Lefty - if you're gonna pick me up I might just have to attend. Of course, you might have to do all the driving 'cause I can't drive a lefty...

Guys, Thanks for the encouragement for this beginnner to attend. The late September/early October dates definitely work for me, and I would love to participate.

United Airlines has been allowing me to carry my guitar on board, but that has been a Taylor 812C (a concert size guitar in a gig bag). I traded that in on my Collings D2HBaA, and I have yet to see if they will allow me to carry a larger guitar on board. I generally flash a big smile to the stewardesses and ask if I can place it in the closet. So far I've been turned down only once (she must have had a long shift) and did have to use the overhead. I'm flying to Phoenix in a few weeks, and I let you know how I fare.

Either a hotel or B&B sounds great to me. I've been involved in planning for a number of conferences for my type of business, and we generally are able to negotiate a reduced room rate in return for a group of folks staying in the place.

I do look forward to this. And, I can't wait to tour the factory as well as meet all of the great folks on this forum.

I work late a couple of nights and look what happens!

Allen, count me in. Looks like two things are happening to make this different from last year - help from two great shops, and a lot more initial interest. I too like the idea of finding a place where we can all stay, play into the wee hours, and would stay there as well. ESPECIALLY if there's enough of us to get a group rate. That's the early committment though, but if we had 20 people, some traveling with a partner, we ought ot be able to swing something. So come on people - let's keep hearing from you!

And Billy Boy, I'm another beginner who was shy and nervous about playing with others. Three of us ended up together last year, and it was a terrific experience. Music is made to be shared, after all, and it feels mighty good to make it together. And a music producer friend of mine said that you really need to play with other people to play better. I'll still be nervous, but I've at least had the experience and found that there is no judgement, and playing with someone better makes you sound better and inspires you to practice.

As far as the weekend - I think Wimberly has a Market Day/Craft Fair on the first weekend of every month, and that might be something to plan on - my wife would love to spend a day at the market while I spent a day in Kevin's shop, or at Roy Noble's, or...

If you guys decide to stay in Wimberley, I'd be happy to take the load off Allen and have you ship your guitars to my shop. Since I have a daily UPS delivery and pickup anyway, it might be a little easier for me.

The RMMGA (rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic) has one of their annual gatherings here in Wimberley. They stay at a B&B on one of the creeks that has a lot of individual cabins and a meeting room for jams. It's a little rustic, but pretty cool. I could arrange a simple PA if people wanted to try an open mic thing.

A lot of those guys bring their wives, girlfriends, significant others. Wimbereley is a little tourist town in the hill country of Texas with a lot of great shoppping (antiques, blown glass, art galleries, etc.) You can check out the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce website to see all the shops.

I'm also going to look into the possibility of a shuttle van service of some sort. If you stay out here, we need to get all you guys into Austin to Pat's shop, Quincy's. But also for a night on the town in Austin where everyone can have a good time and not have to worry about driving.

Let's make this the biggest/best gathering yet.

kdd

i missed last year but i'll come this year just to hear rockerbob live and unplugged! [g]

/guy

Hmmmm...let's see...end of September...If all continues well, my wife will be over 8 months pregnant with #1. Should I make a trip to Austin? Probably NOT! So I'll miss this one. But I'll have to get to Signal Hill Drive sometime!

Eric

quote:

Originally posted by golftango:
i missed last year but i'll come this year just to hear rockerbob live and unplugged! [g]

/guy

You mean I can't bring my Marshall stacks?



Here is a clip of Rockerbob unplugged. One of the very first recording I did with my Collings OM3C, back in early 2001.

http://www.rockerbob.com/mp3/traveler.mp3

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rockerbob,

Rockerbob, Love it! We need to hear more of your unplugged sound! Thanks! Billy Boy

Okay, the tentative dates for the Gathering are Sept 29 - Oct 2. If there aren't multiple strong objections to those dates between now and next Friday then those will be the final dates.

Here's a tentative itinerary. This is just an outline right now. I'll fill in the details as things are finalized.

2005 Collings Forum Gathering Tentative Itinerary

Sept 29 - Oct 2

Thursday September 29
3:00 Checkin at Gathering hotel/B&B
6:30 Welcome dinner

Friday September 30
8:30-10:00 Breakfast
10:30-Lunch Collings Factory Tour
Lunch
Free Time
6:30-?? Acoustic Jam at Quincy's Guitars

Saturday October 1
9:00-10:30 Breakfast
10:30:12:30 HCG and Quincy's Guitars Collings Inventory Showcase
12:30-1:30 Lunch
3:00-?? Guitar Clinic at HCG
6:30-?? Collings Forum Open Mic and All Star Jam

Sunday October 2
9:00-10:30 Breakfast
Checkout and depart

I would love to come. Schedule and cost will determine. Although I prefer the atmosphere of B&B's over hotels, with the price of gas today a hotel might be better...

David

The dates look fine. Good initial draft of itinerary. I agree with David that a hotel would likely be less expensive, and that would help with overall costs for those of us flying in or driving quite a ways. But, I can go with whatever the group decides. I am already excited about this.

Septemeber 29th is my birthday.

Perfect!!!!!!