Look What I Did This Weekend!
So I'm back from NAMM- National Association of Music Merchants' Convention. This has got to be on the Top Ten Most Wonderful Things Jaci's Done List.
One HUGE Convention Center... Four Floors of Exhibits... Band Members... Signings... Music... DJ... Lighting... Foreign.... OMG, Absolute Heaven.
Kaarin and I left at eight Thursday night... after our four and a half hour drive, one of my SoCal buddies, Helen, let us crash on her couch. We only got lost once! I took the wrong exit in El Monte- where Helen lives. Helen, by the way, has the warmest blankets and most comfy couch ever!
We were asleep around 2:30 and back up at 6! Whooop whooop! Getting to Anaheim from El Monte was crazy! We were in traffic for an hour, when according to our maps should have been twenty minutes. I took another wrong turn and ended up in the parking lot at Disney California! ha ha! Our attendent showed us the way and soon we were paying the $12 parking fee at NAMM.
We were early... met up with Kaarin's coworkers who were outside smoking- suprise suprise. Jeremy and Rick gave her their itenerary for the day and we were off! Kenny G was in the press booth- totally cool. Wicked Tinkers, who Kaarin loves was playing for the waiting NAMM goers *it was nine and the doors opened at ten*.
Once inside the Exhibit Room... I was overwhelmed by everything! It all sparkled! You should have seen the shiny brand new silver tubas, the brass baritones, multi colored wood clarinets, old english tenor saxes, rosewood laquered trombones. OMG, I was beaming! Kaarin had her list of booths to hit up. We met execs from Conn Selmer, Jupiter, Alfred Publishing, Daisy Rock, American DJ, Kaman. We rubbed shoulders with players of foreign instruments, artists, retail reps and students.
The highlight, though, is hearing and meeting the members of a Synergy- a brass quintet. A Brass Quintet consists of two trumpets, one trombone, one french horn and one tuba. The men of Synergy are breathtakingly well spoken and poised, their talent is miles above par, and let's not forget how kind and caring as well as knowledgable they were! They were so informative about playing, horn selection, audience membership, education, and forming an ensemble of one's own. Did you know they formed the group themselves? Yes, they met at Boston Conservatory... got together, asked for management, played gigs, got sponsorships- you name it, they did it. Its an All American Story! They were even kind enough to let me stalk them for some photo opportunities.
After the exercise at NAMM we had an elaborate gourmet dinner with the execs from CONN-SELMER. Conn Selmer happens to be one of the largest and more elegant manufacturers of music instruments. They also distribute Armstrong and LeBlanc, along with others including Bach. Dinner was at a fine place called Mr. Stox. Valet parking was the way of choice and jeans as well as tennis shoes were not allowed. Wine and delicious bread started our dinner. I'm not a wine drinker, but gosh... the red I had was mind blowing! Shrimp ****tail was our appetizer, followed by a walnut and cheese salad. We had our choice between fillet of beef (house favorite), salmon or chicken. And for Dessert... cheesecake with strawberries or chocolate gougay (I know I butchered that). I chose salmon and the cheese cake. The Salmon melted in my mouth, it was so delicious; the cheesecake was by far one of the best I've had!
I loved talking with Mr. Fulton of Conn-Selmer. He was intriguing. I suppose I made a great impression- he invited me to the Bach Plant Tour in May! Free room and board, all I gots to do is get there! OMG! Only retail people get to go!! I educated all of the ConnSelmer people about Foster Farms and their Foster Imposters... now I get to send them stuffed animals and merchandise, he he.
Following dinner we headed to JC Fandango for some VIP action. Kaarin and I were smokin' and danced all night long. We met up with her co-worker Cesar and his friend George. American DJ was hosting the party... thanks to Cesar's work with the reps, we got VIP passes and danced and drank on Ernie ha ha! George taught me how to dance to the spanish music- GREAT exercise by the way! I totally can hear Cesar in the background- "Go White Girl" lol! We got there at 10... didn't stop until 2:30... my go**** was a blast!
I did notice that both Kaarin and myself got lots of double looks he he. At Starbucks friday night (we got beautiful in their bathroom before dinner!), an older gentleman toasted us as we left! I didn't do anything differently than wha I normally do- smile, make eye contact, stand straight... and you wouldn't believe the amount of attention and door opening I got! It was a major ego boost, for sure!
All that was on Friday! Saturday morning, we lounged with Helen and her husband, Jose- watching Food Network. Around noon, Kaarin and I popped into West Covina to shop till we drop at Ikea. And Popping was like 30 minutes! After Ikea- where we got loads of stuff for under $50! After that, dude, the drive to Pasadena took forever! But I got to meet Beth- whom I've known online from the WLS Boards for over two years! We also shopped at Goodwill- dude, everyone in Pasadena has to be a size small or medium! ha ha! I did get two items- a polo shirt and black and white dress! Whoot Whoot!
This trip was soooo needed to keep my mind together. I have been under so much stress and chaos... its not even cool. The greatness I felt in the big city just provided more proof that I need to be in a bigger place- something more active. The bumper to bumper traffic, the teeny tiny roads, the huge parking garages- omg... I was in heaven!!!!!
Bring it On, Pittsburgh, Boston, Manhattan, New York (insert other Big City here)
lady that lives vicariously through her young friends like you. No, I just like to know that you are finally enjoying your life to the fullest.
Hazel 
Glad you had such a great experience !!!!
Hugs!
Renee 
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