Nazfest wooo hooo!!!!!!!

[mjz]

Just strung up the Turner Model One. Gonna shine up the brazilian. They're headed to the guitar show at the Martin factory.
Gotta work through some songs on the D45V. Gonna play the open mic on Sunday. First time my Amulet system will be heard in public.

It's NazFest time!

Over 300 UMGFers descending on Nazareth for a get-together, factory tour, lunch with the CEO, workshop participation, and two day long jam session.

I know Meridian is going. I'll get to see the Johnson and the Rowan in the show and he plans on playing the Blake. Is anyone else headed to Nazereth? Is it just Meridian and me? I'd love to put a face to some AGF names -- won't you join us?

max

I pulled into Nazareth,
Was Feelin' 'bout half past dead.
I just need some place, where I can lay me head.
"Hey mister can you tell me, where a man might find a bed?"
He just grinned, shook my hand,
"No" was all he said.

[ricks]

I won't be able to make it, so Max, you and Joe keep them boys in line for me.
Tell Dick Boak I said HI. (but I still have not received my copy of the Sounding Board yet with the pic of my MARTIN bridge pins in it?)
Tell Joe to be careful with "MY" Norm.
Maybe next year I can swing the trip north. We'll just have to see.

[Bern]

Just strung up the Turner Model One. Gonna shine up the brazilian. They're headed to the guitar show at the Martin factory.
Gotta work through some songs on the D45V. Gonna play the open mic on Sunday. First time my Amulet system will be heard in public.

It's NazFest time!

Over 300 UMGFers descending on Nazareth for a get-together, factory tour, lunch with the CEO, workshop participation, and two day long jam session.

I know Meridian is going. I'll get to see the Johnson and the Rowan in the show and he plans on playing the Blake. Is anyone else headed to Nazereth? Is it just Meridian and me? I'd love to put a face to some AGF names -- won't you join us?

max


For how long will the show go on ? I will be visiting Martin some time after August, 22.

[Taylor007]

We want pics. and lots of them, OK?!

[mjz]

For how long will the show go on ? I will be visiting Martin some time after August, 22.

Ahh, sorry Bern. The show is only on Monday the 8th. Change those travel plans and join us :)

max

[jimklein]

I'm jealous... Have lots o fun & report everything...

:)

[Hondo]

Sounds like a good time!

[dobieboy]

When is Naz Fest? Is it open to the public, I'm only 45 min away>

Thanks, Michael

[Taylor007]

When is Naz Fest? Is it open to the public, I'm only 45 min away>

Thanks, Michael
Go to www.UMGF.com for the details. Yes you can go, its open to everyone.

[mjz]

This is going to be fun!!!!

Here is the latest information following a staff meeting at Martin this morning, which I was invited to attend.

1. Registration. The final Registration List has been submitted to Martin, and those on the list will be the individuals who will go on the private tours. I’’ll also have a copy of the list over the weekend just for general info.

2. Sign-In. A copy of the Registration List will be at the front desk when you arrive on Monday. Please check off your name when you get there. This is not to check up on you, it’s to help me and Martin come up with a better estimate of the “no-show” percentage for planning the tours and the lunch next year.

3. UMGF Tags. Once you sign in, you and your party will be given an Unofficial Visitor’s Pass. If you are bringing registered guests (whether or not identified by name), please be sure that they accompany you when you sign in so that they can get tags as well. These tags are basically the key to everything that’s going on at Martin for us, including:

a. The tour.
b. Free goodies at the 1833 Shop.
c. A special price for purchases at the 1833 Shop.
d. Lunch

4. The Tours. They will start at 7:30 am and will go out every 15 minutes until 10:00, which will be the last. There can be up to 16 people per group. I will have sign-in sheets available Saturday and Sunday so that you can sign up for the time you would like, and I will give these to Martin early on Monday. If you can’t sign up then, the sheets will be available in the 1833 Shop on Monday.

Please try to remember what tour you signed up for, and please also make every effort to get there on time. If you arrive early, you may be able to go on an earlier tour if there is room. If you arrive late, you will be put on standby for the tour. In either event, please go to the 1833 Shop to check in for your tour.

5. Q&A with Chris. This will be from 11:00 to 11:45. We will be in the Sawmill, as in last year. The 9:45 and 10:00 tours may go directly to the Sawmill. The rest of us need to be assembled in the main downstairs lobby in the Visitors Center at 10:50, and we will proceed from there to the Sawmill as a group.

6. Photo Opportunity. We are scheduled for a group photo at 1:30. This will be outside in front of the facade of the new building. Pick up your guitar for the photo if there is time, but that's not critical. Getting YOU in the photo is!!

7. Fretted Instruments Exhibition. We will be showing 23 instruments which our members have offered for display. Please bring your instrument to the reception desk between 7:00 and 10:00 Monday morning. You will be asked to fill out a registration/display card and present a photo ID for security purposes. You will need this ID as well to take your instrument out of the building. This is all for security purposes.

The Exhibition will be on the second floor of the Visitors Center, in a special room reserved just for this purpose. There will be security personnel in the room at all times. The guitars will be for display only and are not available to be played by visitors. In addition to our guitars and other instruments, Martin employees are bringing quite a lot too, so there will be perhaps 60 or more guitars on display. There will be a booklet (just one - not a handout) at the door containing all the information which was submitted about the various instruments.

The Exhibit will be open at 11:00 and will run through the day, but we can remove our guitars any time we wish. A limited number of stands will be available, but we are encouraged to bring our own.

8. Pickin’ Parlor. Martin will offer a Pickin’ Parlor again this year and will have most of the July NAMM prototypes there, including the D-18 Authentic 1937. These are not just to look at - you can play them! This also will run from about 11:00 to 1:30, although it may open earlier. It will be in a separate room on the second floor of the Visitors Center.

9. Open Mike. We have 8 participants for the Open Mike, which will take place during lunchtime. We are covering the 12:00 to 1:30 slot. If you are one of the performers, either look for me in the reception area or ask for Bert Germick to set up your specific time. The Open Mike will take place in the Museum area (to the left of the reception desk), and you will note that it is just one big empty room at this point (except that it is serving as the lunch room on Monday).

10. Lunch. Martin will provide a catered lunch, which will be served cafeteria style on the first floor of the Visitors Center and then taken into the Museum to eat. It will served be from noon until about 1:15. The menu will feature Turkey BBQ, Roasted Chicken, Vegetarian Baked Ziti, Tossed Salad, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Lemonade, Iced Tea & Water, and Fruit & Brownies. Martin employees will share the lunch with us and join us at the tables.

11. Parking at Martin. This will again be in the Shoeneck Moravian Church lot, on the right as you are driving up North Broad Street towards Martin. The church is an old red brick building, and the turnoff into the lot is right before it, next to a 35 MPH sign. If you get to Mijavo's pizza place, you've gone too far.

12. Guitar Storage. This will be in a separate room on the second floor of the Visitors Center. There will be tags at the front desk for you to identify your cases. This is more for not getting things mixed up when we leave than for security, but of course Martin will not be liable for any loss or damage. There will be signs directing you, and I will be around to escort you up as well.

13. Guitar Signing. Chris will be available for guitar signing from 12:30 to 1:15. This will take place in the open area on the second floor of the Visitors Center.

14. Setups. The feeling again was that this service could not be offered this year due to the large number of expected attendees and limited staff.

15. Closing. Martin starts its quarterly Employee Meeting at 2:15. However, unlike prior years, the building will remain open (except for the 1833 Shop).

16. Guests at the Park. All Martin employees will be invited to join us on Sunday and on Monday after their meeting, so please welcome those who show up warmly.

17. Parking at Nazareth Boro Park. Parking will be in the main lot. The Large Pavilion is ours both days, and there is plenty of parking. The rest rooms are across the parking lot from the Large Pavilion.

18. The Comfort Inn. Cheers is no longer operated as a bar - it is only open in the mornings for the Continental breakfast. However, the Comfort Inn has given us private access on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights. We can bring our own refreshments into Cheers. It’s essential that we clean up thoroughly after we’re done each night. I have also reserved the Morgan Room (the conference room next to Cheers) for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Note: The chairs in Cheers all have arms on them.

19. Name Tags. Thanks to the outstanding efforts of Rhys Ord, we will have special name tags available to us starting on Sunday at the Pavilion. A small contribution to cover the cost of these is appreciated but not necessary. If you beg hard enough, Nicole will put your name tag on you!

20. Attendee Directory. Yet another great feature this year is an Attendee Directory, compiled and published by Michael Murie (MichaelM). He will have 150 copies available for us. I have seen this document, and I can tell you that it is an absolutely outstanding piece of work.

21. Bumper Stickers. In adition to the name tags and attendee directories, I believe that Dennis Whalen (OMpicker) may have some NazFest 2005 bumper stickers available. A requested donation to the UMGF of $3.00 is solicited.

21. Admin/General Info Area. I will set this up in the Large Pavilion at the end nearest the Concession Stand and on the parking lot side. I will have Tour sign-in sheets, a copy of this update, the list or registrants, a copy of the Longworth book, a cell phone, a guitar tuner, some tools, and other useful stuff there. The Contributions Jar, Name Tags, Attendee Directory and Bumper Stickers will also be in this area.

The Buy and Sell area for anyone bringing guitars, CD’s etc. will be directly across the Pavilion from the Admin area.

22. Voluntary Contributions. I estimate that $5.00 per adult will cover my out of pocket costs for everything. Any excess after the cost of the new D-18 Authentic 1937 that you all are unwittingly paying for will be donated to the UMGF.

23. Weather. The heat wave is supposed to break over the weekend, so we can expect temperatures in the mid-80's with the chance of thunderstorms both days. Please be on the alert for anyone who seems to be suffering from heat exhaustion or related problems.

As you can see, Martin is pulling out all the stops for us for this event. Let’s be sure that we let everyone know how much we appreciate all of this!!

Thanks mac!!!!!!!!!!!