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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Forming a Harmonica Club?
Forming a Harmonica Club?
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dougharps
146 posts
Jan 10, 2012
4:32 PM
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I have wanted to try to start a club/interest group locally in Urbana-Champaign Illinois, and now I have the time to try to do it. I have a location at a not for profit organization, Center for Arts, and a name: Urbana-Champaign Harmonica Users Group (U-CHUG). My thought was members sharing information/techniques and jamming as being the purpose.
I am interested in how any of you have put together similar groups. I know that Harvey and Todd have a New Orleans group, and Jim Rumbaugh has a club in West Virginia. There may be others out there, too.
I don't want to reinvent the wheel, and knowing what draws and keeps drawing members would help us get the group started. Any suggestions???
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Doug S.
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Jim Rumbaugh
642 posts
Jan 10, 2012
7:24 PM
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If you have something to give, that people want, then people will come. The thing that motivates people is,"what's in it for me?"
You can't be all things to all people. So make a plan. Examples:
Can you give lessons?
Can you accompany other people.?
Do you have a place where people can relax ?
Do you have sound equipment?
Do you have a library of backing tracks?
Do you have a library of youtube lessons and a way to play them?
One or two of the above can be enough to get people to come. It really can hinge on one or two individuals to make the club work (that's a sad fact). If you want to make it work, it can happen.
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HarmoniCollege March 24, 2012
theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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toddlgreene
3502 posts
Jan 11, 2012
5:07 AM
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If you have a Craigslist in your area, I recommend that-it's free, lots of folks read it, and that's how Harvey and I came together to start the Crescent City Harmonica Club. Look and post under Community/Musicians.
Jim's points are all good as well. Start as a grass-roots thing first, via email, phone, meetups for coffee/beer, and see how many folks show some interest. Depending on where you are, this could take quite a while, or if you're in a hotbed of players, you might get lucky like we did and already know a few, or they'll come out of the woodwork quick.
When you do assemble some folks, quiz them on their level of playing, if they are gearheads(this makes show and tell fun), do they gig already, do they busk, can or would they teach, are they diatonic or chrom players(or both), etc. Find out what you're working with. This will help you come up with agendas for meetings.
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Todd L. Greene
Last Edited by on Jan 11, 2012 5:08 AM
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Shoulders
102 posts
Jan 11, 2012
6:43 AM
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Doug, I run a club with a mate in Brighton (UK) for about 2 years. We met every other monday evening in a back room of a pub.
Neither of us are great players - enthusiastic intermedaiates would be a good description.
We had a blast for the two years...but...we were the only two members who actually put any time into planning sessions, promoting etc. Eventually my wife was expecting our first child and Lawrence took over the work on his own.
One monday evening only one person came to the meeting. Lawrence tried his best but unfortunately the chap had a few issues and afterwards accused Lawrence of coming onto him!!...ok, men throwing themselves at you isnt the point i was wanting to focus on.
The point was, early on we needed to induct new people into the running of the session. Promotion, planning, picking up keys, mailout about gigs etc...Lawrence and i happily did the work that was necessary but when other life priorities took over the group fell apart.
Good luck and enjoy
James
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Theshoulders1 YouTube
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Littoral
462 posts
Jan 11, 2012
6:59 AM
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hmmm, me too. I can't run it but would participate.
Maybe I'll initiate on Craigslist. (Tallahassee)
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JTThirty
149 posts
Jan 11, 2012
8:38 AM
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The Dallas chapter of HOOT (Harmonica Organization of Texas) is pretty active. So is the Austin chapter. You might google those for info.
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Ricky B
http://bushdogblues.blogspot.com
RIVER BOTTOM BLUES--a crime novel for blues fans due out 2012
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WinslowYerxa
155 posts
Jan 11, 2012
10:19 AM
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Some of the more successful and active harmonica clubs in the US include:
Gateway Harmonica Club - Saint Louis
Harmonica Organization of Texas (HOOT)
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Garden State Harmonica Club (GSHC - New Jersey)
Harmonicoots (Sacramento, CA)
And three or four others, all of whom have the membership and organization to have hosted SPAH conventions in recent years.
I'm not where i can supply more information, but contact me offlist and I'll dig up some contact info.
Also, at spah.org you can find a list of US and international harmonica clubs, with contact info:
http://www.spah.org/index.php/industry-links?catid=20
By the way, the SPAH website is undergoing a makeover that will unfold over the next few months, so give it a look periodically.
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HawkeyeKane
612 posts
Jan 11, 2012
11:05 AM
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Doug,
Would a Springfielder like me be welcome in U-CHUG? ;-)
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Hawkeye Kane
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dougharps
147 posts
Jan 11, 2012
12:24 PM
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Thank you all for your replies!
@Jim Rumbaugh
Can you give lessons?
Yes, I can give instruction through intermediate level in most areas. I am beginning teaching weekly beginner lessons at the Center for Arts and would offer free instruction at U-CHUG monthly meetings.
Can you accompany other people.?
Basic guitar in a couple keys. I have friends who would also help sometimes.
Do you have a place where people can relax ?
I have access to classrooms at the Center for Arts for this. I have considered possibly using a nearby public library auditorium and also considered a nearby bar. Since some may not want the environment of a bar, I am starting out at the classroom and intend to seek input.
Do you have sound equipment?
Yes, full PA, or just powered monitors and a small board. I also have multiple amps.
Do you have a library of backing tracks?
I have some, and plan to seek others. I see that you have some links on your club's site, and I have seen other links on the forums/groups. I could expand a library of backing tracks.
Do you have a library of youtube lessons and a way to play them?
I have a number of lessons and could play them from a laptop. I also have multiple instructional references.
@toddlgreene
I had thought of using Craigslist, and upon your recommendation, I will use it. I also hope to get word out to university students in town. I am spreading word through the Center for Arts, the local Blues Society, and have sent info to the local Folk and Roots group. I already emailed a number of people who gave me their addresses at a workshop I did at the Folk and Roots Festival. There are a number of local performing players who have indicated that they may attend on occasion, but I am not counting on regular attendance at this point. I will continue this effort, as their attendance would help market their bands.
@Shoulders
Your description of the issues (and Jim Rumbaugh's club history online) has made me aware of some of the difficulties. There is a big gap in dropping in to an occasional meeting, and actively participating and helping run the club. I will have to assess ongoing interest of others in continuing the group. I anticipate a lot of initial effort on my part over the first year, and will have to see if the group can self sustain, or fall apart. I am trying to link it with other local organizations to draw interested people.
@JTThirty and
@WinslowYerxa
Good suggestions. I have already started checking out other organizations on line from the SPAH list. Winslow, the major clubs that you list are in large urban areas. This club will be in a central Illinois college community, and have a much smaller population to draw on, though there is a good music scene here. I don't anticipate that this will grow into a club that could host a SPAH, but the number of people who have expressed an interest in harmonica lessons and in learning about harmonica has been the basis of my offering lessons and of starting U-CHUG. It will not be blues centric, though obviously blues will be a big part of it. None of the other local harp players were offering lessons, so after many requests, I stepped up after I left my job last fall. I will continue to look up other clubs to get ideas. Winslow, I appreciate your offer, and as this progresses, I will very likely email you for advice and information.
@HawkeyeKane
Of course! You would certainly be welcome. I have been thinking of coming over to Springfield (almost 100 miles) for one of your gigs to hear you with Hipbone Sam, but I haven't been able to work out a free date yet. I would probably try to link it with a trip to St. Louis, as it is on the way. I will email to confirm the gig before driving over, if I can work out a time.
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Doug S.
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HawkeyeKane
614 posts
Jan 11, 2012
12:32 PM
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Sounds good buddy! Keep an eye on this site: Hipbone Sam at ReverbNation
Much as he tries, Hip doesn't always keep my reverb calendar in sync with his, but his WILL have all the dates of when we play. But do email me to confirm, because I'm not always the harp player on deck. Bill Robinson sometimes plays instead.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Jim Rumbaugh
643 posts
Jan 12, 2012
5:11 AM
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@douhharps
It sounds like you have enough to start and sustain a harmonica club. You mentiones concern over the size of your town. Huntington, WV is a city of 50,000 people. As well as Craig's list, contact your local newpaper. Tell them you are forming a club ans when and where the first meeting will be held. People still read the paper. Especially "older" harmonica players :)
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HarmoniCollege March 24, 2012
theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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dougharps
148 posts
Jan 12, 2012
7:25 AM
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@Jim Rumbaugh
Thanks for the encouragement! I will notify the local paper.
Urbana-Champaign has a population of about 160,000 in the immediate area (including U of I students), so hopefully we can find enough interested harmonica players and eager novices to sustain a club.
While I have my ideas about how to start, I want the group focus to be shaped by the interests of those who participate.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by on Jan 12, 2012 7:26 AM
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HawkeyeKane
617 posts
Jan 12, 2012
7:34 AM
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"I want the group focus to be shaped by the interests of those who participate"
You may not want me participating then...LOL
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Hawkeye Kane
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Littoral
465 posts
Jan 12, 2012
7:49 AM
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@Littoral hmmm, me too. I can't run it but would participate.Maybe I'll initiate on Craigslist. (Tallahassee)
Reply to self:
Did this yesterday. No replies, so far. Here's my post:
Hey There! Want to start a harmonica club?
I don't.
Ok, mostly kidding. I certainly can't run one but I'd be into it and would participate if there are enough of us in the area interested.
It's mostly about sharing, teaching, learning etc. I've been serious about the diatonic for +30 years. Gear head too.
Email me if you want to talk about it.
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Jim Rumbaugh
644 posts
Jan 12, 2012
11:12 AM
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@ dougharp , You have all you need. Try to be a HOST. Don't be afraid to take charge. You may find the group split in interest. We have a group that likes to play traditional tunes and another group that likes blues. That's why we play some of both.
@ Literal Though I enjoyed reeding your Graigslist post and I found it humorous, I think you could of been more compelling. If you have 30+ years experience, I KNOW you have some to teach. Had the the text been. "Harmonica player with over 30 years of experience is starting a free harmonica club to share what he knows about the harp. All ages and all levels of playing ability are invited to come. The first meeting will be at SOMEPLACE SOMETIME." Maybe you don't want to run it, but make the choice to start it. Find a place, choose a time. Announce it via the newspaper and Craigslist and Facebook.
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HarmoniCollege March 24, 2012
theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
Last Edited by on Jan 12, 2012 11:14 AM
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Littoral
467 posts
Jan 12, 2012
11:24 AM
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@Jim "I think you could of been more compelling."
True. I could try harder but I'm pretty much overwhelmed so I aired on the side of no responsibility.
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MakaInOz
57 posts
Jan 12, 2012
7:00 PM
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Dougharps,
I think the key issue is what you want the harmonica club to do. There doesn’t seem to be much call for the big harmonica bands (of 10+ players) of the 30s these days, and even the Harmonicats style group (with chromatic and/or diatonic, bass and chord) is pretty rare. So that sort of group playing is an unlikely objective.
So you’re likely to get a bunch of diatonic and/or chromatic players that want to play rock/blues/jazz/classical/whatever, none of which is typically played with multiple, simultaneous harmonicas. As well as diverse objectives, you’ll get a wide range of skill levels. So what does this crowd of keen harpers that showed up for your initial gathering want to do? Get lessons? Give Lessons? Jam? Shoot the breeze? Do ‘club meeting’ stuff (minutes of the previous meeting, president’s report, financial report etc)? Gig? Learn Music Theory? Listen to pros playing? Learn Music Technology (how gear works)?
One of the secrets of success is offering something for everyone (or at least most of the people), but in the beginning what is ‘offered’ is usually down to what one or two individuals are willing to provide. This may or may not meet the objectives of your potential members. And the varying skill levels of the potential members means you might have to offer a range of activities appropriate to the differing skills – also hard to do when there’s only one or two people running things.
The venue is always an issue too. Any number could turn up to start with, so finding a venue that will cope with a big number may be an issue. Using a private residence always comes with risks. Businesses (coffee shops, clubs, pubs etc) expect you to generate some revenue for them, or may want to charge you for accessing their facilities. That could lead to money issues (and money/money management is always an issue if you start using/charging members’ money). Businesses may also impose ‘noise’ constraints and limit when, where, how long, how loud, how many you can play – potentially leading to disgruntled members.
So figuring out what you want the club to do and what you are planning to offer to achieve that is really important for attracting the right people (and aligning their expectations with what is likely to happen). A ‘harmonica discussion group’ might be one place to start. The discussions might lead into other activities.
There has been a harmonica group (NOT a club), currently with 6 members, meeting at my place every Thursday evening for over three years. We have similar levels of ability and enjoy playing together – we gig (charity events, for free) as an ensemble and also gig with the local ukulele club. We’ve thought about becoming a club and chasing more members, but all the above issues have resulted in that being filed under ‘too hard’.
Good luck!
Last Edited by on Jan 12, 2012 7:01 PM
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Littoral
469 posts
Jan 13, 2012
7:00 AM
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"There doesn’t seem to be much call for the big harmonica bands (of 10+ players) of the 30s these days..."
True. But as an alum of the CHO (Cambridge Harmonica Orchestra) it sure was fun!
*WOW! my captcha starts with PGB!
(Pierre Gustav Beauregard, but really Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard)
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2012 7:13 AM
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dougharps
150 posts
Jan 13, 2012
11:41 AM
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@MakalnOz
You identified good points to consider. There have to be activities that answer the "what's in it for me?" question. I would start the group as one of general harmonica interest, answering questions, engaging in discussion, and some instruction. My idea is that the group would meet monthly, and I and others (depending on knowledge level) would share information and answer questions about harmonica, technique, and gear. I expect part to be people taking turns playing to accompaniment and/or backing tracks. I am certain this will change if/as the group continues.
I have enjoyed chromatic and diatonic harmonica for 50 years, have enjoyed SPAH and HCH2, and want to give something back. I learned harmonica initially with very limited educational resources, and I want to help new players get help and direct them to online and published resources. I want to support them in their progress.
I do not anticipate a demand to form a harmonica quartet or orchestra. In this town there is a big blues crowd and a folk and roots crowd, so there will be different styles of music at different levels that people want to explore. Since I have performed in a variety of styles, I want to share my enthusiasm and spread the fun of harmonica. Over the last several years quite a few people have expressed an interest in learning harmonica, and there have not been lessons or a club available locally.
I am beginning teaching group beginner classes on a weekly basis at the Center for Arts, but this class is parallel to the interest group, and neither requires participation in the other. I will also be beginning individual lessons at the Center in the near future. Because of my agreeing to teach at the Center for Arts (they asked me to teach harmonica) I have access to the classrooms in which the club could meet. The Center has agreed for the club to be affiliated with the Center. They sponsor another musical club as well for accordion. This is a wonderful grassroots not for profit organization that supports music locally, and offers a wide range of lessons and groups.
The mission of SPAH, the openness of skilled players with others at SPAH, the approach of Adam G. in giving away secrets on YouTube, and the experiences I had at HCH2 have been inspirational. I am at a place in my life that I want to give something back, beyond my own joy of just making music. I hope this doesn't sound to sappy... I love this instrument!
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Doug S.
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