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No, this isn't a case of me being paranoid about 9/11 or moon landing conspiracy theories.
In fact, it's an amazing book by the hugely influential author Robert Kiyosaki, who wrote the amazingly successful Rich Dad, Poor Dad series.
Kiyosaki actually lets us in on the reasons why only 1% of the world's population control 96% of the wealth. It's a fascinating (and infuriating) read.
Check it out!
Tuesday 13 October 2009
Friday 9 October 2009
Derby Folk Festival this weekend
I can't believe it's October already! Where does the time go?
Tonight, I'm gigging with the Derbyshire Volunteers for a two-hour ceilidh in the Great Hall at the Derby Assembly Rooms. Our fee will go, as usual, to a worthwhile charity decided on by the whole band.
The band tonight includes the legendary John Tams, together with his singing partner Barry Coope, who will be treating the audience to some great songs nestled in amongst the dance tunes. Not a song spot, but maybe even better!
I believe Stone Monkeys will be doing a rapper dance spot somewhere along the line, which will be fun to watch.
Then, when we finish at 10, we hand over to Edward II, currently on the last leg of their year-long reunion tour. Late to bed tonight, then!
Tomorrow, Saturday, I'm doing two half-hour spots of children's entertainment in the afternoon, followed by an "unplugged beginners' ceilidh" in the early evening from 4:30 till 6 pm. Look out for the Boomwhackers! (more on that later)
OK -- maybe see you there? Hope so.
Tonight, I'm gigging with the Derbyshire Volunteers for a two-hour ceilidh in the Great Hall at the Derby Assembly Rooms. Our fee will go, as usual, to a worthwhile charity decided on by the whole band.
The band tonight includes the legendary John Tams, together with his singing partner Barry Coope, who will be treating the audience to some great songs nestled in amongst the dance tunes. Not a song spot, but maybe even better!
I believe Stone Monkeys will be doing a rapper dance spot somewhere along the line, which will be fun to watch.
Then, when we finish at 10, we hand over to Edward II, currently on the last leg of their year-long reunion tour. Late to bed tonight, then!
Tomorrow, Saturday, I'm doing two half-hour spots of children's entertainment in the afternoon, followed by an "unplugged beginners' ceilidh" in the early evening from 4:30 till 6 pm. Look out for the Boomwhackers! (more on that later)
OK -- maybe see you there? Hope so.
Saturday 5 September 2009
Derby Festé Grand Ceilidh last night
Last night (Friday, 4th September) I gigged with the Derbyshire Volunteers at the Derby Festé Grand Ceilidh on the Market Place. We started at 9 pm, but by that time, the Market Place was absolutely teeming with people. They were all curious as to what was going to happen. There had already been something happening over by the Old Silk Mill, but we'd been setting up so I didn't see any of that.
What I did see was various artists walking about on stilts, some dressed like circus acts, others like something out of Doctor Who. Fantastic!
On the stroke of 9, we got going with a circle dance involving a random sequence of figures, such as "right-hand turn" and "do-si-do" and there were easily a couple of hundred people dancing - of all ages and sizes. It was great to see the ethnic diversity as well, especially as barn dancing (or ceilidh dancing) is often thought of as something old-fashioned and quaintly "English".
We were due to play till 11, and were cracking on at a fair old pace till it started to rain with 20 minutes still to go. As the stage had been put up without any roof or covering, we had no choice but to stop the show in order to avoid being electrocuted!
At least we left the audience wanting more!
Look out for the video, which I'll be posting in the next day or two.
What I did see was various artists walking about on stilts, some dressed like circus acts, others like something out of Doctor Who. Fantastic!
On the stroke of 9, we got going with a circle dance involving a random sequence of figures, such as "right-hand turn" and "do-si-do" and there were easily a couple of hundred people dancing - of all ages and sizes. It was great to see the ethnic diversity as well, especially as barn dancing (or ceilidh dancing) is often thought of as something old-fashioned and quaintly "English".
We were due to play till 11, and were cracking on at a fair old pace till it started to rain with 20 minutes still to go. As the stage had been put up without any roof or covering, we had no choice but to stop the show in order to avoid being electrocuted!
At least we left the audience wanting more!
Look out for the video, which I'll be posting in the next day or two.
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Swinging into Autumn
Well, that was the "summer", I suppose. Not many gigs, but not a total dearth, thank goodness.
I've been taking the opportunity to catch up on some reading, particularly Alan Bennett, who has to rate as my favourite author. He has such a wry sense of humour, it never fails to raise a smile, even the occasional guffaw.
So what's new? The Ram Company have been working hard, behind the scenes, polishing up the "Waltzers and Wonders" show - new coloured shirts for one thing, and a really satisfying photo shoot on the stage at the Derby Guildhall. We're getting more enquiries about the show from festivals and larger venues, so watch this space!
I've also been doing a few gigs with the fabulous Kellys Heroes. Check out the video here.
My super agent Fifi (Fiona Maurice-Smith) is still feeding bookings my way, bless her. What would I do without her? I know it's trendy for people to knock agents, but Fi really does work hard for her commissions, and I for one do appreciate the fact that she takes a huge burden off my shoulders and lets me just get on with providing the show. Thanks Fi.
The Big Dance of 2008 was really good ... you might just catch a glimpse of the Derbyshire Volunteers on this video compilation of the event.
Looking forward to the Derbyshire Volunteers gig on Derby Market Place this Friday, 4th September 2009, 9 - 11 pm. The occasion? The rather grandly-named Derby Festé. I've been told there could be a couple of thousand people dancing! Let's hope so, eh?
OK. I've got to try hard to get myself back into a routine of getting up at a reasonable time in the mornings. Over the summer holidays, with Ben off school, we've got into quite a lazy pattern of going to bed really late (it's nice and quiet at night, very conducive to working on the computer) and getting up correspondingly late next day.
I've been taking the opportunity to catch up on some reading, particularly Alan Bennett, who has to rate as my favourite author. He has such a wry sense of humour, it never fails to raise a smile, even the occasional guffaw.
So what's new? The Ram Company have been working hard, behind the scenes, polishing up the "Waltzers and Wonders" show - new coloured shirts for one thing, and a really satisfying photo shoot on the stage at the Derby Guildhall. We're getting more enquiries about the show from festivals and larger venues, so watch this space!
I've also been doing a few gigs with the fabulous Kellys Heroes. Check out the video here.
My super agent Fifi (Fiona Maurice-Smith) is still feeding bookings my way, bless her. What would I do without her? I know it's trendy for people to knock agents, but Fi really does work hard for her commissions, and I for one do appreciate the fact that she takes a huge burden off my shoulders and lets me just get on with providing the show. Thanks Fi.
The Big Dance of 2008 was really good ... you might just catch a glimpse of the Derbyshire Volunteers on this video compilation of the event.
Looking forward to the Derbyshire Volunteers gig on Derby Market Place this Friday, 4th September 2009, 9 - 11 pm. The occasion? The rather grandly-named Derby Festé. I've been told there could be a couple of thousand people dancing! Let's hope so, eh?
OK. I've got to try hard to get myself back into a routine of getting up at a reasonable time in the mornings. Over the summer holidays, with Ben off school, we've got into quite a lazy pattern of going to bed really late (it's nice and quiet at night, very conducive to working on the computer) and getting up correspondingly late next day.
Monday 29 June 2009
Nearly the end of June
I can hardly believe it's nearly the end of June already! Things have been quite hectic recently, as I'm trying to set up my own digital store online.
If you want to check it out, it's at http://www.digistuff4u.com.
What's available? A wide variety of eBooks at the moment, in 32 different categories. As from the beginning of July, there are going to be HUGE discounts for our Summer Sale, so don't miss out on this opportunity to download some real goodies.
As for the barn dance side of things (which is, after all, the main reason for this blog in the first place), bookings are coming in thick and fast, even as far ahead as October 2010, so if you're considering having a barn dance, don't leave it till the last minute!
Catch you later!
If you want to check it out, it's at http://www.digistuff4u.com.
What's available? A wide variety of eBooks at the moment, in 32 different categories. As from the beginning of July, there are going to be HUGE discounts for our Summer Sale, so don't miss out on this opportunity to download some real goodies.
As for the barn dance side of things (which is, after all, the main reason for this blog in the first place), bookings are coming in thick and fast, even as far ahead as October 2010, so if you're considering having a barn dance, don't leave it till the last minute!
Catch you later!
Sunday 14 June 2009
Update 20090614
Life seems to have been pretty hectic since my last post, which was absolutely ages ago. So what's been happening?
Well, I completed my contributions to two student films: Fiver Live at Sheffield Hallam University and Doors at Manchester Metropolitan University. They've sent me a DVD of the first one, but not the second one yet. Still waiting ... (I won't hold my breath though).
I also went to the BBC at Manchester for an audition for Totally Saturday (don't know why, because I don't enjoy watching that kind of show, so taking part would have been a strange experience). I'll never understand how some people can just be so ... enthusiastic ... all the time. About BoyZone, for goodness' sake! Ah well ...
About a month ago, I had an interesting video conversation on Skype with a Brit in Belgrade, about sincerity and stuff ... He's a video maker, called Mark Brogan, and I'm interested in what he puts out. Search for his videos on Dailymotion.
Finally, I'm going to be playing a bit of piano accordian for another short film -- again unpaid, but with the promise of a copy on DVD for promo purposes. The music is only about 2 minutes long, arranged for trumpet, saxophone, guitar, bongos and accordian, and the musicians have never met, so it'll be another interesting experience. Filming Sunday 21st June in Barnsley ... or was it Bradford? Whatever ...
OK, better go and do some work now. Have fun. If you find this remotely interesting (or just incredibly boring), please drop me a line.
Bye for now!
Well, I completed my contributions to two student films: Fiver Live at Sheffield Hallam University and Doors at Manchester Metropolitan University. They've sent me a DVD of the first one, but not the second one yet. Still waiting ... (I won't hold my breath though).
I also went to the BBC at Manchester for an audition for Totally Saturday (don't know why, because I don't enjoy watching that kind of show, so taking part would have been a strange experience). I'll never understand how some people can just be so ... enthusiastic ... all the time. About BoyZone, for goodness' sake! Ah well ...
About a month ago, I had an interesting video conversation on Skype with a Brit in Belgrade, about sincerity and stuff ... He's a video maker, called Mark Brogan, and I'm interested in what he puts out. Search for his videos on Dailymotion.
Finally, I'm going to be playing a bit of piano accordian for another short film -- again unpaid, but with the promise of a copy on DVD for promo purposes. The music is only about 2 minutes long, arranged for trumpet, saxophone, guitar, bongos and accordian, and the musicians have never met, so it'll be another interesting experience. Filming Sunday 21st June in Barnsley ... or was it Bradford? Whatever ...
OK, better go and do some work now. Have fun. If you find this remotely interesting (or just incredibly boring), please drop me a line.
Bye for now!
Wednesday 1 April 2009
The Ram Company go back to school
Last Friday, 27th March, saw our fourth and fifth visits to primary schools in Derby. One of them actually let us shoot some video, which was very nice of them, considering all the hoo-ha that you get these days when you ask if you can video children. I mean ... not everyone's a pervert or a paedophile, you know!
Anyway, having edited the footage into a half presentable DVD, to be used as a souvenir for the school in question - Lakeside Primary - as well as for our own professional development (we get to see ourselves from the students' perspective), I decided to shorten it considerably and make a promo video.
The results (just over 5 minutes' worth) can be seen on the Gallery page of my website, or directly on YouTube.
Anyway, having edited the footage into a half presentable DVD, to be used as a souvenir for the school in question - Lakeside Primary - as well as for our own professional development (we get to see ourselves from the students' perspective), I decided to shorten it considerably and make a promo video.
The results (just over 5 minutes' worth) can be seen on the Gallery page of my website, or directly on YouTube.
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