Re: [Harp-L] Spah 2014 Blow Off

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

<<Spah actually does embrace the blow off. I believe it all started in the late 
90s. Several illuminaries have hosted it. Including the great Paul DeLay.>> sez SmokeyJ


In the early 90's, Thursday night was a set or two by blues headliners followed by a "blues jam" - this was done at that bar in the hotel next to the one in Detroit where the convention was held.


In the late 90's, the "jam" was eliminated for a full blown Thursday Night Blues Concert held in the host hotel. Volume was never an issue (under my watch at the time) and it really enhanced the experience. We even made a lot of $ advertising this show to the local Detroit population, selling tickets that night at the door. The legendary '98 Blues Show had a packed room with at least 50% of the attendees from outside of SPAH paying the $10 door fee. (Profits from this allowed us to video and create the two volume VHS presentation of the shows - profits from sales of these videos filled the coffers to afford more special experiences for subsequent conventions. We were bringing in so much money to SPAH that our bookkeeper told us we would have to spend more or lose our non-profit status - a very nice problem indeed).


It was after 2000 that this blues blow off came into being and was a separate entity from SPAH - maybe even after 2002 (the last convention I attended and I don't remember an off site blow off that year).


However, it would be a wonderful addition to the core SPAH experience if SPAH worked out the transportation aspect (which, to me, is really not much of a challenge - however, I think differently than the current SPAH BOD).


-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Bob Cohen <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Harp L Harp L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wed, Jul 30, 2014 1:49 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Spah 2014 Blow Off


Spah actually does embrace the blow off. I believe it all started in the late 
90s. Several illuminaries have hosted it. Including the great Paul DeLay.  It 
was tried AT the host hotels but the volume was too high. Especially the bass. 
It seems that many of the meeting places and/bars at the host hotels have what 
we call in the business LIVE ceilings and walls. Not really conducive to good 
sound transmissions. No, it didn't work very well. As I recall. 

So the venue was moved "off shore". And as far as officially recognizing? I 
think spah's resources are already stretched. 

The facts are that when people came to spah and arrived Tuesday, it was usually 
(I said usually) because they were older people. And they were making a vacation 
of it. And looked forward to it all year, and planned for it. There were also a 
lot of people whom didn't arrive till Wednesday. 

Now the spah fest officially opens Tuesday night, and was never really packed 
unTIL the blow offs started. These actually attracted a raft of younger 
attendees. Attendees whom may not have been there otherwise. But they came in 
early beCAUSE of the blow offs. The blow offs even attracted older players whom 
play BOTH chromatic and diatonic. Like myself.
Like Scotty. Like so many others. 
 

I don't really think that the blow offs siphoned many people away from the 
'standard' activities. Because the attendees were there early 'just' to not miss 
this great event. AND, a lot of people DO stay at the hotel during that event. 
Usually older folks who aren't as interested in blues 'type' muic..but more into 
Glen Miller. lolol. I used to open the open mic sessions at the hotel with ex 
vice pres. Herb Eck, and the omni present Marv Monroe. I would then sneak away 
to the blow off. Usually having to endure a mighty wild ride. lolol.

I always had a super experience.  

smokey-joe (who once told Humpty Dumpty: "I wouldn't sit on that wall if I were 
you",) Yes, he is the most unusual character you will ever meet. lolol

On Jul 30, 2014, at 12:46 PM, Bob Cohen wrote:

> 
> On Jul 29, 2014, at 11:47 AM, Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> To my mind, and this is just personal, this event is a 'not to be missed' 
opportunity. Desert beFORE  dinner, so to speak.  
> 
> It would be nice if SPAH finally officially embraced the Blow Off. This is 
always a popular and well attended event and as I recall from my days in SPAH 
leadership drew bodies away from some of the official doings. Surely we can get 
a bigger tent. :-)
> 
> -Bob
> 
> Bob Cohen
> Writer, Internet Consultant, Teacher
> w: bobjcohen.com
> t: #itsabobworld
> 
>