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Post by Higgins on Jul 10, 2008 15:17:52 GMT -5
Thats a right? A right of passage maybe. In fact I thought it was a penance. LOL
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Post by Kelzar on Jul 10, 2008 15:26:17 GMT -5
Location:
This pub, that pub, eh whatever....however, the previous setting was more intimate which is one of the reasons for sucessful crowd interaction. With the current layout you cannot sit at a picnic table and eat your closing meal during pub sing so you lose some of that relaxed in your backyard kind of feeling. Current setting is also much more defined in *stage* and *audience* so performers and cast will have to work more to get the *join in* feeling. Think about how much harder the WWWenchs have to work to get the crowd *into* the mood, but once you have them you get a big payoff. Sound, its really hard to draw people in if they can't hear you. When Jon struggles to get folks to lift glasses for a toast due to sound issues, you have a serious problem.
Song:
Alright, I'm sure I'll offend some but about the only way Saturday's *Parting Glass* could have been more depressing would be if Kate Bush sang it. Admittedly I'm a fan of *Health* but I wanted Parting Glass to work, if for no other reason than to still have a great pubsing. The glass clinking, the mingling, the chemistry, was just not there. I was mostly positioned right between the pub and the stage, 3 strides to the pub, 5 to the corner of the stage. I figured this was about the best spot to be in.
Overall: My feeling about faire used to be that pub sing was not to be missed.
Now, I'm still holding hope that it can click, but the sound issues need to be addressed.
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Post by Capt. Morgan on Jul 10, 2008 15:47:36 GMT -5
Thats a right? A right of passage maybe. In fact I thought it was a penance. LOL Hmmm...better not let Robert hear you say such things... Address to a Haggis. Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o the puddin'-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy of a grace As lang's my arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o need, While thro your pores the dews distil Like amber bead. His knife see rustic Labour dight, An cut you up wi ready slight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like onie ditch; And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin, rich! Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive: Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve Are bent like drums; The auld Guidman, maist like to rive, 'Bethankit' hums. Is there that owre his French ragout, Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad mak her spew Wi perfect sconner, Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view On sic a dinner? Poor devil! see him owre his trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, His spindle shank a guid whip-lash, His nieve a nit: Thro bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit! But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread, Clap in his walie nieve a blade, He'll make it whissle; An legs an arms, an heads will sned, Like taps o thrissle. Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware That jaups in luggies: But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer, Gie her a Haggis! |
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Post by Dillasandra on Jul 10, 2008 17:01:53 GMT -5
Thank you! Haven't read that in ages, and 'Rabbie' is one of my favorite poets..................  I'm not going to voice my opinion on pub sing, since I haven't seen it, and very probably won't.....can't get around that well. I DO kind of miss having it at Stumbull Inn, where I could hear it, but on the other hand, it DOES make for a nice, quiet shut down. The Parting Glass, however. Lovely song, and I've heard any number of variations and enjoyed them all. BUT, and I realize that this is open to interpretation - THAT BEING MY POINT - no where in that song does it ever specifically say that the subject/singer is DYING. Can it be interpreted that way? Yes. Can it also be taken that he's, oh, taking ship for places unknown, or leaving his home town, going off to war, to jail, to Pluto......OR JUST SIMPLY GOING HOME FOR THE NIGHT??! Yes, in fact, it can! Ever see a maudlin drunk taking his leave? Even if he's just going on home, or to another bar? Hell, I've seen 'em in tears, just packing it in for the night!  Try giving the song a chance, and try hearing it as simply a 'Hey, gotta get home before the old lady shoots me, but it's been real.....'tune. Zip it up a little. Imagine Alex staggering off into the sunset, goofy grin firmly in place, mug firmly in hand, until we meet again tomorrow..............................See?! All in the way you interpret it................ |
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Post by Historian on Jul 10, 2008 17:30:59 GMT -5
Unfortunately, Parting Glass was written by a man going to be hung by the Brits. There is a fair amount of history behind it. The earliest known remnant of these lyrics comes from scribbled notes on a cell wall in Kilmanheim Jail, where more Irish rebels were put to death than in any other Brit prison. In fact, this was not the only song to come out of that place about a man going to die.
Those who know Irish folksong history know very well that this song is all about a man going to the gallows. In fact, the only interpretation to be made of the song is about the comment "since it falls . . . that I should rise" - when the author says rise does he mean the soul from the body or the biological reaction males have to being hung.
I would like to think that Dillisandra's interpretation could be applied, but very simply it cannot, not knowing the true history of the song. Also, the song is, as far as is known, only about 90 years old. It doesn't appear in any texts, folk compilations, or folk indexes prior to the turn of the 20th century.
Moreover than that, it appears in 3 separate Irish 'Wake Books', that is, small pamphlets that were written during the Rebellion of '16 and distributed in an underground newspaper fashion by the surviving members and families of the Easter Rebellion.
To any true blooded Irishman, this is a sad, depressing, and maladious song that evokes only memries of the loved and lost.
To boot, Liam Clancy sings this song at the end of every one of his pub shows, and the crowd does not clap, does not respond, they sing along, lower their glasses (empty or not), and walk away without a sound. Liam Clancy is the last of the Clancy's, and now that Tommy Maken has left them too, it is only a last rite song for the soul of the Irish.
Sorry for making a bad ring worse, but this song should best be left to such sad moments as the very last song sung at a function. As an Irishman myself, I could not find joy in this song. I agree with most of the people here, "Health to the Company" is the better song to sing, keep it up pace, and rousing. Owain Phyfe does a fine version, but you should still sing it. After all, it used to be the cast closing song many many years ago.
That's all I have to say about the song.
Other than that, the only place I could really not hear anything was the very back of the pub. Just about all other places in audience were alright. But then, the crowds weren't really big. The stage is nice, because when the performers spread out, they make a big presence and all can be seen. I don't know why Empty Hats decided not to use the microphones the day I was there . . .
Keep the stage, change the song, and make the beer free. Two of those things are easily done . . .
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Mickey
Lord
Cogito ergo sum/Carpe diem!
Posts: 516
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Post by Mickey on Jul 10, 2008 17:55:06 GMT -5
Thanks, Trevor! I haven't seen/heard anything offensive in what people are saying here. We're trying to let people know about problem areas, so they can be dealt with and improve the quality of the Faire for everyone! As you said, we (the long time playtrons) are going to be there anyway. Howere, maybe not at Pub Sing, if we're not 'feelin' it.'
Pub sing hasn't always been a 'must see' for us. When 'the guyz' were younger, and the final joust was the last part of the cast's show, that was our 'must see' at the end of the day. If we caught what was left of the Pub Sing, o.k. Sometimes we'd stop by, and then maybe get a 'jump' on the end of the day crowds leaving. The last few years, with changes in cast's shows, jousters, etc., our end of the day has become more centered on Pub Sing.
We've enjoyed that and hate to lose it. Again, though, we'll be there every day, and loving our Faire anyway. I worry more about first time and/or newer people to the Shire. I don't want them to not enjoy something (such as Pub Sing) and go away with a bad impression.
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Post by Travis on Jul 10, 2008 18:44:46 GMT -5
As for the "problems" "suggestions", i'm sorry people aren't even giving it a chance.
I have a suggestion.
Why doesn't everyone just give this cast, and entertainers, a chance, no sense fighting over a song, it's a song, a small thing in life, folks. Be glad all are together to enjoy the day.
*sigh* it was just the first weekend.
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Chelsea (Tink)
cast
All you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust. <3
Posts: 369
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Post by Chelsea (Tink) on Jul 10, 2008 18:46:41 GMT -5
I agree with Travis^.^
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Post by Dillasandra on Jul 10, 2008 18:54:42 GMT -5
Yep! And I'm surprised Travis voiced an opinion......he never saw either Pub Sing since he was duct taped to the tree all weekend................... ;D  ;D |
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Post by BeerBlessings on Jul 10, 2008 19:34:56 GMT -5
Hey, think of it this way... I had three main points:
We can't hear well.
People aren't getting into it.
We don't want to end the day on a sad note.
The first will get fixed.. And in doing so will help fix the second.
And the third is a BIG preference for leaving with smiles of the time we've shared with friends instead of tears of the time we won't.
Hey, it could have been worse. We could have had Fiddler's Green!
Apparently I'm not the only one that was thinkin Auld Lang Syne... But that creates two problems: 1) The VAST majority of people only know one verse.. 2) The rest that DO know the entire song will think it's the end January!
(I experienced my first Burns' Night this past January, and even then it was far from what I've heard a Burns' Night really is.)
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Post by Sir John Drakkon on Jul 10, 2008 21:19:56 GMT -5
well I would i would like to see a more upbeat song that has some meaning , one that sends the patron to the gate smiling As for location I've always found old world more comfortable for me. the stumble inn has seats all around it and the stage has picnic tables out front behind bleachers where u can sit drink n enjoy pubsing and other acts during day The drift inn has no seats around it and (from experience last year) it is not that easy to belly up to bar if you are in a wheeled transportation. As for stage it seems less area for those that want to tap their feet and stay in the range of the music. it lacks that comfortable feeling. It does not give elbow room in selection of seating areas. But i guess some would say that do to less selection in seating means more people will have to sit tightly in bleachers in front of stage . The wall on right and swamp on left does not allow standing in those areas to watch and hear the show better. BUT everyone has an opinion, this is mine and there will always be those that disagree with it.
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Post by Kayenne on Jul 10, 2008 22:02:33 GMT -5
As for the "problems" "suggestions", i'm sorry people aren't even giving it a chance. I have a suggestion. Why doesn't everyone just give this cast, and entertainers, a chance, no sense fighting over a song, it's a song, a small thing in life, folks. Be glad all are together to enjoy the day. *sigh* it was just the first weekend. Who's fighting? Like Trevor said, we just want the faire to be the best it can be. And there does seem to be consensus on several issues. You are certainly welcome to disagree, but pray not accuse us of fighting. |
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Post by Hephzibah on Jul 10, 2008 22:17:31 GMT -5
I also do not see anything but opions being said.
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Post by Athena on Jul 10, 2008 22:55:16 GMT -5
Location: This pub, that pub, eh whatever....however, the previous setting was more intimate which is one of the reasons for sucessful crowd interaction. With the current layout you cannot sit at a picnic table and eat your closing meal during pub sing so you lose some of that relaxed in your backyard kind of feeling. Current setting is also much more defined in *stage* and *audience* so performers and cast will have to work more to get the *join in* feeling. Think about how much harder the WWWenchs have to work to get the crowd *into* the mood, but once you have them you get a big payoff. Sound, its really hard to draw people in if they can't hear you. When Jon struggles to get folks to lift glasses for a toast due to sound issues, you have a serious problem. I couldn't agree more. I don't have a problem with pub sing being held at the Drift, but I did notice it's not as intimate as the Stumbull, and the sound quality issues make it worse. I was one of the people in the back talking with friends, and to be honest, I hadn't even realized pub sing had started. I moved up to the bar and stood to the side of the stage, but I still had to strain to hear what was going on. I'm going to keep a positive outlook on this. I think there's a lot of kinks that need to be straightened out, and I'm sure they'll be taken care of. |
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Post by bunbun / Hank on Jul 11, 2008 6:47:37 GMT -5
UH Dill...I think the Travis who posted was a different one then yours as he can spell correctly. You don't need to be a handwriting expert to know your lil buddy needs some help in that category.
As for Auld Lang Syne....If I hear that I am going to think it's New Years Eve. I don't know about anyone else.
HANK.
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;D
