Len

“How’s it going?” I was wondering how things are ‘out there’ at present - as in attendances at venues. I have a new venture (‘Lennys’) starting in October, because I think there is a gap in the market for a place that plays Soul music to clear the dance floor as much as is humanly possible So basically I’m wondering if all the 70 odd events every weekend are pulling in enough people. Not necessarily huge numbers, but enough to make an atmosphere - I have noticed some events are actually sold out which was unheard of a short while ago. Before, the general view was this - too many events / not enough punters, but things seem to have changed on that score as more and more people are ‘coming out to play’ So in general, are attendances quiet healthy at most venues at the present time? / What’s your experience? All the best, Len

Ooops! Thanks for that - How I missed that I do not know. Just flicked through it, and yes post 65 very good, as is post 46 I shall go back to that thread in the week - Thanks again. Len

I suppose in a way, it would have been nice if this film was made 20 years ago, but better late than never an' all that. I'm sure once it's a huge success they will make '2', then '3', covering the different decades properly - more to look forward to! (Thanks in advance Elaine).....Who do you recon would be the most suited actor to play Keb Darge in 'Northern Soul 2'? We could come up with a list of Actors to play certain Characters to 'help' Elaine (You're welcome) Len

I know someone who ‘taught’ the actors to D.J at his home, and when he told me he had taught them to say…”Let’s ‘ave ya!”……I winced (Not sure that's in the film btw)........Ref the clip, when I see the actors ‘feeling the music’, I do cringe slightly because I know they are only acting.....But seeing this film from a negative view point is the easy option - of course we will be able to be pick many holes in it if we wanted to, as I'm sure The Romans would have if they saw Spartacus or The Ten Commandments! We simply must see it for what it is - a film, and knowing who has been involved in the making of it and how much thought and hard work has been put into it, we are not going to get anything better (ever) Good luck to Elaine (and Marco) I say, I’m sure you have done yourselves proud. All the best, Len

- Beautiful record! Len

....but what a record - awesome Len

I counted 73 events the other weekend (just on here btw), and all those events are mainly aiming at the same what 4000 people? So of course a weekly All-nighter would be impossible. But to quote Sunnysoul…“Thinking outside the square”….It could be done if marketed outside of this Scene. Things would no doubt change dramatically, but to pull aprox 300 people to a Club in Oxford Street, London wouldn’t be difficult. I supported a friend at Groove On at Milton Keynes Sat night, this was a different crowd to ‘us lot’, they were mainly from Milton Keynes, Luton, and London, but a pretty cool lot I thought (who would welcome 60’s Newies in with what they like to dance to) Over 300 ‘untapped’ people just at one event. A weekly 100 Club is not going to happen (we know that) Also advertising to ‘outsiders’ goes against the grain ref the Scene as we know it, but to do so is better than it slowly dwindling away, and our music being forgotten. All the best, Len

Very quick Right, I'm off to enjoy the weekend. Len P.s - TUNE! (btw)

All change mate - Everyone's packing up and just going to The 100 Club (Together we are stronger an' all that) ......Except for Terry Len

I should have added 'and repeat', meaning it to be a monthly pattern When is this all kicking off? Len

Looks like it's a Thursday as well Ady! Len

Week 1 - As it is now Week 2 -100 % Oldies Week 3 - Modern Week 4 - 'One of the other ones'! There ya go Ady - Good luck! Len

My immediate reaction to this was - It would die on it's *rse.......But who knows, once this film is out, it may have the 'Quadrophenia effect', many new people getting interested so that The 100 Club does open every Sat night (like normal clubs) Obviously most people wouldn't go every week, but that wouldn't matter being so many more people into it, guaranteeing a full house every week - Maybe even Friday as well! Yeh, I recon Ady would love to do it Len

I'm convinced you are missing out mate.......and that's where we agree to disagree All the best, Len

Yes good points there - Also a lot of events are very similar, so people don't need to travel to get what they want. All the best, Len

I think it’s a shame that anyone would only travel to see 2 or 3 D.J’s out of so many - I would imagine Butch, Andy Dyson, and Kitch would all agree that there are other D.J’s that add something positive to a night. I remember an advert in Black Echoes that simply said…..NEXT BLACKBURN OCTOBER 11TH…..It didn’t mention any of the D.J’s, so the said promoter must have had the punters trust. Len P.s - Ok, maybe Butch wouldn't!

‘Pervis Lee - You Don't Care’ - is ‘ok’ (better if ya ‘in the zone’) But......“over a big sound system”….don't transform a record into something else - I can recognise a good record over the phone! Each to his own though All the best, Len

If they exist Russ. I often hear......."some of the stuff out there today is sit and listen to stuff".......But I don't actually know if that's true, if 'out there' means it is played at venues. I think it is just a descriptive of someone else's taste by someone with different taste. Surely there isn't a venue / or D.J that plays stuff that can't be danced to (Yes I know, apart from myself) I personally detest some (most) of the R 'n' B stuff that's played out there, and think it does nothing for the atmosphere of a place. But I can't argue the fact others do (and dance to it.), so I can't say that is 'sit and listen to stuff' - It's just not my taste (the correct taste) All the best, Len

Yes that makes sense, but I believed (via people's stories 'of old') that people like John Vincent, Soul Sam etc were these real Characters that added their personality to a set - Dave Evison defo adds something I recon! Same from the next generation - The one liners from Guy, and Keb etc. I think that's just part of it, others do it a different way that's all. Yes, Mick Lyons sets were pumping from start to finish whenever I saw him D.J Len

I also think it can help a D.J to connect with the crowd - But as has been pointed out, no one wants to hear speeches between every single record Len

Each to his own ref using the mike - Not using it works for some people, but I also like to hear a bit of relevant chat. Like Pete said, even if it's just what the records are called. Manifesto did an interesting article on Mick Lyons years ago, and he had the same view about not using the mike - he said you can not enhance this great music by using it. Which of course is true, but I think the correct amount of mike usage can enhance an atmosphere at times. Sorry Matt - Bit off topic here All the best, Len P.s - I've always liked the 'Muffled, inaudible grunts'

Just want to add - How lovely that you (Ady) put down your exclusive giveaways as 'just' a freebie. Christ man, some would like to find one exclusive let alone the amount you have come up with! I for one was absolutely over the moon to receive it, and gladly played it during the very next spot I did (and some) All the best, Len

I know what you mean about a D.Jing playing a record if he's paid cash for it over a freebie, but I actually disagree, especially if you are talking about an exclusive - You gave a few D.J's a Kent D.J copy of 'Little Anne - What Should I Do' (with a covering letter) a few months before it was released, and I remember Soul Sam playing it (as I'm sure others did) I also played it at The Embankment Club (which was your intension by giving me a copy) But I do agree, the moment anyone can get a record, a lot of D.J's lose interest in playing them - A crime really, but we all understand the thinking behind it. I think a longer gap between giving the D.J's the D.J copies to play as their exclusives would keep a new discovery 'out there' longer. The timing of the general release could coincide with the D.J's shelf life of that record, then it would hopefully transfer to other D.J's as their new sound to play which would be recognisable, so an instant hit for them. All the best, Len

.....Actually now I've had a listen again (got reminded of this via Face Book btw)...I wanna hear it again! But you know what I mean......don't ya? Len

Are we all sure about this? An example of an absolutely fantastic record that got 'battered to death'...Point being, over exposure does kill records for some people (unfortunately) Len 'Vanguards - Good Times Bad Times' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMOz8bfzW5U