Re: [Harp-L] Re: New Era of SPAH conventions

[Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I saw a couple replies so I'll start from here.

I understand the metro NYC/NJ area would be expensive like Elizabeth  
mentioned. It would also be a traffic nightmare for some.

 It would probably take an extended family of volunteers outside  the  
main harp clubs  to host such an event so every one could have some  
down time to mingle and jam.  Events go quick when you have to work  
them and over before you can enjoy the festivities.

I was involved with our local jazz festival for about 15 years and  
understand all the planning that goes into hosting a major event that  
brings in fans and musicians from all over.  It takes at least 1 to  
1-1/2 years  to plan it out and make sure the Hotel you pick is  
affordable and easy to get to from major roads and airports. Get  
freebee or discount rooms for the musicians.  Organize flight plan for  
musicians and shuttle service. Talk to bars in close proximity about  
hosting special musical entertainment for a night or two.  Make sure  
everyone is treated royally and so on.

Still there are hordes of players and Pros on the East Coast that  
could pull it off if some harmonica org. would stick their neck out  
and get some serious commitments from us if needed even if we aren't  
club members.  Maybe time to join.

I like the Minn. area. I was out there for the Summit in 1999. I  
borrowed money for the trip.  I would love to see my buddy Dick  
Gardner again as well as my customers.
Times are different now.  Bigger mortgage, less take home pay, company  
controlled vacations.   Reduced the cable service in Jan. to basic  
cable. (can't p.o. the mrs. completely).

Every region of the US has something to offer with it's rich musical  
heritage.  CA. has cool jazz and West Coast Swing, St. Louis,  Detroit  
and Memphis with their
take on jazz, blues and R&B. Texas with its trademark sound.   The Mid- 
Atlantic region has it's sound too.  Too bad we aren't throwing a  
party to celebrate.<sigh>

mike


On Jul 24, 2009, at 1:53 PM, Suave Blues Man wrote:

> Brothers & Sisters of Harmonica, Mike Easton and all East Coast  
> Harmonica members, players, SPAH et alia,
>
>    A centrally located point easy enough to reach with air carrier  
> service and close enough for several major cities' attendees would  
> seem to be -
>
> http://www.allentownpa.gov/Visitors/tabid/70/Default.aspx
>
>    Good size, good facilities and location, location,location.
>
>    Another location could be Richmond...A visit to Hohner might be  
> nice!
>
> Be Blues...And Jazz,
>
> Suave Blues Man
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Easton" <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx 
> >
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 8:53 AM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Re: New Era of SPAH conventions
>
>
> > This isn't directed at SPAH or any one person. Just an emotional  
> > question.
> >
> > Why the hell can't we get a SPAH convention on the East Coast??
> > Don't the East Coast clubs want to host it?
> > Columbus was the closest we came a few years ago.  I was able to   
> > attend it because
> > I did the 9 hour drive from my house.
> >
> > I've been a SPAH member for around 11 years. The location  
> > logistics  make it difficult
> > to cough up a plane ticket and other travel expenses for 4 days in  
> > the midwest or west coast. I don't know how some of you
> > are able to afford to attend these every year.  Frequent flyer  
> > miles? Gov't bailout money?
> >
> > I know this came up in the past and a lot of us were glad to see  
> > SPAH  in Columbus.
> > A few of us local players  talked about going to the NJ convention  
> > now since Buckeye is no longer an option and
> > SPAH has mostly been out of our reach.
> >
> > I would like to see the NJ or VA clubs host it sometime.   Maybe  
> > even  the new Md. club at some point.
> > Is it a volunteer issue with these club?
> >
> >
> > MIke
> >
> >
> > On Jul 23, 2009, at 8:40 PM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> > > Message: 7
> > > Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:41:18 -0400
> > > From: Warren Bee <spahpublicity@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > Subject: [Harp-L] The New Era of SPAH Conventions...
> > > To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > Message-ID:
> > > <87949f920907231541t766363dao684ae327a6553bec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> > >
> > >
> > > I use the expression "New Era of SPAH Conventions" because this  
> > > year some
> > > new things are in place that have not been in the past....
> > _______________________________________________
> > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l

Michael Easton
www.harmonicarepair.com