Anyone know cmsa schedule of events?

[sailaway]

THe CMSA website has various forms for registration, etc. but I am unable to find any program or schedule for the convention . Since not many people can go for the entire time Wed 11-17 to Sun 11-21 , it would be useful to know who is doing /playing/teaching what on which day, so we can make our attendance plans. Does any one have a final schedule ?

Thanks !

[John Goodin]

This is one of my favorite gripes about an altogether great event. (Bruce, are you listening?) It's very difficult to plan without knowing what is happening when. I will make sure that Bruce and the members of the board hear this concern as I run into them.

Don't let this deter you from attending. There is always something good going on during the day and the concerts at night are always great.

John Goodin

[sailaway]

Thanks, John. I'd like to go but this is quite a long road to travel without knowing just who will be doing what and when. Unfortunately , my schedule does not permit me to escape to Phila 9a 6 hour drive away) for the entire conference so knowing who is on what day would make the planning a whole lot simpler. For example, I would love to hear Charley Rappaport who plays eastern european music, and Carlo Aonzo for the old italian masters, and Butch Baldassari for the cantablile and bluegrassy stuff - but I can't get there til Sat. or Sun, so who might I be hearing ? I have talked to 2 or 3 other mando players from this neighborhood and not knowing who will be doing what makes it impossible to carpool -- as people don't want to commit all that time and money without a clear picture of what's happening. (I hope the description comes up on the web before the deadline for reduced rate registrations ....) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[John Goodin]

Sailaway. I've been offline for a couple of days or I would have responded sooner. I wish I knew what was happening when also. I've been able to commit to a fairly long stay but I understand just what you mean about making plans. If the past is any guide, Saturday will almost certainly feature a big concert with the en masse orchestra and at least some of the featured performers. Probably the big banquest will be that afternoon or evening as well. Sunday morning is often when the business meeting is held and not too much else. I'll be sorry if there is a more full program on Sunday because I have to leave early that morning.

If the program does get posted before the conference starts you might try contacting someone and ask for the early bird rate anyway. If I had any pull I would try to help. It seems that people who are interested enough to ask about the convention ought to be encouraged to attend.

John Goodin

[Jim Garber]

Here (http://www.munierorchestra.org/CMSA2004/tickets.html) (at least) is the concert info for the convention.

Jim

[John Goodin]

Jim. Thanks very much for posting this link. What a lineup!

I hope this will inspire some folks who live in the region to consider attending at least one of these great shows; even if they can't find time for the convention itself.

John Goodin

[vkioulaphides]

While we're at it, please shed some light:

I am swamped with rehearsals and performances in New York most of the days of the CMSA convention; still, I would absolutely love to scoot over to Philly and catch at least some of the events.

How does one go about that? Participation, in the true sense, is sadly not feasible for me, in light of the grind I'm in. Does one simply come in and "join the festivities"? I would be perfectly happy to come in as a regular, paying audience member.

Please let me know, those of you who have had the fortune and pleasure of attending other such events.

[Jim Garber]

I will probably only be there for Saturday and Sunday. I was told that there is a daily rate of $35 which you can pay when you come in. The banquet Saturday evening costs another $35 so the full reg price for the whoe event for me would be close to the same. I may consider coming one daytime during the workweek but that would be a lot of driving for one day and i would prob have to be back in the evening.

Jim

[John Goodin]

I've been able to attend 6 or 7 CMSAs and usually they are pretty loosely run events. There really aren't that many people who would be interested enough in mandolins to crash the convention. I suspect that if anyone shows up on a given day with limited time a reasonable accommodation would be made to allow them to attend and/or participate. The concerts are all open to the public and the after concert jam sessions (depending on the hotel) tend to be in public areas. I've often been part of jam sessions with local musicians who aren't registered for the conference itself. I'm pretty sure that the vendor booths are open to the public as well. The more the merrier.

John Goodin

[Scott Tichenor]

I just received the CMSA schedule of events from Bruce Graybill and posted it on their website (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cmsa/convention.html).

[sailaway]

Thanks for all of your help in finding out the schedules for these workshops and concerts. It sounds like a wonderful convention. I hope the information as to next years' events is available sooner . It would be much easier to plan how much time we need to take as vacation , away from work ...

[John Goodin]

Thanks to Bruce and Scott for making the schedule available. As usual it looks like a great program. Only a few weeks to go!

John Goodin