Wrablers Minutes Rehearsal 30 Sept 2014

Venue: Linklaters. 1 Silk Street EC2Y 8HQ. 
Chair - JB
Attendees JB, JL, JP, LS, MS, WT, KM, RM, SE, MM
Apols: DC (in Australia), DD (Mom ill in Florida)

1. Warm Up with Song: Shian Road - song well remembered. [Unsure as to how it helped with the blending thing. JB]

2. Moonlight Serenade - Kathleen had us sing the parts separately and then put the song together. Sounding quite lush by the end. Got as far as bar 25 (just before we stray till break of day in love's valley, etc). K gave out Frank Sinatra lyrics to change from 'June light' to 'June night'. (Please put these on website K).

3. I Can See Clearly Now  - Despite being gruff with cough, Matt led us to a sunshiney sound. We are following the long structure he has described earlier. JB to put recording on website for those who didn't understand Matt's instructions. Some naughty girls were improvising harmonies at the end, despite being told 'No!' by the leader.

4. Little Drummer Boy - deferred due to staff shortages (DD & DC)

5. Brown Eyed Girl - Juliana. Backing girls encouraged to be light leprechaun fairies. Robin commended for dum dumming and doh dohing competently all on his bassy own this evening. (Bless.) Tenors encouraged to listen and learn from Van 'the Man' Morrison for scansion, and that Calypso feel. Robots' timing is of course correct but scansion is not. Got as far as "So hard to find my way", and then, it really was! Not bad for a first outing.

AOB

1. When to start weekly rehearsals - from 21 October.
Proposal to have 3 one-day rehearsals instead of weekly ones raised by MS but deferred to a later time (when planning for next gig).

2. All Day rehearsal Sun 12 Oct: Seb will draw up Agenda from list of songs approved.  Chairs are Janette, Robin, Matt & Kathleen, in that order.
Could DD or DC please confirm Venue as Linklaters upstairs.

3. Name for 29 Nov Gig is: It's Not Christmas Yet!" [but we'll have a party anyway]. JB will start on publicity design. Ideas for the image welcome.
Publicity will be available in various forms: the Mailchimp format, the pdf Flyer (for emailing), the A6 postcard, and a plaintext version. Peeps encouraged to use forms appropriate to their folk. [JB happy to explain further if called upon.]
JB pointed out we have a large hall to fill. We have typically attracted approx 60 guests to our gigs. We will need to at least double that figure.

4. Roger's Band for 29 Nov Gig party? Live dance music to follow Wrablers gig instead of ipod. Discuss in principle.

Summary of discussion and some background: 

Roger's Band (aka the Guantanamo Bay Social Club) is a good, rockin' pub covers band who invited Wrablers to sing backing vocals last Christmas. In the event, Madrigals made themselves available and have sung some backing for the band on a couple of occasions. Mads also had our own set of songs during the band's break.

It was proposed that a live band would make the Not Christmas Yet party go with a swing, and, that it is likely the band would bring along with them their own friends and family, thus exposing Wrablers to a whole new section of audience (and help fill large hall on Sat night). 

Concerns were raised, and partially addressed, as follows: 
1. A concern was that band's setting up would intrude on Wrablers' pre-gig space. Decided the band would be given a specific time frame in which to set up and stick to it.
2. Another concern was the band might be too loud. It was suggested there be a gap between Wrablers performance and the band's set, in which folk could chat (in addition to time before Wrablers start and during Wrablers interval). Also, there is a side room at Unity Hall which could be used for quiet conversation, away from those enjoying dancing to the band.

JB to draw up proposed timetable for the evening to accommodate these concerns.

[And here it is, roughly:

8 to 9:40 - Wrabler set including 20 min interval

10-11 - Roger's band

We have the hall until 11:30, so there is some 'wiggle room' in the above.]

Peeps were to go away and think it over. Decision required soon. Should we take a chance and see how it goes? Or not?

It emerged in the pub that Rog and the boys were 'gagging for it' - er what I mean to say is 'would be delighted to play for our not-Xmas party' and would do so for 'drinks'.

5. Goring was defer to next rehearsal AOB. DD & DC not done the D. So Far 17 April looking possible (Louli's birthday!!)
6. Songs for next Rehearsal Tue 14 Oct:

Money Money
Brown Eyed Girl
Moonlight Serenade
White Christmas and/or Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Chair: Matt

Over to you, Chairman Matt!

JBxx

Wrablers left the building in reasonable time. Seb stepped in Duncan's generous shoes and brought Waitrose goodies to the pub, including gorgeous ham that JB ate most of. Yum.