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Post by rogerb on Mar 14, 2011 9:32:48 GMT
I'm probably as guilty as the rest of us forum members. I look in everyday but don't always log-on if there are no new topics. I no longer perform as a solo artiste when I'm in Cyprus (due, in part, to stringent work permit rules) and the band I used to be with in the UK now has a permanent keyboard player so I don't get the gig when in the UK. I will never lose my interest in music but now I'm not working the topics for discussion don't seem to arise. Although my technical knowledge is rather limited I'm always happy to join in threads about presentation and stage craft - the showmanship side of the business. I really enjoy about reading Simmo's exploits. Maybe I should follow his footsteps and start busking here in England. A bit too chilly at the moment I think!
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Post by simmo123 on Mar 14, 2011 13:41:27 GMT
 Hi Rogerb,sorry to hear about the problems your having,its a bit of a double "Whammy" as we say over here what with both your Cypress gigs & the UK ones getting the "chop",it must leave a big vacuum in your life not to mention how it affects your pocket as well,was it some new ruling in Cypress or is it run on hand-outs to whoever "looks the other way" as in the case of a lot of countries around the world or in other words "money talks".Getting on to the busking subject...if Ole Simmo can do it & get away with it anything is possible,i actually don't get nervous anymore even when i venture into new territory,i have tried out different areas,setting up where i think the best vantage point is,also trying to keep the shop-keepers happy by not directly setting up in a position that may cause disruption or loud music so as not to upset the customers,but i must admit i have had requests from some owners to set up closer to such businesses as coffee shops & the like.It is a huge learning experience for me being a pretty late starter in the music game,i did my homework on what gear would be most suitable for me within the budget & as far as the quality sounds that i am getting with my vocals & acoustic/elec guitar i think i have got that part right,the other consideration was keeping it nice & compact,the Roland AC33 acoustic amp is brilliant for guitar & vocal,plenty of volume,8xAA rechargable batteries or mains power,weighs less than 5kg,compact in size as well,can get up to 12 hours without recharging.my backing comes from edited midi's edited by yours truly & put into mp3 format & played on my bose docking station & ipod,once again very compact & battery powered,i have been playing at our local Swap-meet on a sunday morning & i have no trouble being heard over all of the action that is going on with all of the other stall holders,crowds etc,i have come to an arrangement with the folks who run it whereby i have no need to get there between about 2-6am on a sunday morning just get a spot with my car like all of the other stall holders,what i am able to do is to roll up around 7.00am,park in the car park next to the market & then just wheel my little trolley in & set up at the same spot each time under a nice shady tree on one of the garden areas,right in the middle of all the action.the swap-meet runs until about 11.30am but it does pull a lot of folks in.I have been getting a lot of good feedback since i started busking a couple of months ago (they probably feel a bit sorry for this ole bugger) & it does encourage me to try that bit harder,as i mentioned before i am certainly a lot fitter & lighter as well since from when i started,i can sympathise with you on the UK weather especially as you seem to spend a lot of time in Cypress where you would get a similar climate to our area,but i must admit this summer over here in W Aussie has been a real tester for us,Hottest summer on record with 28 days in a row of above 30c temps & many of those days over 40c plus high humidity which we don't usually get & no rain since November but i think we have got over the worst of it now with the temps mostly under 30c most days.Well mate as usual Ole Simmo got a bit carried away again with all of this mostly useless info but i must admit i can now type with one finger on each hand at the same time albeit very slow,keep the Forum informed of your progress as it is another much needed topic for us all to share. Best wishes....Simmo PS this almost turned out to be another episode in Simmo's Ramblings...i think perhaps the ole chap is starting to lose it a bit  
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Post by simmo123 on Mar 14, 2011 13:45:44 GMT
Hey sorry about the spelling of Cyprus i must have been up there with my head in the (Cypress) trees...Simmo 
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Post by weeo on Mar 14, 2011 14:38:35 GMT
Hi Simmo
Thanks for sharing your fascinating lifestyle with us.I'm really in awe of what you do.I certainly wouldn't have the bravado to do what you do. I'm sure all the members here will share my feelings. Keep it up!!!!
Regards
Eddie
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Post by mark on Mar 14, 2011 16:18:13 GMT
Hi Simmo
had to share this story. many Years ago i was promoting an amateur production of Oklahoma (I was Curly) We hired a small rig and pony. I dressed up as Curly and was singing in the streets of Chichester . I had my guitar and was singing a few songs from the show and also some country and western. was serenading ladies of all ages. it was great fun.What cause the laugh at the time was that people kept offering us money and I had to say no as we were just promoting the show.needless to say we sold all our tickets and had ful houses for every night. it can be great singing on the streets.
Regards
Mark
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Post by Tubbs on Mar 14, 2011 16:54:34 GMT
Well, i have to say guys that not for one minute do i think that facebook has got anything to do with things being quiet on the forum here. Lots of members here are probably members of other forums whether musical ones or not and i see facebook as just an extension of that...i personally have found long lost friends through FB and think it is a valuable tool in this regard.
In responce to George saying about the Admins lack of input i can only say that i almost daily drop in to look around and see all is in order....we cant be held responsible for lack of interest solely...you cant make members contribute and the truth of it is that people just move on to other things....lets have more suggestions to improve things and i for one will do all i can to have them implemented....but the buck doesn't stop with me or Geraint..ultimately it is Pat who has to be addressed for any suggestion to be put in place...but i am sure he is obviously very busy with other things at the moment but if anyone wants to suggest the way forward for this forum then lets hear it.
Gerry.
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Post by doricvision on Mar 14, 2011 20:55:25 GMT
I for one Gerry ,appreciate everything that You, Pat and the other Admins do to maintain this site. True, there are ''lulls'' from time to time but then little gems like Simmo's Ramblings come along and we all feel enlightened ,encouraged and inspired by him opening his heart to us.
I'm sure we all have stories to tell and /or unusual experiences to share so get posting
Just my tuppence worth
Bigmike
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Post by geraint on Mar 14, 2011 21:51:03 GMT
Thank you all for your comments. I have been an Admin on the hangout since the start having been such on MM previously.
I check in here every day like Gerry to ensure that all is well.
I make comment when necessary and when I have something to contribute.
I share files when I am able, and love this place as a source of knowledge and friendship.
My reason for starting this thread, was to see what was going wrong, and from your comments, it appears that nothing is wrong.
Thank god for that.
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Post by simmo123 on Mar 15, 2011 0:29:45 GMT
Hi Mark,great story mate,i can just imagine how you felt,which strange as it may seem rekindled an amusing memory of some thing that actually happened to me while Patricia & i were on our big trip to the UK a couple of years ago.As you know we both spent the early years of our life in the same area as Chichester up until getting married (1961) when we spent 6 years in Somerset until we took off (1968) with our two "ankle biter's" in tow & became" ten pound poms" OK...getting back to the subject,while staying in the West Sussex area while on the first part of our holiday i had this urge to do some busking,i had actually brought my acoustic guitar with me because as we were being away for a total of 4 months i felt it would give me a chance to learn a few more songs + keep my hand in at the same time,the other thing that was in my favour was that nobody would recognise me if i made an ass of myself..Right!!!this particular day i informed "my sweetness" of my intentions but i will always remember the strange look she gave me at the time but there was no stopping Ole Simmo,i caught a bus from Littlehampton where we were based carrying my guitar/music stand/book & headed for Chichester,although its just a few km away i am sure that the bus covered half of Southern England before i got to our destination,through all the villages etc.Next problem is now i have arrived where do i set up,i did pass a busker while i wandered around & he was well setup with amps etc plus he sounded pretty good,i was starting to lose confidence so i wandered into a cafe on the main street for a much needed coffee boost,i noticed that they had some tables set up on the pavement with a number of people sitting there & as an added boost to my confidence they were mostly like Ole Simmo....OLD!!!! anyway halfway through my 2nd coffee i approached the owner of the cafe & politely ran it past him if he would mind me setting up outside & giving the folks a bit of entertainment.....Bingo!! he agreed even offering me power if i needed it...by then the realization sunk in & the hands trembled as i went outside on the pavement & proceeded to set up my stand & tune the guitar much to the curiosity of the folks sitting there,i put on my Aussie wide brimmed hat & nervously started into my first song,after a couple of songs i heard the chink of coins going into my case which was alongside me which gave me added confidence.Next comes the drama..i had been playing for about 40 mins when i spotted this very attractive policewoman heading straight for me,she waited until i finished the song i was playing the hit me with...can i see your busking licence..i new she was serious by the look on her face so i played the dumb Aussie tourist line about not knowing the local laws etc but she reacted to the point i actually thought she was going to arrest me,her very words were "i am afraid i am going to...thats the point i thought she was going to arrest me, but she continued to say...ask you to stop playing immediatly,then she turned quite friendly & explained to me the various process's i needed to do to obtain the busking permit (which was about a month of stuffing around with the local council)..by then quite a crowd had gathered to see the spectacle,anyway i packed up my gear & slunk away with my tail between my legs & headed to the bus station for home. On arriving back to Littlehampton to be greeted by an eager Mrs Simmo wearing that "show me da money" on her face..anyway the bottom line was a total of just over 32 UK pounds in an assortment of coins notes etc.Since that experience it has taken Ole Simmo a couple of years to get around to having another go,& the rest is history....Wow...this looks like another one of Simmo ramblings...the "War Office" is on the move...time to get the brekky going...Simmo
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Post by JohnG on Mar 15, 2011 9:22:26 GMT
Well Terry,
I, for one, love to hear the stories of the busking and the "Adventures of Old Simmo in Oz". I think that your reports and the pictures of the set ups you use have been most useful to those contemplating similar ventures (not me). I liked the story about your first experience busking in the UK. I think it's fair to say most coppers would give you one warning if you're reasonable with them. It sounds like the process is a lot simpler in good ole Oz.
In short, keep on with the ramblings please.
All th'best from JG and MrsG,
JohnG.
JohnG.
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Post by doricvision on Mar 15, 2011 22:37:57 GMT
Remember to save these ramblings for the book Terry
Bigmike
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Post by simmo123 on Mar 15, 2011 23:09:48 GMT
Hi Bigmike...thanks for reminding me...Simmo
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Post by weegeo on Mar 15, 2011 23:56:35 GMT
I need to make it clear i am not pointing the finger at the admins persay i have nothing but respect for the time they give to the running of our forum and i am aware that most of them sign in at some stage during the normal working day.I just feel that as Geraint has done!! more questions should be asked as to why the forum is so quiet with the exception of simmo`s posts we have basically turned into a request only site. I don`t mind sharing files infact i have posted an invite for files but i am sure that we have more to say i remember well the postings of Shyam and some of the questions he posed those days appear to have vanished,i know that not all have gone to FB i do have a FB account but is generally for contacting my family. I just fear that our forum will go the way of others before and some great friendships will be lost. Sorry for the soapbox
weegeo
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Post by frank on Mar 16, 2011 0:42:24 GMT
Faces will reappear when they want something (info or files).
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Post by simmo123 on Mar 16, 2011 10:52:48 GMT
Hi John,thanks for your kind comments on my busking experiences but i was a bit confused when you stated...."In Short"!!!!...I'm not sure whether my Ramblings need to be shorter??? ...or maybe i have misread it....i feel a major senior moment coming on or as we call them over in OZ ..."an Interlectual Interlude" ...i will have another look at your post but in the meantime i will post this message just in the event i can't remember why i logged on in the first place... Simmo...feeling warm & fuzzy after a big day with the music + home cooked dinner with Patrica & couple of glasses of local red just to round the day off  ...not forgetting a busy morning busking tomorrow.
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Hi Rogerb,sorry to hear about the problems your having,its a bit of a double "Whammy" as we say over here what with both your Cypress gigs & the UK ones getting the "chop",it must leave a big vacuum in your life not to mention how it affects your pocket as well,was it some new ruling in Cypress or is it run on hand-outs to whoever "looks the other way" as in the case of a lot of countries around the world or in other words "money talks".Getting on to the busking subject...if Ole Simmo can do it & get away with it anything is possible,i actually don't get nervous anymore even when i venture into new territory,i have tried out different areas,setting up where i think the best vantage point is,also trying to keep the shop-keepers happy by not directly setting up in a position that may cause disruption or loud music so as not to upset the customers,but i must admit i have had requests from some owners to set up closer to such businesses as coffee shops & the like.It is a huge learning experience for me being a pretty late starter in the music game,i did my homework on what gear would be most suitable for me within the budget & as far as the quality sounds that i am getting with my vocals & acoustic/elec guitar i think i have got that part right,the other consideration was keeping it nice & compact,the Roland AC33 acoustic amp is brilliant for guitar & vocal,plenty of volume,8xAA rechargable batteries or mains power,weighs less than 5kg,compact in size as well,can get up to 12 hours without recharging.my backing comes from edited midi's edited by yours truly & put into mp3 format & played on my bose docking station & ipod,once again very compact & battery powered,i have been playing at our local Swap-meet on a sunday morning & i have no trouble being heard over all of the action that is going on with all of the other stall holders,crowds etc,i have come to an arrangement with the folks who run it whereby i have no need to get there between about 2-6am on a sunday morning just get a spot with my car like all of the other stall holders,what i am able to do is to roll up around 7.00am,park in the car park next to the market & then just wheel my little trolley in & set up at the same spot each time under a nice shady tree on one of the garden areas,right in the middle of all the action.the swap-meet runs until about 11.30am but it does pull a lot of folks in.I have been getting a lot of good feedback since i started busking a couple of months ago (they probably feel a bit sorry for this ole bugger) & it does encourage me to try that bit harder,as i mentioned before i am certainly a lot fitter & lighter as well since from when i started,i can sympathise with you on the UK weather especially as you seem to spend a lot of time in Cypress where you would get a similar climate to our area,but i must admit this summer over here in W Aussie has been a real tester for us,Hottest summer on record with 28 days in a row of above 30c temps & many of those days over 40c plus high humidity which we don't usually get & no rain since November but i think we have got over the worst of it now with the temps mostly under 30c most days.Well mate as usual Ole Simmo got a bit carried away again with all of this mostly useless info but i must admit i can now type with one finger on each hand at the same time albeit very slow,keep the Forum informed of your progress as it is another much needed topic for us all to share.
...not forgetting a busy morning busking tomorrow.