The Plan

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Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001
From: Chris Rockcliffe

Final update: Participants list, itinerary, lots of other stuff

Hi folks,

Well it's only a week away now... and everything is taking shape nicely... a big thanks from Allan and myself to everyone for being prompt with payments etc. We're now ready to roll on that front...

Who's coming? Well here's the list of everyone, residents, guests and day visitors is as follows... it's a great crowd and we're going to have a ball!

By surname in alphabetical order (I think):

Richard Bateman - local blues guitarist (Sun visitor)
Graham Clark - local brilliant pro fiddle player (Sun visitor)
Lee Collinson - wonderful guest pro player! - tunings galore!
John Collyer - a welcome new addition to our meets, from Shoreham
Jim Davie - local Scots singer/player (Sat visitor)
Mike Dodds - a welcome new addition to our meets - from Fife
Al Evans - (the songman from Austin Texas USA)
Cea Evans - (from Austin Texas USA) "making sweet music"
George Duff - we call him 'Mr dadgad' - from Edinburgh
Ethel Duff - from Ireland via Edinburgh
Pete Gay - from Bristol area - 'Mr Snotacaster'
David Griffiths - welcome - new to our meets - from SW London
Martin Hall - local player/fingerstyle teacher (Sat visitor)
Perry Huntsman - local ragtime guitar player - (Sat visitor)
Ray Jackson - guest mando'/harmonica (Sat/Sun visitor hopefully)
Wizz Jones - legendary pro guitarist (guest Sun)
Brenda Kenny - Ireland; is Ronan letting her loose on us?
Jamie Kinscherff - (Texas USA) luthier, Kinscherff Guitars
John McGrother - local guitarist - (Sun visitor)
Pete Mcgrother - John's bro', local pro-guitar (Sun visitor)
Alan Marshall - Northworthy (luthier UK) official beer taster
Pat Martindale - now with very special Northworthy
Zena Martindale - from Bridlington (we have 2 Zenas!)
Greg Neaga - from Stuttgart Germany 'Mr liquid fingers'!
Charles Park - (RI USA) known as 'Pop' in US EC4 circles
Joan Park - (RI USA) witchtamer, known as 'la formidable'
Magnus Paterson - from Edinburgh via Hawaii with telescope
Fiona Robertson - official wine taster
Chris Rockcliffe - blame him for everything!
Kevin Rutter - welcome new player from SW London
Mike 'Mort' Salmon - (coming for Sat only) 'Mr fastbreak'
Simon Smidmore - guest luthier/player Brook Guitars (Sat/Sun)
Doug B. Smith - guest (Sun) great to hear him again
Keith Smith - local blues guitarist (Sun visitor)
Henry Smithson - from Reading - good to see him back
Guy Snape - blame him for that guitar newsgroup crowd
Linda Swancott - (USA) back for a second dose of madness!
Bob Thomas - good to see him at last... from Milton Keynes
Ronan Toomey (Ireland) there won't be time for golf!
Zena Tubman - of band 'Lucky Bags' guitar/c'tina/flute (Sat)
Nigel Tucker - our glam' MC, 'Mr Smoothy' from Bristol area
Christine Tucker - keeps 'Mr Smoothy' in check
James Tucker - (age 12) youngest RMMGAer yet, but watch out!
Jim Whelan - (Texas USA) - welcome to your first UK meet!
Dave Wood - (guest guitarist from Devon) Sat/Sun
Shirley Worral - one 'n only Shirl' and lovely Northworthy's

A couple of other visitors popping in and out - David Lees from Birmingham a friend of Al's who has connections with Texas musicians and also Rob Rodgers of Rodgers Machine Heads (makers of machines for very high end classical guitars mandos etc). He's got some stuff for Wade which Al is delivering home for him.

BEER:

Firstly bad news... on the beer front... (and often down the back too)... due to the spread of 'Foot in the Mouth Disease', our former favourites, 'Old Sheepshagger', 'Sheepshagger's Revenge' and 'Sheepshagger Nouveau', are all off the menu. Alan says he feels we should withdraw from them entirely.

However it sounds like a load of old bull to me and I'm pretty sure that a suitably cloven hoofed animal-named substitute like 'Black Sheep' or perhaps something from the Ram Brewery or perhaps the Stag Brewery might well show up. Alan's playing it very close to his chest (if you'll pardon the expression).

Personally, I like nice surprises in beer and lagers. But if you think I'm possibly suffering from 'Foot-in-the-Mouth' disease myself... there's more serious comment about this subject in the separate accompanying post... :-)

PLUCKY DIP:

Well I've been looking for some new angle for this RMMGA UK4 meet and toying with this particular idea since UK2 (Chipping Norton) and I think it's time has now come...

I've called it 'The Plucky Dip'... for no other reason than these things always have a silly name don't they?. I've bounced it off a few RMMGA people and the response has been very good... it'll give this meet a little bit of an edge...

A good while back I read about an Irish music festival, where players of different instruments, musical styles and disciplines were paired-up at random and short notice to do something together... and I thought, "Well what a splendid idea to do it RMMGA style!"... but only for fun of course...

And so it came to pass... that on Friday 23 March 2001 names were drawn from a hat in pairs and these unholy alliances of different styles and abilities were expected to put together a joint effort - 1 simple short tune, song, medley, or lead a sing song, or whatever... It's up to you...

So bring along a tune or some words... or pick a song/tune you both know or a song/tune which one person can teach another. 3 chords is really all it takes some times. Basically, it's a little fun challenge for all us resident UK4 RMMGAers... to find some common ground musically (which we all have if we look a bit closer)

It's not a competition and if for whatever reason it doesn't work out for some pairings - then no worries... those who come up with something could perform it on the Sat or possibly Sun evening. The alphabetical list is as follows... 22 names, max' 11 pairs drawn at random down to the final 2 names from 121 possibilities (I think my maths is correct).

John Collyer
Mike Dodds
Al Evans
Cea Evans
George Duff
Pete Gay
David Griffiths
Jamie Kinscherff
Alan Marshall
Pat Martindale
Greg Neaga
Charles Park
Magnus Paterson
Chris Rockcliffe
Kevin Rutter
Henry Smithson
Guy Snape
Bob Thomas
Ronan Toomey
Nigel Tucker
Jim Whelan
Shirley Worral

If anyone on this preliminary list doesn't want to take part for whatever reason, let me know by e-mail asap...

PRO-ACTIVE HELP:

There will be a chance to hear all kinds of people playing many different styles of music, time and space for one-on-one help (just ask) and for those with questions about any aspect of guitars or related music... and the idea is to chat, drink, sing, play some great guitars and - more than anything - to relax and have fun!

Well you knew all that didn't you...

WEATHER?:

Daft question... this is England... Remember all those jokes you heard about Manchester? Well basically the Atlantic Ocean westerlies bring it and we take it... It's normally a fair bit colder and wetter here in Buxton than in London say, but we're also the highest large town in England at over 300 metres (1000 -1100 feet) and that higher altitude of the Pennines makes even greater differences to temp and weather. (more like western Scotland sometimes)

DRESS CODE:

Yes, after last year, we've decided that clothes must be worn... Strictly informal though - no need to bring posh clothes. Anyone turning up in a Tux will be forced to sing a medley of Des O'Connor's hits... And if you don't know who the great Des O'Connor is... well we'll think of someone else - but worse.

I'd suggest you just dress comfortably and casually - sweatshirts and sweaters would be a good idea and some kind of waterproof jacket - maybe a hat to keep warm if there's a chill wind. Things change in the hills (weather wise) very quickly. In March it could be snowing, raining or blowing a gale or all of those, or it could be quite sunny and Spring-like.

PA's and EQUIPMENT:

This is outside my own level of expertise... If anyone has gear which could provide a 'lift' to acoustic performances - such as mikes, mike stands, small amps and PA's, please if you have spare capacity in your vehicle - bring them along. No doubt a few people will record a lot of what happens and hopefully people will have cameras and digital cameras too.

SCREEN FOR SLIDES:

I have two carousel Kodak slide projectors (need to check them both out today) for Jamie Kinscherff's presentation, but I don't have a fold-up projection screen. If someone in the UK can bring one I'd be very grateful - if so, let me know asap.

CHARITY RAFFLE:

We'd like to have a raffle to raise a small donation for a charity, with 6 great prizes. It was my intention to invite Isaac Guillory to our aborted 4th bash last year... As most folk now know, he sadly died of cancer on New Year's Eve. If we're not collecting for Isaac's family, I'm hoping to find out about any related musician charities - for folk artistes (or guitar players in particular) - whichever might be most appropriate. We'll hold the raffle on Sunday afternoon.

A FEW DOMESTIC DETAILS:

When you arrive at Hargate Hall come in the main entrance you can see from the driveway/car park, there will be a list of room allocations/rough directions posted on the wall and names on the bedroom doors. So, find out where you are, get settled in and then come down for a drink etc.

Hargate Hall is a self-catering establishment - not a hotel. Please bring your own towels. There will be a few (about 20 max) bath towels available from the owners at 2 pounds hire. Please make sure you don't walk off with these. For those who might have difficulty taking home a damp towel on Monday in baggage etc, the owners' clothes dryers in the basement laundry can be used to dry damp towels if you really need to.

Basic soap and toilet rolls etc are provided, but please bring your own toiletries and shower gels etc etc.

Each apartment does have its own fully equipped kitchen/living room. Some of these living rooms are being used as additional bedrooms for guests on some nights. We would like to limit the cooking of breakfasts to the two large downstairs rooms of Windsor and Ashbourne. Most of the crockery from all these apartments will be in general use downstairs. Tea, instant coffee, milk and sugar will however be provided in each apartment.

The smallish refrigerators in each apartment are being used to store our collective breakfast food for the weekend and any food left over from the evening meals which we can use at lunchtime the next day. The caterers will also provide fresh soups for lunches. If you're hungry, or miss breakfast entirely - just ask and you won't go hungry. Dinner will be about 20.15 - 20.30-ish each evening.

PROPOSED CATERING AREAS:

We will be cooking our own breakfasts... and I hope the creative and organised chefs amongst us will collectively do the honours here. Last time, there was no shortage of folks helping with all sorts of tasks and this time will be much the same I hope. We need to load up the dishwashers so that the stuff can be used for the evening meals

The current plan is to use the kitchen/living areas of Windsor and Ashbourne apartments (which have bedrooms separated by stairs). WINDSOR: With some chairs and tables to eat at etc and food serving area... for general catering: serving and eating dinner, cooking and eating breakfasts (non-smoking). The caterers say they can deliver food to Windsor in the evening, without disturbing our proceedings. ASHBOURNE: Where we'll have the beer casks and wine serving area; and also a place where the smokers can smoke, take coffee etc. This is also an additional cooking preparation area for breakfasts etc if we need more cooker space and use of a second dishwasher etc.

FOOD:

We will all eat well at UK4. The outline menus include: fresh roasted pork, roast beef, roast turkey, roast and baked chicken and baked salmon as well as hot vegetarian dish choices each day, plus fresh vegetables and cold salads and a mixed spread, hot and cold desserts and cheese board. There will be sandwiches and veggy soups and bread for lunches. Breakfasts are collective DIY affairs with choice of cereals, juices; cooked breakfasts of bacon, sausages, eggs, tomatoes, beans; fresh breads, toast, spreads, marmalade, jam, honey etc, coffee and tea etc

PROPOSED SMOKING POLICY:

The Hall itself does not have a smoking policy, but I believe we need one of some kind in order to keep everyone happy. The upstairs small seating area (library) is cosy but not well ventilated and I propose it to be a non-smoking small meeting/playing area. I would like the main meeting room - particularly at times when we're all crowded in there - to be a limited-smoking area. I suggest that people just be aware. We will take some short breaks for cigarettes, toilet visits and important glass re-filling throughout the proceedings.

The upstairs apartments have living/meeting rooms which can be smoking or non smoking according to the occupants.

The games and children's areas (which we'll no doubt have fun in too) are non - smoking of course.

I have tried to make sure that smokers and non-smokers are separated in bedrooms/apartments as much as practicable. There has to be some 'give and take', but I hope everyone will be happy with these arrangements.

FURNITURE:

Some of the living rooms in the smaller apartments are going to become bedrooms for our guests for one or two nights with bathrooms also shared and we will be using some of the bed settees for this purpose. Other bed settees from downstairs will be used in the main room and dining tables from downstairs and chairs from all apartments will likely be needed for seating in the dining room and large meeting room. The owner is happy for us to move stuff about as required. I don't think we're going to feel crowded at all...

TOILETS FOR GENERAL USE:

There is a general toilet (not specific to an apartment) off the small public room upstairs at the top of the main stairs. It's my intention to have this as the general gents' toilet and for male visitors. There is also a toilet in the Welbeck apartment which is accessible both from the corridor and the bedroom of that apartment. Except at night time, it is my intention to have this as a general ladies toilet. There are about 13 toilets in the place altogether - a big improvement over Belper - so no need for anyone to be caught short anyway.

BATHROOMS:

There are 2, 3 or 4 people sharing each bathroom according to apartment size... and in one case 5 people sharing a bathroom suite with a second shower. There is the 'general' toilet facility at the top of the main stairs off the library room for use in the mornings.

HEATING:

There are electric heaters in all the apartments and coal and log burning fires in each of the living rooms. The electric heating may suffice. It obviously depends on how cold it is, as to how we will use these. We made provision in the costings for feeding the meters in each apartment reckoning on 100 120 pounds in total. I'd just ask that lights and heater use are managed with some view to the cost. ie we don't leave all the lights on all the time etc. With any luck and a bit of monitoring, we shouldn't ever be plunged into darkness anywhere in the building.

SECURITY:

We are not insured as a group or by the owners for any personal loss or theft. This is a quiet rural location and we haven't had problems of theft at any other meet so far, but I would ask folk to be vigilante anyway. I intend to set aside an area or two specifically for guitar cases, so that they don't clutter up the proceedings. At previous RMMGA Meets, valuable guitars have been left overnight propped up and lying about all over the place and no harm has come to any of them, but I do suggest that perhaps keeping your valuable instruments in bedrooms at night might be the safest way.

GUITARS FOR SALE:

In addition to our wonderful luthier guests and their instruments, John Collyer has told me he has two super guitars for sale and which he intends to bring along - as follows:

Martin D-45 Custom. Ordered from Martin 1980 and owned from new. Mint condition. Huge sound. A very, very special instrument. Suit flatpicker with a rhinestone suit and 50 gallon hat. A new Custom D-45 would cost around 12K pounds. He's looking for around 4.5K for this old, mellowed, played-in version.

Lowden F-34 - a custom instrument. Largish jumbo shape, Trim very plain and no inlays at all, no scratchplate. Cedar top with fabulous flamed Koa back and sides. Outrageous sound, very loud, sustain that goes on and on... particularly good for open tunings. Would currently cost around 2.4K new (if you can find one in Koa)... looking for around 1.5K.

REFUNDS:

These meets are all done and organised on a non-profit basis, (and of course a non-loss basis too). Alan will be sorting out any refunds in cash due to those resident RMMGA folk from abroad (only) before they go. We should know what the figures roughly are by then. Those in the UK will get any refunds due by cheque in the mail after a week or so. (We may also need to pay for any accidental breakages or damages at the Hall).

btw... I need home addresses and tel No's for my records from:

Magnus Paterson
Pete Gay
Shirley Worral (new info)
Can you e-mail them to me?

This time, because we had a fund available from the last Meet, we got the venue booked at exactly the time we wanted and at the right price. Alan Marshall and I have recently been discussing the very real need to retain a small venue deposit fund in order to secure future suitable venues for RMMGA meets. Such deposits are required usually a long time before anyone usually even commits to coming and are a big hassle to collect via numerous e-mails etc...

FUTURE RMMGA MEETS:

As I've said on the newsgroup before, the number of venues which can provide the facilities; the numbers of beds (circa 40 this time); on a self-catering basis; offering complete freedom; and exclusive occupancy and at this very low overall cost, are very few and far between. Shirley Worral (who organised UK3 with Nigel's help) will back me up here... they just do not exist in all areas and few on this scale.

I've checked out various conference/event type venues, but total costs were working out at more than 3 times - around 300 pounds a head upwards (and this excluding booze at full bar prices) - although the food was offered in formal dining rooms. That could work out with additional bits and pieces at 400 pounds per head for a weekend. This IMO, is not financially feasible for most of us.

If anyone has any suggestions for future venues where we could do something similar... or would like to organise or help organise a future Meet, please come forward. We know what has worked up til now, but there's always a new trick around the corner!

ITINERARY:

The following is the proposed programme for the weekend:

FRIDAY 23rd MARCH:

15.00 - 18.00 arrival 18.00 - 19.00 drinks, chat and intros 1900 - welcome, announcements and 'Plucky Dip' Draw 1920 - 20.20 ish Jamie Kincherff short talk w. slides and Q&A 20.30 ish Dinner 21.30 ish: Lee Collinson plays for us afterwards... whatever???!!! no doubt it'll go on quite late

SATURDAY 24th MARCH:

09.00 - 11.00 - breakfast, coffee etc whatever...

11.00/11.30ish - 12.00/12.30 ish - Guy Snape to give a talk about blues styles/ techniques etc

12.30ish - onwards... Whatever... collaborations

14.00 ish Simon Smidmore from Brook Guitars will be arriving with some of their lovely instruments...

Partners will no doubt be organising other outside activities (sadly now limited) for those who want get out and about Sat/Sun. My partner Fiona is working on an index of possibilities (given the FMD restrictions of course). There's still loads to see and do in Derbyshire and beyond and more will follow on this score.

17.00 ish - til whenever: Extended acoustic session with a very mixed programme to be organised loosely at the time. It may well be that we'll have a couple of musical things going on at the same time in different rooms. Anyone who wants to perform can do so... but there is no pressure on anyone to do so... Special guest will be Lee Collinson. We'll also have a few other special musical guests who more than likely will do a turn or two.

SUNDAY 25th MARCH:

Breakfast (if you're not too late up!)

11.00 ish to 12.30 ish two RMMGAers - Henry Smithson of 'Sounds Good' (a recording studio and CD manufacturing facility) and Bob Thomas (who works for TEAC in the UK) will be jointly fielding an extended Q&A session on 'home recording'. Many people want to know more about how to get decent results at home - if you're one of those - don't miss it.

12.45/13.00-ish - 14.00 -ish Lee Collinson will be giving a talk/demo/Q&A on alternative tunings... and as he is a master in this regard... it should be very interesting indeed...

Guest players Wizz Jones and Doug Smith should be arriving around 14.00 or possibly earlier. I'm hoping that Wizz and Doug will play a set fairly early on... 16.00-ish or earlier in order that a couple of people - leaving for home Sunday - do not miss out on hearing them.

15.45 - Raffle to be drawn.

16.00 - 17.00 Wizz Jones and Doug B. Smith to play...

17.00-ish onwards - more performances by anyone who wants to play in an extended acoustic session. We'll have some short breaks throughout the evening. The main room downstairs is the focal point for our UK4 get together but there are other places people can meet jam, talk, practice etc...

MONDAY 26th MARCH:

We need to vacate Hargate Hall by lunchtime and be tidied up too by 14.00 .

On Monday evening there will be a public concert by Wizz Jones, Lee Collinson and Doug B. Smith - with support from Keith Smith and Richard Bateman - in a function room of The Old Clubhouse public house in Water Street, Buxton. (for those of us still around). This is the home of Buxton's Club Acoustic nights, which I've started to regularly attend.

It's going to be fun folks... Look forward to seeing you all there!

Gan canny,

Chris Rockcliffe