TheMusicMan
02.11.2004, 10:52
http://www.themouthpiece.com/images/tmp_button.jpg tMP Finger on the Button at Pontins 2004!
Wow! What a weekend!
I think it’s safe to say that themouthpiece.com has truly arrived with a super presence at British contest events. Following hot on the heels of some ‘networking’ at the British Open in Birmingham and - courtesy of the Association of Brass Band Traders - our very first Trade Stand at the Championship Section National Finals at the Albert Hall, last weekend saw the most ambitious project we have had to undertake yet! tMP’s mission for Pontins was to make everyone at the weekend aware of our fine forum – and to show to those unfortunate not to have visited us yet what they have been missing!
Did we succeed? We think the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’
You are all aware of the work that has gone on ‘behind the scenes’ – mostly from Roger (cheers, Roger, once again!) – to ensure that we had a great presence at the Pontins weekend – and we are grateful to the Pontins Brass Band Committee for giving us the opportunity of adding that extra ‘something special’ to the usual Pontins festivities. New memberships, hits and pages delivered soared yesterday to almost record levels... thanks to everyone for taking a look and supporting us!
So, on to the events themselves!
Saturday night saw the tMP Band’s first ever ‘official’ concert. Taking place in the Fun Factory Ballroom, the band had assembled for a short rehearsal with a huge emphasis on ‘entertaining’. After a couple of pieces the audience soon understood our intentions and got involved with what we were doing and I think I’m safe in saying that a great time was had by all – band and audience alike! The sight of people dancing and having fun to the band’s music was absolutely superb – and was a clear message to all those doubters who think that brass bands aren’t entertaining! And who can forget the sight of around 50 people holding their lighters aloft to the sound of the tMP Band’s rendition of ‘I’ll Walk With God’? Spine-tingling indeed!
On to Sunday, and the tMP Band’s performance for an audience of some of the country’s top bandspeople – again, on the stage of the Fun Factory Ballroom before the announcing of the Championship Section Results! I must admit to being a tad apprehensive as to how we would be received by such an audience – but the reaction was, to be perfectly honest, simply overwhelming! To have cheers, whistles and applause from such an audience was out of this world. And all this achieved by a scratch band with just over one hours rehearsal on the previous day!
So, what’s next for tMP?
Well, we sincerely hope that everyone who took part, as well as the audiences, enjoyed the experience and we are sure that the Pontins weekend will prove to be very fruitful in the life of tMP. Keep your eyes peeled for (hopefully) a flood of new members joining in the next few weeks, and I’m sure you, like me and the rest of the team, will make them all feel welcome. This is only the start for promoting tMP at some of the major banding events, and we are confident that this fine forum we have built together will grow and grow.
To end this announcement, I simply have to post my thanks to those who made the weekend so special.
Roger – for once again sorting out the intricacies of a tMP Band performance;)
Frank Hodges and his Staff – for the opportunity of taking such a big part in the weekend’s activities (not to mention the great advert in the Programme)
Ray Payne - for the use of the Percussion equipment
tMPers – the performances would have been nothing if it weren’t for the support of all those who played with the band this weekend – cheers!
We hope that you all had a great time and we look forward to meeting up again very soon.
Wow! What a weekend!
I think it’s safe to say that themouthpiece.com has truly arrived with a super presence at British contest events. Following hot on the heels of some ‘networking’ at the British Open in Birmingham and - courtesy of the Association of Brass Band Traders - our very first Trade Stand at the Championship Section National Finals at the Albert Hall, last weekend saw the most ambitious project we have had to undertake yet! tMP’s mission for Pontins was to make everyone at the weekend aware of our fine forum – and to show to those unfortunate not to have visited us yet what they have been missing!
Did we succeed? We think the answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’
You are all aware of the work that has gone on ‘behind the scenes’ – mostly from Roger (cheers, Roger, once again!) – to ensure that we had a great presence at the Pontins weekend – and we are grateful to the Pontins Brass Band Committee for giving us the opportunity of adding that extra ‘something special’ to the usual Pontins festivities. New memberships, hits and pages delivered soared yesterday to almost record levels... thanks to everyone for taking a look and supporting us!
So, on to the events themselves!
Saturday night saw the tMP Band’s first ever ‘official’ concert. Taking place in the Fun Factory Ballroom, the band had assembled for a short rehearsal with a huge emphasis on ‘entertaining’. After a couple of pieces the audience soon understood our intentions and got involved with what we were doing and I think I’m safe in saying that a great time was had by all – band and audience alike! The sight of people dancing and having fun to the band’s music was absolutely superb – and was a clear message to all those doubters who think that brass bands aren’t entertaining! And who can forget the sight of around 50 people holding their lighters aloft to the sound of the tMP Band’s rendition of ‘I’ll Walk With God’? Spine-tingling indeed!
On to Sunday, and the tMP Band’s performance for an audience of some of the country’s top bandspeople – again, on the stage of the Fun Factory Ballroom before the announcing of the Championship Section Results! I must admit to being a tad apprehensive as to how we would be received by such an audience – but the reaction was, to be perfectly honest, simply overwhelming! To have cheers, whistles and applause from such an audience was out of this world. And all this achieved by a scratch band with just over one hours rehearsal on the previous day!
So, what’s next for tMP?
Well, we sincerely hope that everyone who took part, as well as the audiences, enjoyed the experience and we are sure that the Pontins weekend will prove to be very fruitful in the life of tMP. Keep your eyes peeled for (hopefully) a flood of new members joining in the next few weeks, and I’m sure you, like me and the rest of the team, will make them all feel welcome. This is only the start for promoting tMP at some of the major banding events, and we are confident that this fine forum we have built together will grow and grow.
To end this announcement, I simply have to post my thanks to those who made the weekend so special.
Roger – for once again sorting out the intricacies of a tMP Band performance;)
Frank Hodges and his Staff – for the opportunity of taking such a big part in the weekend’s activities (not to mention the great advert in the Programme)
Ray Payne - for the use of the Percussion equipment
tMPers – the performances would have been nothing if it weren’t for the support of all those who played with the band this weekend – cheers!
We hope that you all had a great time and we look forward to meeting up again very soon.