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Its not something i really use in performance, just something to try if you get particularly bored with some mates in the pub.

You know im going to try and make one of these Manchester meets.

Wont be this year.. my diary is absolutely chocker until January, but I will deffinately come to one of these at future times and ventures!!



Mark

I've been so snowed under, I've done a full day's work every day for the past few weeks. I missed Tabula Mentis 4 because new commissions kept coming in, but I now just have two big pieces left. They're due in on Thursday morning. After that, I'm taking a whole four days off. Hurrah! I'll be there. Knackered, but there. Wherever there is.

Well, I can't make it (again) this month because of the family crisis mentioned in the Dove's Head. I want to stay by the phone as much as possible while everything's going on in Australia.

I need as much time as I can scrounge to catch up on a week's missed work, anyway.

Guys

Really slack of me but I have been intending to look into this whole Entertainment Licence thing. Agecroft, I will get around to it, but it did occur to me that if we target those pubs that have entertainment on at some stage in the week (band, DJ etc) then we should be on less tricky ground and less in need of Thomo's hypnosis on vulnerable bar managers! I'm thinking of the likes of O'Sheas, Thirsty Scholar etc. What do you think?

personally i think most trouble could be avoided by simply asking first and keeping agecroft away from beer and card to ceiling wax.

Those bars are on the way from the station so all good.

Cheers for checking it out

There's a new live music venue, apparently on Oxford Road, called The Deaf Institute. It looks interestingly funky. Maybe we should try it: http://www.thedeafinstitute.co.uk/

Any bar with a podcast must be good!

I've only been in Trof (Deaf Institute) once in the past, but I second its funkiness. The swirly wallpaper is to die for, and it has just about the right level of ambient lighting to make vicarious and anonymous flirting and banter that little bit more avant garde and boisterous. Not that one goes out for that, it's purely as an avid admirer of spangly wallpaper in drinking establishments. Also, Trof has that edgy feel in terms of musical line ups (e.g. Little Boots is playing there soon). I think it sparked a bit of controversy due to the name (its not horribly PC), but that was only because it was a listed building. It's a jewel on Oxford Road, but, like the Northern Quarter, word has spread and so many pilgrims frequent it with such casual disregard that it, along with the Northern Quarter, is slowly resembling Manchester's Deansgate Locks. Ironically, that Bohemian atmosphere that absolutely made NQ cutting edge has eroded, although to an extent Common and similar places such as the Bay Horse still maintain that vibe. Having said all that, the row of bars such as Odder, Kro 2, Trof, etc. are very much happening places. Good call.

Ok meet in the bar in Picc Station and wander off down to these bars as mentioned starting with which ever one we get to first.

I've no idea where Trof is but it appears I've picked a couple of other good venues!

All is good in the world.

Right, PM me if you want my mobile number to see where we've made it up to.

Guys

Spoke with Licensing at Manchester City Council whose advice was that as long as the venue is not charging they do not need an entertainment licence. His personal view was that the licensees in question were being over cautious and unsure of their ground. As a side note they can of course ask anybody to leave for any reason whatsoever and if the punter refuses to leave they can be removed by a police officer. So bit of a catch all if they're just not into magic I guess!

I also came across this in another council's guide to entertainment licences, which does confirm the advice from Manchester
"If you are providing entertainment, you must ensure that the venue concerned has a valid Entertainment Licence. This applies to private functions as well as those for the general public. An Entertainment Licence is only required if a charge is made (the definition of charge is quite wide and includes any form of charge whenever paid or whether paid by money or money’s worth). Exemptions can be made for religious occasions and in certain circumstances in schools"

Any chance we can re-brand ourselves as The Church of Latter Day Magicians, then we're bomb proof?!

Ok just to confirm that we'll be meeting in the sports bar at Piccadilly Station from 12 - noon before moving off down oxford road way. should be a cracking turn out this time yet again

Catch you all tomorrow! and I worked out yesterday I have been to Trof, the beer is special but its a really nice bar actually

There's actually 3 Trofs now: one in Northern Quarter, the one in Fallowfield next to Gaffs (you know the one, that dodgy shop where they seemingly sell booze 24 hours a day and cheap fags and pirate DVDs when you ask if you can "go upstairs" - I think you can buy other substances but I've never had the brazen audacity to ask), and now one on Oxford Road. They all seem to be great venues. They're definitely the new franchise like the Kro bars, and keep popping up, like Subway. The beauty of these cool new bars is that they do have a selection of beers that you just can't get in your usual, although at £5 for a pint of Fruli (honestly!) is pretty cheeky. See yous about 6ish.