Re: [Harp-L] Spah Conventions

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm not disagreeing with this, but I do think there may be some  
ambiguity as to the definition of "younger people".

I attended my first spah convention at age 52 in 2006 and hope to live  
long enough and be healthy enough to attend another 25 or more of them.

I'm wondering, was there ever a large number of actual young people  
attending spah? Or do folks tend to start showing up when they start  
to have more leisure time in their schedule, the kids leave home, or  
perhaps when they are finally able to afford it?

When I was struggling to make a living as a musician (first career)  
and later struggling to get good at my current second career, just  
taking the time out to attend a convention for a week was unthinkable.  
Now that things have settled down I can afford to take the time to go.

Perhaps significant recruiting efforts should be aimed at the middle- 
aged? ;-)

- Slim.

On Apr 22, 2011, at 9:10 AM, Richard Hunter wrote:

> The demographics are simple and non-negotiable. The audience at SPAH  
> (as well as the performers) are getting older. People get older to a  
> point, then they die. If younger people aren't actively recruited  
> into the organization before that, the organization dies with them.