Ged Parker

I'm affraid you just dont get it 'soul over easy' and probably never will. That isn't your fault, its just the way it is. I for one don't look down on guys that play boots (well not to the degree you're making out) but I have more respect for those that play CD's or MP3's off a laptop. Why do you feel the need to own a bootleg 45 if its all about playing what the punters want? If you truly believe that; ditch the boots and start playing CDs at least they're legitimate recordings. It isn't elitist to be a passionate collector in any field be it records, stamps or fine art, but if you open a gallery full of prints of Botticellis and Titians you may get some visitors but don't expect the respect of the art establishment. It may be good in its own way but it different from an art gallery thats all. Anyhow back to the topic. There are obviously some great DJ's with a broad spectrum of tracks that aren't millionaires. As many have said passion is more important. However there are also examples of people buying their way into the top rosta by spending thousands and thousands over the last 5-10 years. Do I think that makes them a good DJ? No not particularly they usually have something about them that means they are a good DJ anyway. Otherwise they'd still not make it. We probably all knoe someone who has spent big and not made it into the top teir. I personally don't keep a running total of the value of a DJ's set when I'm listening unless it just strikes me that everything is big money and then its a passing interest not a 'lets start adding this all up' job. Not that I know the title of every record I hear out let alone the value. Someone on here said that you should play to the floor and never empty it. I'd say that to be a good DJ on the northern soul scene you have to be prepared to empty it on occassion otherwise you'll only ever play guaranteed winners that everyone knows and the scene atrophies. You should try to judge the floor, feed in the new sound with one similar they're already on the floor to, even tell them its an 'new sound' in the right venue, but you must be prepared to get it wrong on occassion. If we could agree what made a 'Top Northern Soul DJ' perhaps we could judge if we each had enough money. I probably have more disposable income than some DJ's who I think are superb and much less than some I wouldn't cross the road to listen to.

Do smileys count as a line? Soulful rather than soul Ronnie Milsap "Not for the Love Of You Woman" and no I'm not sugesting its northern

Not at a grand for me either even if I collected British.

Yes Len different from the old Ents Licence and from PRS. Ents licences are now under the new Licensing Act where all licensable activities need to be on the premises licence. They are just looking for ways to increase income in the light of lost revenue due to piracy / illegal downloads etc.

Send in a response for Ian. Its the only way to change their views. I think there is a pretty solid case for an exemption for Northern Soul events, eveny more for Rare Soul ones.

The thing about an 'open book' arrangement Andy is that they would require this to work both ways. i.e. you'd have to detail every title played and how often with all the credits for each. Instead we have ended up in position where they charge a fee based on average admission numbers (or if you refuse to / cant supply these venue capacity) length of the event. The distribute the fees based on some complex formula of know plays and radio airtime. So the money they collect from a rare soul night for you playing the Magnetics get redistributed to the Javells .

Some of you as promotors may have to deal with PPL charges at Venue either directly or indirectly through hire charges. PPL have just launched the second round of their consultation on SFE (Specially Featured Entertainment) or wherever sound recordings are played as the main or special attraction. This will apply to Northern Soul events as it does currently (though not to line dancing funnily enough) However the proposed increase in charges will make one of three things happen: 1) Events will find ways not to pay this fee 2) Entrance fees to events will go up substantially 3) Events will not be viable and so close (some may say fewer venues would be a good thing). I've extracted from the Apendices of the consultation document a couple of examples of how things will change if the proposals go through. They look at two levels of attendance (100 and 300) at a night and the fees for events lasting 5, 6, 8 or 10 hours which probably gives an idea on attendance but cover the various durations of most soul nights. You can see the figures yourselves but an allnighter with 300 people at it where the fee is currently £104.82 (per event) will get dearer each year eventually reaching £595.14 +VAT (per event) in three years. I know this is boring stuff but it will impact on many of us and given that a great deal of the stuff we play is not licensed by PPL I will for one be sending in a response asking that Northern Soul events be excluded from this new tarriff in the way that Line Dancing, Practice and Social Dances and Folk Club dances are. Remember silence is acquiescence. The consultation papers should be released on the PPL web site over the next two to three days https://www.ppluk.com/ I can't get the table to load unfortunately but an event from 8pm - 1am with 100 attendees goes from £14.01 +VAT to £140.88 +VAT per event. 100 Attendees Current First Transitional Year Second Transitional Year New Tarriff 5 Hours 14.01 35.22 70.44 140.88 6 Hours 16.81 38.28 76.56 153.13 8 Hours 22.41 43.09 86.19 172.38 10 Hours 28.02 45.27 90.57 181.14 300 Attendees Current First Transitional Year Second Transitional Year New Tarriff 5 Hours 52.41 115.72 231.44 462.88 6 Hours 62.89 125.78 251.56 503.13 8 Hours 83.85 141.59 283.19 566.38 10 Hours 104.82 148.77 297.57 595.14

Wow if you could buy records with a hard on I'd have a much bigger collection

I'd question you motives for collecting. If it's just to hear sounds you remember then get CD's If you think things are overpriced don't buy them, if they don't sell they'll come down in price, if they do then the price was fair to someone. If; as the end of your post implies; you really want to DJ? Then its horses for courses, don't expect to be playing at all nighters with a box full of bootlegs but also don't expect punters at many local soul nights to know or care if its on CD, MP3, boot or original. Decide if you're a wannabe DJ, a serious rare soul collector, a speculative investor or a guy on a trip down memory lane and if you can afford to be the one you want to be. Just being truthful

"Offers is offers" don't tell people what to "offer" that's not "offers".

Nuts; you're all f***in' nuts (well most of you are) Northern soul means so many different things to so many different people. No one person has the answer and no one venue suits everyone. May as well enrole on a philosophy course as try and discuss this to a generally accepted outcome.

No such thing as bad avertising be on here or anywhere else. As long as it's clear what the night is there shouldn;t be a problem. I doubt many regulars on here would go but some may have an affinity with the charity and so want to attend. As for DJ's accepting booking and not knowing what the venue's music policy is thats surely a breakdown in communications and both promotor and DJ are equally at fault surely.

Wonder if the royalties are going to the right artiste? Nice that the CD is published by the original label too.

The Catherine Miller on Amazon is a typo you can see the correct info on the CD cover. Though from what you say it looks like a Catherine Miller composition.

I remember having some tickets for the Spurs end at Maine Road off the Holsten Pils National Account Manager. I offered them to Richard Sirling at King George's Hall but he was going to be away on holiday so I ended up giving them to Terry instead.

I'd guess at £800+. I assume you're selling rather than buying? Way out of my league anyway.

I can see the photos too. Tidy looking vintage box that. Well worth a fiver.

I've had this problem in the past with some modern tunes tuned out to be a high spot on the tone arm guide that stopped the tone arm going all the way across the record. Took me weeks to figure out what it was.

Sorted at last (And no I don't want to sell it)

Hi and welcome from a long time admirer (Of your singing that is my wife may be reading this)

Ronnie Milsap and Beverly Ann are both stranger than the several Black artistes mentioned.

Sad sad news. Hats of to the whole team of people involved both front and back if house. Was always a delight to be involved in a small way but as much of a pleasure to attend. My experience of the Britannia group means I'm not surprised but still saddened. Keep your chin up though John knowing your efforts are appreciated. Ged and Margaret

No problem, you bid away. I'll give them a miss though if you don't mind.

You gain feedback from each seperate seller. So yes t bidder has feedback from 3 different people but he has been a member since 1st March 2009 and bought 4 items from this seller and a further 2 items one each from another 2 sellers. Not much of a strike rate for someone who places 20 bids in a day. I've cancelled a couple of snipes anyway.

Every time someone says something is "Idiot Proof" someone else comes up with a better standard of idiot