[Harp-L] What happens at SPAH + 1st Blowoff Announcement

[BluzeHarp@xxxxxxx]

Jeff, many people show up as early as the Saturday before just to hang with 
 friends and check out the city before the official opening ceremony, which 
 happens around 5pm on Tuesday.  
 
Tuesday evening always brings The International Blues Blowoff (IBB) to  a 
local club in the host city, a very popular 'must see' for any blues fan,  
it's the only music thing associated with SPAH that's not at the hotel and  it 
requires a separate ticket.
 
Seminars begin Wed and run through Sat, both AM and PM sessions ending  
around 4pm, multiple topics to choose from and sometimes hard to decide which  
ones to attend.  Hallway jam sessions spring up all over the hotel at  all 
times day & night.  There are officially hosted late night  acoustic blues, 
country and bluegrass jams wed - sat, and an  amplified jazz jam in the 
bar/lobby area Thurs & Fri night after the  nightly formal show on the big stage 
in the ballroom ends.
 
The Joe Filisko Teach-In runs Thurs-Sat noon to 2:30 in the main  ballroom. 
 A dozen or more GREAT players & customizers with a huge  array of topics, 
you can bounce from table to table to get tips,  insights and instruction 
from literally the best on the planet at what  they do.
 
There's a morning gospel show, various kids programs, a large vendor  area 
which is open to the public, a couple of local tours, a hospitality  room 
and much more.  Most everyone is very friendly... you're going to  have a 
great time!  Sleep deprivation is common, the late  jams sometimes well into the 
wee hours.
 
In regard to the IBB:  I've secured a very nice room  for the 2016 show - 
Location & lineup TBA.   Last  year in Denver we packed the 400 seat Soiled 
Dove, San Antonio doesn't have  a similar indoor venue, at least not within a 
reasonable distance and I  won't put it outside in Aug in Texas... anyone 
remember the downpour last  time in Dallas?  The venue will be smaller this 
year,  but bigger than the downstairs of BB's in St Louis, and with a  good 
view of the stage from the entire room.  SPAH members will still  get a great 
discount, no price increase on GA tix, and you will get  first crack at the 
limited number of tickets, only around 200.  I strongly  recommend members 
get theirs before sales open up to the general  public, with the smaller 
venue this one could sell out a month before the  show.  I'll hold a few back 
to sell at the hotel but there won't be very  many.  The venue has only a 
tiny quantity of seating which can be reserved,  and there's a substantial 
upcharge for those.  Most will be more than  pleased with the General Admission 
seating.
 
Please do not send requests for tickets, reserved or otherwise, before  
they are officially announced to be on sale, which will be mid April at the  
earliest.  By necessity, any such inquiries will be ignored  
 
Watch here on harp-l, on the SPAH website & Facebook page, and at  www. 
harmonicaplanet.com for updates and announcements.  Sign up for the  new IBB 
mailing list on Harmonica Planet for the earliest breaking  news.  Just hit 
the Blues Blowoff tab at the top of the page &  you'll be there.
 
Christopher Richards
Staging & Production - SPAH
Producer - International Blues Blowoff
 
 
 
In a message dated 3/4/2016 11:31:14 A.M. Mountain Standard Time,  
harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx writes:

This  will be my first time going to SPAH.  I'm looking forward to it.  I  
know there is no definite agenda yet, but what typically happens each  
day/night between Tuesday and Saturday at SPAH (if those are the days)?   When do 
workshops start/run through?  How many sessions each day?   Is there a 
final jam night?, etc.???  (Whatever typically happens during  the week please 
let me know)

Thanks,
Jeff  DeGregorio