Promoting the Dulcimer in your area?

[Dick Glasgow]

I thought it might be interesting to ask if anyone here has used, or had experience of any interesting &/or unusual ways of promoting the Dulcimer, in their own area?

Perhaps we could, & maybe should, all be making more of an effort?

If so, this thread might just offer some of us, some new ideas in the Art of Dulcimer Promotion!

For my part, I play my H-D most weeks in my local Saturday night session, near the Giant's Causeway.
My wife & I play music for Weddings & we always use the H-D on those occasions. The H-D sounds wonderful in a Church!
We are involved in re-enactment work over here, so at all of those events you'll find me sitting, in full Medieval or Renaissance costume, hammering me H-D!
I have organised concerts & weekend events featuring the Dulcimer.
I also write a column for a local weekly newspaper, in which I mention the H-D, every chance I get!
Oh yes, & I run this forum.

So, what methods do you employ in your area?

Maybe you enjoy Busking at your local market, or perhaps playing on the local Nudist beach!
If so, where do you keep your spare Hammers?

We'd love to hear all about your tried & tested methods.

[kerensa]

;D
There aren't many dulcimer players in Cornwall, so I find that wherever I go the instrument creates a great deal of interest, whether it's busking in the subway, visiting local pub sessions, folk clubs etc.
I am also involved in running the Truro Troyl Club (basically a session/club that has a booked artist each week. The word has been getting round & we've had people coming along just to hear the dulcimer, which is great!
I also offer dulcimer workshops at festivals etc. which range from complete beginners (I take a few spare instruments so that everyone can have a go) to advanced players. One particular series of workshops that I ran at last years Wadebridge Folk Festival was so successful that a local school are even looking at getting funding to buy some instrument for there students - fingers crossed!!!

[Dick Glasgow]

Thanks for the interesting reply, Kerensa.

Keep it up! It sounds like your doing a wonderful job of raising the Dulcimer's profile in your area.

One particular series of workshops that I ran at last years Wadebridge Folk Festival was so successful that a local school are even looking at getting funding to buy some instrument for there students - fingers crossed!!!

Now that sounds really interesting Kerensa. I teach around some of the Primary schools here, Whistle, Fiddle & Bodhran, but I'd love to get one to take an interest in Dulcimers. I've been looking for one that isn't too expensive & Dizzi wrote to me recently to tell me about the 'TK O'Brien's 9/8 Backpacker' - Hammered Dulcimer. Which sounds like it might be an ideal choice.

I wonder, have you had any experience of this little H-D?

Anyway, please let us know how that school project pans out.
If it does get going I'd love to get some details from you, to use over here, for the next time I apply for a grant!

Cheers
Dick

[joyfulnoise]

Pretty easy thing to do in the States. I carry flyers where ever I go. Pass them out and just "talk it up."

[Dick Glasgow]

Hmmmmm that's an interesting idea.

Maybe I should make up 'Dulcimer Player's Forum' Flyers?

[gypsy]

I cart them around everywhere. the joke during the week, is bringing the 'beach' dulcimer to the farmers market that i run, cuz i don't have time to erect an ez up. But in the van, is the jewel that i perform with, cuz rehearsal is that night after market. I have a luggage cart to drag them around with.

[Dick Glasgow]

Ooops! There's that language barrier again!

OK Gypsy - So what's an ez?

[gypsy]

ooooooooooppppppppppppppsssssssssssssss. It is the brand name of a portable canopy, "EZ (easy) UP. They are quite popular around here at farmers markets, since they are relatively portable, sturdy, and don't cost the sun moon and starts to aquire. I think i got ours for 100$ USD. We were the first (and currently ONLY) band in our area to get one for performing. I stenciled celtic dogs around the top edge, and put our name "CAMENAE" on it in 8 inch high letters. You can read it from about 100 feet away. It makes a really nice set up, as we do MANY outdoor venues. And i never trust to our benefactors to provide shade, seating, or light. We cart all of that in with us. My Masterworks RCE does NOT suffer the sun! Nor does himself's 100 year old mando. But i wander. Another brand of canopy is "quickshade" although it tends to last very fast. They are good for about 2 years, and then break. I still am scheming on a ez up type device to shade my dulcimer when working by myself, and don't want to hassle with the canopy.

[Dick Glasgow]

Ah gottya. Thanks Gypsy. Yes we have a yoke like that, but I don't even know what they're called over here ... just a canopy I think.

I found yer Ez anyway & from the photos it looks like you could throw them up very quickly.

We used to play at a local fayre against a wall, so it was handy that the legs came in sections, cause we could use half a pole each on the back corners, on the high ground behind the wall, & full poles on the front corners, which rested on the pavement (sidewalk I think you call that )

Cheers
Dick

[gypsy]

We use the brand name to distinguish it from the evil 'hard up's' which are a pain in the neck to er, erect. Those are the ones that you put up for the season, and not cart around with the band. Expensive, and a bloody nusiance.