Len

Current state You have two choices of how to view it (Depending what mood you’re in) 1) A twitching corpse - That ‘leaps up’ every so often giving some hope, but it’s just a gathering of (mainly) old men in a room (with some good music) Or 2) A beautiful thing - That still has ‘legs’, and you go out with a positive attitude making the most of still being able to dance, along with mixing with life-long friends, enjoying this fantastic music. It’s easier to be positive than negative, so best to fight that if you can, and lean towards ‘Option 2’ All the bestest, Len Edit - 'Deliberate mistake' pointed out as per below - Strike that, and switch! Yes, I meant it's easier to be negative than to be positive

I read 'The In Crowd' (Mike Ritson & Stuart Russell) which was one of the first / and covered it pretty well - I can't imagine trying to write a book to cover today's 'scene' I'll probably get round to reading my others when I retire... Len

I have loads of 'Soul Books' I ain't read Len

No, that sort of cooperation seemed to have ended around 15 years ago - No sarcasm, it did actually exist back then (In my experience anyway) Len

We had 'No kids' on our wedding invitations (Ahem - That went down well with some) Although most of the guests fully understood! Len

Many moons ago, I rang Sylvia Croasdell (rip) to ask if The Cleethorpes Weekender was somewhere I could maybe take my kids........"No".....was her short and 'to the point' reply Good god she was right! Len

And a Weekender is cheaper than a Care Home, so (sos mum) I have it all planned out Len

So we're all agreed - We've never had it so good Len

"It's got a good beat" Len

'Now That's What I Call Northern Soul' Len

A Cull Len

Don't shoot me - But didn't that exposure attract some good people to the scene? Len

Too many topics Len

I think a lot of people are opting for the staying in / record room route. The amount of events out there has defo had a detrimental effect - I don't even look anymore. Not so sure about the many events playing boots - I'm sure there's some, but it's so easy to buy originals nowadays. There's just loads on that are exactly the same. People miss the creativity / the unexpected, the 'effort to reward' ratio makes some not bother anymore (As said above) We'll keep on moaning - at least that makes us happy Len

There's certainly plenty of 'DJs' out there - I think it a shame that there's not many that have real 'pull' as far as attracting lots of people to an event nowadays. That's defo something that has changed. Len

I was drawn to 'Otis Lee' as it seemed so different at that time - I still love it, but have had my 'fill' Len

Welcome all new members & the latest one Tracey - Short and sweet! Feel free to add to the various forums. Enjoy! All the best, Len

Have to agree - It used to be a 'must play'. That said, lots who didn't hear it years ago will be enjoying it just the same All the best, Len P.s - What ever happened to 'Vanguards - Good Times Bad Times'? Now that got absolutely hammered (Never to be heard again!)

Get what? Len

There's one for sale on the link below if anyone wants one - £1,000.00 All the best, Len

Oh sorry Ed, I miss-understood. Was gonna say - If there's £80,000.00 profit to be made at each event, no wonder there's so many on! Millionaires the lot of em All the best, Len

I believe in paying the DJs even if you are making a loss (DJ's can decide whether to take it or not) All the best, Len

Not sure how they get £80k profit when 900 x £40 = £36,000.00 But on a serious note - If a quality event makes the promoter some profit, good luck to em. As has been said, lots of events bl*eding everywhere, so to actually make a profit nowadays is one heck of an achievement! All the best, Len

I think if people stop 'chasing their tails' (Guilty as charged btw), as in, stop hoping it will be the same as they once remembered (When you were young, and all was so exciting) one can get great enjoyment, just a different enjoyment that's all. That said, I don't like the way the Scene is. 'Starbucks Northern Soul' - Every town has one (and some) But hey ho, that's the way it is, and there's nothing we can do about it. As for 'big names' not pulling crowds, I agree - Maybe if they were only available at the major All-nighters, that would have made a difference, but most of the DJs (kindly has to be said) play almost anywhere, so people don't need to travel to see 'a Soul Sam'. Interesting to reflect on it all every 5 years or so. I now except my best times are over, and don't feel the need to do it every weekend, but when I do, I can now make the most of it - The music still moves me thank god! All the best, Len

I can't remember where I went last weekend - But it was a heavy one! Bit of a slow burner this thread, but good to hear from people as to what they got up to at the weekend on here, as well as reading reviews on separate event's threads All the best, Len