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Ey up!

Hopefully by now you are all aware that something is well and truly 'going on' with our UK CBG scene.

The first festival was a huge sucess, with around 25 folk attending the day sessions, and 60 for the evening gig.

This almost doubled to 50 and 100 respectivly for this years fest - and from what I gather, a lot more than attend many of the US events. And they invented it! ;o)

Clearly our scene is exploding... and I reckon it will continue to do so.

A lot of this is down to you, the participants, the anonymous benefactors, and the hardwork that Chickenbone John and a few others put in throughout the year doing all the planning and organising.

As it stands at the minute, John shells out his own cash, then worries if he'll get it back on the night! He spends hours planning, meeting, travelling, discussing - all at his own expense.

The performers play on the assumtion they will not be getting paid. They pay their own travel and accomodation costs. As it turned out this year, the anonymous donation and the good turn out, coupled with the deal done with the venue, meant they did get a little financial help, but they were there out of their own good will and dedication to the scene.

So, heres my point (FINALLY!!)

Wouldnt it be great if we had a little money in the kitty to help with all these little costs? Maybe to lay on food at the next fest? Help John with some of the planning costs? Or to actually pay the preformers something like a proper wage? Maybe cover venue costs so we can avoid the dreaded door split? Or, to put it another way;

To support the scene we all take so much from, and to ensure its continued success.

Lets just imagine for a moment that John cant afford the time off to organise next years fest, or that Hollowbelly cant afford to come and give a workshop and gig... pretty dreary picture huh? You would be left with me, in a dingy pub, talking nonsense for 15 hours. Not worth 25p...

I know what youre thinking. Sounds like a begging letter, but trust me, its not - I have a plan!

And better than that, everyone gets a little something back too :o)

The plan is to set up a UK CBG Registry (for want of a better name - it would be cool to include all homemade instruments).

And this is how it would work;

* There would be a nominal fee to join - say £5 per year. This would give us a few hundred quid to do something with next year.

* There would be NO obligation to join, and not joining would have NO effect on you attending the festival, etc etc - the idea of this is to support our democracy and help it grow, not to divide folk.

* For your £5, you would get a membership number, maybe a downloadable logo with said number (so if you are building / selling / preforming etc you can show you are affiliated, so to speak - handy if you Ebay etc) and your name on 'The List'

* 'The List' will therefore be a Uk directory of of builders and players and interested folk. If someone was activly looking for an artist, or a builder, or even just folk to interview for a documentary, what better resource?

* The registry would also have the benefit of drawing in folk who are on the fringes of what we do. Plenty of folk build and sell on Ebay, but dont come here or to the shows. Maybe seeing everyone else affiliated would motivate them to get a bit more involved. Same goes for players - lets get everyone together and share our tips, help each other, and educate the rest of the musical world together!

* As an additional benefit, once we have a proper group set up in this way, and with a little extra paperwork, we can apply for outside funding. Want to see Seasick Steve play the next UK festival? This could pay for it. Seriously.

Incidentally, I did also think about a sticker for your guitar case, but this then becomes a 'money in, money out' affair and doesnt actually raise anything for the kitty. Maybe a bit of merchandising could be done as a seperate venture?

I am volunteering to help set all this up, and it would be done properly with an elected board, proper accounts etc, so its all above board and,most importantly, for the good of the group.

So - thoughts please!

Im asking for honest open opinions here folk, so dont hold back! DO, however, try to read the whole thing before you start on about making it elitist etc etc - I think its pretty clear thats not the point!

Thanks again

Ben

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by neil lindsay on November 5, 2010 at 12:10am

Great idea count me in for a tenner, if there is anything i can do to help please let me know.

Permalink Reply by Yellowbelly Flatt on November 5, 2010 at 12:34am

This idea really seems to have captured the imagination of the nation in Britain.

I really like the idea of covering all home crafted instruments as I have and are building things like fiddles, ukuleles and mandolins, kazoos and whistles.

All speed to you.

Permalink Reply by Little Soul Eric on November 5, 2010 at 1:00am

This is a major turning point for the UK Cigar Box Guitar Family
and here... now,
As a group, we are all making History together , standing tall, United as One.

It makes me feel so Proud.

Permalink Reply by Roosterman on November 5, 2010 at 1:03am

You would be suprised Col - I know exactly who you are! ;o)

I didnt know you did all that though - very interesting. I see you getting 'the call' sometime soon....

Permalink Reply by Alan Hodges on November 5, 2010 at 3:40am

Cracking idea!! Count me in. The more we raise the profile, then the more chance of seeing more talent,both playing and building, emerge from good old blighty!! Live music rules, lets do all we can to help.
AlanH

Permalink Reply by Roosterman on November 5, 2010 at 5:17am

Already did Tinq! :o)

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on November 5, 2010 at 5:18am

Hi all

I thought I ought to comment on this. Like the idea of a “Registry” thing (watch out for the old Data Protection Act traps chaps) certainly it might make it easier to find people with particular skills, playing or building, in your own geographical area and that would be a cool thing. We could then offer lessons or entertainment or building help as you suggest. At the moment I can imagine it might be tricky for newbies to navigate their way through the Nation site sometimes and identifying who does what and where could be a help.

You already addressed the potential “us” and “them” issue which obviously needs to be monitored although I will expect a prefect badge and my guitar case sticker – hey do the Scouts and Guides have a CBG badge?

So I am backing this idea and I agree that a tenner might be a more useful contribution. BTW if you need help with legals let me know.

Cheers Brian

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on November 5, 2010 at 5:36am

Another small point - if there is to be a register of builders, can we avoid star ratings, accreditations, quality control etc. We all make such different instruments with such varying techniques that it would be unfair to have any sort of rating and may put new people off trying a build. On the other hand if someone wants to buy from one of us online then of course they can ask obvious questions like how many have you sold and/or ask for references or whatever. Hope that makes sense - just trying to keep it open to all

Permalink Reply by Norm Fasey on November 5, 2010 at 5:41am

I think its great. I would part with a tenner for this. Maybe a membership card would be a good idea.

Norm

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on November 5, 2010 at 5:42am

Point well made Brian, we did discuss about differing membership levels and all that,..but it looks like a flat simple membership fee, membership number..that's enough to show that you belong, and are part of the family. Doing a 'craftsman accreditation' is something else altogether, and at this stage just another complication we can do without...we are trying to keep it as simple as possible. And yes, we will have to address the Data Protection Act stuff.

MrRandomWritings (Brian) said:

Another small point - if there is to be a register of builders, can we avoid star ratings, accreditations, quality control etc. We all make such different instruments with such varying techniques that it would be unfair to have any sort of rating and may put new people off trying a build. On the other hand if someone wants to buy from one of us online then of course they can ask obvious questions like how many have you sold and/or ask for references or whatever. Hope that makes sense - just trying to keep it open to all

Permalink Reply by Roosterman on November 5, 2010 at 5:50am

Another good use of the registry - lessons and jams. Good thinking Brian.

The builders / players register part of the set up is only a small part though. The key function of this group will be to raise funds and awareness.

I wasnt really thinking in terms of having an accredited system - more a simple list of 'These folk play' and 'These other folk build'. I just thought that if, for example, a promoter wanted to put something cigar boxesque on, it would be a good to have all the info in one place. Same goes for shoppers - 'I want one, do you have a list of builders websites / emails / etc'

At the end of the day, everything we can do to make it easier for folk to discover this scene and get involved is positive.

Permalink Reply by Norm Fasey on November 5, 2010 at 6:01am

I am a IT professional and so if you need help with setting up the membership database, I would be more than happy to do so free of charge.