Official Luthiers Forum!

So, possible attendees chiming in so far.

David Collins
Hesh Breakstone
Lance Kragenbrink
Brock Poling
Jim Howell
David White
Bob Conner
Brad Way
Vince
Peter J
John Ressler
Andy Birko
Lars Stahl (you really want to fly in from Sweden for this? )
Kirt Myers
Jim Warwick
James W B
Max Bishop


Not mentioned, contacted, etc, but still possibilities

Jotham Tausig
J.J. Donohue
Darin Spayd
Mark Swanson
Rob Eckert
Stephan (Ziegenfuss)
Clinton (crich)
Joe White
Bill Wise
Ken Mckay
Devon Zimmer
John Sargent
Mick ???
Bryan Galloup et al
Mike Franks

Other folks I have no idea if they would be interested


Karl Freye
Jake Robinson
Gary Tope
John Knopf
John Kingslight
John Dajos
Tom Pellerito
Gary Zimnicki
Mike Koontz
Mickey Richard
Wade (Motor City Pickups)
Dave Budzinski
Roger Hayes
David Alex
Mark Conley
Tom Doerr


There's about 40 or 50 names that come to mind, and there at least a few other Ann Arbor area locals I know I'm forgetting, and I'm sure at least a dozen or two candidates from the region who I don't know or haven't thought of.

Looking through the list, I see 20-25 a reasonable guess, even if several end up having to cancel. I wouldn't be surprised to see it reach around 30. Last time we threw it together a few weeks in advance, had a blizzard the night before, and still ended up with about 15.

I think we may have to reserve a hall. I can check with some resources at UofM or EMU for space, as well as a few people that have halls or spaces I know around the area. Maybe over the next week we can try to get a serious and realistic look at how many will be attending and go from there.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

I'm in

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

It's also worth noting that there are a lot of ways this can go. Leading up to the last meeting I had a good number of clients asking if they could attend - the kind of clients who who could be serious potential buyers.

I myself would like to keep the bulk of the gathering rather low key, a 5-6 hour mingling of colleagues and friends, maybe two hours of intermittent lecture and presentation, and valuable networking time over a cooler of beer and some deli trays. Start inviting the general public and all of a sudden you're running a small guitar show and it starts to feel like work.

Still, depending on what people want there are a lot of in between areas. I could offer invites or quietly spread word to a small and selective group of players and collectors, perhaps just post-lunch, semi-open show for a few dozen viewers. If we really wanted to show and sell wares, I know the local papers will gobble this sort of thing up as a local arts feature spread. That's probably way overkill though, and would take way more organization than any of us probably want to assume. Maybe if I could sell them on the idea of printing an article post-gathering it could be nice.

Or we can keep it quiet and closed - secret handshake to get in the door and everything. I'm fine with anything that doesn't take too much work on my part. Just throwing out some ideas for all to ponder.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

David...if you're soliciting opinions, here's mine. I prefer the intimate luthiers' oriented meeting where we learn more about guitar-building, see different techniques and have a chance to meet people we only have contact on OLF. It's what has worked in the past and it's what I look forward to when I choose to make a 3 hour drive.

Bring customers and potential customers and we have an entirely different event...and one that I would probably not attend.

Thanks for asking!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Cor, this sounds awesome. One day I am going to have to attend one of these gatherings...

Sam...you're on the permanent invitation list...as are all OLFers!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Thanks JJ, I personally feel about the same.

Another point - if we are expecting no more than 15ish people, I am still happy to host in my shop. More than that, we need hall. If that were the case, I don't believe there's anything tying the meeting to Ann Arbor really. If someone else centrally located has space to host a larger gathering, by all means let us know.

If not, the Ann Arbor area may still be a fine meeting place if I can easily reserve space at a hall, barn, or University (depending on game time ). Perhaps even a brief tour of the Stearns collection or something.

Or if we can try to keep it low-key and shoot for a <20 attendance at my shop, that may still be the simplest route. I'd love to bring in some less familiar regional faces - Zimnicki, Tope, Robinson, Wise, Kingslight, Galloup, Franks, and numerous others to these meetings. That may be a bit much for a small gathering though, and rather something to be organized as more of a formal convention or show. Or perhaps gatherings of that size should be resigned to A.S.I.A and the G.A.L. symposiums. Dunno.

There are plans for a new Ann Arbor convention center to go up in the next few years .

Just tossing more ideas out there.

Whatever happened to that old luthier's map program anyway???

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Sister Sammy what JJ said!!

David these things are getting popular - do you think it was a carrot cake from last time?

I think it was your brownies Hesh....


How's this for now? No grand plans to draw in more luthiers, no calling around for invitations for this. Let's try to get a tally of who really expects to make it. I'll plan on hosting. If the realistic expectation of attendees passes 20, we start looking for another venue.

Maybe a larger seminar/show/gathering can be planned in conjunction with the 2009 Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival.

Good?

Back to the shop now - I'll check back in this afternoon.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

David--

That sounds like a good plan to me. The interest in these get togethers is definitely growing and I find it inspiring as well as something that we all need to discuss. The leg-work almost always falls to a very few as impromptu groups expand. Perhaps we should make some time in September to talk about becoming a bit more organized and begin to figure out how to share the load of it. I'd love to see this group bring in the folks that you have mentioned. The LINT folks seem to have something like this going, but I really do think that it will take the active participation of at least half a dozen, if not more folks to pull it off. My $0.02.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

I really plan on making it. If it is an event where we invite buyers however, I probably won't attend. My purpose for attending is to learn and to meet all of you generous people who have so willingly shared on this forum. I am really looking forward to putting faces to the names I see here everyday (Non-photo shop faces that is)
Maybe you could have a contest to see who can match the photo shop photo with the real person.

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John Ressler

Excellent idea John buddy!!!!

Dave your plan sounds great to me - lets see what the confirmed, certified....., head-count will be and try to have it at your place if it does not exceed 20.001.

Jim are you volunteering? I am sure that we could use the help so thanks for that....

Looks like it!

Just let me know what I can do and I'll see what can happen.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Will do Jim and thanks buddy

I don't mind getting to Ann Arbor a day or two before the event to lend a hand.

Cheers

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

Well if we go over 20, it looks like I can get the old 2nd ward building for cheap - probably a few bucks a head. It's downtown, on Ashley between the Fleetwood and the old Nalli's music building for those who know the area. About 10 blocks from my shop, capacity of about 100, so plenty of room.

Maybe we can try to get a realistic tally by the weekend, and if need be I can try to get it reserved next week.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

I am not sure what I can do to help but I am more than willing if something is needed.

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Brad
Avon, OH

If the gathering was held on a different date, I could offer this place for free.

http://www.conklinreedorganmuseum.org/

However there's a big event on that weekend.
My wife is on the board and I'm a frequent volunteer for alot of their projects.

It used to be a high school. But now is a local museum. The old gym is home to many antique reed organs all of which
can be played, and people are encouraged to play them. Not shown in the picture of the gym is a small stage and about
5 rows of folding chairs in front. If you click on the "Heritage Park" link at the bottom of the page, there is a huge red building
that we would have access to. It's finished on the inside and has bathrooms and a kitchen.

It's really a cool place, especially for such a small community. All of it through private donations.

Keep it in mind. And by all means come and visit the museum anytime your in the area.

If there is anything else I could do to help, I'd be happy too.

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Horton, MI

Kirt my friend we picked the date for two reasons, first Bob Connor will be in town from Austrailia which is a rare event and second Saturdays work best for the most people. So we are pretty committed to this date but thanks for the offer of a very cool meeting place!

Brad buddy thanks for the offer of assistance too - we will let you know if there is something that you could do. At least this time you will not be driving in 20" of freshly fallen snow - I hope.....

David very cool on the second ward building!

No problem Hesh, I knew we were pretty much locked into the date this time.

The museum is not always being used on the weekends, but this particular date it is.

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Horton, MI

Seeing as how I will be at the game on that Saturday, I'm not quite sure if I will be able to attend (although I would like to). I also have to see how things work out with classes. I guess I will have a better idea when it gets closer to the date and I see how my class schedule works out.

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-Rob Eckert
Ann Arbor, Michigan

I would be pleased to attend, and thanks to Hesh, David and anyone else who has done work on this already. I know a builder or two around here who would probably want to ride along with me, and having someone to car pool with me sounds good. I'll know more about that as the time gets nearer.

It's always such a good time. I have an idea/suggestion....last time we had a good time playing music, and I wish more people would have done that! It is my guess that this thing will outgrow David's shop, and we'll need a hall or something. Now, these places most always seem to have some sort of a stage. It would be a shame to have all these guitars and some good players all present without taking advantage of that!
I would be willing to bring along a small PA system, I could take care of everything. Maybe we could set aside a little time at the end of our talking and "show and tell" to have a little "open mic" thing, or something. This could be as organized as we want it, (for example with a sign-up sheet, and we take turns and run down the list) or just a gaggle of strummers. If we did that I would prefer a more organized "take turns" approach because jam sessions turn into chaos quickly, and can discourage anyone from playing when others playing along don't know the songs.
We could use this time for any builders to have their instruments played by real musicians playing real songs and not just strumming a couple of chords. We could give serious listening time to each guitar that way.
These are just a few ideas, I'd be happy to organize this part of things should you folks want to do this.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

I would love to attend, it is real close to me in Windsor On.

Fred Tellier

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Hi Fred and welcome to the OLF to ya!

You are most certainly invited and continue to check out the forum in the future for details regarding the gathering.

Are you a guitar builder, new, experienced, etc?

Great to have you here.

Mark bro I knew that you would attend and I was going to email you and invite you personally. With the way things are looking in terms of the numbers that we may draw a PA is an excellent idea. Thanks for offering. I also like your ideas about putting some structure around the jamming and performing.

As a prerequisite we should all learn on our own in advance to play Smoke On The Water......

I will be happy to video the event again too and post the videos for all to see and hear.

Rob my friend if I recall you will be attending U of M right? We will have room for you bro or die trying so if you can make it be sure to let us know.

Update, first two venue choices are out. Second ward building is booked (Sunday would probably be fine, but don't know how that works for many). Pittsfield Grange hall (Excellent venue, right by Hesh's old place) is also booked. So I'm looking at a few other options.

I talked with a customer / professor at UofM school of music about space, and he could probably get us in at Burton Tower (the bell tower on central campus). Downsides, may cost a bit more, though there is the possibility of an "informal" reservation. It's a bit more presentation/lecture oriented though, and not so ideal for the open gathering atmosphere. It's also on central campus on a game day, so probably not a good idea.

There is a public school across the street from my shop (that my daughter will be in this fall), and they have a perfect small auditorium that I may be able to get, but I haven't talked with anyone just yet.

There is a Black Elks Lodge up around the corner from me that hosts jazz shows regularly and may be a good venue. I have a few friends that are members there, and it is often available for cheap, other than maybe a donation jar and them counting on us to be buying drinks at the bar.

Or I have a friend about ten miles west of town with a great property and a couple of really nice barns that he rents out for weddings and gatherings. One is primitive and setup as a beautiful performance space - he has shows often during the summer. The other is pretty much finished inside, at least one piano, nice kitchen for light catering, etc. This one really is a gorgeous space that may be ideal, and a bit more separated from game traffic as well. He's at a songwriters conference this weekend, and I'll talk to him about it early next week.

If none of these work out I've still got a few other resources I haven't tapped, from an art center, to EMU, to a really cool old prohibition-era speakeasy that hosts frequent concerts. Dunno.

I'm still keeping the option of just hosting at my shop. I'm planning a pretty big renovation and reorganization this summer, and I may just time it so that the meeting falls between the tear-down and the rebuild, leaving a lot more open space. That might bump the capacity to the 20-25 range, we'll see. Plus I have enough D'Addario points for about 20 stools so we should be able to handle seating.

I also have a number of top-notch musicians interested who would love to come around for an after-meeting jam, and could really put some instruments to the test and show what they can do. Depending on where we choose for the meeting, this could be and after-show in a different venue.

Lots of things to consider, and I hope to have a better idea how things are shaping up by next week.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.