GATHERING UPDATE and a fic-snippet plug.

Subject: GATHERING UPDATE and a fic-snippet plug.
Author: Laburnum
Posted on: 2009-08-09 20:57:00 UTC

So, Cassie and I have been discussing arrangements for the Gathering. We've decided on a date and time: Saturday September 5th, 1pm, outside the Leeds Royal Armouries. (It would be great if everyone coming could eat lunch before they come, it'll save us having to find somewhere.) After we've done with that, we're going to head to OK Karaoke. It's half an hour's walk away, through the shopping precinct, so we can stop and pick up snacks if we want and browse in the bookshops if everyone's agreeable, because we're PPCers and need books to live :) I've emailed the bar in question asking if we're likely to need an advance booking. If we do, it's £10 per person per hour with a recommended minimum of two hours and we have to show up at a set time, so I'm hoping we don't need to, but I've asked anyway and will tell you when they get back to me. Anyone need Googlemaps showing the aforementioned locations?

I'll be burning CDs of the PPC Mix I'm arranging for everyone who attends, so if anyone has any more song suggestions, tell me now. Here's the list so far: http://chelonianmobile.livejournal.com/76205.html

Meanwhile, a look at the darker depths of a certain PPC agent's mind: http://chelonianmobile.livejournal.com/76781.html

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GATHERING UPDATE and a fic-snippet plug. by Laburnum on 2009-08-09 20:57:00 UTC

I am going to miss this by about 3 or 4 weeks. *sad face* (nm) by Leto Haven on 2009-08-12 08:51:00 UTC Reply

Re: I am going to miss this by about 3 or 4 weeks. *sad face* by Pads on 2009-08-12 13:17:00 UTC Reply

Well, given the four of us who are definitely attending all live within about a hundred miles of each other, you never know, we might well be able to arrange another for when you're over here.

Re: GATHERING UPDATE and a fic-snippet plug. by Ansela on 2009-08-11 07:26:00 UTC Reply

Is there a list of the songs available at the karaoke bar, or is that something you only find out by turning up?

There's a songlist on their website ... by Laburnum on 2009-08-11 11:18:00 UTC Reply

... here: http://okkaraoke.co.uk/ Sorry, I should have posted the link before. Forgot.

Thanks. *goes to peruse song list* (nm) by Ansela on 2009-08-11 13:25:00 UTC Reply

Re: Thanks. *goes to peruse song list* by Pads on 2009-08-11 17:11:00 UTC Reply

There seems to be a distinct lack of ska on that list. Also a distinct lack of anything I know, with the possible exception of Queen. This could get embarrassing.

Re: Thanks. *goes to peruse song list* by Ansela on 2009-08-11 18:15:00 UTC Reply

Aw, I was gonna see if I could convince you to sing Paradise By The Dashboard Light with me. Please tell me you know that one at least.

Re: Thanks. *goes to peruse song list* by Pads on 2009-08-11 18:53:00 UTC Reply

Never heard of the song or the band, I'm afraid. Try again.

That would be by Meat Loaf, Pads ... by The Trojanhorse on 2009-08-11 21:30:00 UTC Reply

... and it's a classic. If Ansela gets up to sing it, I demand someone takes a video of it.

Re: That would be by Meat Loaf, Pads ... by Ansela on 2009-08-11 22:29:00 UTC Reply

Anyone tries to record me singing anything and I'm hiding. Seriously.

I'll see if I dare to do it when the time comes. by Laburnum on 2009-08-11 22:39:00 UTC Reply

My dad's forbidden me from singing anything I'd be ashamed to show my twelve-year-old sister if it ends up on YouTube, but I think that one's safe enough.

Depressingly enough, they also lack a decent supply of alt-rock. Then again, the Decemberists aren't really a karaoke-bar thing. More a traditional bar where everyone's drunk off their rockers thing. Maybe I could do "Shankill Butchers" a cappella and creep the hell out of everyone ...

Re: I'll see if I dare to do it when the time comes. by Pads on 2009-08-11 23:58:00 UTC Reply

I went through comparing my iTunes playlist to what they've got, and was appalled. They get points for having "Creep", but how on earth have they not got "Just"?

My friend and I have decided that, if worse comes to worst, we'll do you all a rendition of Cream's "Mother's Lament" without backing music (and complete, of course, with dodgy accents). And we've agreed that I'm exempt from trying to hold the last note if she makes me do "Hallelujah", because a consumptive fit into a microphone would not be a pretty thing.

*goes to investigate the Green Day selection*

Maybe we could see if they accept suggestions ... by Laburnum on 2009-08-12 00:35:00 UTC Reply

... for songs for future use, in case any of us ever go back there. Don't think any of my favourite bands ever did karaoke versions of any of their songs, though. Shame.

Re: Maybe we could see if they accept suggestions ... by Pads on 2009-08-12 01:38:00 UTC Reply

Surely for a karaoke version one just edits out the vocals? Shouldn't be that hard, if one knows what one's doing.

Re: Maybe we could see if they accept suggestions ... by Laburnum on 2009-08-12 02:21:00 UTC Reply

I think the bar has to buy the rights to use each song or something first, I don't know.

'Sides, I would probably get arrested for singing most of my favourite songs in public. They tend to involve murder, rape, suicide, or all three. Anyone who thinks Eminem or similar are bad influences on kids never looked up Nick Cave or Colin Meloy. Then again, no kids know who Nick Cave or Colin Meloy actually are, so I guess you can't call them a bad influence ... And Meloy's songs are freakin' DIFFICULT to sing too.

An update. by kgarrett on 2009-08-10 14:52:00 UTC Reply

Sadly, I won't be able to make it. Possibly the next Gathering, but I won't be able to get to this one, not enough time to get everything arranged and such. Especially since I'd still need to get all the papers and such in order for transcontinental travel (I don't even have a passport).

I thought I should say, since when this was brought up earlier I'd said I'd make the attempt to get there, but it turns out I cannot. I apologise for this. I did want to come, but can't this time. Also, about the CDs, would it be too much hassle (including transatlantic costs) to mail one to me after the gathering, or failing that to email me the mix (though in that case, I don't know how to burn it to a CD, and my computer currently has no sound, so I wouldn't be able to listen to it on the computer) so I can burn it? I can email the address in the case of the former, and provide my email in case of the latter. I was interested in the mix idea, so I thought I'd ask about that, even though my plan of actually attending fell through. Sorry again.

I'll post the mix for download, if other people want it. by Laburnum on 2009-08-10 19:04:00 UTC Reply

'Sokay, stuff happens. Maybe next year, then.

I'd be interested in the mix. by Neshomeh on 2009-08-10 19:37:00 UTC Reply

I'm collecting them, it seems.

~Neshomeh

The list so far is on my LJ if you want to see. by Laburnum on 2009-08-10 21:45:00 UTC Reply

I'll draw some cover-art as well.

Thanks. We'll see about next year, yeah. (nm) by kgarrett on 2009-08-10 19:06:00 UTC Reply

Re: GATHERING UPDATE and a fic-snippet plug. by Pads on 2009-08-09 22:59:00 UTC Reply

Hang on a mo, ten quid an hour? That... isn't how this one was sold to me. On the dole here; cash flow is minimal. What's the price if we just turn up on the door?

Free - which is why I'm hoping we don't have to book. by Laburnum on 2009-08-10 00:15:00 UTC Reply

I'm pretty certain we won't have to and we can just show up and not have to pay, but I thought it better to ask and then find out we didn't have to than not ask and find we did. Think we should be fine though *touch wood*

On close inspection their site says ... by Laburnum on 2009-08-10 01:21:00 UTC Reply

... that it opens at 1pm on Saturdays and no booking or payment is necessary. I just felt it was a good idea to email them and ask if it was likely to be crowded enough that we'd have to pay, or if the actual bar opens at that time but the karaoke doesn't start till later, or something (because it would be just my luck to have something like that happen), but I think we should be safe. Probably false alarm, but I'll wait till they get back to me.

phew by Pads on 2009-08-10 13:10:00 UTC Reply

Oh, good. Free I can definitely manage. Count me in then.

I'm 99.9% certain it's okay to just turn up for free. by Laburnum on 2009-08-10 19:05:00 UTC Reply

I just thought I should email the people who run the place and ask if it's likely to be too crowded or whatever, just in case, but I don't think any pre-bookings will actually be necessary. Sorry for the scare.

Re: I'm 99.9% certain it's okay to just turn up for free. by Pads on 2009-08-10 19:23:00 UTC Reply

It was a scare as well, because I'm rather looking forward to this.

I don't know if Cassie mentioned to you, but I mentioned to a friend of mine ages ago that the Leeds Gathering would have karaoke, and she said she'd like to come too. Cassie said yesterday that the more the merrier, etc, but I figure I probably ought to just check. Put it this way - she's about the only person who's likely to be able to get me to actually go up and sing.

Okay :) by Laburnum on 2009-08-10 21:43:00 UTC Reply

Is she just coming for the karaoke or does she want to come round the Armouries as well? I'm a little worried she'll feel excluded if we talk about PPC stuff too much if she doesn't know much about it, but I guess you could be our early-warning system if we start to do that ;)

Re: Okay :) by Pads on 2009-08-10 22:11:00 UTC Reply

Dunno yet; she's meant to have the sproglet that day so finding a babysitter is first priority. And it's likely her bloke will be dragged along because a) he has a car and b) he's incredibly straight-laced so the look on his face when he meets you all should be priceless. They'll probably be happy to do the armouries too, but we can see on the day.

The friend who wants to come for the karaoke has actually heard quite a bit about peeps here already, so she ought to be able to cope, I reckon.

'Kay, I just don't want to end up rambling ... by Laburnum on 2009-08-10 22:45:00 UTC Reply

... in front of someone who has no idea what I'm talking about. I do that sometimes anyway and I'm told it's very annoying.

This from the person who... by Cassie Cameron-Young on 2009-08-11 04:04:00 UTC Reply

spent a good part of last year's Gathering talking very loudly about the Cluny Fic in front of unsuspecting York-dwellers? :P

Precisely why I don't want to do it again ;p (nm) by Laburnum on 2009-08-11 11:19:00 UTC Reply