IBMA gig fair Weds. Sept. 30

Joe Steiner, Linda Winger and myself participated in the IBMA gig fair from 1:15p to 3:30p. Each band gets 7 minutes to pitch themselves. NIBGA and the bands exchange one sheets which has brief information about each other.

As to be expected some were not what would fit at Kendallville but we did find several bands that Joe will be in contact with to explore 2010 festivals.

Sadly, I found two folks during this event who did not Jim Cornell died last week, Andrea Roberts and Frank Ray. Both knew Jim. Andrea has known Jim since the 1970s and  Frank said he had talked with Jim earlier this month.

I need to contact IBMA and have them put a note in their newsletter.

NIBGA get acquainted at IBMA Sept. 29

Bull Harmon and Bullseye does a couple of quick numbers in the NIBGA suite on Tuesday evening. Great way to start the NIBGA showcase suite.

Late night Monday at IBMA

We didn't get to bed until about 2:45a. Sat up and talked about Chris Cooperriders upcoming presentation in the Volunteer seminar to be held on Tuesday morning.

Linda and I were awakened with a 7a (8a Indiana) phone call from an event producer member wanting information on three bands. It was hard to go back to sleep so we groggily got up and got ready to go.

Jim attended the Video on the web 101 seminar and Linda was at the Recruiting Volunteer seminar.

Chris did great Linda said. The audience was amazed that a festival could be run on a $25 weekend ticket with true volunteers. The two other panelists had over 500 paid volunteers. (tickets, real cash, food, etc.)

Jim spoke with a lawyer about changing from a 501C4 to a 501C3 organization. It looks like it is doable but will take time this winter to make it happen.

We will be moving the sound equipment down to the NIBGA showcase room at 2:15a. Time for a little inter-eye inspection.

NIBGA Contingent arrives at IBMA

Six of us arrived at the Renaissance Marriott hotel and Nashville, TN Convention center for the IBMA conference today. Our rooms were ready. We were able to unload the Excursion into our rooms. It took 3 bell carts! Joe and Chris had the sound and 15 banjos for a class they were teaching. It took 4 bell carts for them.

After settling in, we registered for the conference and attend seminars. The first was The State of the Industry, a panel led discussion. Key points were that artist need more money to travel and fans need professional entertainment.

A quick lunch and off to more seminars. We split up and attended three different sessions, each very informative.

At 3p we browsed the exhibit area before heading back to our rooms for a little inter-eye inspection before the key note speaker at dinner tonight. After dinner are official IBMA showcases until 11p followed by late night showcases that conclude around 2a.

Jim Cornell dies

Jim passed away around 4:30a September 24. The funeral will be private with a life celebration to be announced.

Jim was a founding member of NIBGA and served on the first board of directors in 1976. He has been active in the club every since.

Little Nashville, IN Opry Destroyed by Fire

Investigators in Nashville, Ind., are still trying to determine the cause of a weekend fire that destroyed the Little Nashville Opry, a popular concert venue for country music artists since 1975.

No one was injured in the blaze that broke out late Saturday (Sept. 19) following a concert. The Little Nashville Opry is not affiliated with the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., although the concert hall has presented a long list of country performers, including Johnny Cash and George Strait. The venue's schedule included upcoming shows by George Jones, Bobby Bare, Loretta Lynn, Asleep at the Wheel, Sawyer Brown and Bucky Covington.

According to the Brown County Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the Little Nashville Opry has canceled all remaining shows for the season. The recent fire has totally destroyed the historic building including instruments, equipment and memorabilia. The Visitor's Bureau noted that several offers were made from venues throughout Brown County, offering to work with the Opry to keep the scheduled performances, but the enormity of the problem is too massive to deal with at this time.

The Opry is requesting that all ticket holders who are requesting a refund follow these procedures:

• If you have purchased tickets through Ticketmaster, contact Ticketmaster directly for a refund.
• If you have purchased tickets through the Opry box office, please mail your tickets and/or verification of your ticket purchase along with your contact information and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: The Little Nashville Opry, PO Box B, Nashville, IN 47448
  

The Visitor's Bureau says that all records, including ticket purchases were destroyed in the fire. Those awaiting refunds should allow at least a 60 days to receive their money back.

More pictures and story

New Kentucky Colonel

Hey Jim and Linda,

I thought I would let you all know I am now an official Kentucky Colonel. Thanks for all the support and I'm blessed enough to accomplish another one of my goals in life. Terry Thacker

Taxi drivers at the Labor Day festival

A HUGE heart-felt “thank you” to all of the taxi drivers for the Labor Day Tri-State Festival!!! We ran two taxis from the stage to the parking lot and/or campgrounds the entire time bands were on stage. Our volunteer numbers more than doubled from last year – proving how much FUN it is to drive the taxi. Where else can you wear a little white vest, carry a radio, and zip around on four wheels, while listening to the best bluegrass in the Midwest??

Every volunteer told me that their passengers were very appreciative of the taxi service, and plans are already underway to improve that service for next year. In addition to the volunteers that drove the “official” taxies, I’d like to thank all of the board members who used their golf carts to shuttle people around. They were kept very busy, too!!

The taxis ran for 35 two-hour shifts. Below are the volunteers (with the number of shifts in parenthesis if they ran more than one). Thank you so much for your time! I hope to see you again in the spring!

(names omitted)

Chris Cooperrider - taxi coordinator

Thanks from a gate captain

I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who gave their time on the gate at the Labor Day festival. You were an outstanding group of volunteers!

We were well manned for almost every shift and that has been a rarity for the last couple of festivals, I even got a chance to listen to several of the bands, what a treat.

So from all of us we again thank all the veteran and the new volunteers.

Pam Keiper- Gate Captain

Owensboro Executive Inn to be torn down

Fans and friends of the former Executive Inn Hotel will have their chance to take home a piece of the 'Big E' when the hotel's doors open to the public one last time during a Public Liquidation Sale opening Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 10:00 am.

The City of Owensboro has contracted with National Content Liquidators, Inc. (NCL) of Springboro, OH, leading experts in hotel liquidation management, to divest the property of all saleable assets to make way for demolition of the property for future redevelopment.

Thanks to the gate workers at the festival

Wow !!! What a turn out for the festival. Sure couldn't complain about the weather. I think everyone's stars were in line , if their is such a thing.
The woolly worms tell me that next spring will be the same Hum mm...Sometimes I wonder if there all that trust worthy.

But one thing I know for sure...the volunteers for the gate did their part. The numbers were way up from spring { 32 total } this time 54 total volunteers and for this I would like to thank the following wonderful people who make it a pleasure to work the gate: (names deleted)

Again Thanking One & All,

Paul Saurborn for the gate captains.

Fan note about Labor Day festival

fWOW! What a lineup! There was not a bad group there. Fantastic job Joe (Steiner) and Christine (Cooperrider)! I can't decide who my favorite was but my favorite performace was when the Toy Hearts and Davidson Brothers where on stage together. Awesome does not begin to describe it!

I also liked Avery Trace and Cumberland Gap Connection. But as I said ALL was outstanding!
Thanks so much to everyone who worked so hard to have such a wonderful event!

Sincerely,
Bob Watkins
Bellefontaine, Ohio

Appalachian Grass was at Tri-State

Howdy!

This note is coming to you via the courtesy wireless network at the NIBGA Festival in Kendallville, IN. Appalachian Grass played Thursday and Friday then Vernon and I stayed here with our vending booth and did lots of jamming and visiting. Beyoootiful weather all weekend!!!

Next weekend on Thursday and Friday, Sept 10 and 11, Appalachian Grass is playing at Bearcreek Farms' Bluegrass Weekend. Our shows on Thursday are 11:00a to and 5:30pm. Also featured on Thursday is the Robinson Family.
Friday we play at noon and 6:00pm; James Monroe and the McCormick Brothers will also be picking. Both of our shows are in the outdoor tent so you might need lawn chairs. Friday evening, Vernon and I will be Jamming with all comers from 9pm till 11 in Club Bearcreek, so bring your axe!
Saturday's featured performer is Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top Express. We can't be there that day, it will be a good show.

Saturday, Sept 12 takes us to Secrest Auditorium in Zanesville, OH for the FOP benefit show. Showtime is 6pm and featured bands are Appalachian Grass, Muleskinner, and Northwest Territory.

Come join us at one gig or all!

Thanks.



Kitty McIntyre
20322 US 33
Wapakoneta, OH 45895
fotmc@iglou.com www.fotmc.com
419-568-1220 513-607-1874