toddlgreene
590 posts
Jan 26, 2010
8:10 AM
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It's been a year and a few months since I and another fella started our club here. We've had trials and errors, but we have a solid club as far as participation and fellowship goes. No dues structure has been implemented yet, no 5013c or incorporation, none of that-just a logo which I own(it makes for some nifty t-shirts). I honestly don't know which direction to go next;only that I want to progress the club. I'm looking for advice from folks who are involved in other clubs. Do you pay dues? How much, and what is the money used for, i.e. newsletters, get-togthers, etc.? How about community involvement? We did a little charity work during Christmas, but we hunger for more. What sort of legal organization is your club, if applicable? I'm just a harp player who spent the first 19 years of his playing without knowing any other harp players, and no network, and that's why my interest was piqued by a Craigslist ad from my now-friend in starting a club. It's been awesome so far having peers(as is this forum) and rubbing elbows, making great contacts and becoming friends with many local players of different ability, but I want to take us to the next level. Any advice is appreciated. Tell me your experiences, gripes, etc. associated with your local clubs.
-Todd
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2010 8:51 AM
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Kingley
698 posts
Jan 26, 2010
8:22 AM
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I have never been in a club (harmonica or otherwise).
I guess that if you paid dues it would make sense to use it to pay for things like seminars and concerts from touring artists, harmonica customisers, amp builders, etc.
Newsletters could be done online. Maybe spend a little on having a website so that all the members could go there to see what was happening in the clubs calendar.
You could also (space permitting) sell tickets to non club members for the concerts and seminars. This would have the benefit of raising a little more income and maybe also bringing in a few more members.
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toddlgreene
594 posts
Jan 26, 2010
8:49 AM
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Kingley, consider yourself an honorary member!
Yeah, I wouldn't pay something for nothing, and I want to know from others what's the norm, and what they get for their money, what's done with the balance, etc. and if SPAH membership is worth paying for. I'm already contemplating a newsletter and a website could happen from within, as we have some techie members.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2010 8:53 AM
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Kingley
701 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:01 AM
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Thanks Todd!
From what I know from friends who are in various clubs. They seem to pay dues for club room rental,fuel bills, printed newsletters, discounted club T-Shirts, etc.
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toddlgreene
595 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:03 AM
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We have one rule:Don't be a dick. ;-)
We've been fortunate to have freebie meeting spots thusfar, but further growth could impact that.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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Kingley
703 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:07 AM
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Lol!
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toddlgreene
596 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:13 AM
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...and unfortunately, we have a resident dickhead, but I have him figured out:he hates amplified harp, so you can guess what I do when I've had enough of him...
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2010 9:13 AM
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Bluzdude46
408 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:22 AM
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How can you hate amplified harp? Harp is an electric instrument and Little Walter made it that way
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Bluzdude46
409 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:25 AM
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How can you hate amplified harp? Harp is an electric instrument and Little Walter made it that way
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toddlgreene
597 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:25 AM
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like I said, he's a dick. Actually, he only likes it if HE is playing. Nobody can hear his incessant bitching when someone else is amped up, so...
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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ZackPomerleau
516 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:40 AM
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Maine isn't cool, we haven't any clubs. Lucky you guys!
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ZackPomerleau
517 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:40 AM
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Maine isn't cool, we haven't any clubs. Lucky you guys!
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toddlgreene
601 posts
Jan 26, 2010
10:23 AM
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We didn't have one here either, Zack, until we started one...*hint hint*
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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ZackPomerleau
518 posts
Jan 26, 2010
10:28 AM
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I haven't the slightest clue how to go about doing it but I know some other older players who would probably have a helping hand. Good idea!
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toddlgreene
603 posts
Jan 26, 2010
10:28 AM
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Another reason/purpose for dues I thought of:Adam might pay us a visit!
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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toddlgreene
605 posts
Jan 26, 2010
11:02 AM
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I can give pointers, at least to the point we are at now. Involvement is key to the club's survival.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2010 3:04 PM
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pharpo
112 posts
Jan 26, 2010
1:56 PM
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Hey Todd....are the shirts for sale to non club members?
and if so..what color /sizes? I'd love to get one!
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Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
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toddlgreene
607 posts
Jan 26, 2010
1:57 PM
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contact me offlist, and I'll give you the info.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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toddlgreene
613 posts
Jan 27, 2010
5:13 AM
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Bump.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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Diggsblues
58 posts
Jan 27, 2010
12:32 PM
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The Philly HARP club has no dues but we have a free
space to meet in. We have had seminars with
Adam and Jason. Members have also given seminars.
We had two great parties that eveyone played at.
Over the last six months I've seen a marked improvement
in the level of playing. We're trying to always find
people of quality. Since we have no money we have to
hope people show up to cover the pay for the
Guest teacher.
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toddlgreene
625 posts
Jan 27, 2010
12:51 PM
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@ Diggs-so, in lieu of collecting dues for an event, you just charge perhead? What sort of membership(in numbers)does the club have?
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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Diggsblues
60 posts
Jan 27, 2010
1:08 PM
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It's per head for the guests like Jason and Adam.
it's a little risky. A meeting could have 10 to 20
people. Events and guest seminars are the best attended
We don't have formal membership. The word goes out
and everyone is welcome. Parties are well attended
with wives and friends coming.
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toddlgreene
633 posts
Jan 28, 2010
11:29 AM
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"Parties are well attended
with wives and friends coming. "-I think most of the married guys in our club come to the meetings to get AWAY from their wives...;-)
Interesting that your club is more or less set up the way our is now. Thanks for the input. I'd like to hear from some HOOT members or some other older clubs as well.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 28, 2010 11:33 AM
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Elwood
317 posts
Jan 28, 2010
12:30 PM
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It's really important to grow your club by building a website (or MySpace or anything) so that prospective members will find you by Googling town name plus "harmonica". The London Harmonicas reported an increase in attendance very soon after starting londonharmonicas.tumblr.com/
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toddlgreene
636 posts
Jan 28, 2010
2:16 PM
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Good Point, Elwood, and I have both myspace(seldom attended to)and Facebook pages already, plus a www. site in the works, with some good links for info, gear, etc. I think that more folks are prone to frequent a stand-alone site versus a social-network-based one, although I have made several great contacts thru them.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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Jim Rumbaugh
140 posts
Jan 28, 2010
4:47 PM
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Todd
I wish you luck with the club. I'm the ramrod for our group, The Harmonica Club (Huntington, WV) You may get some ideas from our site The Harmonica Club
No dues
we meet every Tuesday 7pm to 9pm. It use to be 8pm to 10pm. When the time changed, we gained a few and lost a few members, but over all, we gained.
We have a drummer and bass and a guitar or two, or three show up. Sometime more guitars than harps, but we remind them it is the harmonica club.
The meeting is mostly a jam session with an occasional new tune, and an occasional lesson. Every one that wants to play gets a turn. I record most of the sessions and email links to the gang. You can click on our recorded past sessions at the club web site.
We play in public at least once a month. Most for free, some for money to keep the club going.
We meet in a coffee shop for free. I thought a bar would be best, but I have found that most of the gang does not drink ...... hmmmmm ... if it was in a bar, I wonder if we would get a different level of players?
You can contact me via the web site. I will be happy to discuss ideas with you.
Last Edited by on Jan 28, 2010 4:49 PM
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toddlgreene
643 posts
Jan 29, 2010
4:50 AM
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Wow, Jim...you guys have it going on! Thanks very much for the info. Oh, and this is New Orleans-no beer=no harmonica club meetings! I can see their faces now when I suggest we meet at Starbucks...I'll drop you a line and pick your brain a bit. Thanks again!
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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