Subject: Re: [Harp-L] re: critial mistakes

[Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for that Elizabeth;
                                      I was aware of SPAH, of course, and of GSHC. I wasn't sure what the nature of the clubs was. I am not a member of the Yarraville Mouth Organ Band, although I have visited during a meeting/practice session. It is strictly social, with the performances at retirement homes etc. just part of the fun. I have gathered that SPAH, at least, is something other than this.
                                      Why did I think the UK might be more the home of this kind of club than the US? Don't know exactly. I haven't travelled much, so no doubt my views on how things are  across the oceans are a little myopic.
 
Regards,
RD
>>> <EGS1217@xxxxxxx> 7/06/2012 14:38 >>>

Well of course we do, Rick. I guess you've never seen all the posts about SPAH and our own Garden State Harmonica Club? :) (among all the other people talking about their own clubs --Virginia Beach? Dallas? Denver?Sacramento?) Most of those other clubs have hosted SPAH. 

 
 
For GSHC (Garden State), we haven't hosted SPAH (never been chosen --it's a specific process), but we've put on our OWN very special Festival every Fall for umpteen years. The Club is,I believe going on 41 years old now. It may not be quite as old as yours but it sure is going strong with new members joining every other week or so - young players too. AND our oldest member is 93 as well. 
 
 
I envy you your own space, but here you can't build something on land you don't own..so that's out, but even if the club couldn't find a place to rent (cheaply) to hold the meetings, I'm sure we'd figure out something. Most high schools here will allow use of school space in the evenings, or churches have spaces which can be rented for nominal costs, etc.
Bottom line someone would allow the meetings in their home for the interim. We could easily do it at my home --if they were all willing to make the hike the other way. 
 
 
We've a fine mix of chromatic and diatonic players with chords and bass harmonicas and a couple of guitars and pianists thrown into the mix. No dancing though--there simply isn't enough time for everyone who wants to play --and since the Club does rent the space for a specific time and we have to shut down at a certain point, we're a bit restricted. There're a couple of mics and amps set up, some people play alone, some prefer to play 2-3 together. The space is more along the lines of a kitchen/living room set up. We also have refreshments (nothing alcoholic) and some of us choose to bring 'extra' baked goodies just because we enjoy the happiness it gives to our fellow Club members since our meetings are in the evenings during the week. Not everyone is retired. Your photos looked remarkably like 'some' of the earlier meetings before we moved to the current space.
 
 
The ensemble is comprised of some of the Club members --and they meet every week to practice apart from the twice a month Club meetings. They wear matching tshirts and coordinating outfits when they play at Senior Citizen centers and local Hospitals and wherever else they play. They're good too, especially since they've had some really good players sign on/ They haven't as yet updated the video on the site (no one has time since they're all so busy practicing while many are still working full-time jobs), but here's a link so you can check them out. Many in the ensemble link have long since moved on --they really need to upgrade it, but at least you can see some of what took place at our most recent Festival in November 2011.
 
 
Don't know why you'd think the UK would have it over the US in that respect? I'm from the UK and couldn't find a single other mouth organ player besides myself as a kid. It took coming to the States to find these other people who welcomed me with open arms and gave me tons of free harmonica instruction. I've now found a real family with them and some lifetime friends. I've missed so many meetings simply because I don't live in New Jersey and it's a fair hike from here to there with my health not so great lately, but I'm still very much a member of the Club and will be back as soon as I'm able. If I lived closer by I'd definitely be part of the Ensemble as well.
 
 
Don't you worry. Harmonica clubs across the States are still alive and well --depending on which state and how much time the members are willing to put in to attract new blood. The Garden State club is one of the good ones and I suspect the members have the same general attitude as do those who belong to yours. 
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 7
Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:37:45 +1000
From: Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] re: critial mistakes
To: "David Payne" <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Harp L Harp L"
harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
\
We have a harmonica club here in Melbourne, Australia. A different affair to club whose recording you've posted here Dave, but the social aspects of music performed in the community like this is so often overlooked.
All anyone cares about these days is their wretched careers. I wonder if there is still anything like this mob in the US, or the UK (more likely perhaps) Europe or wherever..??
Take a look at this, and the attached pictures: http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2008/12/19/2451033.htm The members built the clubhouse with their own hands back in '33.
 
 The demographic 
of the area has changed a lot in the last twenty years; it was an old docklands industrial area, is across the river mouth from the Melbourne CBD and has a 'village' feel to it. A lot of musicians moved there in the 90s, but that doesn't necessarily mean good things for the club. I'd love to see a resurgence of interest in the club; the harmonica needs a boost like the ukulele has had in recent years. Here's hoping!
RD