A Plea For Help (save A Dj & Promoter- John Giffiths)

[Scooterboy]

Hi Folks,

This is a plea for help!

For those of you who know John 'Biff' Griffiths (founder of the The Birchfield Soul Nights in Widnes), or have ever attended any of the nights held there, or have ever had 'hassle' from the management of the venues you've run (or DJ'd at or attended) can you please consider either begging John, pleading with John, bullying John (he's a big pussycat really despite his commanding presence) or cajoling John into not resigning as the co-promoter and DJ of one of the North West's longest running soul nights?

John felt forced to resign after the last event in June.

Why I hear you ask? The joint culprits were talc and bar staff with attitude!

A couple of months ago someone slipped on talc on the dance floor and injured themselves. They sent a letter to the venue's management and, fair play to them, the tone was advisory in nature (warning of the potential for future personal injury claims) rather than threatening (the person concerned as a 'Soulie' didn't want to see the venue sued by the less scrupulous).

So, after a warning from the management committee, all was well for a couple of months; we managed to persuade those who use talc not to do so for fear of the committee putting a stop to the event. However, at the June event we weren't quick enough; the talc came out and nearly as quickly did the bar staff (who were all over the dance floor like a pack of Rottweiler's).

The lights were turned on and they barked their orders at John to turn the music off until the floor was mopped and had time to dry. They were not only rude to John but also rude to those 'Soulies' who politely questioned their actions.

15 minutes later we reconvened.

John was extremely annoyed; the staff had been rude to our customers and had been totally disrespectful in the way they'd gone about demanding that the music was turned off.

The net result was that John felt obliged to announce that he would be resigning as a DJ forthwith as there was no way he was going to have our guests treated this way and was not personally going to be spoken to in such an outrageous manner.

Whilst Dave and I are both just as annoyed we think it's fitting that we continue to run The Birchfield (at least until the 10^th Anniversary in November) in order to both thank our loyal supporters and regulars but also to recognise the massive contribution that John has made to the Northern Soul scene in Widnes.

After much pressure from Dave and I, John has agreed to DJ at the 10^th Anniversary event (after all it's John's 10^th Anniversary, Dave and I have only been jointly running The Birchfield with John for just over 7 of the past 10 years).

However, it's fair to say that The Birchfield just won't be the same without John and although he'll still be attending every month as a customer; both Dave and I aren't looking forward to the events nearly as much as we would have if John was with us.

So, our plea to you (if you have a spare moment) is you send some words of encouragement to John. Anything that you can say or do to get him to reconsider and 'keep the faith' until at least the 10^th Anniversary would be very, very welcome.

We've not got much time though. The next event is this Friday 25^th July. We've tried to give John as much time as possible to reconsider his decision, but as it stands he's still not budging! Perhaps you can help him change his mind?

We've only got a few days to get him to change his mind so if you can help, if you can spare a few words of encouragement then please contact John via Soul Source (member name JohnGriff) or via griffiths_j@ntlworld.com

Thanks for your time, thanks for your interest and thanks in anticipation for your support.

Chris Penn

Co-promoter & DJ @ The Birchfield

[Guest]

Hi Folks,

This is a plea for help!

For those of you who know John 'Biff' Griffiths (founder of the The Birchfield Soul Nights in Widnes), or have ever attended any of the nights held there, or have ever had 'hassle' from the management of the venues you've run (or DJ'd at or attended) can you please consider either begging John, pleading with John, bullying John (he's a big pussycat really despite his commanding presence) or cajoling John into not resigning as the co-promoter and DJ of one of the North West's longest running soul nights?

John felt forced to resign after the last event in June.

Why I hear you ask? The joint culprits were talc and bar staff with attitude!

A couple of months ago someone slipped on talc on the dance floor and injured themselves. They sent a letter to the venue's management and, fair play to them, the tone was advisory in nature (warning of the potential for future personal injury claims) rather than threatening (the person concerned as a 'Soulie' didn't want to see the venue sued by the less scrupulous).

So, after a warning from the management committee, all was well for a couple of months; we managed to persuade those who use talc not to do so for fear of the committee putting a stop to the event. However, at the June event we weren't quick enough; the talc came out and nearly as quickly did the bar staff (who were all over the dance floor like a pack of Rottweiler's).

The lights were turned on and they barked their orders at John to turn the music off until the floor was mopped and had time to dry. They were not only rude to John but also rude to those 'Soulies' who politely questioned their actions.

15 minutes later we reconvened.

John was extremely annoyed; the staff had been rude to our customers and had been totally disrespectful in the way they'd gone about demanding that the music was turned off.

The net result was that John felt obliged to announce that he would be resigning as a DJ forthwith as there was no way he was going to have our guests treated this way and was not personally going to be spoken to in such an outrageous manner.

Whilst Dave and I are both just as annoyed we think it's fitting that we continue to run The Birchfield (at least until the 10^th Anniversary in November) in order to both thank our loyal supporters and regulars but also to recognise the massive contribution that John has made to the Northern Soul scene in Widnes.

After much pressure from Dave and I, John has agreed to DJ at the 10^th Anniversary event (after all it's John's 10^th Anniversary, Dave and I have only been jointly running The Birchfield with John for just over 7 of the past 10 years).

However, it's fair to say that The Birchfield just won't be the same without John and although he'll still be attending every month as a customer; both Dave and I aren't looking forward to the events nearly as much as we would have if John was with us.

So, our plea to you (if you have a spare moment) is you send some words of encouragement to John. Anything that you can say or do to get him to reconsider and 'keep the faith' until at least the 10^th Anniversary would be very, very welcome.

We've not got much time though. The next event is this Friday 25^th July. We've tried to give John as much time as possible to reconsider his decision, but as it stands he's still not budging! Perhaps you can help him change his mind?

We've only got a few days to get him to change his mind so if you can help, if you can spare a few words of encouragement then please contact John via Soul Source (member name JohnGriff) or via griffiths_j@ntlworld.com

Thanks for your time, thanks for your interest and thanks in anticipation for your support.

Chris Penn

Co-promoter & DJ @ The Birchfield

Hi Chris,

Hope you get it sorted. Personally I'd be having major rows with the manager who was on that night and threaten to take the event to another venue if they behave like that again. Remind them how much money you've brought to the place, the potential of room bookings from people who may attend your nights and I know it's difficult but look round for a new venue!. That is disgraceful and I wouldn't want to deal with them again, but maybe you can agree with the venue that if it happens again, you'll deal with it immediately and they must not behave like that?. I'd hate dealing with a commitee now.

We had it a few years ago, signs up, the venue manager, Neil and I all doing regular 'talc patrol' and when it sneaked it, the manageress discreetly got a mop out and mopped it up, sorted the floor our and Neil asked again over the mic for people not to do this. It's really selfish when punters are told the whole event could be at risk through it. If the floor was that bad, your event wouldn't still be there 10 years later, the floor would have caused a big problem years ago. If punters kick up such a fuss about it, maybe it's not the venue for them.

Hope John calms down, I totally see his point but I hope he gives it one more chance, he and your venue is a favourite with all the Bury crowd too.

(Apart from Dave and his very crap football shirts though!)..

Jayne.x.

Edited July 21, 2008 by Miss BurySoul

[Guest xsquadie]

Please feel free to use our familey motto, if it would help,Its :

"Illigiteum Carbarundem"

Or in English, "Dont let the bastards grind you down"

Stay on for your Friends old,new and yet to meet.

[Winsford Soul]

(Apart from Dave and his very crap football shirts though!)..

Jayne.x.