a great night to remember for all that attend.

Good luck with Friday, the picture you have used looks great btw..

Malcolm

[Maryam Snape 30]

You'll never manage to keep everyone happy Maryam, especially in promoting. There are some sharp keyboards and wits on here, but mostly people mean well, even if experience has taught us to be sceptical, or perhaps we started as sceptic and grew into grumpy.

There's no rules, similar to there is not a northern soul dance (I'm sure the BBC would like there to be a northern soul dance to show how to do it!). I think your best advice on here comes from Paultp above.

Be wary of a minibus pulling up that looks like it's come straight from the BBC wardrobe department, as you said above this night is 'out there now', not a night in the 70s. I cringe at the fancy dress portrayal often seen, together with the mock badges that claim membership of something people wish they had belonged to rather than engage with the northern soul scene circa 2015. Or perhaps the retro outfit is the NS scene 2015? 

Take note of Paultp's post above, and get ready for the flack IF it turns into another Oh FFS moment on TV. And please try to ensure anyone interviewed has some teeth in.

Fair enough, how about all you genuine fans come on Friday instead then, then no fakers will be able to get in!?

Worth a try eh ;)

I'm really surprised at how well this club has gone, along with Second City Soul crew, I grew up in Birmingham and it was devoid of anything really bar the Rigger and one or two small do's in Digbeth on occasion... I wish all this was going in the eighties and nineties, would have been great... as for the BBC, well that makes it a great night to remember for all that attend.

Good luck with Friday, the picture you have used looks great btw..

Malcolm

Thanks Malcolm, would love to get the Second City guys on at Night Owl sometime too!

[Steve S 60 7,677]

Just curious, but is it regional BBC News wanting to do a local interest item for their evening out and about slot, or is it part of a BBC documentary intended for national release?

[Maryam Snape 30]

Just curious, but is it regional BBC News wanting to do a local interest item for their evening out and about slot, or is it part of a BBC documentary intended for national release?

Just a local news item as mentioned previously, nothing to get knickers in a twist over

[Steve S 60 7,677]

 Just a local news item as mentioned previously, nothing to get knickers in a twist over

 

It'll make its way onto YouTube then, so us non Brummies can see it.

 

 

Edited July 22, 2015 by Steve S 60

[Mal C 2,249]

If's its on the BBC it should make the regional news catch-up?

 

M

[Matt Male 3,415]

Maryam I think the problem is that many, like me, are sick and tired of the way some so-called Northern Soul fans have treated the scene over the past few years. There are people who have done TV shows before, danced with Morris Dancers, danced for the vids for crappy pop records, organised dance classes, and organised northern soul kids parties, etc... I hope I'm wrong but I'm guessing you'll have these same people turning up for the cameras again this time, and your night will get tarred with the same brush. The 'fame' brigade have slowly diminished what was once a passionate and dedicated scene which had integrity in the eyes of many. Basically they have taken the piss over the past few years out of everything myself and many have held dear for the last 30+ years.

I hope it goes well and your heart is obviously in the right place, but I reckon that most people after the kicking we seem to get every time NS appears on mainstream media are now very wary of anything like this.

All the best

Matt

[paultp 813]

Just looking at this again, you've asked for "dancers and original northern soul fans" to come to your small club - don't you already have any of either group? You seem to be trying to produce some sort of fake club just because the BBC want to come and film. What is your music policy? Is it going to be the same this Friday.

What is it that you hope to gain from the BBC filming? More people coming to your club? It seems fairly small so if it was half decently promoted you ought to be able to fill it fairly easily. Ask yourself what you want out of it and then how you know that's what you're going to get.

Saying that you'd be mad not to let the BBC come and film sounds like you are a bit star struck by the thought of it. Maybe you should ask yourself what their angle is, what there intended story line is. If you don't know, they may arrive, set up, film and interview away and seem like really nice people. But if their intended story line is "bunch of pensioners living in the past" or "fancy dressers dance weirdly to outdated music" you won't know until you see the 5 minutes of edited stuff on the local news. 

Their agenda might be "lovely little club needs promotion" but who'd want to watch that?

i hope it goes well, but be careful what you wish for, you might just be promoting your club into a scene laughing stock without realising it.

i know I'm wasting my breath but telly people have an agenda and they couldn't care less if they tread on people to produce what they want their end product to be.

[Maryam Snape 30]

Just looking at this again, you've asked for "dancers and original northern soul fans" to come to your small club - don't you already have any of either group? You seem to be trying to produce some sort of fake club just because the BBC want to come and film. What is your music policy? Is it going to be the same this Friday.

What is it that you hope to gain from the BBC filming? More people coming to your club? It seems fairly small so if it was half decently promoted you ought to be able to fill it fairly easily. Ask yourself what you want out of it and then how you know that's what you're going to get.

Saying that you'd be mad not to let the BBC come and film sounds like you are a bit star struck by the thought of it. Maybe you should ask yourself what their angle is, what there intended story line is. If you don't know, they may arrive, set up, film and interview away and seem like really nice people. But if their intended story line is "bunch of pensioners living in the past" or "fancy dressers dance weirdly to outdated music" you won't know until you see the 5 minutes of edited stuff on the local news. 

Their agenda might be "lovely little club needs promotion" but who'd want to watch that?

i hope it goes well, but be careful what you wish for, you might just be promoting your club into a scene laughing stock without realising it.

i know I'm wasting my breath but telly people have an agenda and they couldn't care less if they tread on people to produce what they want their end product to be.

Hi Paul

We launched last weekend, both nights were sold out, Friday is our Northern Soul night it was FULL of dancers and soul fans old and young, really great atmosphere. Some people I spoke to then when I said BBC were interested in filming and had said they want to film dancing and get vox pops for a news piece, it was suggested letting people know on forums and Facebook by one of the dancers, that's the long & short of it.

Yes Northern Soul every Friday that's regular.

I don't really see why everyone is getting so worked up, it's a local news piece about a new club that's opened, they do them all the time for new bars/restaurants/clubs it's fairly normal I doubt it would result in thousands of people turning up. I asked the owners if they wanted to do it, they said yes, that's it plain and simple.

No treading on anyone planned, I will however raise your concerns to the owners and see if they still wish to go ahead.

Hope that's clear?

Maryam I think the problem is that many, like me, are sick and tired of the way some so-called Northern Soul fans have treated the scene over the past few years. There are people who have done TV shows before, danced with Morris Dancers, danced for the vids for crappy pop records, organised dance classes, and organised northern soul kids parties, etc... I hope I'm wrong but I'm guessing you'll have these same people turning up for the cameras again this time, and your night will get tarred with the same brush. The 'fame' brigade have slowly diminished what was once a passionate and dedicated scene which had integrity in the eyes of many. Basically they have taken the piss over the past few years out of everything myself and many have held dear for the last 30+ years.

I hope it goes well and your heart is obviously in the right place, but I reckon that most people after the kicking we seem to get every time NS appears on mainstream media are now very wary of anything like this.

All the best

Matt

Thanks Matt I can see you're coming from a good place with your criticisms, will feed this back to the owners and see what they decide to do.

[Hooker1951 708]

HI MARYAM FROM THE REPLIES TO YOUR THREAD YOU MIGHT THINK PEOPLE ARE BEING NEGATIVE WITH YOUR VENTURE.BELEIVE ME THEY HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE CYNICAL.MANY PROMOTERS HAVE HAD THEIR FINGERS BURNED WITH THE MEDIA,ECT OVER THE LAST 45 years  OR SO. YEARS AGO IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS THE HOTBED FOR AMPHETIMANIES WHICH HELPED FUEL IT, ROLL ONTHE YEARS PAST THE ECSTASY YEARS AND ALL DRUGS KNOWN TO MAN YEARS IT BECOMES A SANITISED NOVELTY SCENE WHEREIT BECOMES KNOWN FOR PEOPLE WEARING STRANGE CLOTHES AND DOING STRANGE DANCES.ITS NONE OF THOSE THINGS NS SHOULD ALWAYS BE LEFT OF CENTRE TO KEEP IT UNDERGROUND OTHERWISE IT BECOMES A PARODY AND CARCITURE OF ITSELF ANYTHING MAINSTREEM BECOMES WATERED DOWN WITH NO ENERGY TO KEEP IT ALIVE.THATS WHY THE REPLIES ON HERE SOUND CYNICAL.THESE NS PEOPLE BELEIVE IT OR NOT ARE GIVING YOU GOOD ADVICE.THE PROBLEM YOU MIGHT HAVE IS THE OWNERS OF THE CLUB WILL NOT SEE IT THE WAY WE DO THEY SEE FREE ADVERTISING,BUMS ON SEATS AND £ SIGNS. IT MIGHT WORK SHORTIME BUT WILL LOSE ITS LEGS PRETTY QUICKLY ESPECIALLY FOR THE GENUINE SOULIES. IVE BEEN A PROMOTER FOR MANY YEARS ON NS AND THE RAVE SCENE AND THE MUSIC AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THAT MUSIC MUST COME FIRST. FOR EXAMPLE ME AND MY PARTNER PUT A ALLNITER ON A FEW MONTHS AGO IN A TOWN WHICH HADNT HAD ONE FOR OVER 30 years AS IT WAS WE GOT A CRACKING GOOD SOUL CROWD IN BUT WE TURNED CLOSE ON 100 PRETENDERS AWAY AT THE DOOR TO KEEP IT UNDERGROUND AND SPECIAL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER. THE BIG QUESTION HERE IS WOULD THE OWNERS OF YOUR VENUE DO THAT IF NOT MARYAM YOUR FLOGGING A DEAD HORSE TO MAKE IT A GENUINE NS CLUB  SORRY IF THIS SOUNDS NEGATIVE BUT ITS JUST THE WAY IT IS

KEEP ON TRUCKING

GOD BLESS ML

[Steve L 1,878]

 

I don't really see why everyone is getting so worked up, it's a local news piece about a new club that's opened, they do them all the time for new bars/restaurants/clubs it's fairly normal  

Well that comment sums the whole thing up. You either get it or you don't, so if I were you I'd just carry on with what you're doing and stop trying to understand it.

Not many people can come along late in the game and understand it, for the most part you have to have been there and part of it, many years ago to really get what people are trying to tell you.

[spot 1,130]

It's a funny old game.

[IanP 629]

Fair enough, how about all you genuine fans come on Friday instead then, then no fakers will be able to get in!?

Worth a try eh ;)

 

Edited July 22, 2015 by IanP

[Haydn 317]

Is this the Sean Chapman gig?

[macca 1,356]

Is a vox pop a new type of time release spansule that uses a non gelatine coating for the more ethically minded? Sorry. 

[Guest]

Already looking mighty crowded... 

 

Edited July 24, 2015 by a8drewson

[JOHNNYBETCHA 9]

Best of luck with the club Maryam. Don't be put off by all the negative comments - I'm sure they mean well! If they're worried about the BBC putting a different spin on things how did they all feel when the BBC put Wigans Ovation on TOTPs, making complete twazzacks of us all!