Chicago Get Together

[gjatkins]

Any interest in Chicago-area Taylor owners getting together?

Maybe we can sponsor an event or concert?

I have experience in doing this kind of thing.

Or we can simply get together and have a jam session or do dinner?

Give me your ideas.

Maybe we can special order TGF-Chicago t-shirts now that they're permissible:)

[MJH]

I'm in Illinois, but down by St. Louis. It would depend on the weekend, but my wife & I might be up for a trip to Chicago.

Mark

[jacoben]

I would be very interested depending on the date you choose.....

[mgrasse]

Great idea. I'd probably be able to make it (depending on the weekend).

[Kroslos]

I'd also be interested. Since I just started playing, I can't really do any real playing/jamming. I'd just like to meet some other Taylorites and receive some playing pointers (and talk about our guitars!)

By the way, I'm in Naperville.

[crowdedstr]

that would be awesome. i live in the southern-most part of WI, but i work in northbrook and am in the city all the time, so i'd love to meet up, play, etc.

not sure how soon my taylor will get in from the custom shop, but regardless, i'm definitely in.

donald.becker@marquette.edu

-don

[jeffreyem]

Might be fun. I'm traveling a lot in the near future, but have been looking for opportunities to get together woth other musicians. I'm in Deerfield, but work in Schiller Park.

Jeff

[taylorman]

I'm in!
And I'd offer to help host it!
-Dave

[jimklein]

Keep me posted on this!

[gjatkins]

I live in Evanston. I'm sure Pipsqueak will want in once he hears about it as well.

I'll post a pole to get the best month for all or most of us. I live near a big guitar shop, Guitar Works, and maybe they'd be willing to host it for us?

Thanks for chiming in.

Blessings,
George

[jeffreyem]

I'm at Guitar Works every Monday night (when I'm in town). I don't know that they have the space to host 6-10 people sitting around playing acoustics.

[gjatkins]

jeffreyem, do you take lessons there? If so, with whom. I'm there every Friday taking lessons with Tom Klien.

Anyway, I was there for a Doyle Dykes clinic and I think they can make the space. There was roughly 60 people for that event.

I emailed them and asked what they thought. It would be cool to sit in the accoustic room and chat and jamm.

Maybe we can partner together to host another clinic with either Doyle or someone else. It would be a great marriage between Taylor, the Forum, and a local guitar shop.

What do you think?

gjatkins@earthlink.net

[Pipsqueak]

yep...you're right...I'm in!...sounds really exciting. I'm with Kroslos on the playing...I won't be able to hold a stick (or a pick) to you guys, but it will still be a blast.

I like the Guitar Works idea. I'm biased because I bought my guitar there, but it's a great shop and atmosphere.

George, I'm pretty busy for the month of February, esp. through the 23rd with deadlines at work, but let me know how I can help.

[gjatkins]

I'm not a great player either, started back up after a 10 year absence. So there it is. Most of us are mediocre, but we all love to play Taylors.

Maybe we can start a band? How about "The Average Taylor Players." That would be a disgrace to Taylor, since nothing about Taylor is average.

Funy thing is, you get at least one or two good players and the rest of us can play rythm, and then we all sound good.

Another idea is to circulate a play list before the get-together with tabs and chords we all can work on so that when we show up there is at least 5 to 10 tunes we can jam on.

I know, my mind never stops, the ideas just keep rolling

:roll:

[JJFIELDS]

Count me in! I can get anywhere in the Chicago area as long as I have a little lead time.

You can see me play every(almost) Sunday morning at Riverside Community Church in St Charles, IL at the Baker Center. One block south of Rt 64(North Ave) on Rt 31.

Maybe we could coordinate with a local music store and get Doyle Dykes to do his thing, he still has open bookings in the summer.

[gjatkins]

JJFIELDS, I was thinking the same thing.

I'm currenlty talking with Guitar Works in Evanston to host another clinic with Doyle Dykes. He did one last year and it was a huge success. I would then book him to do worship the next day at my church, First Pres Evanston.

Another option would be for us to sponsor a concert at the local Irish Pub, Nevin's Live, or bring in somebody else as an event. Something else I'm working on for church.

I'll keep you informed how Guitar Works responds and how the Nevin's thing turns out. The Nevin's concert won't be until summer anyway.

I'm open to all sorts of ideas. It doesn't have to be in Evanston, but its the area I know with the most contacts.

[Kroslos]

OK - Let's do it!

Need an ORGANIZER - Any Volunteers?

Need a DATE - a near-term weekend would work best for me

Need a LOCATION - are most people from the greater Chicago area?

Looking forward to it!

[ehautama]

I have the place....my church...it's actually the basement of an old marchal fields...

We have a small stage & sound system...and we won't be space limited...we seat about 250...the building and interior are not churchy in any way. We could probably get a whole Saterday and have food brought in....I would need to seek approval on this of course!

It is about 8 blocks north of Guitar Works in Evanston...downtown evanston! One block east of the century theatre.

I know somebody that could do a guitar workshop...professional with several fingerstyle cd's on market...Great teacher!

give me a date and I can help bring this together.

I live about 5 minutes north of downtwon evanston.

erichautamaki@yahoo.com

[crowdedstr]

Originally posted by ehautama
I have the place....my church...it's actually the basement of an old marchal fields...

We have a small stage & sound system...and we won't be space limited...we seat about 250...the building and interior are not churchy in any way. We could probably get a whole Saterday and have food brought in....I would need to seek approval on this of course!

It is about 8 blocks north of Guitar Works in Evanston...downtown evanston! One block east of the century theatre.

I know somebody that could do a guitar workshop...professional with several fingerstyle cd's on market...Great teacher!

give me a date and I can help bring this together.

I live about 5 minutes north of downtwon evanston.

erichautamaki@yahoo.com

that would be awesome. anyone have more suggestions about dates or anything? personally, i'm very flexible on weekends, so i dont really have a preference one way or another!

[JJFIELDS]

I know it sounds like a long time, but this would be a great summer event! Make a full Saturday of it, picnic, jamming, and maybe Doyle at Guitar Works in the evening. Maybe we can even get BT himself to come out if the weather is somewhat Cal-like!


Jeff

[TimB]

As an attendee and organizer of local get-togethers I'd like to reiterate and clarify my advice to the Texans.

DON'T WAIT! :)

This doesn't have to be the ultimate event of all time. You need a core (think single digits) of people to agree on a date and then grow it out of that. Some others will be able to make the date, some won't and you'll discover area members you didn't know about coming out of the wood too.

If you can get a local store and/or celebrity involved, that's great but don't let that be a barrier. Making that kinda thing actually happen can be painful (ask some of the Texas folks.)

The reports of Rick Crider's mega-NC events are great and that's a worthwhile deal but it takes a LOT of work, organization and a very co-operative local dealer.

At the small end in DC (not a major market) we've had events with 5+ forum members in my basement and at Cakes' home. I attended a mid-sized event in St Augustine that several of us traveled to that was VERY successful (like lifetime memorable) that had one of our members arrange for us to borrow his condo's social room/common space.

This doesn't have to be huge. The primary goal is to get y'all together to talk and play and to do it quickly (IMHO) and then grow other events out of that.

Just some constructive advice. :)

-=Tim=-

[mgrasse]

BUMP.

Church idea sounds great. Let's pick a weekend and go for it.

[ehautama]

Here are a couple of dates:

march 29th

April 26th

May 3

[taylorman]

If some folks want to contact me, I will be the organizer.
Also, I beleive I have a location available in Villa Park, IL.
Let me know!

dave@guitaradoptions.com

[jeffreyem]

Just post or email when it is and I'll try and be there. I have a very busy travel schedule in the next two months.
Jeff

[mgrasse]

Originally posted by ehautama
Here are a couple of dates:

march 29th

April 26th

May 3

My vote is for March 29, but I can make all three. Thanks Taylorman for taking the reins.

[jeffreyem]

I can't make March 29th, as of now I can make April 26th. I can always try to make a different one if that doesn't work.

Jeff

[mgrasse]

How 'bout April 26th then?

[JJFIELDS]

I'm in for April 26th if that suits everyone else!

Dave, if I can help with anything, please feel free to E-mail me!


Jeff

[taylorman]

No one has contacted me yet!
I have allot of potential things that I can line up if we do it!
Other builders, workshops, demonstrations, freebies, etc...
Let me know guys!

dave@guitaradoptions.com