Youngsters On The Scene

[Paulb]

Being one of the younger soulies im all for a younger crowd coming onto he scene. This is happening at new century and steve cato's out of sight night but i think that in order to get them interested promoters need to look at their target areas. The only way you can find out about a soul night/all nighter is by picking up a flyer at another night, or through websites like this.

Last sat me and a friend flyered for Chris Waterman for the once uopn a ..... night and we gave them to people we thought would like it.

The flyers weren't the best but we managed to get a few coming in. I watched a group of four lads in their mid 20's just sit down with a pint and didn't take their eyes off the dance floor as though they could'nt believe a night like that existed. I had a chat to them later on and they loved it and said they'd be down for the nighter.

But on the flipside, do the older gang want this to happen, ie, people getting in the way and not understanding the unwritten rules of the dance floor, or are the same people willing to show them the ropes and explain the do's and donts in order for the music to live on.

All my mates love the CIS and now come every month and thats just through me telling them about it. So if the younger crowd were targetted with flyers or posters IMO it would benefit the world of northern soul and give people the chance to hear the best music in the world.

What does everyone think?

[Guest dundeedavie]

But on the flipside, do the older gang want this to happen, ie, people getting in the way and not understanding the unwritten rules of the dance floor, or are the same people willing to show them the ropes and explain the do's and donts in order for the music to live on.

link

i'm a believer in evolution paul ....while still relatively young (34) i don't think there is a need to tell the do's and don'ts ...common courtesy is all thats needed and it'll become what it becomes , different doesn't mean worse ....

you're right about outta sight and i can't bloody wait to get behind the decks on friday woohooooo

Davie

[Gary]

Good post. The question that comes to my mind is not one of do people want this to happen, but one of can it be stopped from happening? Or even should it be stopped? No, categorically, if this scene is to continue.

Those of us with kids inevitably find our musical tastes rubbing off on at least one of them, admittedly they still like the other teenage music but i wonder when they reach 20 odd what their musical preferences will be? OK, maybe older than 20. I'd put money on it with my 13 year old lad and some of his mates, it will be Soul.

Stevie posted up on another thread about the number of youngsters who had contacted him as a result of his Soul Function package, my lad was one of them. If it was'nt for this medium he would not have been so influenced, it was the first time he had seen the dancing and it won him!

With newer mediums such as DVD, Digital Radio etc it is now so easy to reach and influence young people and as soul gets taken along with these mediums then it will inevitably draw new devotees. I think an inevitable side effect of this will be evolution of the music played. IMO

[pikeys dog]

I think youngsters who have no dancefloor etiquette should be whipped....

Any girls volunteering?

WOOOOOF!

[Gary]

I think youngsters who have no dancefloor etiquette should be whipped....

Any girls volunteering?

WOOOOOF!

link

Actually, i agree with you on that one Joe

[Paulb]

I think that the soul scene is really hard to get onto. Look at the popularity of the move on up nights in leeds and brighton beach, etc. Why not bang out flyers for different events there? The punters in clubs like that prob think they are the northern soul nights!!!

I used to be well into all the indie music but how long can you listen to the same albums for? Northern soul is something totally different, not just music, well not to me anyway. Flyer around town and you might get some in thinking "whats this shit? Look at his pants!" and they will noever grace a northern night again. But then you'll get some in who will think "how have i missed this!". Just like i did the first time i walked into the CIS.

[Dave]

As you know Paul, I think the more youngsters there are, the better the scene will get.

Most seem more open minded and receptive to new and varied music.

And it can't be that difficult for anyone to have a quiet word re etiquette rather than growling, can it?

Dave

PS it might be best if you don't bring big Colin though

[Gary]

As you know Paul, I think the more youngsters there are, the better the scene will get.

Most seem more open minded and receptive to new and varied music.

And it can't be that difficult for anyone to have a quiet word re etiquette rather than growling, can it?

Dave

PS it might be best if you don't bring big Colin though

link

Good point Dave, at last Nags i had word with a young lad who had his pint on the floor, explained to him that it was'nt the done thing and was surprised when he downed it and did'nt do it again (it was during your spot).

[Guest]

I think we should have youngsters on the scene otherwise it will eventually die. My mate Emma who is just 22, she loved the music - which she got into through a friend, once she didnt see that friend anymore she didnt know where to go but she visited Vivo and coz of Dave Greenhill's friendliness and others chatting to her, made her feel at home, not many other scenes do that. She is now popular on the scene and I believe thorough enjoying herself - even though she has to put up with me! We do need more people like that so our music and clubs can live on, and so can the people, who are no longer with us, who brought us this can be remembered so what they gave us.

Now we will sing verse 101!

P.s. dance floor courtesy - us who have it, have respect for others, them who don't are just selfish idiots! :angry:

[Guest]

Why all the fuss about youngsters and age mattering? If people enjoy soul music then come along and enjoy a night with like minded people regardless of age.

If someone isn't aware of certain things like no drinks on the dance floor, all it takes is a quiet word and they usually put their drink down.

We all had to learn about these things, same with dancing styles, you look,you try it out, you learn.

This scene is and should be an underground scene, when I started, out many moons ago admitedley we didn't have flyers we found out about events via blues and soul or black echos or word of mouth.

We do need to get younger people into the scene but I don't think we can force the issue. I really don't get all this big thing about age, when I go out I see people, not numbers.

[Guest Baz]

As you know Paul, I think the more youngsters there are, the better the scene will get.

Most seem more open minded and receptive to new and varied music.

And it can't be that difficult for anyone to have a quiet word re etiquette rather than growling, can it?

Dave

PS it might be best if you don't bring big Colin though

link

agreed dave but as you know from the diamonds in feb, i had words with them all befor they came up 'explaining' things but you sill got the genral laughing at dancing ect but on the good side a few of them were really impressed with the night

[Guest Baz]

Why all the fuss about youngsters and age mattering? If people enjoy soul music then come along and enjoy a night with like minded people regardless of age.

If someone isn't aware of certain things like no drinks on the dance floor, all it takes is a quiet word and they usually put their drink down.

We all had to learn about these things, same with dancing styles, you look,you try it out, you learn.

This scene is and should be an underground scene, when I started, out many moons ago admitedley we didn't have flyers we found out about events via blues and soul or black echos or word of mouth.

We do need to get younger people into the scene but I don't think we can force the issue. I really don't get all this big thing about age, when I go out I see people, not numbers.

link

couldnt have put it better myself karen.

[Guest hammy]

You still see people of all ages failing to observe the simplest of etiquette. It can't be attributed to one generation. Ciggies on the dancefloor is one real bugbear for me though ... it's should be illegal ! lol

hammy

[Mak]

Bit of a sticky wicket is this one, I have been to soulnights were old soul mums and dads have tagged there nippers along (even been when theres been a dance comp for them!!!!!!!!!). Then on the other hand I've been to Allbrighton and seen some for the best dancing done by youngsters .So as a owd 50something I'll just sit on the fence and watch the little brats do what I used to do 35 years ago

[Guest Trevski]

All for it, especially attractive young ladies!

[Guest Jamie]

All for it, especially attractive young ladies!  

link

Yeah, well let me know when you see some mate, trust me I've been looking

[Dave Abbott]

I found myself watching Fred Dinbnah last week on TV. He went to a meeting of steam engine enthusiasts. There were people there just for the thrill of riding on a steam engine, some sitting round in groups talking about the old days and talking about engine part numbers and 'it wasn't like this in our day' sort of thing. And one lad of 25 years who was worried that, him being the youngest on the steam engine scene, no one was behind him to keep the steam engine flag flying and it would all finish.

A fitting analogy I thought. Lets face it people, the northern soul scene, as we know it, has maybe 15-20 years at most left in it. I am nearing 40 (yeah, I know I only look 27) and am still relatively young on this scene. There are not enough young people coming through to support it in the way it is now; yes there are young people coming into it - but not enough. It will transform from weekly congregationd into an annual or bi-annual mass - until the congregation is such that small numbers can not even sustain that.

Sad, but true. And those fools, and there are some, that buy records to sell for their retirement. Well sell now people.

Me, I am thinking of selling all my records and buying a steam engine...

[Guest]

kids on the scene - no fuc*in way

older teenagers are ok so long as they want to be there and not just because their parents dont have a babysitter

[Soulsmith]

kids on the scene - no fuc*in way

older teenagers are ok so long as they want to be there and not just because their parents dont have a babysitter

link

I think Paul B was referring to people mid 20s not children.

Col.

[Guest Dan]

Venue-wise, younger people on the northern scene has to be a good thing but it needs to really start happening now, while there are at least a few people in their 30s at venues. if it takes another 10 years, what self-respecting 22-year-old is going to want to go to a venue where most people are in their 60s?

If i was a promoter i'd be letting students in for two quid, giving away free cds of accessible stuff etc etc because otherwise there's no future. That's venue wise.

The music, of course, will never die; i firmly believe people will still be listening to 'northern soul' in 200 years' time.

[chrissie]

I think we should have youngsters on the scene otherwise it will eventually die.  My mate Emma who is just 22, she loved the music - which she got into through a friend, once she didnt see that friend anymore she didnt know where to go but she visited Vivo and coz of Dave Greenhill's friendliness and others chatting to her, made her feel at home, not many other scenes do that.  She is now popular on the scene and I believe thorough enjoying herself - even though she has to put up with me!  We do need more people like that so our music and clubs can live on, and so can the people, who are no longer with us, who brought us this can be remembered so what they gave us. 

Now we will sing verse 101! 

P.s. dance floor courtesy - us who have it, have respect for others,  them who don't are just selfish idiots!  :angry:

link

here here K. the more youngsters the better someone has to keep the faith after us oldies are shuffling out zimmers round the dance floor.

But there is a certain small point of etiquete. No Beer, No fags, and definatley no HANDBAGS on the dance floor - abide by this and you are all welcome. Would be nice to see some younger men about

QOF

XX

[Guest]

here here K. the more youngsters the better someone has to keep the faith after us oldies are shuffling out zimmers round the dance floor.

But there is a certain small point of etiquete. No Beer, No fags, and definatley no HANDBAGS on the dance floor - abide by this and you are all welcome.  Would be nice to see some younger men about

QOF

XX

link

You're right Chrissieo the more young men about the better especially Italian & Spanish

[Mandy]

kids on the scene - no fuc*in way

older teenagers are ok so long as they want to be there and not just because their parents dont have a babysitter

link

Totally agree with you there Janine! I actually received a phone call today from an acquaintance (not really a mate) asking if they could bring their kids (2 years old and 5 years old) to Derby on saturday as their babysitter wasn't available - obviously I put her right about that

[Guest stevemcmahon]

At our last do we had about 15 late-20yr olds really getting down to certain boogaloo and early r+b tracks. When I looked closer I couldn't believe most of them were dancing in a sudo-breakbeat style which actually looked v.cool+inspirational.

I know my son [9] has occassionaly been caught singing the likes of 'Peace Of Mind' to himself and have therefore ensured he inherits my collection when I finally spin off my mortal coil..

In the States, Soul music has always been referred to more acurately as rythm+blues and is widely credited as the root of all popular music. I believe the generations to follow will treat it as such and any discerning music fan will always attempt to look further than the mass-market, crapola compilations which seem to fall out of my newspaper every weekend - I hope

[Dave Abbott]

wake-up. coffee. smell

[Guest]

E it takes me back to when I were a lad at T'Casino not taken me "o" levels yet and learned how to dance by watchin' T'others. Welcome the youth with open arms...........

[chrissie]

Totally agree with you there Janine!  I actually received a phone call today from an acquaintance (not really a mate) asking if they could bring their kids (2 years old and 5 years old) to Derby on saturday    as their babysitter wasn't available - obviously I put her right about that 

link

Sorry girls when I say young I mean 25+

QOF

XX

[Guest miff]

We were, were we not, 16 & 17 year olds ourselves once, How would of been if we were made to feel not welcome by the older folk at that time, As for the real young uns 5 & 6 year olds well I would not bring my kids. but thats my choice, not knocking anyone that wants to, But if we all did it it would be mayhem, more like a play school then a soul do.

[chrissie]

We were, were we not, 16 & 17 year olds ourselves once, How would of been if we were made to feel not welcome by the older folk at that time, As for the real young uns 5 & 6 year olds well I would not bring my kids. but thats my choice, not knocking anyone that wants to, But if we all did it it would be mayhem, more like a play school then a soul do.

link

Isn't it mayhem anyway - only joking completly concur with your comments

QOF

XX

[Mandy]

We were, were we not, 16 & 17 year olds ourselves once, How would of been if we were made to feel not welcome by the older folk at that time, As for the real young uns 5 & 6 year olds well I would not bring my kids. but thats my choice, not knocking anyone that wants to, But if we all did it it would be mayhem, more like a play school then a soul do.

link

Yes, but times have changed. When I was 16/17 I didn't drink alcohol (certainly made up for those lost years) and therefore wasn't a complete pain in the rear on the dance floor. I respected my elders then and did what I was told and had respect for other people - kids today well I'm glad I'm not one. The majority of 'younger' people are keen to see something different but there's the odd few that just turn up because it's a late bar and they can take the piss and be a complete nuisance on the dance floor (actually that sounds like me at 40!!).

[Guest]

You still see people of all ages failing to observe the simplest of etiquette. It can't be attributed to one generation. Ciggies on the dancefloor is one real bugbear for me though ... it's should be illegal ! lol

hammy

link

I love a ciggie while dancing,what ya saying coz i cant dance i cant smoke,fucking drinkers on the dance floor now thats a differant arguement alltogether!.

Edited May 11, 2005 by kenneth aitchison

[Guest miff]

Yes, but times have changed.  When I was 16/17 I didn't drink alcohol (certainly made up for those lost years) and therefore wasn't a complete pain in the rear on the dance floor.  I respected my elders then and did what I was told and had respect for other people - kids today well I'm glad I'm not one.  The majority of 'younger' people are keen to see something different but there's the odd few that just turn up because it's a late bar and they can take the piss and be a complete nuisance on the dance floor (actually that sounds like me at 40!!).

link

No they havent, I smoked, drank, etc, and to some one who was 40 then, I was a real pain, I had a chip on my shoulder the size of a King Edward, Try reading your own post out aloud you must sound like your parents . If you have forgoten what its like to be young at 40 what are you going to be like at 70. Respect is not a god given right, you earn it if you look down or talk down on a teenager they will do the same to you, Talk to them politely and explain your reason for concern and they will respect your wishies, You will allways get the ones that will tell you were to get off, but you allways did, Teenagers today have more problems today then we had, To get on it takes hard work and effort, and if they want to go out and enjoy themselves who are we to stop them. Its a lot easier to become a pot head and not care a toss. If they are a total waste of space and can not be talked to maybe the problem is with the venue in not ejecting them,

[Guest kid mohair]

i dont mind seeing keen young uns on the scene ,they just need to be told about certain things such as drinks on the floor etc ,i just think one or two yep , small crowds no,they tend to then show off to each other , hey look at me im dancing with um sort of thing,can be funny to see sometimes as they all dance the same, who teaches these people? there must be some sort of school they go to first, i have actualy seen someone trying to spin holding a pint can you beleive that, : :angry: :

[lisa vanner]

kids on the scene - no fuc*in way

older teenagers are ok so long as they want to be there and not just because their parents dont have a babysitter

link

Agree with that Janine, Im all for younger people coming into the scene but only if they truely enjoy the music and respect the whole scene. As you rightly say there seem to be too many tagging along with Mum's and Dad's that obviously dont wanna be there. That said I do love to see younger soulies with that love in their eyes gives ya a warm feeling

[Guest rachel]

i dont mind seeing keen young uns on the scene ,they just need to be told about certain things such as drinks on the floor etc ,i just think one or two yep , small crowds no,they tend to then show off to each other , hey look at me im dancing with um sort of thing,can be funny to see sometimes as they all dance the same, who teaches these people?   there must be some sort of school they go to first, i have actualy seen someone trying to spin holding a pint can you beleive that, : :angry: :

link

Sounds like those notices you get in shops - 'only two under-30s soulies allowed in without an accompanying old person'

[Guest]

Sounds like those notices you get in shops - 'only two under-30s soulies allowed in without an accompanying old person' 

link

Well Im stuffed then!!

[Guest]

Being one of the younger soulies im all for a younger crowd coming onto he scene. This is happening at new century and steve cato's out of sight night but i think that in order to get them interested promoters need to look at their target areas. The only way you can find out about a soul night/all nighter is by picking up a flyer at another night, or through websites like this.

Last sat me and a friend flyered for Chris Waterman for the once uopn a ..... night and we gave them to people we thought would like it.

The flyers weren't the best but we managed to get a few coming in. I watched a group of four lads in their mid 20's just sit down with a pint and didn't take their eyes off the dance floor as though they could'nt believe a night like that existed. I had a chat to them later on and they loved it and said they'd be down for the nighter.

But on the flipside, do the older gang want this to happen, ie, people getting in the way and not understanding the unwritten rules of the dance floor, or are the same people willing to show them the ropes and explain the do's and donts in order for the music to live on.

All my mates love the CIS and now come every month and thats just through me telling them about it. So if the younger crowd were targetted with flyers or posters IMO it would benefit the world of northern soul and give people the chance to hear the best music in the world.

What does everyone think?

link

Maybe if there were more 20 - 35 year old Soul d.j's around more young people would follow....................it's just a thought, I follow the more mature d.j's such as Steve Guarnori

[Guest]

Venue-wise, younger people on the northern scene has to be a good thing but it needs to really start happening now, while there are at least a few people in their 30s at venues. if it takes another 10 years, what self-respecting 22-year-old is going to want to go to a venue where most people are in their 60s?

If i was a promoter i'd be letting students in for two quid, giving away free cds of accessible stuff etc etc because otherwise there's no future. That's venue wise.

The  music, of course, will never die; i firmly believe people will still be listening to 'northern soul' in 200 years' time.

link

Exactly right IMO Dan. I also believe that many people don't want new blood particularly, in case they don't get the 'respect' they think they deserve. Some of the crap about etiquette etc makes my blood boil. There are plenty of 40/50 something knobheads on the scene.

Too many 'professional northern soulers' these days who can't see past there own self importance.

Its a music scene. A very special one to the majority of us, but who has the right to dictate who is acceptable.

God forbid that the younger people like PaulB and his mates start to take the piss out

of the older soulies, like we do to them. That wouldn't be right would it. I mean, I've been going xxxx years, Torch, Wigan etc. etc etc etc So what. :angry:

[Guest]

When I was a kid we used to listen to Northern Soul in our local youth club, and as we all know, youth clubs have closed due to lack of funding. Perhaps certain people would be as well to get together and arrange youth clubs to open, and be staffed by each other, then maybe one night a week, or a month, could be devoted to Northern Soul?

Another problem with Northern Soul is the cost of the records. Most teenagers or people in there 20's cannot afford to spend £500 on a record like some people do, (me included).

So giving out Cd's in my opinion, is a good idea?

Our problem is, we try to pass the word about venues in a grown up way, when really we should be passing the word like we did when we were teens. And as much as I agree to try and stop teens from entering a venue just for late night drinking, there must be a half way point, because we all want to see "our" scene, go on for decades from now!

So I wonder how do they promote the scene in other countries, where younger people love the music and dance styles, and maybe we can learn from them?

[Guest]

So I wonder how do they promote the scene in other countries, where younger people love the music and dance styles, and maybe we can learn from them? 

link

Thats a very good point KC.

Steve

[Guest uroffal]

Certainly, from my perspective, the two most important things for the scene's continued existed are new sounds/discoveries and new blood.

It seems that most people, on here at least, welcome youngsters. It strikes me then that what's important is not whether we want youngsters (let's face it, as has already been suggested, without them the scene itself will, at best, be an annual tea dance within 20 years), but how we attract them and how we treat them once we have.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity to discuss some new ideas and approaches to help bring new blood onto the scene? Or should this be a new topic?

[Guest uroffal]

When I was a kid we used to listen to Northern Soul in our local youth club, and as we all know, youth clubs have closed due to lack of funding. Perhaps certain people would be as well to get together and arrange youth clubs to open, and be staffed by each other, then maybe one night a week, or a month, could be devoted to Northern Soul?

Another problem with Northern Soul is the cost of the records. Most teenagers or people in there 20's cannot afford to spend £500 on a record like some people do, (me included).

So giving out Cd's in my opinion, is a good idea?

Couple of great points here mate

On the subject of the cost of records I think this is spot on. Too many of the big/indemand sounds are 500 pounds plus because those are the ones being pushed by the big name DJs, which makes collecting - an essential part of the scene - impossible for most youngsters (and the rest of us come to that!)

[lisa vanner]

Totally agree with you there Janine!  I actually received a phone call today from an acquaintance (not really a mate) asking if they could bring their kids (2 years old and 5 years old) to Derby on saturday    as their babysitter wasn't available - obviously I put her right about that 

link

Well done you Mandy just underlines what Janine posted earlier. I like to know when Im staggering around Im not gonna tread on anyone

[Guest rachel]

Well Im stuffed then!!   

link

Aww, I'm sure we could find you an accompanying person.

Agree you don't want kids at soul nights/ nighters, wouldn't bother me in the afternoon at an alldayer/ weekender.

I'm not sure there is an easy answer to keeping the balance between 'promoting'/ marketing the scene and letting it develop organically...

[Guest]

Aww, I'm sure we could find you an accompanying person.

Agree you don't want kids at soul nights/ nighters, wouldn't bother me in the afternoon at an alldayer/ weekender.

I'm not sure there is an easy answer to keeping the balance between 'promoting'/ marketing the scene and letting it develop organically...

link

Cant wait, will they be dark, young and handsome?

[Bigsoulman]

here here K. the more youngsters the better someone has to keep the faith after us oldies are shuffling out zimmers round the dance floor.

But there is a certain small point of etiquete. No Beer, No fags, and definatley no HANDBAGS on the dance floor - abide by this and you are all welcome.  Would be nice to see some younger men about

QOF

XX

link

Could'nt agree more

[Guest]

Maybe if there were more 20 - 35 year old Soul d.j's around more young people would follow....................it's just a thought, I follow the more mature d.j's such as Steve Guarnori

link

Ain`t no 20year old millionairs,or not many!so that counts them out,plus they aint gonna put up with all the brown nosin that go`s off to get a set in the first place,plus they`ll still be payin` for there education,not like most of us oldies

[BrianB]

Cant wait, will they be dark, young and handsome?

link

Good topic Paul. The scene needs new blood to survive, fact. I'm impressed by the thirst for knowledge of the "youngsters".

We used to go for weeks trying to find out the title of a record, the label, how much, is it bootlegged, but the point is we did it weekly, and records were discovered and introduced weekly.

You and your mates are coming into an established scene that has circa 30k plus records available. It must be mind blowing.

Tell your mates to ask if they are unsure of etiquette, rules, records, titles etc. The scene has always been the friendliest and most people would be pleased to be asked for their advice from a young 'un.

[Guest rachel]

Ain`t no 20year old millionairs,or not many!so that counts them out,plus they aint gonna put up with all the brown nosin that go`s off to get a set in the first place,plus they`ll still be payin` for there education,not like most of us oldies

link

Don't need to be a millionaire to buy records (and as an aside, you don't have to buy records to be into the scene)... and all you need to get a set in the first place is some good tunes and someone to give you a chance, wouldn't want to DJ for anyone who required 'brown nosing' of any sort.

[Mandy]

No they havent, I smoked, drank, etc, and to some one who was 40 then, I was a real pain, I had a chip on my shoulder the size of a King Edward, Try reading your own post out aloud you must sound like your parents . If you have forgoten what its like to be young at 40 what are you going to be like at 70. Respect is not a god given right, you earn it if you look down or talk down on a teenager they will do the same to you, Talk to them politely and explain your reason for concern and they will respect your wishies, You will allways get the ones that will tell you were to get off, but you allways did, Teenagers today have more problems today then we had, To get on it takes hard work and effort, and if they want to go out and enjoy themselves who are we to stop them. Its a lot easier to become a pot head and not care a toss. If they are a total waste of space and can not be talked to maybe the problem is with the venue in not ejecting them,

link

Obvioulsy we had very different backgrounds/upbringings then. I did respect my elders as it was just the way my family were. I didn't drink until I was 18 (mainly the fact I live in a small town and everybody knew my dad and I would have got a real b...king if he'd found out!! Oh and I haven't forgotten what it's like to be young - I just have nice childhood/teenage memories and being a good girl