Orpington folk club frequently asked questions.

Orpington Folk Club
Faqs

Orpington Folk Club the Change of Horses Established 1965	1.	Declaration
	2.	What's a Resident
	3.	Orpington Folk Club
	4.	What happens at the club
	5.	Format
	6.	Protocol
	7.	Guest(s) nights
	8.	Singers & Musicians Nights
	9.	Singarounds
	10.	Music quality
	11.	Entertainment
	12.	Who goes to a Folk Club
	13.	Folk Music and Song
	14.	Not all traditional
	15.	Smoking
	16.	Performers
	17.	Join the club
	18.	Bookings Enquiries
	19.	General Enquiries
	20.	Events Enquiries

1. DECLARATION :
Orpington Folk Club exists to promote folk music and song. It is a non-profit making organisation and is for those who wish to listen to or take part in an informal evening of folk music and song.
No recorded music material is used during our evenings. The organisers and resident musicians of the club give their time freely and do not benefit financially from their performances or duties.

2. THE RESIDENTS :
The residents are singer/musicians who regularly attend the club and are usually committee members. Acting as MC's/Host's, they start the proceedings off and give continuity to the programme for the evening.
The general running of the club also falls to them - advertising, booking
of guest(s) and running the door etc. ( suggestions for guest(s) are always welcome )

3. ORPINGTON FOLK CLUB :
Orpington Folk Club ( O.F.C ) is the longest surviving folk club in the area. Having enjoyed several homes since 1965, the O.F.C. is now firmly established most evenings in the restaurant or in the bar annex at :
the "Change of Horses"
       Farnborough High Street
       Farnborough Village
       Nr Orpington
       Kent

BR6 7BB

01689 852 949

Please do not use the above telephone number for folk club enquiries. Staff members at
the Change of Horses are not necessarily aware of the clubs events or activities.
Many thanks for your co-operation.

Orpington Folk Club is a members club. However since the advent of new laws relating to public performances (PRS Performing Rights Society) the club no longer has to be a members club but for its own sake we have kept it on and it is now optional and free to join.

Orpington Folk Club meets every Thursday evening from 8:15pm till 11:00pm

4. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE CLUB :
We have three different types of evening - booked guest(s) nights, singers nights and singarounds.
The last two evenings are sometimes advertised as a "Come All Yea".

5. FORMAT :
The format for most thursdays, except singarounds, is to commence with one of our regular
singer(s)/musician(s), followed by a floor singer from the audience who has requested a spot.

For those seeking a floor spot on a guests night. We recommend you phone or email us
first, especially if coming from a long way. We also have to be selective on guest/s nights

This is to help us plan the evenings better, ensure the guest(s) get their full
performance and avoid disappointment to anyone.

6. PROTOCOL : Or should I sing, play an instrument or percussion while others are performing?

While we at the OFC encourage participation, it should be limited to joining in the chorus of a song. In most cases we find the performers prefer to play it thier way - unless they request that the audience join in. This applies to both guest nights and ‘singers’ nights.

Please keep noise and conversations levels to a minimum during a performance.

See David Harley's tips for floor singers Here...

7. GUEST(S) NIGHTS :
After the initial start, on a booked guest(s) night, the guest(s) will perform for us for 30-45 minutes approximately, depending on the duration of their act. This will normally be followed by a break. The evening then continues with one or two floor singers, after which our guest(s) will perform again for 30-40 minutes and finish the evening, at around 11p.m.

8. SINGERS & MUSICIANS NIGHTS :
Singers nights start off in a similar way to guest(s) nights but continue on with singers from the floor to perform for us. Each spot will be around 8-10 minutes in duration, depending on how many wish to perform that evening.

Singers' Nights are a popular part of the club's program with all types of acoustic folk music and song performed. This is the chance for SOLO or GROUPS of singer musicians to come and showcase their talent.

David Harley's tips for floor singers Here...

9. SINGAROUNDS :
Singarounds are much less formal than singers nights. There is no stage area to sing from. Each singer(s)/musician(s) will perform from where they are sitting.
Starting with one of the resident singer(s)/musician(s), each performer will sing one song.
Then moving on to the next person/group, going around the room. Repeating until the end of the evening.

10. MUSIC QUALITY :
The ability and quality of anyone floor singer(s)/musician(s) can range from the very experienced professional, to those just starting out. All are given encouragement and a listening ear.

11. ENTERTAINMENT :
Every evening is different. We enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, from highly acclaimed professional, semi-professional singer(s)/musician(s) to amateur enthusiasts. It includes unaccompanied singers, groups of singers and musicians, playing a variety of instruments.
Apart from guitars, accordions and flutes, some of the more unusual instruments are dulcimers, hurdy-girdys and crumphorns to name but a few. There are often large helpings of humour in their performances, which is always welcome. Guest(s) are often booked for their humour as much as their music.

12.WHO GOES TO A FOLK CLUB :
People from all walks of life come to the folk club. Everyone is made to feel welcome and you will find us very accessible and easygoing.

13.FOLK MUSIC AND SONG :
Folk music is the experiences of peoples lives written through the ages in music and song. All backgrounds, including the nobility and high society have contributed to traditional music and song collections. Most traditional folk tunes and songs have been passed down from one generation of folk singer/musician to the next, through what is called the folk process. The original composers are generally not known and the tunes are often transformed as they are handed on. Many different versions may exist of a particular tune/song and no one version is looked upon as being "The one and only right version". Sometimes a tune may have several sets of words with different names or a song more than one tune. Such is the nature of the folk process. Music that has been shaped by
this process is often called traditional music and song.

See "A history of the English Folk Dance and Song Society"
by Derek Schofield. www.efdss.org& www.umi.com

14 . NOT ALL TRADITIONAL :
Not all folk music is traditional it encompasses a whole range of musical styles and modes.
Most of them have been performed in folk clubs.
A good portion of the music heard is contemporary and popular songs of the day and the recent past are sung.

We have in our own club, members who write and record their own material, which is of very high quality and well liked. They are also performed by other singer(s)/musician(s), with the permission of the writers and become part of their performances at a variety of folk and other venues. Some contemporary songs and tunes are written in such a way as to sound traditional. They sound so authentic and convincing that to the unknowing they are often mistaken for traditional music and song.

15. SMOKING :
As of 1st July 2007 there is no smoking in the Change of Horses.
However you may smoke in the designated areas outside the front of the building or in the garden.

16. PERFORMERS :
Performers are always welcome at the club on guest(s) nights and especially singer's nights and singarounds. We try to provide an atmosphere that is both comfortable and welcoming for all to give their best and enjoy the experience.

17. JOINING THE CLUB :
Orpington Folk Club is a members club and welcomes visitors, new members and performers. To join the club it is necessary to visit, make yourself known to us and fill in a very simple form.
You can also phone or email us 48 hours before coming. Membership is free.

Download membership form & short conditions. Membership...

18. BOOKINGS ENQUIRIES : (Please do Not Phone the Venue)
Enquiries about bookings should be made at the club or via e-mail: Bookings Enquiries

19. GENERAL ENQUIRIES : (Please do Not Phone the Venue)
For General information please phone :

Steve Jennings : 01959 532754
Ted Handley : 0208 325 6513

20. EVENTS ENQUIRIES : (Please do Not Phone the Venue)
For information on events please phone :

Steve Jennings : 01959 532754
Ted Handley : 0208 325 6513

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