POSTPONED Acoustic Gear-Jam: 21st July : all-day get-together in Swindon

spark240

Is the address posted anywhere ?

TimmyO

I'll post some.more this ghtsnin the week - been busy with my lad's birthday weekend celebrations.

Venue is Western Audio in Swindon 

https://www.westernaudiorecording.com/contact-us

TimmyO

OK I said I'd post some more thoughts how this will/could go. so here is that (I'll add to the first post too for anyone coming new to the thread) : 

My vision for this (if that's not being too grandiose) is for it to have a few basic concepts, aimed at keeping it straightforward and accessible and easy to run as frequently as there is appetite for:

1. It's acoustic. Why? A few benefits, including flexibility of venue if needed, the fact that more than one thing can be happening at opposite corners of the (large) room at once if need be, and no reliance on availability of PA or need to have it working. Plus, it's just nice :-) 

2. It's not just a jam. Why? I think mores in acoustic-land it can be hard to see, hear and experience interesting gear (shops well stocked with interesting electric gear are common, acoustic stuff less so), or just types of gear you don't come across every day, and I reckon our fine forum members probably have lots of interesting things, and I'd like to facilitate spreading that knowledge and interest. 

3. Performance is part of it, but not compulsory or expected. Why? Becuase it's ace to see acoustic music performed, even moreso with multiple performers, but not everyone feels like they are ready. But they may be another time. With support :-) 

4. Yes you can play that tune you love to perform. Why? Why not?

5. Yes we will suggest a few tunes/particular arrangements of tunes that we can each practice and try to perform together. Why? Because that will be fun, and those with flying fingers can have at it, and those with more basic accomplishments can join in too. Kum-bye-motherfuckin'-ahh man 

6. Gear: if it's acoustic and vaguely guitar-shaped, feel free to bring it. But not a drum kit, smartarse ;-) . I for one would be interested to see/hear/try acoustic guitar amplification gear, so bring those too if ou like, but don't expect that we'll be making amplified levels of noise all day - I don't think that fits in with the vibe - it's an addendum, not the main thing.


Anyone got any thoughts, comments, suggestions around that? 

spark240

How about something like a Cahon or some percussion bits, shaker etc, just to add to the tunes?

Ill probably bring my Taylor 414, Roland AC 60 and a Martin backpacker just for fun.

Myself and Nickos236 / Bernie have a a few songs and would like to do a couple if possible, I can post a selection if anyone wants to join in or play along a bit, nothing too complex.

Winny_Pooh

So the songsters don't clash with the gearheads we could perhaps agree a fixed number, say 8-10 and agree beforehand which ones (to help prep bass parts too), then start later in the day. Unamplified preferably

TimmyO

Winny_Pooh said:

So the songsters don't clash with the gearheads we could perhaps agree a fixed number, say 8-10 and agree beforehand which ones (to help prep bass parts too), then start later in the day. Unamplified preferably

Maybe first half "stuff and chat" and second half "playing/performing" ? 

Winny_Pooh

TimmyO said:

Winny_Pooh said:

So the songsters don't clash with the gearheads we could perhaps agree a fixed number, say 8-10 and agree beforehand which ones (to help prep bass parts too), then start later in the day. Unamplified preferably

Maybe first half "stuff and chat" and second half "playing/performing" ? 

Perfect

spark240

With the day approaching, ...I can confirm the myself, Nickos236 and Bernie will be attending.

Can we confirm start time please?

Ill post s few song choices over the weekend, some of which we would like to perform, of anyone wants to join ion thats cool ;-) 

Ill bring a Cahon for some percussion.
  

TimmyO

Cool.

We need to be out by 7 (an evening booking in the place) and can have up to 8h - so 11-7 or 10-6 - what do folk have a preference for? 

You'll be travelling a fair way, which works best for you? 

BahHumbug

I’m not fussy about timings and I don’t have to travel far.  @TimmyO , how is the cost likely to stack up?  Presumably it’s the studio fee divided by however many turn up?

spark240

Are we the furthest to travel ( Bham ) ?

We can aim to get there about 10.00am ?  looks like about 1.40 travel time.

Probably be away about 4.30 - 5.00pm

TheOtherDennis

I may be slightly further away - just north of Rugby. Aiming to get there for about 12-1 depending on how things turn out, and leave at a similar time to Spark240.

spark240

Date is looming.....any further developments?

Do we have any acoustic amps or PA in the room ?

Shall we bring a couple of mics ?

TimmyO

No further developments needed and no PA needed.  Any amplification stuff brought is welcome for show and tell / trying other folks stuff. 

TimmyO

replying at slightly grater length (now school run is over lol) : 

re PA/mics etc - the plan is for this to be deliberately "acoustic" - imho there are more opportunities to plug a guitar into a PA in a pub than there are to enjoy the amazing experience of playing and singing fully acoustically and for the playing side of things that's very much where I'm leaning. 

That said, I think th gear-share/show-and-tell aspects of amplifying acoustic guitar is a subject that it wold be great to share some experiences of so if someone has one of the those newfangled pillar/array mini PAs or an acoustic amp or whatever they think people would like to see/hear (briefly) that would be ace. e.g. I got a DPA 4099 mini mic recently that mounts directly ot the guitar - I'll bring it so anyone can see how much of a faff it is or isn't in person - that sort of thing is cool, but I don't want anyone to come hoping for/expecting an amplified live performance stage - that's not the idea of this as hopefully was conveyed in the opening post.

re songs that folk might want to do - yep happy to collate in this thread any songs people either want to do (aspirational) or plan to do and are inviting others to join in on - feel free to link a chord chart or suggested arrangement info if that helps.

 

TimmyO

BahHumbug said:

I’m not fussy about timings and I don’t have to travel far.  @TimmyO , how is the cost likely to stack up?  Presumably it’s the studio fee divided by however many turn up?

I'm paying £60 for the venue - as I've always said I'd go regardless of how many/few turned up I've taken that cost on - if people want to chip in a few pounds that's ace. I'll bring a tin of biscuits too. 

BahHumbug

Ah now, as it happens I have got a newfangled pillar PA thingy and it would be dead easy to bring it along...........
I’m totally with you on the idea of fundamentally keeping the day acoustic, but there’s definitely some merit in playing about with a bit of amplification too.  I recently used this PA to amplify a Steve Tilston gig and it worked really well.

TimmyO

BahHumbug said:

Ah now, as it happens I have got a newfangled pillar PA thingy and it would be dead easy to bring it along...........
I’m totally with you on the idea of fundamentally keeping the day acoustic, but there’s definitely some merit in playing about with a bit of amplification too.  I recently used this PA to amplify a Steve Tilston gig and it worked really well.

man I'd love to experience one of those toys first hand - that would be cool 

spark240

I’ll bring my Roland AC 60 acoustics amp, and a DXR12 so folks can see how they fair in acoustic world.

TimmyO

Cool