Crickettes in Marlow

[geoff1711]

I saw on facebook a posting from Zoe this morning and she's (or you if you're reading this Zoe) disappointed about the turn out, I thought I'd put a few points forward.

1) and this one is something that many not from the SE don't understand, whilst Marlow is only around 40 miles from London, the average traffic speed inside the M25 is 11mph, I live only 6 mile from junction 6 on the M25, but it takes 20 mins then the roughly 50 miles to Marlow round the M25 on a really good run will take another hour. Recently we had a weekend at a hotel in Cookham, (only a few miles from Marlow but closer to home) we left home at 11 and got there at 2.30 and the hold ups were fairly normal. My inlaws live in Birmingham and they on average could get to Marlow quicker than I could, but most from the Midlands would regard Marlow as down south and not even consider it. In fact you probably got there quicker from S Wales than I would have from the Kent Surrey borders.

2) Look at the S E locations of Shadows clubs, 2 in Kent, 1 at Southend Essex, 1 on the south coast nr Lewes, another in Esher, and is there 1 in Hertford, what these have in common is that they are all much closer travelling time to Maidstone than Marlow.

3) look at the demographic and if you draw a line from the M1 to the A3 through London there are probably more Shad style followers East of this line, which is important because this style of music has a fairly minority following. There is never going to be a big revival.

4) the majority of the audience is likely to be older and the cost and fatigue of driving or travelling for several hours is probably more than they want, and how you'd get to Marlow by public transport goodness only knows - High Wycombe or Maidenhead by train then taxi?

5) for 15 years until last year I had an agent for my disco but he also used to book the group I played in, now his wife is a Karen Carpenter tribute hardly cutting edge but 15 years or so younger than most Shad stuff, and he has all sorts of tributes and artists on his books, but he always booked us on the basis, and now in his words "you don't play any of that Cliff and The Shadows crap in my venues" we did one night at the Bear and Ragged Staff in SE London, we were fine when playing Pub Rock but played Move It and they immediately showed their displeasure.

6 So if you're reading this Zoe down be down hearted at a poor turn out, next time round research the venue locations and the real time travelling distances for the audience.

7 remember Bruce put 2000+ bums on seats at Lakeside in 2012, 2013 was a very different story, I've followed you since I first saw you on stage was it with Justin about 12 years ago? you are very good, but being realistic pub rock has a wider following than Shadows music, check out Pete Feenstra's venues on line and the style of bands he promotes, I go to his gigs, I have two within half an hour and they are always full, so if you are playing a style of music with a smaller and decreasing following you have to take it to them and make it easy for them.

8 club style venues are more comfortable and relaxed than theatres for many, and personally I prefer to see my bands whilst standing rather than seated, because you can have a little jig around and have a drink in hand.


So don't be down hearted just put it down to a poor choice of venue.

Don't give up

all the best

Geoff M

[dave robinson]

I'm sad but not surprised to hear this. I don't know why but mostly we get full houses or near on full, but occasionally there will be a glitch and it's not so easy to fill a place. Sometimes it's down to bad timing e.g. holidays or a clash with another event elsewhere, but if we knew the answers we could bottle it and sell it. There are a couple of times I have chosen the wrong theatre for our type of show and have recognised the ones that thrive with our kind of music, but publicity is everything, but it has to be in the right areas to draw the crowds. It is an art in itself doing this and a massive learning curve. As long as we don't end up losing I'm prepared to try, after all theatres are the way to go rather than suffering the working mens clubs of today, although there are still some good ones that we play. Fact is that nowadays we have to make things happen as the business it isn't what it was when we were out seven nights a week, fifty two weeks a year - thank God the mortgage is paid !

[Arpeggio]

Crickettes in Marlow?? They weren't in Marlow..they were in Henley. The Kenton Theatre. Ideal size, only c.180 seats. The show has been plugged on Shadow Music for a good while and I know that Pat & Zoe contacted many Shadows Clubs. Plus, the concert was advertised and featured both in the local press and on local radio. I don't see what more they could have done. It was a fabulous evening of music BTW.

[geoff1711]

you're quite right it was just a bit further west along the Thames in Henley, but that put it even further out of the way

[Stratgirl]

The venue was certainly not ideal as it turned out with parking an issue on the day. However, we have played The Camberley theatre just off the M3 and that had even less people turn out so I don't think the location was the real problem. We were going to cancel this show after The Camberley but decided to make it in aid of The Jet Harris Memorial Fund. We were playing for free and paying all our own expenses and Bob Dore gave his services on sound for free. It was a good chance to remember Jet and help Cancer Research at the same time. My disappointment was this was for Jet and it would have been nice if we had done better.

I would like to thank all those who did make the effort and told us they had a fabulous night. I would like to particularly thank Peter who travelled down from Newcastle and Rod and Mary who travelled up from Plymouth through awful weather to get to Henley. Love to all Zoe

[George Geddes]

I'd be more than happy to support the Crickettes by attending a concert, but... it's a 400 mile train trip each way plus a couple of nights hotel. No matter how reasonable the ticket price the added expense is considerable!

I'm now very wary about booking these things, having bought tickets for Mo Foster's planned talk earlier this year, which was cancelled (though no fault of Mo) after we had booked a London hotel and organised travel. OK, we salvaged the trip by organising other things but you get the point.

I'm not suggesting Zoe & Co would have cancelled but it is another factor that we take into account when booking.

I hope the Crickettes don't lose heart.

George

[Graham S]

after all theatres are the way to go rather than suffering the working mens clubs of today, although there are still some good ones that we play. Fact is that nowadays we have to make things happen as the business it isn't what it was when we were out seven nights a week, fifty two weeks a year - thank God the mortgage is paid !

Amen to that Dave, I have seen a massive change since I started doing them in 1968.
Incidentally Dave, I will pm you privately as there was a guitar player who used to play in Ronnie Dukes band in the early 70's as I'm sure you would have known him.

Graham.

[Hank2k]

Sadly Zoe has posted on her Facebook profile this morning that the Crickettes next two shows will be the last.

Having seen the Crickettes on a couple of occasions supporting the Fabulous Shadows i think it is a terrible shame they have decided to stop and i really do hope that they will change their minds and continue.

[LONGPLAYER09]

Think another show at the Hazlitt (Maidstone) is required Zoe! That was really good.

[Stratgirl]

Sorry but the next two concerts at Solihull on the 6th September and 1st November at Porthcawl really are the last two THE CRICKETTES will play. This is the right time to stop as we have no concert dates in the diary for 2015. It has been fun playing with Roxy, Nia and Rachel. We will remain good friends and we all promise two fabulous shows to go out with. We already have fans booking tickets and travelling hundreds of miles to see the final concerts. Many of them have seen us play many times and keep coming back for more so we must of been doing something right and thank them for their amazing support. Zoe