Len

Was just about to answer - "Yeh, 'fate' but, not 'direction' Chalky"......then the rest of what you put sank in - Slow down Len, other people do know what are talking about! Well done, carry on ......I've had a hard week, and it's me Birthday weekend, so I'll try to stay off here until Wednesday Len

Look at Darrow Fletcher at The Wilton - I don't think they sold hardly any tickets until the last week or two - Poor Boxy, I bet that in itself added so much more stress to one of the most stressful promoting stories I've ever heard! Point being, for a live act such as Darrow Fletcher you would have thought people would buy their tickets well in advance, not just because it's Darrow Fletcher, but this event also had the 'it will probably sell out' factor - It made no difference. Organise yourselves people! Len

Yeh, good luck whoever volunteers - A few years back I suggested closing down all soul nights within a 50 mile radius, and have one big juicy event instead - I got slated for it. Silly me aye? Len

That is so important - I wish all D.J's respected this practise. Some D.J's work hard trying to be a bit creative, whether it's a new discovery, or simply reactivating a tune that hasn't been heard in a while - Don't nick their efforts! (There's no need to) All the best, Len

In other words, if you know what you're doing carry on, if not (and you will see by the event if you look at it) Stop, and that's not a bad thing. This act will let other events flourish (even more), and you can go and enjoy them with everyone else in the knowledge that your little bit of 'making room' has helped things. We're kinda going off topic here (or I am) didn't mean to - I suppose the punters will 'give the night direction' - if you change things if they're not happy, but before you do, ask yourself - do you really want to be doing it another way to please folk ?...... All the best, Len

In practise it sounds fine mate, but have you ever tried selling tickets - It's a f*ckin nightmare. Some folk are organised and keep a diary etc, but most don't arrange things until a week before. Some of my mates are that useless, they ring me at 5.00pm 'that night'......."What's happening tonight Len?".......Oooooooo, it drives me mad I tell you! Point being, I wouldn't advise selling tickets. 'Reserve in advance to save a quid', is what we do, that also gives us a good indication of how many are coming (as a percentage wise) For example, if 70 people have took the trouble to reserve, we know we can expect around 220 people (It works as a ratio, because we can go by past events).......In doing this, we can also use the "did you reserve your ticket?" angle, if we feel we don't want to let someone in. All the best, Len

P.Med ya Len

..........Sadly I can (True story this)........I was young and very skint, so (thinking nothing of it) I took sandwiches and a flask of coffee (yes a flask of coffee!) to The Fleet All-nighter at Peterborough......I was enjoying my night in that 'I'm young and scared kinda way', I went and sat down, and thought ......"Mmmmm coffee time"......so whilst still enjoying my night I decided to get me flask out........as I was pouring my coffee, two older girls looked over........then one of them said......"Tight C*nt!" with a big scowl on her face........I can't tell you how devastated I was - it completely ruined my night......and the next week (s)......not that I still think about it to this day........ Len

Beat me to it - Yes well done that man! Len P.s - Anyone for a game of Scrabble?........after the next nighter.........

Same here, but this is the result of too many events - each and every one (including the good ones) need 'whoever turns up' to make them financially viable (a sad, but true fact) We can't really blame the promoters for letting them in for that reason - All they can do, is 'go with it', but keep an eye on them.....unfortunately (as stated above) if some 'undesirables to the soul scene' do misbehave (or simply don't conduct themselves like the soulies do) the dynamics change, and it puts people off from going back. All the best, Len

Nothing wrong with Clowns!.......Just a 'chosen few' will get that Len

"Well the scene ain't as good as it was!"........'hic' .....On a serious note that you touched upon - Youth Culture (as it was) is what's missing nowadays, and I think that's a shame for the 'kids of today'.......I looked / felt great with my parka fish tail dragging along the floor behind me when I was 14.....and I had 'attitude!' Len P.s - It seems this younger generation don't / don't need to 'make an effort' to attract the opposite sex - just a pair of jogging bottoms and a hoodie seems to do the trick for them.....yes, a real shame.

Word........ .....................clever git Len

Yes, Brian Taylor the Tailor - You wouldn't know him, you're simply not cool enough Win Damn, Damn, Damn!.....Or is that Dam? Len

The difference being, that the 'high waistband pleated multi zipped Oxford bags' you were wearing, were for your time and style, not another generations'. .....I used to wear Hipsters (Taylor made)........and I'm not ignoring you........(and to save anyone the trouble - No I'm not a girl!) Len

Phew! - You do have a sense of humour! Back 'on topic' (I'm always writing that, can't think why ).........It's 'tat' to us, but definitely 'retro' to young people, and to them whatever is on the bag is 'the look', and nothing more. We all still want it to be underground, and us being the young people to boot, but we're not anymore - so I suppose it upsets us (just a little) All the best, Len

From the same shop?! Perfuse apologies, I couldn't resist - just a joke All the best, Len

Definitely nothing wrong with playing an unknown tune twice in a set (let alone in a night) and I would encourage that practise. I've started sets with a 'newie', and finished sets with the same record - not a 'trend' set by me I hasten to add. Ref your boot played before someone plays an original - and trying desperately not to go into the topic 'that one does not speak it's name' - If that happened, I would expect a little grumble from the D.J that had the original, that's all - If it were me, I'd just take it out my set. In fact, it has happened to me, and I did just that - I didn't grumble, and it didn't ruin my night, even though it was one of my 'safety' records! All the best, Len

Yeh, back on topic please Good post btw - You say.......i"m not a dj so maybe im being out of line".......Far from it mate, you may have hit upon something there, and giving opinions is most important - More so if you ain't a D.J! All the best, Len

Hi Win, 'Educated' is a term that I don't like (although I know what is meant by it) The thing is, most people on the soul scene like soul music (obviously) so anybody, and I mean anybody that likes soul music can enjoy 'any' good soul record (obvious again) You're right, people come out to enjoy themselves (obvious 'again,again') and they are 'capable' of doing so listening to some different sounds, if those sounds are (as you say) up to scratch. They just don't want loads of tunes that they are unfamiliar with, that's all. ........Um, as you know....... .......'Further more' ......Some of the tunes that some people play as 'cutting edge' are enough to put anyone off, and I'd much prefer to hear a good 'tried and tested' Oldie over some of them........Then that silly 'opinion' thing kicks in don't it? All the best, Len

Doh! - So true Len

Yes it can be exhausting - 'Head on the block' or what? Woody, as in 80's Woody 'The legend' (not on here) said to me a while back........"If it's said with good intension, that's all that matters"....and he's right - If you say (write) things with conviction, you don't need to worry. So, I'll look forward to your next Topic mate Len

F*ckin' cash flow! - As 'we speak', I am ringing round trying to get some monies in just so I can pay the damn wages - It's been like this every month for a good while now, and I'm getting tired. Thinking positively though - I do think we are getting out of 'it' (as in all of us) but there's another two years of hardship ahead I believe - It's been 5 years so far, and if you read the bible (which I'm sure most of you do) It's 'Seven fat cows / Seven thin cows'.......I think I have it sussed .....Am I 'off topic'? Len

"Not bad thanks" Works busy at last, hence I'm not on here 'as much' as I used to be - but I have a computer at my desk (get me!) so I'm afraid, you are all 'to hand' Hope your good to Barry - You haven't started a thread in a good while mate.....Since (it seems) I named you 'Barry the Thread Starter' (Fire Starter) This is a goodun though, I would say another 12 posts, then it will all get nasty - Bring it on! ...."People vote with their feet - end of!"......(etc) All the best, Len

and me - It normally goes away after a while. But thanks Barry - What would we do without Soul-source?!!! Len