From: "JULIE MANGIN" <jmangin@asrr.arsusda.gov>
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Extra Edition--The Daily Clog
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:58:44 GMT


                          The Daily Clog
                     July 1992 Extra Edition
                "Give Us This Day Our Daily Clog"

                   CLOG PALACE WITHOUT A HOME:
             OLD-TIME MUSIC & DANCE COMMUNITY MEETING
                      SCHEDULED FOR JULY 23

The Mandarins Restaurant closed on July 3 leaving the Clog Palace 
temporarily without a home.  The Mandarins is being renovated and 
will re-open under new management.  We have not been approached 
yet by the new owner about continuing the Thursday night clogging 
there.  We also do not know the nature of the renovations, and if 
they would be favorable for clogging.

For those who don't know, the Clog Palace is the place where for 
the past several years, old-time musicians and cloggers get 
together once a week to play music and dance.  Every Thursday 
night, we hire a different old-time band to play, and anyone who 
cares to can get up and dance.  We have our own dance floor, and 
for over a year, we've parked it at the Mandarins Restaurant.  
While the Mandarins is renovating, we no longer have a place to 
clog and listen to music.

The future of the Clog Palace is uncertain at this point.  
However, this uncertainty is an opportunity to those people who 
are concerned about keeping the Clog Palace going.  It is an 
opportunity to think about how things have been done in the past, 
and how they can be done differently (and better) in the future.  
It is an opportunity for more people to become involved in the 
activities that keep the Clog Palace running.  It is an 
opportunity to revitalize the old-time music & dance community.

On Thursday, July 23, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a pot-luck 
supper meeting and concert for all who are interested in the 
future of the Clog Palace.  It will be held at the home of Lars 
Hanslin, 3707 Williams Lane, Chevy Chase MD.  At 7:00 p.m., there 
will be a pot luck supper during which there will be a discussion 
of the options for continuing the Clog Palace.  At 8:30 p.m., we 
will have a concert featuring Paul Brown & Bruce Molsky.  There 
will be a dance floor, and the usual $4.00 donation will be 
collected to cover expenses and pay the band.

The following is a list of issues that need to be addressed.  It 
is not intended to be all-inclusive, and if you can think of 
other items to add, please let me know.  The list of issues is 
presented in the form of a questionnaire, but if it seems 
overwhelming to you, just think about what you like best about 
the Clog Palace, what you like the least, and what changes you 
would make if you were in charge.  Please come and contribute 
your ideas!

    Where do you think we should look for a new location for the 
    Clog Palace?  We will look into the Mandarins again, but 
    other places should also be considered.

    Are you willing to volunteer some help to keep the Clog 
    Palace running?

    Are you interested in helping collect the money on a regular 
    or occasional basis?

    Are you interested in booking the bands for a specified 
    period of time (one or two month blocks)?

    Do you think once a week is too often to have the Clog 
    Palace?  If it was twice a month, do you think attendance 
    would be better?

    Do you think that 9:00 p.m. is too late in the evening to 
    start?  What about 8:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m.?

    What do you like or dislike about the bands that play at the 
    Clog Palace?

The Clog Palace can be run by one person, and has been run by one 
person for several years.  However, after all this time, I need 
help getting fresh ideas for revitalizing the Clog Palace.  
Working with the same thing for so long sometimes makes it hard 
to be objective.  It's also hard to give up every Thursday night 
for so long a time, and I've found that occasionally, there are 
other things that I would like to do on those nights.  Five years 
ago, I took over the Clog Palace because Michael Marlin was 
leaving the area, and I was told that no one had stepped forward 
to keep it going.  The Clog Palace was an important part of my 
social life, so I volunteered to keep it going.  I'm not ready to 
retire, but I am ready to see other people become involved the 
same way I did five years ago.  If you're interested in helping 
out, come to the meeting on July 23, or give me a call.  Thanks 
for your help.
                                     --Julie Mangin

                         JUST AN IDEA...

I was just about to leave for Old-Time Week at Augusta when I 
found out that the Mandarins was being sold.  It made it hard for 
me to do anything about the situation when I was in Elkins WV.  
But I needed a rest from the responsibilities of the Clog Palace, 
and I certainly got that while at Augusta.  I concentrated on my 
banjo playing more than I usually do during the rest of the 
year.  It inspired me to play more now that I am back home.  I 
talked to other students at Augusta and who were concerned that 
when they get back home, they wouldn't be able to find anyone 
else to play with.  For them, Augusta is their best opportunity 
to play with other people.  In DC, however, there are lots of 
players.  You'd think we'd be jamming all the time.  However, 
there is a gap between the "slow jam" level of playing and all 
the people who have been playing for years.  While we are 
thinking about revitalizing the old-time music scene, we might 
want to think about creating opportunities for intermediate level 
players to improve their playing.  I saw a lot of people at 
Augusta whose interest in old-time music should be encouraged, 
and many live in the DC area.  Perhaps some of the more advanced 
players in this area might volunteer to encourage these 
musicians.  If there is enough interest, once in a while, the 
Clog Palace could be 
used for an open jam run by a few experienced players who could 
keep people together, teach a tune or two, and keep the pace fast 
enough to keep the cloggers satisfied.  If you have an opinion to 
share about this idea, let me know.

                              NOTICE

This special edition of The Daily Clog is being mailed to regular 
subscribers, as well as former subscribers and people who have 
never subscribed, but who I thought might be interested in the 
future of The Clog Palace.  If you have never subscribed, and 
appreciate being kept informed, consider starting a 
subscription.  Regular issues include articles on old-time music 
and clogging plus a monthly calendar of performances, dances, and 
events.  To subscribe, send your name, address, and $8.00 to:  
The Daily Clog, 95 East Wayne Avenue, Apt. 312, Silver Spring, 
MD  20901.  In return, you will receive 12 monthly issues for a 
year.

                 PERFORMANCES, DANCES, AND EVENTS

July 16-19, Thursday-Sunday
The Fingerlakes Grassroots Festival, Ithaca NY, featuring the 
Horseflies, Highwoods, the Red Hots, Zydeco Norton, Donna the 
Buffalo, and more.  Info:  607-277-5638, P. O. Box 941 
Trumansburg NY  14886.

July 19-25, Sunday-Saturday
The Swannanoa Old-Time Music & Dance Week at Warren Wilson 
College, Asheville NC.  Ralph Blizard, Dirk Powell, Ginny 
Hawker.  Classes in fiddle, banjo, clogging, singing.  Info:  
704-298-5099.

July 23, Thursday
Bruce Molsky & Paul Brown will play old-time music for free-style 
clogging at Lars Hanslin's home, 3707 Williams Lane.  See lead 
article for details.

July 24-26, Friday-Sunday
Balance & Swim, 5th Annual Music & Dance Festival includes 
workshops, dances, jams, camping, pot luck, and more for $25.  
Rich Cobos, 304-782-1016.


July 31-August 2, Friday-Sunday
The Appalachian String Band Music Festival, Clifftop WV.  
Competitions; performances by the Benton Flippen, The Heartbeats, 
Volo Bogtrotters, Free Will Savages, and more.  Admission $2 per 
person; rough camping $15.  Call (304)438-6429.

August 2, Sunday
Deer Creek Fiddlers Convention, Carroll County Farm Museum.  
Old-time and Bluegrass competitions; performances by the Stump 
Jumpers.  Info:  Megan Shook, 410-366-5092.

August 5-8, Wednesday-Saturday
57th Annual Old Fiddlers Convention, Galax VA.  Contact Moose 
Lodge, POB 655, Galax VA  24333.

August 8, Saturday
Old-Time Clogging Workshop sponsored by the Double Toe Times, 
Maitland FL.  Jacky Christian, Ray 
Hattaway, the Flatland Cloggers, Panther Creek Mountain Dancers 
and more.  Info:  407-834-8255.

August 15-16, Saturday-Sunday
Fair Hills Festival, Fair Hills MD.  Screamin' L7's, Heartbeats, 
Beausoleil, Hellbenders, Zydeco Norton, and more.  Call 
Governor's Office on Art & Culture (410)225-4712.

September 4-6, Friday-Saturday
Labor Day Family Weekend at the John C. Campbell Folk School in 
Brasstown NC.  Info:  800-562-2440 or 704-837-2775.

September 18-19, Friday-Saturday
Rockbridge Mountain Music & Dance Convention, Glen Maury Park, 
Buena Vista VA.  Saturday night square dance will feature Phil 
Jamison calling and music by the Wandering Ramblers.

September 26-27, Saturday-Sunday
Slugfest '92 "Fiesta Babosa" sponsored by the Cub Hill Cloggers 
at Millstad, Bel Air MD.  Music, dancing, camping, joke-off 
contest, reminiscing about past Slugfests and more.  Tickets $10 
in advance, $15 at the barn door.  Contact Bev Stiver, Lystra 
Farm, Stevenson MD  21153.



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