What the Enidi means to me?

Hi,

I'm starting this thread in the hope I can get some understanding of what the Enidi means to you. Whether you are a member of the fan club or not, I would love to know how much you value the Enidi, and why.

Please be in depth and critical (try to balance the good with the bad, and vice versa). I'd like to apply your thoughts and opinions to my dissertation, which is about the Enid.

Kind regards,

Joe Payne

Friendship. With the band members and other The Enid fans. Thanks to The Enidi I have friends I would never have had any other way - people who I simply would not have known existed. People have traveled from all over the world to see and meet the band, knowing that there would be a friendly reception when they arrive - e.g. Dan or Mike or Herve (I'm sure there are others, these 3 chaps just popped into my head).

I'm still amazed that a band that I've been a fan of since the 80's is so accessible, after gigs / email / telephone / facebook / these forums and they are sharing their musical journey with us in such an open way. As I've said before - try that with Pink Floyd.

When I'm at a The Enid gig I get a warm fuzzy feeling - thinking "I've just had a drink with the band, and now they are entertaining me". Trying to catch Jason's eye when he is on stage is always fun for me. I know he is working, but if you do catch his eye he gives a small cheeky grin, anyone else noticed that?

Joe,
I would definitely agree with Lloyd, that friendship with the band and other fans is one of the main positive things that come from being an Enidi member. I have some great friends through the Enid who i would never have met otherwise.
Another positive of being in the Enidi is a feeling of closeness to the band... we are actually investing in not only the band's future, but also the future of progressive and complex music which takes months/years to produce. Without the Enidi none of it would be possible and we would be left with just 'crap' music (no offence intended to any other band). We often have a say (to a degree) through the forums, in the band's decision making.
It is also great to be able to have a drink and a natter with the band members before or after the gigs.
All in all, everything about it is great..... although you did ask us to be balanced Joe (!) so my only cautionary point would be that when we dont actually agree with what the band have done and subsequent debates on forums, it can leave one feeling a little isolated from the 'community' occasionally. This is probably because we have invested so much time and money into things which we care about so much.....
Best Regards,
Graeme.

Agree with everything said above. It's been amazing to meet and become friends with Robert, Max, Dave, Jason, Nic and not least of all Joe since becoming members of The Enidi.
The free CD/DVD each year is something to treasure. Free gigs from time to time including the Convention and occassional warm up gigs for festivals.
We are lucky living in the next town to The Enid, so can pop over and visit and go out for a drink or a meal from time to time.
The Enid's PA Hailey is lovely and is fast becoming a true and loyal friend as well.
The chance to occassionally stay over at The Lodge recording studio where most of The Enid live and work is fantastic, but be warned..... when Robert cooks food for you, do not eat for a week afterwards his food is amazing and you always eat way too much of it.
I've made some wonderful friends through the Enidi, particular Jane who posts on here a lot.
Anyone who likes The Enid's music or is interested in hearing more of their music should become an Enidi member, it was the best thing I did in 2010 when I saw they were holding a Convention at Grendon Lakes, which is about 5 miles from where I live, it was an incredibly intimate experience, being that close to The Enid, with about 50 other fans and getting to same Robert's Chili for the first time, which I have now eaten too many times and spending time chilling and chatting with like minded people and the band.

Hi Joe, and everyone else
At the risk of being repetitive, I have to agree with what has been said already about the incredible sense of friendship and community I have experienced since joining the Enidi. I have been a fan for many years and an Enidi member for 2 years and attended the convention held at the end of last year. It was a revelation!
I arrived on my own, quite nervous and unsure of what to expect. What I found was plenty of smiling faces, everybody (band and fans) mucking in to set things up. Whilst I joined in and shifted furniture, helped unload the van of musical equipment, carried crockery and cutlery from one place to another and peeled huge quantities of potatoes, I talked and listened to various complete strangers. We all shared at least one common interest - The Enid! By the time we all sat down to eat RJG's legendary chilli, they were no longer complete strangers but a group of people I knew by name and could converse and chat easily with. Did I mention that we were all served at the table by the members of the band?
This was followed by the most intimate gig I have ever attended. We were all relaxed (many a bit tipsy - this is a bit of a continuing trend!) and there was no set list,as such. We discussed as we went along what songs were going to be played. It was like a family gathering, with talent .
Some members are more vocal than others, you are free to get as involved as much or as little as you like. The camaraderie is great and there is always someone to go with to a gig, or whatever else takes your fancy.
I could go on and on - actually, I think I have I guarantee that you will more than get your money's worth

For me, it's like I've gained a second family - in fact I feel closer to some of the band and the Enidi than I do with my less immediate family. I feel like I have come home when I am with them.

Somehow I fell into helping out on the merch stand, and so have met Enidi members from all over the UK and parts of Europe, not to mention those from further afield who I met at the Symphony Hall show. I would say that 99% of them have been really great people and I always look forward to the social aspect of the gigs as much as to the music.

I've often felt a bit out of place amongst my peers - most women of my age are too wrapped up in their careers and other aspects of their lives etc to really follow music. Many have "grown out" of going to gigs and they think I am very strange indeed. I often feel very uncomfortable around them - they can be quite patronising at times.

With the Enidi I have found a bunch of like-minded people and no longer feel like a fish out of water, they accept me as I am - though I do tend to find myself the butt of many jokes!

I am particularly close to Hailey and we have gone to many different gigs together, sometimes with Jase in tow, and I have also been to see Enid members in other bands - Nic in Red Kite (in fact I am going to see him with them in 10 days time) and of course Joe with Tramp Etiquette - most memorably on my birthday this year when I was dragged kicking and screaming (not) on stage and ended up with his thong on my head! I also celebrated my previous birthday with the band at the Dosa Hut over the road from The Lodge. What am I going to do next year??

I have also gone out socially with other Enidi members, to see other bands, hung around with them at festivals etc, camped with them, got drunk with them, chatted with them on-line and on the phone.

I have laughed with them, cried with them, danced with them, poured my heart out and listened to them. As I said at the start they are family - but a family I have chosen.

The Enidi is like a family; the concerts and events opportunities to enjoy wonderful music and catch up with others and hear their news. I'm a relative newcomer having only been following the band since around 1995 when we were called 'The Stand'. It has been a magical journey as the creativity of the various band members has developed. I feel very privilaged to be supporting them in a small way.

I agree with all the other Enidi :it's like a family.;Even if it's more difficult -being french and not speaking ,and understanding well everything.Anyway i could not imagine to be so near everybody.I could not imagine to be so near of the group. Their music is the music which give me the biggest emotion,that's the music i 'll dream to write if i could to it ..And i could not
think it could be possible to meet this musicians who give me so much emotion !At each concert ,it's a pleasure to know that i'll see everybody again:so there is 2 pleasures:listen to the concert,and see again "the family ";And the convention is a day you can't forget in all your life ...Can't wait untill the next one.So ,I'm proud to be the only "french" Enidi,but I hope it will not last too long .

I have been a fan since the late 70's. Being a member of The Enidi gives me a sense of connection with the band and with other followers/supporters. I really like the sense of patronage that RJG speaks of through The Enidi where music lovers gain a sense of ownership and responsibility for the arts by supporting and being responsible for the ongoing existence of the band.
The benefits at gigs with reserved seating, invites to the aftershow party, and the annual gathering all help to make the band accessible and real. Rock on!

Since first listening to In The Region of the Summer Stars in the late 70's I have enjoyed the Enid. For a long time I didn't have a clue if the band still existed, but to my joy it sill did. Enidi is a way for me to get in touch with the magnificent music as the band produce. It's not easy for me, living in Sweden, to attend concerts, but I was in Birmingham really enjoying the music and I hope to attend the concert in Watford Colloseum.