Len

It's simple maths isn't it? - £50,000.00 divided by a box of 200 = £250.00 average for each record, so no if you want a box of 200 'Mello Souls' type rare ones. Mind you, if you did, I'd keep a bl*dy eye on em! lol All the best, Len.

It would be bl*dy interesting! lol Looks like I'm back in the promoting game (as the scene could so do with another event! lol) Not sure whether to go monthly or fortnightly....Best start booking the D.J's, I'll start with the first 'Double Deck' team - 'Butch 'n' Brian Rae'...Then I'll get the next 5 years dates on the Soul-source calendar so I can say people are clashing with me... Len.

Much MORE of a following, look at the big Oldies All-nighters, they get Thousands in not hundreds. You can't argue with those figures but I think it's a shame more folk don't seem to want to listen to something at least a little different....Maybe someone should organise an all-nighter that is exactly half and half (Alternating spots for 'Classic Oldies' type D.J's and 'Rare / Underplayed' type D.J's. (Better still, make them Double Deck! lol) ....Not that this has anything to do with the original post, I keep forgetting what the question was... All the best, Len.

Repeated post (See below) - Sorry!

I did a similar thing (Maybe not as strong!) I wrote on a flyer for early 'SILKS' at Wellingborough "Empty Dance Floors Rule Ok' which some people understood it was to explain that new / underplayed sounds will be played. Unfortunately a few didn't understand and thought that was the ethic! - Doh! Upfront venues are so opposite to what some people perceive; they play good soul music and just want to keep it interesting that's all. Len.

As Terry has pointed out, the money side of records should be of little importance, yes some are expensive but shouldn't be an issue, it's what they sound like. Obviously if something sounds great and is a bit rare it will have an extra 'Mystique' which adds to the FUN. Unfortunately, the price of a record is important to some people and I'd even go as far to say, in some cases if a record's expensive and is the latest 'Must have' they would buy it no matter what it sounds like. I liked and agree with Terry's comment (Although dislike agreeing with Terry lol) about D.J's complimenting each other. I've always hated it on 'Look Backs' when people name the 'Winning D.J' It is not a competition! A D.J should be passionate about what they're doing, learn from experience, have their own identity and not just 'Cherry pick' off other peoples play lists (I call them 'Cut 'n' Paste' D.J's) generally get to know the etiquette etc. I don't think a D.J needs to be as knowledgeable as a collector though but as Andy pointed out, they would need to have gained the respect of others. I feel some D.J's may miss the fact that having the honour to play these lovely records at a venue is not all about them. The main talent is in the record and a DJ should be enjoying them along with everyone else at the venue. Don't get me wrong, of course there's a buzz to be had when you 'Connect' with a crowd because it's satisfying that you have done your job properly and been able to share the enjoyment you've had from your records (As discussed Val!) Everyone has opinions about whether certain D.J's should be doing it or not - The only person that really knows this is the D.J himself. One example - If a D.J has stolen ideas from others and taken the credit, deep down they know they've done it. Remember - "It's more disheartening to have to steal than to be stolen from" Answer to your original post is no, you shouldn't need loads of money to be a top northern soul D.J. There maybe a few 'Fast track' ones about with not a single original idea in their head, but don't write off all D.J's that happen to have expensive records before meeting them because then they become the victims of 'Inverted Snobbery' All the best, Len. p.s - A good D.J should always carry at least five Midtempo records with them! J p.p.s - It's not about a 'Packed' dance floor, it's about 'working' the dance floor, how else would new sounds get played?

Is this a separate thing to an entertainments licence? I don't think everyone is aware, but I think everyone who is putting on an event should have an entertainments licence. When I used to promote I had one, cost just over £100.00 per year. I'll try and dig out details of where to sort it if anyone wants me too. All the best, Len.

The Dynamics - I Need Your Love - Grrr!... Len.

Nor me, maybe read it again. I don't think for one monent John was being patronising, it didn't read so to me. I agree with what he said, for example I personally don't like the record much at all (Or the version Butch plays) But fully understand the importance of it to the older generation who in their youth first heard it. All the best, Len.

My answer would be the absolute opposite to this one - It's all a matter of personal taste and as long as everyone is convinced their taste is correct and everyone else's is wrong it will stay alive and kicking rather than a twitching corpse! (Hopefully) Ditto though, sadly it isn't important to me nowadays either. Len. "Surely it's more enjoyable to be guessing what the D.J's gonna play next, rather than telling him what he should of played last?!" :O)

I paid £400.00 about three years ago and I don't think I've seen one since. Saus played it at the last Wilton and as far as I'm concerned it's PERFECT for today's scene! But what do I know aye? - I'm a Midtempo Activist! :O) I was told it was a Soul Sam discovery - Is that correct? By the way, is there a thread that lists / discusses who discovered certian records, who broke them and what were the cover up names? I find that fascinating and believe folk should know who did all the hard work / took the risks ref the sounds we are enjoying today. All the best, Len. "A wasted weekend is not a wasted weekend!" :O)

Hi Russ, I am deeply sorry to hear this, I don't think there's a cure as yet. Yours sincerely, Len. "I am playing the right records, but not necessarily in the right order"

Sadly nothing stays the same does it? I personally don't like the fact the internet is used for most record buying now (To easy) I'm not sayings it's wrong, I just don't like it. I have great memories of hunting through record shops (That are no longer there of course) Also getting the record lists off the dealers who actually used to go on those 'Voyages' to America and having to ring up dead on time or you may miss that record! New discoveries are bound to get less and less as time moves on, I have fun by covering up records that just haven't had that much exposure, I don't think there's anything wrong in that. It is a bit of fun, but it also helps to keep ones own identity (D.J wise) I think your on a bit of a nostalgia trip...Now I am too...Thinking of when the Soul Scene was made of Chocolate (Again)...I really must put my 'Rose Tinted Glasses' away :O) All the best, Len. "I am playing the right records, but not necessarily in the right order!!!"

Art Ensley - Great version! All the best, Len. "I am playing the right records, but not necessarily in the right order!!!"

What a night, ain't enjoyed myself that much in a long time - By the people for the people. Loads of records I've never heard, but done in such a way that everyone just kept on going! Best keep it short as I've just got a knife and fork out to eat some Wheatabix so probably won't make much sense - Sign of a good night I recon! Well done to all involved. Over 'n' out. Len. "I am playing the right records, but not necessarily in the right order"

What is a Burnley record? - It's a tune or type of tune that takes a person 'back to Burnley'. In this context, It doesn't suggest / mean that the said tune was necessarily played there first. We all have records that take us back to where we personally associate them with. The same can also happen with DJ's. "That's a 'So and so' record" doesn't always mean 'So and so' played it first, it means that person just happens to associate that particular DJ with that type of record. It's basically a compliment to the venue as it shows it had it's own identity. Which as Joan pointed out earlier, the new Burnley will no doubt have a slightly different identity as it's Karl's and Sean's take on it from now on. All the best, Len. "If your going to play records in public, the most important thing is to do it your way and no-one else's"

Very sad news. Trev kindly insisted on buying me a drink at my 40th just the other week (Thanks mate), really nice bloke. All the best to his friends and family. Len and Nina.

Makes complete sense to me, sorting the DJ times before booking the DJ's. Shows there's a lot of thought going into it. I know someone that used to do a whole years worth of DJ times before booking the DJ's (Not me honest!) My lifts already booked with John 'n' Jen. As has already been said - four times a year can only be beneficial, more folk will make the effort (Myself included) Best of luck with this. All the best, Len. "I wouldn't be where I am today without my Sat-Nav!"

Cheers. $1768.00 - Times like these, record 'Investments' are people's back up. Trouble is, finding people with money to spend. All the best, Len. "I am playing the right records, but not necessarily in the right order!!!"

Out of interest, what did it go for? - Do records like this hold their price in times of bad ressesion?Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure about 3 - 4 years ago, one went on John Manship's auction for £2,700.00, then about a year later one went for £1,850.00. All depends who's bidding I know, but that's a massive difference. I'd guess a lot less than £2,000.00 in these times. All the best, Len. "I am playing the right records, but not necessarily in the right order!!!"

"Oh Angelina, Oh Angelina" - "Hole in the middle, Hole in the middle" "Touch me, Hold me, Kiss me, Touch me, Touch me" - "Taxi, Taxi"! I think there's loads, glad we're all confessing to them as I think they're hilarious! All the best, Len. "I am playing the right records, but not necessarily in the right order"

I don't get this they are all right, different policy so won't affect us, it's boll*cks, we are all after the same punters. "Upfront/progressive" venues want the oldies crowd as well, we want them to embrace newer discoveries, it is working as well a The all-nighter crowd whether you care to admit it or not is an ever decreasing number of people, this is for various reasons.

I think what's being said is - Folk don't want an All-nighter on the same weekend as another 'Similar music policy' All-nighter too close by to each other as it divides everyone up, even groups of friends. You say 'How different and in what way?' - Life-line A/N would be very different to Stoke Oldies A/N (Main room) because of the amount of progressive and under played stuff that is featured at Life-line. So really they would be ok to be on the same weekend even if they were situated very close to each other, as in general they are for different audiences. Although point taken, still best not to happen if at all poss, as some folk enjoy both. I don't think anyone's saying one or other is sure to fail. It's more, if a certain kind of event is covered in a certain area, there's no point in there being another one. (I think that's it!) I'm getting confused - Anton, can you reiterate what this thread is about, as I think I may have gone 'Off Thread' even after doing my usual, checking what I wrote 80 times before I post it (Ok,ok 100 times!) Or am I following this correctly? Cheers, Len. (Hiya Mace!) "If your going to play records in public, the most important thing is to do it your way and no-one else's!"

Hi Anton, Fantastic last line! lol When I said clashing of personalities, I meant between promoters who are putting on similar events in the same area - Point being, we've all got the same hobby - 'Together we are stronger' kind of thang. Different personalities and music tastes is what makes the scene great - I love the banter / arguments about music tastes as it's all done in good humour. Again personally, I'm all for different styles of music in the same room, as I think they compliment each other. Nowt wrong with one style either though - Say a huge Oldies All-nighter which I also enjoy or these 'Underplayed' smaller rooms. Variety is what makes it interesting. It's the too many events on that has (As you say) seen numbers suffer at some places. All the best, Len. 　"If your going to play records in public, the most important thing is to do it your way and no-one else's!"

Hi Matt, Ref "Is it ok to put on a nighter if it has the broadest possible appeal?' - Personally I don't think it's ok to 'Start' any new night whatsoever at the moment (Unless, as I said it is completely different to anything in close proximity) Any new night just adds to the problem. A while back I was discussing with someone that The Pemberton Centre may be demolished, they immediately said - "Are you going to find another venue" My answer was a massive NO! Another part of this subject is Djing of course, as it is a big part of why some people put an event on. I mentioned about bowing out of The Pemberton and my mate said "What ya gonna do about Djing?" - In a kind of 'My God' voice (Does that make sense?) My point is - As long as someone is putting on an event and the music I like is being played, there's no reason I feel I should promote OR DJ, that's the truth - Trouble is not many Djs play the monotonous 'Boring' Mid-Tempo that I like to dance to lol (Had to be said before someone else does!) So I will carry on Djing (If asked!) All the best, Len. "If your going to play records in public, the most important thing is to do it your way and no-one else's!"