Re: [Harp-L] SPAH A great thread

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

Paul,


Nice post with some actual hard data.


What is the current membership number for SPAH?


Larry





-----Original Message-----
From: spahconvention06 <spahconvention06@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sat, Apr 23, 2011 7:11 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] SPAH A great thread




I love the energy that this thread has generated.  This year will be my 19th 
convention and as always it's the die hard friends that I have gotten to know 
during this time that brings me back.  The last few years, has brought out young 
monster players that prior conventions never saw.  The first diatonic player to 
win the hearts of the old school SPAH was Madcat and he was 32. Diatonic 
certainly has taken over the entire industry but we continue to support the Trio 
world as best we can.   This year we're bringing in the Sgro Bros and 
Harmonicamento (a quartet from Germany).  We're always open to  new ideas to 
grow the organization in any way possible.  Our Kid program, Sponsored by Hohner 
on Friday morning,  attracts between 100 and 140 newbies with a lunch, book, 
concert and harmonica.  The two Saturday public senior shows has reached an 
attendance of up to 400/ show.  Wednesday night, our harmonica  give away night, 
offers 100 harmonicas to the public and a free show.  In Sacramento we had 
over 600 in the audience.  



Attendance over the years, that I have been on the Board (2000-2011),  has been 
between 450 and and 600 for attendees, with our Sat night dinners between 375 
and 450.  Our hotel room nights fall between 800 and 1100 each year.  Dallas in 
03 and Sacramento 2009, we're our best attended events.  



Times have changed.  Each year we look at things to offer our guests that will 
be different than prior years.. Seminars have exploded with all sorts of new 
topics, small afternoon shows, chromatic jazz jams and an expanded sponsor/vendor 
candy store.  This year we're continuing to support the Tuesday night Blow off 
with bus transportation.  



The ideas that have come forth on the Buckeye Closing thread has been positive.  
The board will change coming up after the 2012 convention in Dallas and we need 
to start planning the our 50th in 2013.  So keep those ideas coming and any 
volunteers that want to get an education dealing with the best group of harp 
players in the world step up. 



Paul Davies 

SPAH Advisor