Reunion Jam 2011/12 Discussion

[dgriffin]

Jay, hope you don't mind and I don't mean to steal your thunder, but I was thinking it would be helpful to open a discussion about your Reunion Jam for 2011. So I did !

Some of the musicians might want to discuss dates when they're available, and a discussion on location has already begun, I believe.

Also, it wasn't clear to me how musicians discussed music, who's playing with who, rehearsal, etc. I guess that all took place off line, but it would be fun to begin it on line. IMHO.

I might play keyboard on a few numbers, but I'm so out of practice I'd need to know what I'm playing so I could start arranging and practicing some stuff now. I don't think my voice is strong enough anymore to sing. (Anyone remember some good voice strengthening exercises? I remember Jimmy Hanna going around whispering all the time! )

Anyway ... some thoughts.
Dave

[jplatt]

yes it a good thought let's see where it get's us.i hope to have it around the same time next year in Aug the weather is cooler. Has anyone have any feelings about this let me know.Dave any help is better then no help last year was a nightmare for me hoping that it will get off the ground.I'm sure glad Merserside Five showed up thank you guys again.We will do the same songs as before just a few more songs this year.I want it to be like a all day event if we can.All who want to join please let me or Dave know who you are and the bands name and if you need any players let us know.I will hook you up with other players to fill your group.P.A. system will be there as it was last year thanks to my brother in law Pat Pertrello.so get on the band wagon an drop us a line.I'm trying to do this in Utica this next year need a big place with great sound and at a cost of FREE.This gives us more money for the children.So give me some places and players you will not forget the feeling of being there and playing again with old friends and seeing old friends.Plus that heart felt feeling that goes to the family's when they can use this money to get help in finding a cure for there child.We did it last year with just two day's of practices,three of us are still playing but the rest had not played in years.It's not hard just get off your butts and do it.Hope to hear from some of you and if not God bless you anyway..N.Y.E. Jay

[Sonny]

JP, I did not know that your brother in law is pat putrello. We worked together in the "dominos",and had some great times playing, one hell of a fine musician, and sings pretty darn good too. I haven't heard from him in quite some time, but when you talk to him, give him my best, and maybe we can get together next year for the jam.. You should have a committee for each particular event, such as food, door prizes, and raffles, that always brings in more revenue, and I know that some vendors in the area, are more than willing to donate items, for raffle, as long as it is for a good and legit venue...Being as I am still singing, dave, the best advice I can give, is to proceed slowly, with the voice, do tunes, that don't require a lot of high ranges, at first, and gradually work your way up to the stronger tunes, wich require more power and strength. You try to do it too early, and you will blow your voice for the night....

[dgriffin]

Thanks, Sonny, good advice. I don't have much of a voice to fool with anymore!
And you're right about committees.

I'd think first priority is a place. Jay, did you come to a conclusion as to how many people might show?

There was really nothing wrong with DiCastro's (or whatever it's called today.) It could have used a little cleaning, yes, but for a "beach scene" it was acceptable. I'm speaking from an audience point of view and don't know what the musicians thought of the stage area, acoustics, sound system, etc.

But also, I think Jay mentioned he'd rather have more of the gate receipts go to the charity than the dance hall. So that's a consideration.

[bobbbiez]

Dave, just adding some thought for the next reunion. I do like the "beach scene." Don't know about anyone else but my fondness memories are of all the local bands in the 50's & 60's playing at one of the clubs at Sylvan Beach. It wasn't just enjoying the bands, it was also the atmosphere the beach offered. All part of the 50's & 60's for me.

There are other clubs up at Sylvan that are much bigger and brighter but give the beach atmosphere if that is what y'all are seeking.

[jplatt]

Not yet Dave no one has given me a place to use as if today.Charlie told me a few weeks ago he could get us a place to use no problem so we will see on that.Sonny I'll tell pat you asked about him.He's not working or playing anymore he had both knees replaced not long ago and he got real sick for a while.It was so bad that he had to retire from work early.He is doing better now does all the DJ things with his family now.Has one hell of a PA system for sure.Yes we talked about door prizes and raffles last year but I was doing the whole thing by myself from here in Florida so it was not easy.We will do all that stuff for next year jam.I hope you will try to get in on the jam we need all the player we can get.Let everyone know about the event and see if they want to play thank you.Yes Dave your right I do not want to pay for the hall they can give just as we all are giving to the children.And Phole's was a dirty hole but great sound and big stage, I think it was too far for people to go maybe it should be on a Friday instead? or even over the weekend get more people that way.As far as how many people all that we can get will be fine with me how about you???lol Well were on a roll now let's see how far we can get with this next year reunion jam.Dave that piece you wrote on Windswept I had it framed I just can not get over that,I love it it's got the soul of all the musician wrap up in your words I say you still have a very good voice with your words Dave thank you from the bottom on my drummers heart...Now let's get some musician and do this wright...

[dgriffin]

Thanks, Jay, for the kind words about the article. "Reunion Jam" will be in my next book, which I'm now putting together, tentatively titled, "Nowhere."

[Sonny]

Jay, so sorry to hear about pat's medical problems, and as you said, he is on the road to recovery. My very best to him. Yeah, I would love to be a part of the jam next year, couldn't do it this first time, conflicting events, but hopefully will be able to do it next time around. The distance to sylvan beach, may be a problem, because, let's face it, most of the musicians from the 50's and 60's were east utica boys, and we should try for some east utica venue, maybe we could get the parkway rec center, which is able to hold a lot of people, and ample parking as well. and then there is the possibility of MVCC, or utica college, as they have the ability to hold events, and I am sure the cost would be minimal. Let's get thru the winter, and then see what develops in the spring...

[bobbbiez]

Sonny, alot of those E. Utica boys, their friends and families live out of state but do have camps at Sylvan Beach now which they come to every summer. Don't see where the distance there would be such a problem for anyone. It's not that far from Utica. Besides, Jay was mentioning having the event for longer hours and maybe the whole day so being at the beach with other things to do in between the reunion might be more pleasing to people in the summer time.

[jplatt]

time will tell were it will be held but it will be held, I love my Bobbbiez you go girl ...lol Dave I would be honored to have a copy of that book signed by you.Your article was the first thing I read since I got kicked out of UFA in 1965.That is a true story I hate to read I'm a old doer not reader...lol I did real good for a drop out, my job I retired from was paying me little over $70,000 a year plus now my retirement pay ever month. Sonny you got some good points to think about but I need to get the place for free and let them reap in the money on there drinks or what ever.I do like to keep it as if it took place back in the 60'a or70's.By this I mean the club,town and area do you see what I mean?I knew you would.I talked to Pat today and he said Hi and he will go on this site to hook up with you.Maybe you can get with him on some of your old songs i bet he will do it Pat is a ham like the rest of us musician...LOL It's not easy it took me two years to get all the guys together last time and now I'm still having a hard time getting Willie to come.I just found a few of the other guys who did not make it last year,but they say they will try harder this year.It cost me a few bucks out of my own pocket but the money is for the kids and there family bottom line.I have nine grand kids and I'm lucky that they are all well and four sons that are just as well.But we all know someone who needs help so let's do it right... N.Y.E. jay

[jplatt]

Oh yea Dave you did not take my thunder you woke up my lightning watch out for those bolts come your way it will help you get ready for the show.I need more people to get on this band wagon join the reunion jam have fun do a good deed it will come back to you twice,it happen to me last Aug at the reunion.I met old friends and made new ones Jon,Dave,Angelo,Tommy,Bruce,Tony and a few women I forgot I had, I'll leave that one alone thank you...lol Utica has more musician then any city I've been in over the years were are you people come out and play.......

[Sonny]

bobbiez, Now I know where you are coming from!!! If it is going to be an all day affair, then by all means, have it at the beach!!! the problem as I understand it, was the state of the club, and the advertising isues... If there was a small bunch of people who lived nearby, that could clean the club, and maybe even decorate it, to make look like the 50's and 60's, that would be terriffic. the advertising needs to be a lot stronger as well, with flers put on cars in parking lots, posted at grocery stores, music centers, mini-marts, pizza shops, burger joints, and the like.. The ads on the radio, newspaper, and even via e-mail, facebook and my space pages would be of great access to everybody...

[jplatt]

Sonny, I did all that radio,posters which got taken as fast as we put them up,news paper,stores ,pizza shops,music centers and even peoples car's had ad's on them and many more places.Web sites emails you name it I did it.I f I have it at the beach again I will myself get there early or day before and clean the place up.As it was I just got set up and did a sound check people started to come in.I had to hurry and set up table and chairs myself and they were dirty.I cleaned them off as best as I could and had no chance to change my clothing.I did the first set a little dirty.The owner of the club was a big jerk no help at all and even open up the club late.My girlfriend was working the door and the owner told her to watch the people she was letting in or he was going to get some one else.Because they were bring in food and he did not want it in his bar.He was very rude to her and never even thank me for the money we made him,or even gave any to the children at St Jude.so I'll have to think twice about his place again.My sister boyfriend use to own the lake shore and lives there maybe he could come up with a place. time will tell.....n.y.e.

[Sonny]

yeah jay, sad to say that seems to be the club owners of today.. If you aren't making them money, or paying them for the use of the hall, they won't help in any way!! Still, there are some good owners out there, who would bend over backwards to help you, especially for a good cause.. Doesn't make sense to me, why these owners don't realize, they are getting free advertising, also letting other people from out of the area see their club, and on top of all that, they don't even have to pay the bands, all the money collected goes to charity, and not to the musicians!!! Still have plenty of time to look for a venue, that is both band friendly, clean, and treat people kindly!!!

[jplatt]

you got that right,he made himself a little richer that night more bartenders would of even been better.It just shows you how cheap the man is.Did you talk to Pat yet?