Chalky

This topic isn't here to slate promoters, it is here to try and make sense of what is happening on today's all-nighter scene, to try and get promoters to work with each other or at least show some respect for what others are doing. I was curious what your reasons were for promoting Derby Assembly Rooms on the same night as another long established all-nighter less than an hours drive away? Sorry but I don't think you have done all you could to avoid the clash. It isn't rocket science. Rugby been running years, it's dates are in the calendar and nighter planner months in advance yet you still feel it warrant another all-nighter less than an hours drive away??? To say the crowd will vote with their feet is an insult to your fellow promoters, they shouldn't be put in that position. Did you know Rugby was on the same night befoer you booked the venue in Derby? It would appear you didn't or if you did you didn't care? Also to say you are after a different or catering for a different crowd is absolute rubbish. We are all after the same punters irrespective how you label the music on offer, it's stiil rare/northern soul however you wish to tag it. Oldies as you put them are well catered for at the majority of all-nighters including Rugby. This is everything that is wrong with the scene today and the reason why this topic was brought about. This simply highlights the fact that some will do as they please with little regard to what is on the same night, and in this case in the same sort of area. Don't worry you are not alone as this last week alone another promoter has done exactly the same and I can think of at least two others who are doing the same later in the year. As I said earlier with a little thought there is room for everyone but too many still plough ahead with little regard for the consequences their actions impact on fellow promoters.

then why promote an all-nighter on a given date when another established venue already booked? not having a go btw just curious as to the reasons you feel that another all-nighter is warranted/needed?Both venues will no doubt suffer because of this.

I remember plenty of events in the 80's, not so many paying customers but plenty of events. I can remember 6 all-nighters on one night.

Yep I agree try and leave the personal stuff for another time or use the PM facility. This topic is for the best interests of the scene and not individuals.

what DJ's paul....George did two sets at Lifeline, Val and Dave Rippoles at the Wilton last week... Just what Dj's do you want to see, yourself?

It will never happen though as venue owners are not interested. I'd love to see a return to the days of old, all your hello's deals etc done at the local soul night, into the nighter and everyone buzzin', dance floor full straight away. No beer either!!! Nowadays the first 3 DJ's often play to themselves whilst everyone arrives, meets and greets their mates, wait for it to fill up, sink a few pints or wait for the gear to kick in before they have the courage to venture onto the dance floor

but 95% of those stay local and don't go to an all-nighter ever. There is probably 400 to go at nighter wise depending on the size of the venue, location etc. Kings Hall the biggest all-nighter but the vast majority there probably do not do all-nighters on a regular basis. Now with 3-400 what is the point in splitting that crowd? Having two average nights instead of one great night?

What's established? Any night that was there when a new promoter decides to promote a venue. There's room for all-nighters to suit all tastes just as long as a bit of planning and respect /consideration for long established events is given.

at the behest of Little Stevie here's a topic for and about promoters and their promotions. Please refrain from the usual have a go at the usual suspects. This is meant to be a serious look at gettinng promoters heads together for the good of the scene. Think it is agreed that it can't carry on the way it is with an ever decreasing number of paying customers and few if any youngsters to take their places. There's too much clashing, too many nights (too many close together), promoters promoting for the sake of running a venue and maybe getting the chance to DJ? So lets get things out in the open, don't be shy have your say, punters too, but like I said keep it sensible

You say there shouldn't be bitch fighting and mud slinging on a public forum and you then go and have a go at an all-nighter in Stoke. I don't see any other all-nighters that night either in the events guide for that night??? Is it because they are not scene regulars and seem fair game? I bet the night is packed whatever happens! Why not have a go at say Shaun Gibbons who after years in the wilderness marches back onto the scene and clashes at least twice this year with a venue you are involved with, no more than an hour away from each other. Or Burnley which stopped for various reasons including lack of support and commitment yet Barrie brings it back, clashes with a long established venue little more than an hour away and so I hear gets 50 punters in, there are probably no other Friday all nighters so why clash? The next one is now scheduled on an already busy Bank Holiday weekend. Common sense would say have it a week earlier or something just to spread things about. There are plenty of other instances I could mention. If it can't be discussed on a forum which is about everything to do with the scene then where should it be discussed? The promoters don't talk to each other, some do, but most don't so it would never get mentioned otherwise. Who are the DJ's clinging to spots, is that their fault, I don't think so, I would look more towards the promoter for allowing it. There is plenty of scope for all-nighters to suit everyone, but what is needed is some common sense and some respect for fellow promoters and the paying public. Maybe promoters should look at going every other month but something needs to be done or the scene will dwindle and wither away long before its time due to the short sightedness of promoters.

not suggesting banning orders or anything like, just a bit of common sense.

Hi Karen, not trying to sway anyone one way or the other or try and say where they should go, its just a matter of promoters putting a venue on for the sake of it in an already over crowded calendar, often the same night and an hour or so away, sometimes less. Maybe if a bit of unity shown and a bit of respect of already established venues then the all-nighter scene could well be a lot healthier and the need to entice some back might not be needed so much. What is the point in splitting an already dwindling crowd? yes it's all subjective and we all have different tastes and requirements but two poorly attended venues not far from each other are not doing the scene any good.

it looked fantastic from some of the play lists I've seen. Anyway Brian Philips will be a better person to answer that question...I'm far too young of course

but there was a soul scene before a Northern Soul scene.

fookin hell it's not whether you would have been here, it is whether there would have been a scene, and there would have been a scene in some form or other regardless whether you had been here or not! Anyway, it's all because of Motown that we are lumbered with you I still think there would have been some sort of Soul scene without Motown. But I guess we will never know how popular it would have been.

nobody is denying that Motown helped the scene along it's merry way, no one is disputing the fact that Motown has had an influence on us all but it would appear you don't understand the question, and you're the one who is a teacher and a graduate. Which was would there have been a scene without Motown?

What's the point trying to entice anyone to go to an all-nighter when you have certain promoters doing their level best to ruin it just so they can run a night. What's the point in having a very comprehensive events calendar and all-nighter planner on here when a few take no notice of what is already happening?

but is that the question of this topic? Anyway Motown wasn't the biggest influence, whether that music was influenced by Motown is a different matter. At the end of the day it was a bit of everything.

no need to apologise and you ain't winding me up. As I said your are making this into two different arguments, what got you into the scene and would there be a scene without Motown. Now irrespective what got me into this scene I still maintain in some form or other there would be a soul music scene without Motown.

Did they all copy Motown, don;'t think so, Stax/Volt and many of the Southern labels had there own sound. You are almost saying there would be no Soul Music if Motown didn't come into being, that is absolute rubbish.

it was probably the northern the older kids were playing at school and the youth club where I grew up. When I left school I borrowed Pete Stones collection, not much Motown in it from what I can remember. besides what you are saying is a totally different argument and we are talking about would there be a scene without Motown, not what got us into the scene.

but this scene is by and large about the stuff that didn't sell, the non commercial stuff and much of Motown was commercial and plenty of it pop. And records were made for the black market and not aimed at the white pop market so therefore it had a limited audience.

many didn't simply copy Motown, many used their own techniques and methods and many did a better job of making black dance music than Motown which was aimed at the masses and not necessarily the black music scene. And after all the Soul scene (before NS was coined) was primarily rare obscure black dance music not mass produced commercial dance music was it not?

Do you consider Dancing in the Street to be Northern Soul? I wouldn't want to hear it at a soul night and certainly not an all-nighter.

wouldn't it be a bit boring listening to the same style all night? and besides it isn't really whwt the topic is about is it? Anyway the Wingate stable of labels maybe? Stax/Volt? Chess? ABC group, RCA, Okeh?