I know I know, we've only just got over 2011, but if we are to stand any chance on improving on this years fest, we need to start working on it tomorrow morning!
So, any thoughts? What did you like? What could have been better?
Needless to say, talks have already started, but we'd like to throw it wide open this time round - where do you want it? Who is going to run it? Who do you want to see?
Dont hold back guys....
Replies
Some good points there Mark. The timing sort of came about because originally I wanted to do the 1st CBG fest before the summer, but in order to give enough notice, I postponed it to after the summer..hence October. It's not an absolutely fixed point, but it keeps it clear of clashes with summer events, and falls nicely between the end of the summer break and Christmas.
Other music events..almost any genre of music would provide a good platform..but obviously folk, country, indie and blues would work well. Once I've got my office straight, done the minutes of the AGM, I'll start trying to get my head in order.
A few other random thoughts - not all directly relevant to Boxstock but possibly useful nonetheless.
- University campuses can be good venues for conference/festival type events. Many of them have the advantage of offering performance spaces plus other rooms plus cheap accommodation on the same site. The downside as regards Boxstock is that they're mostly only available for big events during the holiday months when students are away - ie. not October. So maybe not for Boxstock 2012 but worth bearing in mind for the future (especially if we could find one where there were people interested in some sort of co-promotion arrangement)
- Is Boxstock always going to be an October event? I guess that, because summer is the prime festival season, then an October date lowers the odds of unfortunate clashes. Is that the thinking?
- While I agree with what's been said about finding a location that results in fair journey distances for as many people as possible, we shouldn't forget the significance of London - eg. as a centre of the music and media industries and a place with a huge population and a lot of music fans. It doesn't have to mean a Boxstock-type event. It might well be a prime place for finding opportunities to piggyback some sort of HGMC presence onto another event. So Boxstock in Sheffield, or wherever the powers that be settle upon, but also something in London eventually (Maybe the London group is the place to discuss this further).
- When thinking about where CBGs/HGMC might find opportunities we need to think outside the box a bit. Blues festivals are obviously opportunities (Upton was great), but if we just think in terns of blues then we're limiting ourselves. Improvised musical instruments have never been confined to blues, there's pictorial evidence of their early use in jazz and folk at the very least (and probably many other forms too). I say again that it has to be worth at least some investigation to see if there's any opportunity to have a presence at the Cambridge Folk Festival, which is a major event with BBC coverage but is also the sort of affair where a building workshop would fit right in.
PS. Having had experience of organising substantial events in the past I can second what John says about the importance of planning as far in advance as possible.
Thanks for the reply C.John, I have read and noted your remarks, thank you
Geoff
ChickenboneJohn said:
Blimey Revd...a long way to come for such a small sample of the stuff that was happening, but thanks for your commitment.
For next year, I think a lot will depend on who we can get as a headliner for Boxstock, and what venues we can shortlist...sorting these two matters is the first thing we must do. At the moment, Ben with the assistance of Ant, (and with me keeping a Godfatherly eye on things) is already active in contacting artists and scouting out venues. It may all seem very soon to be doing it, but I'm afraid that's the way it is, and we need to be planning well in advance.
There are loads of other events to tag onto, and I see HGMC presence at such events as part of our "outreach work". The aim is to keep Boxstock as the main annual focus, but it doesn't stop us having a presence at other events and creating new events across the country.
As for other activities, the important thing is to keep in touch and communicate on here, so that we can avoid clashes of dates both with other Cigar Box Guitar related events and other music events, so that there's the best possible chance of making a success of things. If you are thinking or getting involved or have an idea for a local event, do use this forum as a sounding board...don't try reinventing the wheel as far as figuring out how to run an event. It may seem pretty easy to do, but there's quite bit to do getting even a small event off the ground and making a success of it, and there is a fair amount of experience and wise words to be found amongst the people on here.
Hi guys,
As a first time visitor to Boxstock 2011, may I say I was only present for a very short time, I missed the headliners, and I was present for only three hours on Saturday afternoon, having driven from Devon, and returned directly after my short stay. I still feel it was worth the effort to visit the Boxstock.
- I thought the venue was excellent, it was roomy and impressive, car parking was just across the road, and lifts or elevators to the workshops, open mike area, and sales area. It pleases me to know that the venue was open to negotiation and helpful.
- I agree that membership and name badges would be supportive to those trying to make first time contacts, and possibly colour may assist in the badges stating whether on sales, stewardship, entertainers or members. Direction posters to the various areas, and a Programme would also assist. But not lets forget we left the work of organisation to mainly two people. They did not let us down ! May I express my thanks and appreciation to them for what they organised, and no doubt what they learned from the experience.
- I agree with many of the statements many of you have profferred however John and Roo` and those asked to assist in 2012 , will need to be selective of the many suggestions, in relation to cost and at these economic times of political, commercial, and profit making stupidity, and of course in hind sight they and we will be of course more knowledgeable.
- I like others have come across many snags in providing large exhibitions, demonstrations, and activity courses. May I suggest among potential venues, that the venue needs to be accessable, near good "m class" roads and a short distance away from the actual motorway, just as The Public actually was ! Health and safety, various legal provisions and County regulations have to be also encountered, it would be a shame to encounter an obstacle at the final day of opening Boxstock 2012. It was unfortunate that the open mike evening was distant and the food venues also unpopular, I feel sure this will be noted and corrected. Race courses frequently provide good venues for large or small activities, with few neighbours to annoy with loud music, Just down the road a little, is Cheltenham Race Course as pretty as a picture, loads of camping area inside the track, with a pub, a grandstand that any reasonable sized stage area can be erected, large area for seperate marquee`s in which to place activities, within a short drive of the M5, just up the road from Birmingham, Wales, Bristol and the M4 from London. Certainly Newcastle also has a large catchment area, with an out going marketable public. Also Universities during off terms, also supply ready made accommodation, various rooms for activities,and Bars and are frequently within cities. These appear in all cities within this country.
- Certainly the suggestion of attachment to an already extant Music Festival is a good one, the largest internationally historic open festival is of course at Sidmouth in Devon. For such festivals action will be booked well ahead. Possibly led by the South Western players and builders ?
- Once decided where the venue should be, ALL should be willing to give support to making Boxstock 2012 an even larger success than 2011 became. I have only spent a few months in your company, you all have much too offer and are willing to help others, ChickenJohn will soon have a guitar ready for me and I can start my Blues training to get in front of an open mike perhaps.
Thanks for your friendliness last Saturday and Thanks for your consideration in reading this....God Bless you all...........
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 6 Next