Davekd

You are wrong and makes me wonder just how you came to the above from what I said?

Anyone can see from the calendar alone that by and large there are too many venues.

I don't care what he policy is or what the format the DJs will be playing there are far too many.

I've lookked on occasion at e event calendar and within an hour of me some weekends there have been 30,40 and at least once 50 events over the weekend. If that is good for the scene then Christ knows how bad it has to get before it has a detrimental effect on the scene.

Many venues are suffering with attendances, especially in today's economic climate so wouldn't it make sense to do away with some events and have one or two decent events with a full house and great atmosphere no matter what the policy or format of the music?

40 events within an hour of me, you could lose at least 30 of them and have decent events to suit all tastes and still give everyone a choice!

Of course there will be areas where this won't be the case and there is a reasonably healthy local scene but these are few and far between.

It is time for some promoters and some DJs to stop being so selfish and look at the bigger picture, for the good of everyone , all IMO of course. It is time folk got their heads together or banged together

Right ok understand now, apologies for picking you up wrong there. Like Steve says I suppose London is it's own little environment and not particulaly relevant to whats going on elsewhere. 40 events within an hour is mental.

Dave

Less venues the scene would be stronger IMO. It has become so diluted with so many DJ's playing the same records who along with pormoters only seem to care about themselves and not the bigger picture.

Just interested in your basis for this (not having a go at all) - I'm reading that to mean that you think that if non OVO venues, new nights, and other events you dont like all packed up, thos venues punters would all flood off to venues with DJ's that fit your criteria?

Could be wrong in that.

In fairness, I only know the London area and a few of the venues and wouldn't be convinced that applies down here - for instance there seem to be alot of people who only go to a venue if it's close to them, alot who will only go where they know the music/DJ's/crowd etc, quite a few who are comfortable with what they know and dont like 'new stuff' but also quite a few who are new t i all - my own experience tells me of getting into the music properly tells me 'entry level' venues and DJ's are almost essential to bring new people in.

Probably different in other parts of the country, but if say four local London events were closed, I cant see more than a dozen of the combined punters heading off to some approved venue with approved DJ's playing rare tunes?

As I said just interested.

Dave

There was a guy at Boogaloo Soul the other week with two children, both dancing with him and enjoying the music - didnt bother me (I thought it was quite nice that they where happy to join in with thier Dad's hobby, rather than look at a load of negative's) and didnt seem to bother anyone else in there either.

Dave

I like playlists, if only to give an idea of the venue/DJ - I get the word of mouth thing on a venue to, but what I like in a night might not be the same as the next person's.

Sorry dont know any

most of local do's play crap records boots and reissues nothing even half decent 'clueless crowd have no knowledge about rare soul and the dj's are same as the the crowd .

Just out of interest, how do you work that out?

The area in the orginal post, your area, the whole country?

Fair play to you for the amount of do's you must have been to to work that out.,

I've been asked for insurance when doing a private party at a biggish venue - you can readily get up to 10 Million in cover for £50 or so. It's about insurers insisting on trying to step down thier liabilities as the venue should be insured anyway.

I would guess however if you are using the venue's equipment the liability is thiers.

Bit over the top to go for each individual DJ - mine is in the name of my club and theoretically will cover anyone DJing on the night.

Having said that, I believe it will happen more and more as time goes on and the sueing culture intensifies.

Dave

Looking for a copy of this (original vinyl) - doesnt need to be mint, just good enough to DJ with

Cheers,

Dave

Interesting question.

I dont know much about the 'past' but dont see alot of people making money from the scene these days.

Just thinking about some hypethetical numbers

If you run an allnighter, get 500 in at a tenner each, you get 5K - take out the venue hire, doormen, people collecting money on the door, posters, fliers and then DJ's costs (and income tax) you might be lucky to end up with a grand from it - sounds good, but could you/do single promoters do that every week or even every month - no and even if they did, is that making a forune from the scene - no.

Smaller promotions on the whole seem to count themselves lucky to break even/not lose money - run an event that has over 100 people in, you might make 50/100 quid if you pay your DJ's something - no making a fortune from the scene there.

So to run a night, your own personal hours alone would be, say eight on the night and maybe another ten to twenty in promoting and hassling - a hundred quid for 3 days work - cant be in it for the money, surely.

DJ's - what does a top level Northern DJ get from an allnighter - I would guess anywhere between 150 and 500 quid - do any of them DJ Allnighters every weekend - no they might get a nice living if they are constantly DJ'ing, but making a fortune - no

Most DJ's that I know are often happy to DJ for free or for beer money only (even some top DJ's are happy to do a small night for free or have thier travel costs paid only) - totally in keeping with the ethos of the scene, I think and not one of them out to make a living from the scene.

People DJ for lots of reasons, but getting rich/making money out of Northern Soul can't be one of them, surely - think about a no-mark laptop wedding/party DJ - lots of them are getting 350 to 500quid for a wedding/party and yes you've got to have the gear etc but if you want to solely make money as a DJ surely that's the way you would go? Not invest in even a duboius record collection and trip around the country for beer money or even a 100quid.

I've not got a clue about record dealers but maybe those selling thier own collections can make decent money but, even with contacts, the thought of buying sufficient high end records and selling them at sufficiently high prices to make decent money, doesnt really stack up for me, especially as prices of a lot of things appear to be on the way down, not up.

Just my thoughts, but I would guess, most people involved in todays scene, still do it for the love of the music.

Dave

My Playlists (overshadowed by Warren Boogaloo's, Steve Clegg's and Richard Anker's sets)

Early Set

Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum and Durr - Your Love Keeps Drawing Me Closer - Capsoul

Five Stairsteps & Cubie - Little Young Lover -Curtom

Billy Harner - She's Almost You - Open

Dora Hall - 1-2-3 - Reinbeau

The Servicemen - I Need a Helping Hand - Pathway

Solomon Burke - Only Love Can Save Me Now - Atlantic

The Fuller Brothers - Moanin', Groaning and Crying - Soul Clock

The Echoes - Million Dollar Bill - Pulse

The Festivals - Music - Smash

The Tempests - Would You Believe - Smash

The Wonderettes - I Feel Strange - Ruby

Little Natalie& Henry - Teardrops are Falling - Roulette

Jackie Wilson - Nothing But Blue Skies - Brunswick

Eddie Holland - Just Ain't Enough Love - Motown

The O'Jays - No Time For You - Imperial

Barbara Lynn - This is the Thanks I Get - Atlantic

Later Set

The Sweet Things - I'm in a World of Trouble - Date

Martha Jean Love - Don't Want you to Leave Me - ABC-Paramount

The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg - Gordy

The Petals - (You Cant Close) The Windows of your Heart - Mercury

Martha Star - No Part Time Love for Me - Thelma

Vala Reegan & the Valarons - Fireman - Atco

Isley Brothers - I Guess I'll Always Love You - Tamla

Sandy & the Pebbles - He's My Kind of Fellow - Mercury

Honey & the Bees - Help Me - Josie

Carolyn Cooke - I Don't Mind - RCA Victor

Ethics - Look at Me Now - Vent

Herbert Hunter - I Was Born to Love You - Spar

Ethics - Look at Me Now - Vent

Spyder Turner - I Can't Make it Anymore

The Gospel Classics - More Love, That's What we Want - Checker

Last bits

Jean Battle - I've Got to Come In - Clintone

Bobby Cutchins - I Did it Again - Lasso

Bilbao 19-21 October, still nice and warm, not far from the coast and a brilliant weekender in a lovely city :yes:

BH

Oh nice one, I'm in Bilbao next week for work, maybe wangle a return visit in October.

Yes sadly thats correct Carmen. The guys are giving it a rest this year mainly i understand due to some licence issues. Hopefully it will be back next year, we will miss being there and spending quality time with some of our favourite people.

Thanks Arthur/Carmen - we are looking for a weekender/allnighter somewhere warm - any ideas? (we are already going out to Valencia again, I think) - anyone been to the Rome allnighter?

Dave

Does anyone know if the Rimini Weekender is on this year and if so, when?

I have tried searching other areas of the site but come up blank.

Cheers,

Dave

I have more of a concern with the risk of a package being stolen if someone notices it's got a high value recorded on it

Never thought of that!

Just been nailed for VAT on a record coming in from the States, where the seller put the actual value ($40) on the US customs declaration.

Don't really blame them for the £5.19 VAT as I didnt ask them to put a lower value, but got an £8.00 extra charge from the Post Office for 'Royal Mail International Handling Fee' - very cheesed off as the tune no londer a bargain.

The Post Office thing annoying as another record from the States arrived at the same time, postage paid of course.

Maybe I go to the wrong venues because I have hardly ever seen any of this going on - a few youngsters with drinks now and then, bit always the promoter has talked to them and no problem.

Of course I only go out a couple fo times a month generally in the London area, so don't attend the big oldies type do's.

Our own little local do in Walthamstow has been running monthly for seven years and I can only remember maybe two 'hairy' moments and never a fight - didnt even have a doorman for the first five years (the council now insist) - maybe we have just been lucky?

Dave

Thanks guys

Early Set

Barbara West - Congratulations baby - Ronn

Ronnie Walker - On and On - Impact

Billy Joe Young - I've Got you on My Mind Again - Paula

Mary Wells - Me and My Baby - Atco

Jimmy Love - Two Sides to Every Story - Josie

The Fuller Brothers - Moanin', Groaning and Crying - Soul Clock

Billy Butler - Found True Love - Okeh

Jackie Wilson - You got me walking - Brunswick

Martha Reeves - My Baby Loves me - Gordy

Nella Dodds - Come See About Me - Wand

Later Set

The Sweet Things - I'm in a World of Trouble - Date

Martha Star - No Part Time Love for Me - Thelma

Isley Brothers - I guess I'll always love you - Tamla

Vala Reegan & the Valarons - Fireman - Atco

The Impressions - You've Been Cheatin' - ABC Paramount

The Petals - (You Can't Close) The Windows of Your Heart - Mercury

Sandy & the Pebbles - He's My Kind of Fellow - Mercury

Herbert Hunter - I Was Born to Love You - Spar

Ethics - Look at Me Now - Vent

Etta James - Breaking Point - Argo

Last bits

The Dells - It's All Up to You - Cadet

Garland Green - Ain't That Good Enough - Revue

Johnny Bartel and the Soul Masters - If This Isn't Love - Solid State

Trouble for me is there is so much going on in London that we dont get to travel much, although we do try and get to different venues.

Most events I go to regularly/support, I know or have met the promoter out and about before going or go to support a mate DJ'ing.

What keeps us coming back is harder to figure - I like a good venue and good sound system but more so it can be about the crowd and the atmosphere they generate (encouraged by the promoter I think). I've been to nights where the music has been fantastic but just didnt feel right - crowd going through the motions, outsiders welcome but not made welcome, old boys/regulars network going on etc and then other nights that are musically so so but the crowd are just electric and really make the night.

I think what would make us travel further out of London would initially be a big name DJ we don't get in London but the venue and atmoshphere would keep us coming back, but more importantly not clashing with events we go to already (a tough ask I know).

Musically a mixture of rare and more well known tunes, 60's and 70's, don't even mind some R&B thrown in (occasionally). Guest DJ's who play what they like but residents who are not afraid to play to the crowd without being cheesy.

Monthly is an extremely tough ask of any event, so would suggest 3 or 4 times a year, maximum.

Only do one allnighter a year so have to agree a 2 o'clock finish.

Not sure that helps but an honest opinion.

Oh and when I us, thats a crowd of us from East London that ranges from four up to fourteen (mini bus full to the Kent Soul Club).

Dave

Sorted now thanks.

Thanks Guys, guess I need to save up more!

Looking for a copy of Herbert Hunter - I was Born to Love You , or Vala Reagan - Fireman - originals and good enough to DJ with (mint nice but not essential)

Might be out in my priocing but I've got £150 for the HH and £100 for Vala Reagan!

Cheers,

Dave

Amazing do you still see her or was that a one off ?

Lost touch with her to be honest, tried to re-book her but they were on tour in Athens at the time!

I believe she's friends with Kev Roberts though.

What kind of thing's does she play ?

Ahh it was about 6 years ago at our place, seem to remember mostly 60's but not 100% sure - she was a really nice person though with no airs and graces at all.

Corrine Drewery from Swing Out Sister at Blackpool - she DJ's as well.