Lynn Does London, Day 4

[figmo]

[The reason for the much earlier date is this is the only entry I did on the plane that was properly saved.]

Impressions:

• The British filk con doesn't have a Toastmaster. They need one. There were times when acts didn't know who was supposed to introduce them, and there was no clean way to get them to end on time. Having a designated MC would fix this. If they don't have one the next time I'm there, I will happily volunteer for this job, as I've got a nationwide reputation for making programming tracks run on time.
• The Brits start their cons way earlier than we do. This also meant the open filking was sparsely attended. Too bad.

This time I had a hard time getting up. I barely made it to breakfast in time to get enough to eat. I sat with auntie_marion, Donna, and a bunch of other folks whose names I couldn't read but who were fascinating. I tried black pudding and discovered I like it. There were "religious" arguments as to whether Scottish or English black pudding is better, the Fair Isles vs. the SCA, and some surprise on their part that I wasn't involved in the latter at all. Truth be told, I once went to an SCA campout and didn't fit in. Some folks are cut out for camping; I'm not one of them...but I digress. Anyhow, I really enjoyed the tangents they were going off onto. We also compared notes regarding what people yell at "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

The group "Chimes" needed the main room to set up for their concert, so there was no way to go over my sound requirements, so instead we rehearsed for my concert. I had Kate Soley Barton on soprano, Valerie on alto, highstone on tenor, and hrrunka on bass for "Winter on My System." It was cool to do it with a real vocal group for the first time. Next Valerie, Rhodri, and I rehearsed "He's Not On The Net."

I was able to catch a little bit of Chimes before I had to move out of my room. They were also amazing. little_cinnamon is an amazing musician. It seemed like she was switching instruments every time I blinked my eyes. She also has a lovely voice, and this time I got to hear more of it. The rest of the group was also excellent.

I missed Songbird's concert altogether because I was moving out of my room. I had to exit the room while waiting for the bellhop because it was time for my concert. I arrived with computer, guitar, synth, and music in tow. keristor reminded me I "only have 15 minutes." I really had 45 minutes, but he was tired, too. I had allowed for setup time and ended just before 1pm. The choral numbers seemed to go well, and I was amazed at what folks did and didn't laugh at. Some of the biggest laughs came during "Grandma's Training Bra" and the "Aquarius" segment of "Poetry's Greatest Hits," while the "Casey at the Bat" segment fell flat (another case of different reference points; kids in the US are force-fed that poem), and Edgar Allen Poe got some laughs but not as many. I'm guessing Brits don't read as many American poets in school as we do in the US.

I ended with me being backed by a rough cut of my recording of "I Lost My Baby On The Information Highway." I could tell the geeks in the crowd because they got more of the jokes in it. Afterwards folks told me they'd already heard the song. I'm told bardiclug has done it there. (I have yet to hear his version and want to!) Much to the surprise of the tech crew, my concert ended just before 1pm as I'd intended it to. (A lot of concerts ran late this weekend, so they naturally expected mine to do so. I reminded them I've run a few cons in my time....)

After that I tucked away my computer, got some soup for lunch, managed to introduce myself to pbristow, and just hung out till the Sams (their at-con awards) and "Brownie Queen" awards were given out. I wish the rules for the Sams had been better deliniated so those of us not familiar with them could understand how they worked. Again, another example of how folks take for granted everyone knows everyone and how everything works.

The con officially ended with "Sam's Song," and I was amazed at how nearly everyone there knew all the words to all the verses without having lyrics in front of them. I can't even do that with Hope Eyrie!

Immediately after closing, the Maughans and I had to whisk off because grey_lady had a business trip and I had an Internet to catch. I teased them about how they were doing the con a favor by removing me from the premises before the Chinese food run. grey_lady and I had dinner (rdmaughan had eaten beforehand), I forced myself onto the Internet after rdmaughan and I kludged a connection from the kichen, and then I crashed, alas, without a proper goodnight.

Comments

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

Your set flew by! I was as startled as the techs when you said you'd finished. "But... but... I want more!" =:o}

Sorry if I seemed a bit dismissive when you introduced youself to me. I was phasing in and out of "not really here; just imagining all this; wow, so many people! Where was going again?" mode all weekend, and you caught me at a fuzzy point. I was kicking myself later 'cos I should've given you a big hug and chatted properly. =:o{

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I explained to keristor that I always show up with more music than I actually plan on doing Just In Case. I could have fit in one more song and ended exactly at 1pm, but the sound crew seemed anxious to go to lunch, and I wasn't about to rattle them.

Um...you did give me a proper hug. We were both sufficiently brain dead I didn't notice we hadn't quite chatted properly.

I guess we'll have to save that proper chat for my next visit to your side of the pond or if you ever get over to my side. :-)

Re:

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

I guess we'll have to save that proper chat for ... if you ever get over to my side. :-)

OK, next time I'm in St Louis, or Colorado, I'll cup my hands to my mouth and shout *real* loud! =;o>

[hrrunka]

doesn't have a Toastmaster

I guess that's usually fallen to one of the concom. This year I think the concom were probably stretched a bit thin, one way and another. By Sunday some of the techies were a bit stretched too. It's easy to take things for granted (and get a mite complacent into the bargain) when they're working smoothly. Folks only really notice when things start coughing and spluttering or grinding to a halt.

It was fun doing "Winter on my System", though I think I'd have managed better if I'd had a little more practice when I was awake. *grin*

"Sam's Song" has been a traditional Brit filk-event closing for longer than I've been involved. After a few times through you pick it up. ;)

[bardling.livejournal.com]

The British filk con doesn't have a Toastmaster.
This is usually done by members of the concomm. Like hrrunka said, I think with all concomm members being parents of young children this year they were probably stretched a bit thin.
I agree that especially Friday night for the first concert (katyhh & shannachie) there was a lack of MCing, but you might have noticed Tim doing a nice job for the Main Concert & guests.

The Brits start their cons way earlier than we do. This also meant the open filking was sparsely attended. Too bad.
The sparse attendance at the open filking wasn't due to the eaerly start, as the latter is not usual for a British con, the former most definitely is. I would look for causes amongst the following facts:
- more "staple" filkers have small kids these days & thus are forced to be up early whether they want to or not. => Less late-night capabilities.
- we had a lot of groups performing this year, so perhaps more of a "wrung out from performing effect than usual. Also perhaps there was more of a general feeling of wrung-out-ness going around. I certainly was more worn than usual for no specific short-term reason.
- I had the impression that generally there might've been more chatting than other years
- From some point on Saturday onward the filk room was *cold*. I mean, I get cold easily when sitting still, I'm no reference point, but even people who don't get cold that easily mentioned being cold...

Also in previous years the early start has been more focused on workshops rather than concerts - but that of course depends on people volunteering to run workshops. :)

[figmo.livejournal.com]

Alas, I slept through most of the Main Concert (that expletive-deleted 3:30am phone call).

The "wrung-out feeling" IMHO comes from all of us getting older. It's been happening out here too.