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Entertainment - what do we want? - Freddie Dawkins (19th Apr 2004 - 13:57:49) I'd like to invite views - from everyone who visits this site, not just the regular contributors - on what entertainment you would like to see at the Millennium Centre. We have a tremendous facility, and the main hall is an excellent theatre. We also have the amphitheatre backing onto the village green, which could be used for outdoor events through the summer. So what would you like to see in Liphook? What would you be prepared to pay for? Last night we had 103 people paying £11 each to see Chris Spencer, his daughter Pamela Jane, and Bobby Davro. A few weeks ago we sold out for Julie Felix, and back in January we had 60 attend the John Pilkington evening. LAMPS tickets are selling like hotcakes for next weekend's show. I've been offered The Searchers and the Barron Knights for next month, to continue the 60's bands revival, which appears to be very popular. Any thoughts? Promise I'll feed back all comments to the Liphook Millennium Centre Management Committee. rgds to all here Freddie Dawkins

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Mike Grimes (19th Apr 2004 - 23:26:52) Here's your man :- http://www.fredwedlock.net/ I'd love to meet the man again 27 years after I last booked him (3 times in all). Brilliant entertainer, never quite made it in a Jasper Carrott way - so never lost his charm. Anyway, the oldest swinger in town is still there, but I don't know how far out of Bristol he travels these days.

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Eneida Nelson (20th Apr 2004 - 07:41:22) Freddie, I would certainly go and see the Searchers..my favourite would be the Kinks, Hollies, swinging blue jeans, and best of all Georgie Fame. Eneida

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Freddie Dawkins (20th Apr 2004 - 14:03:12) Mike, Eneida - Thx for quick reactions. What an eclectic taste we possess in Liphook! I'm looking at The Searchers and The Hollies and he Barron Knights at the moment. Plus a three act eveing - lookalikes from Stars in their Eyes: Cher, and two blokes I can't remember (the little grey cells are failing today!!). How about doing something on Cup Final Day - an evening antidote to all the football....? Now then, Eneida. Georgie Fame, eh? Remember when he was with the Blue Flames? I had a membership at The Marquee (used to work in Carnaby Street, lucky me!), so was always popping into the club at lunchtimes and listening to rehearsals. I've vaguely known Georgie since those days and have been to see him three times in last year with Van Morrison. I have to say VM has had some veeeerrrryyy off nights, but GF has kept everything together for him. Please keep ideas flowing. rgds to all here Freddie

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Steve (21st Apr 2004 - 19:37:29) Surely an evening with Best and Marsh would be a classic for cup final day. I understand they do some sort of comedy double act and are really rather good.

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Freddie Dawkins (21st Apr 2004 - 22:18:24) Steve - how about midday-6pm on Cup Final Day, live Final beamed in to big screen and hosted by a serving Premiership referee? Bar open for drink and buffet food. Ref would intro the FA Cup, history, his reffing experiences etc, then player analysis with audience, half-time comments and after match panel with ref, local players and fans debating match and football in general. Would you pay £20 for a seat? rgds Freddie

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Mike Grimes (22nd Apr 2004 - 23:51:45) Interesting idea. Will Claudio Ranieri be available to serve behind the bar (with Ron Atkinson - if you dare)? Somebody please tell me that Freddie Dawkins is NOT a Premiership Referee. There must be something that this man isn't.

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Steve (23rd Apr 2004 - 10:22:02) That sounds a good idea. No way is Freddie a premiership ref, he doesn't know the offside rule. Freddie, if you think you do then explain it.

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Freddie Dawkins (23rd Apr 2004 - 17:59:27) Steve - Well, I did once referee a match betwenen Chiselhurst AFC and someone else. It really was a loooong time ago. The ref had crashed his car on the way to the match, and I was the only spectator who fitted a spare pair of boots..... The ref in question for May 22 is Dermot Gallagher (think that's right spelling). He lives not too far away. But I don't seem to be getting much interest from local footballers, so I think we'll drop the idea of the footie for this year. Sun's shining, lawn's cut, time for a beer. Freddie

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Sue Gibbard (23rd Apr 2004 - 18:08:32) Being the only female in the household, I would gladly contribute £20 not to have to watch the footie on Cup Final Day. All that droning on ... and on ... and on ...(you get the picture) as to what might be before the match starts, then the endless 'analysis' afterwards! Yes, £20 is cheap at the price! Sue

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Mike Grimes (28th Apr 2004 - 01:00:07) Eneida, Freddie and all, If you fancy a Georgie Fame concert you wouldn't go too far wrong with this years Larmer Tree festival (Near Salisbury) Georgie is playing on Wed 14th July (with his sons -Tristan & James) supporting Jools Holland. I am told he played with Van Morrison last year & went down a storm. My wife & I hope to go.

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Freddie Dawkins (28th Apr 2004 - 20:27:46) Thx, Mike. Will check it out. Freddie

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Grahame Polley (3rd May 2004 - 19:40:40) I had the pleasure in seeing Chris Spencer and Bobby Davro at the Millenium Centre and really enjoyed the evening. I did feel it bit embarrased though about having a big named star playing to an audience of the size that the centre can hold. As Bobby Davro said it is quantity not quality that matters. Its a pity that they had to play from the floor and not from a stage. If we start getting bigger stars they will ask for more money and the tickets will have to be priced beyond a reasonable amount that people are willing to pay. Perhaps we should host some of they show at Bohunt where we could have an larger audience.

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Freddie Dawkins (4th May 2004 - 12:04:53) Grahame - Bobby asked me before coming on what the audience size/mix was. He had no problem with smaller number. The man does not have an inflated ego (unlike one or two football stars I've met over the years ;-). But you do have a good point about potential numbers/cost ratio. We only managed to bring Bobby to Liphook because of Chris Spencer - and his agent - knowing Bobby was free that night and living locally. Chris often supports Bobby on tour and so it was really quite a big favour Chris did for us in getting Bobby to appear. We have to experiment a bit in mixing different entertainment for different age groups and prices. I've heard that the Parish Council has been successful in booking four acts from the Hog the Limelight-subsidised play list for this coming autumn/winter. There, price is not so much an issue. More news soon on those. I have an offer of a Stars in their Eyes cabaret-style show for late-May. If we set up tables and chairs - instead of theatre seating - we could still have 150 or so people comfortably watching three great tribute acts plus a very good singer/mc. We'd bring the staging we have onto the floor, so the entertainers would be above floor level and everyone would have a good view. Ticket price would have to be around £15 or so. But that would be for Cher, Roy Orbison and Tom Jones from the tv show plus Dave Simpson, who is a very impressive younger singer. A full 2.5 hour show, with the bar open all evening and people able to wander in and out as if it were a real club evening. It has worked well for events over at Aldershot and I think we could do it successfully. Response from all here? Would you consider buying a ticket for a Friday evening. late May? rgds to all Freddie

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Mike Grimes (17th May 2004 - 00:12:34) I have just got back from a fantastic pre-festival in Salisbury (called Salisbury Live) - There were probably about 100 bands playing at various venues throughout the city over the weekend - all free. We caught about five acts, two of which really stood out. The Morrigan (a five piece prog. folk outfit) were excellent. But, an eight piece band called Misty's Big Adventure were absolutely awesome. An utterly eccentric dollop of smile inducing fun from accomplished musicians. If their next gig is within a million miles of Liphook I'll be there (Millenium Hall would be good). Incidentally the festival proper (not free) starts next week culminating in a concert in the cathedral close featuring (among others) Georgie Fame.

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - kathryn (17th May 2004 - 11:13:21) I think the stars in their eyes night souds like fun (if not a little tacky) so will probably go just for the experience! With reference to future events I did go to the Twelth Night Shakespeare production held outside in the ampithetre which was great. I would like to see more use of this as it does make it a special and different night out. Maybe somehing similar? Also, how about a murer mystery night with a supper included? Treasure hunt round liphook on foot or by car starting at the hall; you could try a bit of classical music on the green/ampithetre with people taking picnics, maybe a different music event every 2 months - eg. jazz, soul, pop. As much as I detest kids maybe a youth disco 7 - 12 year olds or teen disco? it may stop them hanging around the station! Talks by famous-ish pople are always interesting, although I am not suggesting Jordan!!!

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Freddie Dawkins (18th May 2004 - 00:22:22) Kathryn - Tacky? Think not. Both Yvonne Haylen and Billy Lee have become very successful entertainers after their appearances on TV. They were already showbiz people and expanded their careers through Stars in Their Eyes. They are booked up to 2 years in advance and do quite major tours of the UK and abroad. Lots of charity functions. If you listen to either of them through their web-sites, you might be surprised how good their impersonations are. Point is, they are full-time entertainers and not just glorified karaoke artists. I'm finalising details and posters will be going up from tomorrow, with tickets on sale from Wednesday. It'll be a cabaret evening (not the theatre-style rows of seats) and I'm organising a few little surprises for the audience. Beats sitting in and watching tv or traipsing up to London to pay inflated prices for shrieking musicals (and I've seen some bad ones in the West End!). Hope you'll come along with a few friends and enjoy the night. rgds Freddie

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - kathryn (18th May 2004 - 08:40:56) Freddie - Booked up 2 years in advance? We are VERY honoured to get them at Liphook then! can't listen on the web as you didn't leave their web addresses. Still I will be going with 3 friends and may do a review after the event. Not sure about the audience surprises though.................makes me feel a bit nervous ;)

Re: Entertainment - what do we want? - Freddie Dawkins (18th May 2004 - 13:48:24) Kathryn - Fear not. Only nice surprises. Just good fortune that we can book such big cabaret acts. All thx to original intro by singer Chris Spencer and his agent. Agent organises national and international tours and, if an artist happens to be in the locality between bookings, we sometimes are offered evenings at short notice. Works well for both sides. Look forward to seeing you on the 11th. Website for Cher tracks: www.tributesabroad.co.uk/tune/info_cher_yvonne.html rgds Freddie

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