Len

Here’s a thought - As I said earlier, years ago it didn’t cross many peoples minds to D.J let alone promote….Fast forward a few years then come the dance scene D.J’s like Fat Boy Slim (Shape) etc. At that point it became a massive ‘coup’ to be a D.J. I think that’s when the desire to be a D.J then became common all over and not just on the Soul Scene. I personally was D.Jing before that time and for the record, the reason I enjoyed it then and still do today is that I feel I do try my best to bring something at least a bit different to what some are playing. I just wouldn’t get any enjoyment playing the same records as lots of other D.J’s. I don’t see any point in that, may as well let someone else play them and get on that dance floor. I put my reasoning down as I’m interested in what others get from D.Jing - Or more importantly promoting as that’s a cr*p hobby especially if “Numbers were down” (Again!!!) Why carry on? All the best, Len. P.S - Lou, apologies if this is swaying ‘off thread’ - They usually do! Lol …I think my post is connected but I get carried away sometimes (Yep, by the men in white coats!) I’ll go read your original post again… :O) P.p.s - I feel our ‘Beloved Soul Scene’ has been trampled all over but I’ve now blocked that thought out as I’ve decided to stay positive and enjoy wherever I choose to go - Have I mentioned that? Sorry, it’s self therapy! x

Hi Dave, Yes I see the irony! (Irony is one of my specialist subjects) In saying that... ...A while back myself and Russ Vickers were at Life-line discussing how frustrating it is, that there's 'no room' to put on an event of our particular soul music taste and we both agreed it's just a waiting game and hopefully one day the time will be right to promote again. I've also had a similar conversation with Dave Vanner (He promoted a lot in the 90's and is also waiting / hoping for a 'space' one day) I don't think we are the only three who have taken a step back though. On the other side of the coin and kind of in peoples defence, I think a lot now only concentrate on their local scene rather than the national scene, that's why there's so many events on. When it gets to three or four events in the same vicinity - that's when it just beggars belief! All the best, Len.

..Meanwhile back in the real world...lol - Yes, great idea but as you say, defo "Easier said than done" lol Even on just a local level - For example, just one event in each town or better still each county. Say you manage to get all the said promoters to agree one united event only....Then the question is raised - Who's gonna D.J?....That's where the 'Meeting' would end..lol Len.

There must be something in the air as I have only just got my 'Northern Soul Mojo' back and am enjoying myself now more than I have for a long time. I think it's because I have stopped (Well almost!) moaning about what's wrong with the scene for me. Fact is, nothing stays the same so you have no choice but to embrace it and make the most of what's there now. I expect the people that went to the early music festivals are just as bitter as us, seeing what most of them have turned into, going all corporate and costing nearly £200.00 per ticket, those original lot used to turn up and just see what happens ...(He says as if he was there!) - You know what I mean. All the best, A very 'Positive' Len....At the minute anyway....mmmm...Now I've said that, it's got me thinking....

Nothing wrong with you 'Oldies' coming out to play still. Chr*st I can have better laughs with folk like Bob Cornack (Who's actually 83 years old) than some folk I know in there 30's! Your as young as you make yourself - Now put that 'One huge heated slipper' back under the bed, get ya dancing shoes on and come on back! (To Me Baby...etc) All the best, Len.

- Sorry, that did actually make me 'lol' Len.

Stop being so Happy Joan! lol The fact we are all analising it is not a good sign in its self. Years ago we were all just doing it! We had no desire to get on the computer and tell everyone what an awful night we had just had etc, we just looked forward to the next night out....Well back then it would have been the desire to seperatelly ring 500 people and tell them 'what an awful night we had just had etc' as there were no computer forums! lol Len.

I think that point was about five years ago Chalky. In the 90's and before, not many people thought about D.Jing let alone promoting. Anyone can go on 'E' bay, buy some records then put a soul night on - It's a shame some don't realise it's just ading to the problem of a very diluted scene. Yep, for me in general it's definatelly a broken soul scene. I didn't want to post as I try not to think about it as it depresses me. It's never going to be the same, so best except it and try and make the most of wherever you choose to go. All the best, Len.

I've had (Again completely seriously) - "Can you play something we like?"!!! Or after a couple of requests that I didn't have from someone, I politely asked if there was any more she had in mind? - She replied (With a moody face) "Yes there is, but you wouldn't have them" and marched off! It's all part of the fun! lol Len.

Brilliant! I had one guy ask if I would call him a cab! - There wasn't the slightest bit of irony in his voice either, he was serious! Len.

I've had lots of 'Unpleasantness / wierdness' during my D.J 'Career' - One example was very simular, after all the requests I didn't have, this guy stood behind me with his arms folded, I asked if he was ok in a 'why are you still here?' kind of way - He replied "Don't worry, I'll think of something else in a minute" - F.F.S!!! - I was lucky he turned up wasn't I? lol Len.

Oops - Sorry about that, I was sure it was a Wigan sound as was told so and it sounds so 'Gregory's Girl' (If that makes sense!) All the best, Len.

Joe Jama - My Life - HATE IT! Joey Delorenzo - Wake Up To The Sunshine Girl - LOVE IT!??? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Main Change - Sunshine is her way - Nebula - Is my 'Guilty Pleasure'....Does anyone out there also admit to liking this Wigan 'Awfulness'? lol - I have had so much stick about that record over the years (Ok, I admit it - I even bought it!) ... I'm to embarrassed to state what I paid for it though lol. I used to do a Fanzine called 'Northern News' and we had a section called 'Some Things Are Better Left Unplayed' (Ketty Lester referance) - Great Thread / Great Fun....No doubt it'll soon turn nasty though... I absolutely HATE The Five Royals - Catch a Teardrop...The list could go on lol All the best, Len.

Hi Steve, I'm in the same boat as I expect many others are - 'Needs must' an' all that. You will sell your 'Cream' pretty fast as there are always a few buyers for the rarer items. After that, I think you will be left with the rest for a good while (If not forever) If you think about it, that's not a bad thing. If the time does actually come for me to sell, I will sell my rarer items which is obviously where I'd raise most of the cash and keep the rest. I think it's a real shame to sell everthing 'Job lot' - At least keeping some will give you many more years of pleasure. All the best, Len.

Says it all doesn’t it Moldie? You only have to do some maths - Divide roughly the amount of people that go out even say twice a month by the amount of events on, it’s just not sustainable. Hope this isn’t going to ‘off topic’ - Back to the original post, as Terry said - You tried but unfortunately there can’t be the call for it in that particular location. Not sure if local politics have also had an effect? - Don’t want to know either! My advise (For what it’s worth) - Put it behind you, go out somewhere else and enjoy yourselves. All the best, Len.

Hi Dave, Probably didn't see them for looking! As in - TOO MANY FLYERS - TOO MANY EVENTS! There was a time if you were giving out flyers, people would actually approach you and ask for one! (Happened to me several times) - I don't even bother looking at flyers at all now and am only supporting about four different events which keeps me busy enough (Soul wise) Len.

The same thing happened at Peterbourough LEL. Poor Russ Holly put so much work into it. It had a really 'Top All-nighter' line up ( I think ten 'Big name' D.J's) But sadly, only about 70 people turned out for it. I said to him afterwards that I had a feeling that was going to happen. In todays 'Flooded' market, it's hard for any event, let alone one that's slightly out of the way. It's best to attend, let someone else have the headache of promoting. All the best, Len.

B*gger, B*gger, B*gger! - That's my evening gone! - I've just skimmed through all my old posts to find the post that proves 'Our Winston' coined the phrase 'O.V.O' ...I wouldn't recommend doing it though as it was, at times 'Cringworthy' - God, did I really write that? etc (A bit like listening to your own voice on tape when you were a kid!) Anyway I must of blo*dy missed it! I know it was a thread (One of the originals!) about Original vinyl only, people were stating it so often so 'Our Winston' stated it then said "O.V.O for short" I actually wrote something like, "O.V.O', like it Winston I recon that might catch on" Or something like that... ...Anyway, the search is still on, If anyone else finds the said thread, there's a £1.00 reward! All the best, Len. P.s - Hello Gavin!

Although this thread is 'about done' it's a shame to end it on such a 'sudden' note so thought I'd add again... In Steve's defence, he has admitted he may have said what he said but he backed it up with the fact he acknowledges he hadn't been out for 15 years and stated he should have done some home work but was surprised at what was being played. I've been in many situations where 'returnees' have spoken down to me and not recognized the fact the soul scene has carried on without them, so he's not the first to do this. Ref Steve's P.M asking for a D.J spot, as I said in my earlier post - (This may not always be the case and I'm sure some that have asked to D.J may have something to offer) I don't know Steve but he doesn't come across as a 'Wannabe' and his p.m. came across as well meaning. All the best, Len.

Personally I don't think anyone should ask for a D.J spot as I think it's extremely crass. Anyone who is 'qualified' to be a promoter on the soul scene should know 'Who's who' anyway. I do think they should also be looking out for 'Untapped' (Up and coming) or 'under used' D.J's though - In my opinion thinking of how to make their particular event a little bit unique, if it's not, why bother promoting anyway? They shouldn't just be giving spots to mates or other promoters so they get a spot themselves (D.J exchange) I know unfortunately this may go on but I still don't think it's right to ask for a spot - Just my opinion but I always think of Britain's Got Talent or 'X' Factor and all those dreadful wannabes (This may not always be the case and I'm sure some that have asked to D.J may have something to offer) - Still crass though. All the best, Len. p.s - What was the original post on this thread again? lol

Stop it - I have the proof somewhere I know it ......May take a while longer...... Len.

By Christ, this is gonna take ages! lol...So far I've found this quote -

Don't you be so modest Winston! - Right, I'll have to find it - Leave it with me! Len.

Ok, I admit it - I've done it too! I can't remember the name of the record (Unlike me!) but it was an 'Impossible to get on original' item (Blue label with four records on a single - Bargain!) If anybody can name it from that I could confirm what it was, it was something like 'I Have No Choice' but not that. Anyway, naively I thought at least we all get to hear it....Unfortunately it jumped (Just two or four times lol) and as the record finished one of my 'Elders' - Mr Tony Parker casually whispered in my ear "That's why we don't play pressings Len"...I was very young at the time but even now all these years later his 'Wise' words are still echoing in my head! lol (Actually no 'lol' - I'm serious!) 'O.V.O' shouldn't be an issue and as soon as it is made an issue i.e. - People harping on and on about it, that's when it sounds ridiculous. I know who coined the phrase though....None other than our Winston! - That's a fact as I remember commenting on it when he first said it. Someone may be able to find the 'Original' thread where he first said it (Let me know how you get on!) At the time I thought what genius though Winston... 'Dave Goddin - 'Northern Soul' 'Winston Heath - 'O.V.O' At least you'll be remembered mate! All the best, Len.

I'm not supposed to mention that! lol All the best, Lennny Dopson (We've changed the spelling slightly as we like to keep our 'D.J Careers' separate)