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

Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx> · Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:40:51 -0400

On Jul 25, 2009, at 6:19 PM, EGS1217@xxxxxxx wrote:
Phil writes:
"I have no idea why SPAH never met on the East Coast."

a. I don't think they wanted to conflict with the New Jersey group.

b. The hierarchy (at the time) were ALL from Mich. (until the 'Frost'  
came along)

but that WAS the big question Mike raised, wasn't it?
my post back to him was pretty much in synch with most of your  
reasons as

to why SPAH has been in the mid-west for most of its lifespan...but  
given

your  mentioning the original reason for its founding 47 years ago  
in Detroit

(and  some of those people still residing there)....my next  
questions would

be: just  how many of the founders are still left in Michigan, do  
they still

attend SPAH,  or have most retired South or West where it's warmer  
and it

might be just as  difficult for them to get to a SPAH as it is for  
a lot of

us?

Good question. not only the founders, but also members. In 18 years,  
I have seen an attrition rate of 37-38 just on, shall we say, ceasing  
to function.

Regardless, the main reason seems to be what goes into the planning  
and

having a strong club willing and able to handle putting on a SPAH.

Yeah, what ever happened to the 'Windy City' ?
I already

know from some of the answers Tom Stryker has given in past posts  
(here and

on  Slidemeister), just how difficult is the job of the hosting club.

And also Doug Tate.
I very much  doubt I'D want to take it on and so I admire and give  
all kudos to

those who do, as well as to the volunteers who give of their own  
time  at

SPAH. While I could volunteer, I'd much rather be a participant  
than  spend my

time at SPAH 'working'. I go there to absorb the music and learn  
as  much as

I can..it's what I'm paying for, after all, but more than that  
it's  a way

to decompress and finally be among fellow musicians/friends after   
having

been away from harmonica playing for over 30 years. It's 'my' time,  
and  I'm

making up for many lost years.

I once volunteered to be part of a negotiating team and was told  
flatly that there already WAS a negotiating team. It was the prez.,  
v. prez., 2nd v. prez., executive v. prez., secretary, and treas.  
Also, I don't think I impressed them much as I was too direct, too  
blunt. What may have clinched it was the now famous 'ThA Guy'  
incident of Memphis 94. Grabbing someone by the lapels and forcefully  
pushing them into their dressing room must have scared someone.

I can manage to afford to keep going to SPAH unlike some other  
people and

will keep doing so as long as I'm able, but I can surely empathize  
with

those  finding it difficult.

I'm only finding it difficult this year  (so far).
My main problem is that I hate to fly for various

reasons  (my last flight home from St. Louis was unbelievably horrible

having being bumped twice and dealing with luggage with use of only  
one arm

while in a high level of pain (it took 11 hours to get home to NY  
from  St.

Louis to give you a rough idea)....so just once it'd be pure  
pleasure  to be

driven to a SPAH or to take an easy train trip there.

My problem is my problem and not spah's. My main problem this time is  
the fact that I would have to fly: Ft. Myers to Houston to Denver to  
Sacramento. Thets'a total of 6 takeoffs and 6 landings. As a PPL, I  
gotta tell you this is 12 times in the danger zone. And all for a  
measely $485.oo

I don't think any East Coast people are complaining that much,  
really...or

asking for the Moon after all these years, merely hoping that one  
'halfway'

 state we can all access somewhat more easily be considered at some  
point,

instead of it always being either the Mid-West or West where we  
have no

choice  but to fly.  I don't expect New York or New Jersey to be  
chosen for

reasons already stated as well as the high tolls  involved with  
getting to

either (the tolls on the bridges and  tunnels went up again last  
weekend...we

actually paid $11 to cross one  of our many bridges, so it probably  
cost

roughly $50 in tolls alone to get  home to LI from Maryland..not  
for the faint

of heart ;).

I (personally) would like to have one IN a city. Where you could walk  
around (like Memphis was). But the prices IN these cities is UNREAL,  
so I can understand. I mean, I can't imagine staying at the Adams  
Mark just for the quaintness of being in down town St. Louie. lol.  
But I really hate being captive IN the motel. This last Milwaukee &  
St. Louis were nice. At least there were places to stroll and break  
the scenery.

I think Mick Zaklan's being understanding and fair when he writes:
"As a Midwesterner; I can't complain because, with the exception of  
the

Dallas

convention, I've always been between 2-6 hours by car away from a   
SPAH

convention.  It usually only costs me a tank or two of gasoline to   
arrive

and depart from the location.

I'm looking forward to  seeing a bunch of new players that haven't

attended the convention before  because of distance." (snipped)

I have ALWAYS felt sorry for the west coasties. There is a humongous  
amount of talent out there and we don't often get the benefit of  
their presence. It's not that I'm tired of the same faces, I just  
like to hear new talent. Some people play every year. Year after  
year...after year. I would like to hear new people.

All that I'd add to that comment is that I don't believe the  
distance HAS

kept a lot of East Coast people away (or anyone else for that   
matter)...but

it has made it extra difficult and costly to  get to SPAH every  
year when

one has to add on a R/T airfare. If I don't  have a ride to the  
airport and

need to call for a taxi to LaGuardia or JFK  it's about another  
$100 added

on. Each way. Plus 'suggested'  gratuity.<G>

'Suggested' gratuity. That's rich. Scale is 15%. I have never known  
you to leave anything less than 20-25%. You are very very sweet to  
the wait staff. I mean who leaves a chambermaid 40 bucks?

Elizabeth
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