Mark Watkin Price

I am writing this because having spent the latter part of this week 'prospecting' as they used to say in the sales department, namely (and I hate the phrase) reaching out to gig organisers - out of a handful of approaches, I now have confirmed The Green Rooms in Treforest and the strong likelihood of one in Brighton - the person to whom I wrote explained their expenses policy (there aren't any) and asked which of the list of dates I could make. At this time, I can do any/all of them. But it's a promising start to the long hard slog of getting a giglist together. Optimism again!

A whole year gone by, and another looming. Exccept this one looks even more exciting than last. I have done the ‘firsts’ = first ever gig, first ever festical, first ever, wait for it, paid, gig. The merch is all in place, the registrations with the likes of the Performing Rights Society and other such, most of which cost, but heyho, we're not in it for the money. just to be listened to, hoho.

As I am writing this, I have going through my head the list of folk clubs to visit, having realised this is likely to be better for long term exposure and career development (!) than open mics. 

As it stands, we have two gigs lined up, both end of February. This week I hope to make connections and get more. My ambition is two monthly gigs (not folk club stand up and do a song type ‘appearances’) and for next year four. Any festivals I can get in the meantime will be great, and exposure on radio. Although this seems to be playing to about 15 people at a time and more of a kudos thing than yielding any meaningful results.

The Leicester gig was great. 100 or so bikers, with just a few women, meeting up at their monthly get-together which they have at different palces by rotation. This time it was at a sports club in Kirky Muxloe, sounds almost good enough for a stage name. 

We had bought a PA in case either the DJ following wouldn't let us use his, or there just wasn't one. We learned that the sound desk shouldn't be controlled by me but placed so JHhane can get at it and manipulate - we discovered this because her gesticulations/signals to me to increase guiter or increase vocals were just not seen by me, and if  noticed at all apparently ignored. I'm saying nothing.

Anyway, it all worked Ok. We had intended staying the evening and camping in the van in the club car park, but since I finished by 8:30 we hung around a while and headed back home giving us the whole of Sunday top ourselves. Which was mostly spent sleeping or chilling.

Disappointment again from the Merthyr gig. I haven't taken down the unfulfilled gig-date from last month which they forgot about including me after they had previously confirmed. The offered January instead and 10-15 minutes. We went to both the last events and most of those appearing did either two short sets of 15 mins or so, or one longer one, including a girl who beatboxed with her phone and a singersongwriter who confessed to not having rehearsed or played out for months and neither knew his lyrics nor had a Plan B lyric sheet. Bearing in mind all I asked the organiser was confirmation that it was really 10-15 mionutes saying I had hoped for 2 x 15 or 1 x 30, he texted back saying yes 10-15 and hoped he had not upset me. I assured him he had not and that maybe he could telephone me (number provided). Nothing. Four days later I asked him to call again. Still nothing. So I'll let it die.

I went to The Muse Rhythm & Blues Club in Brecon to see Nookee and met the organiser. I asked him about playing. He got back to me and suggested the folk clubs route. Bummer. I had hoped to get away from that. However, at a Musicians' Union workshop, O met Aidan from Cwmbran who has runb folk clubs for years and said the same thing. So maybe it's one way.

Meanwhile, PRS and MRCPS have given registration so I have added the songs I have done out since the joining date. Time, now to get going with radio stations.

Where does the time go? It sounds blase now to say ‘after several more gigs’, but each still carries excitement - will it go well, will the audience be there for whoever I am supporting? Will there be anyone there anyway?

Over the last month I have written several more songs, not linked to the fact that I realised I had written very few to date this year. Maybe after settling down after house move and numerous other life-issues, the keel will be evened and normality resume.

Last night Jane and I had the brainwave after Chris at Bourtons said ‘great entertainment’ that I am not just a singer/songwriter, a notion we had harboured ever since this began, but we had been unable to put the finger on exactly how to describe what I do. The clue is the parallel made by a friend who said I take after Jake Thackray. The Independent wrote a great article about this high priest of dignified wit that described him as a chansonnier. So I have adopted the term. It exotically describes storytelling with song and humour better than any combination of English words we could come up with. So today the website was amended to incorporate this thought.

Meanwhile, after a great audience on Saturday, I now have the Bikers' Club Bash in Leicester to look forward to, the first real test of an completely unknown and unknowing audience. 

I approached what seems to be an agent although his website says he isn't, in Bristol last week. He mailed me to ask if I could speak with him this week. Excitement!

Went to see the fantastic James Oliver Band last weekend. Another blazing performance, great to see all three band members interact - so polished, and James is so funny. We were talking about his gig earlier this year in Aberdare and that he'd like to play there again. I mulled it over and since I know the church from organising other events there, I took the bull by the horns and asked James if he'd be happy for me to be support act. His response? Of course! That makes me feel extremely honoured and it's a real feather in the cap to support such an illustrious musician.

Meanwhile, the new badges have arrived and an order for more Tshirts has been made - L and XL which I suppose says something for our demographic.

Seems only a couple of weeks ago I played Bourtons. Since then, a couple of busks but activity has centred on preparing the ground for the two new albums. The mastered tracks arrived earlier this week, so yesterday and today were spent putting them online, rearranging the website to be a bit tidier and negotiating the vagaries of Distrokid - the passport to Spotify. Plus the new larger badges arrive tomorrow.

Meanwhile, on strength of hearing stuff online and seeing Youtube videos, I have been booked for a gig at a Bikers Club in Leicester. Seems they also love the Dogging T=shirt, so will have to take a stock up with me. And Bourtons want me back this side of Christmas so a new date has been put in the calendar. And Merthyr's Full Spectrum have offered me a gig too.

So, as we stand, CD's arrive back next week, it's time to get earnest about looking for work. 

The gig at Bourton's was in my view lifechanging - for me anyway. The feedback I got was amazing and has given me the confidence to aim higher than small venues and festivals. Be that as it may, I will be happy with small gigs whilst I ‘pay my dues’. But at the same time as searching for them I will search for the bigger opportunities as well. 

The absolute icing onthe cake was the review written by Maggie. She has been kind enough to be so warm and effusive about the Bourton's gig, as well as given me the permission to use it on my website. 

Maybe this is the cannonball up the rear that life needs to get out there and multiply. Multiply opportunities, that is.

Another month has flown past. Probably the most tumultuous month so far with a photoshoot, T-shirt design and production, the new non-reflective banner, two blasts in Brecon, another day in the studio and Bourtons Live Music Cafe and Bar, which was the Big One. The set was extended as the top of the bill player was ill, so me and the new headliner (previously number two in the pecking order) had an hour apiece.

A great evening. I was delighted the ‘act’ worked. Friends came and supported my but the other audience members were cheering and singing just a vigorously. 

The videos convey the sleazy smoky atmosphere the bar tries to create without being sleazy or smoky. It was just the cheap video camera!

So tonight I edited the videos from the camera and Jane's phone and put them on Youtube with Dogging on Facebook too.

The banner I had was vinyl which turned out to be highly reflective as well as crease easily. Pleased to say I have sourced a heavy duty cloth product which will be a darn sight easier to handle and transport as well as finally looking as I originally intended.

Meanwhile, the lovely Sam at Snake Mountain messaged to say the raw tracks will be available tomorrow. Then comes the mastering and then out into the world with them!

The joy of getting up and finding my first postal CD order. I got it packaged and rushed out in no time.

A far as kit is concerned, I tried the octave pedal and it was like mud. Speaking with the boys at Snake Mountain, their word was that the brand is rubbish. Win some  lose some. The distortion pedal got their approval though, so will try it out next gig. Although (at this time) it's only for one song, it will make a diference to its delivery. 

Anyway, I now have smart aluminium carry-case for pedals, mic and importantly, Merch and the card payment device. Which I must check has enough charge before each event!

With all the recent activity in the bag, time now to start looking for more gigs. Probably more local than the festival list I have been working on and with more immediate results I hope.

Looking forward to another outing in Brecon weekend after next which will actually be part of Festival Fringe. Apparently there will be a banner to prove it.