This is why we have the McJam each June for a weekend of fun and music. Many are AGF members, but that's not a requirement.

We limit it to no more than 50, but we average 35 people. We have a small fee so I can afford to feed everyone. We have it at our home shop so people can see where McKnight Guitars are made and meet the luthier. This is the time to meet other customers and to discuss any guitar they want to discuss. They don't have to be a customer. Just have to enjoy and appreciate the art of guitars and respect the others who are playing. There are motels 10 minutes down the road but we have had a few times someone would pack a tent or sleep in a clean man cave shed. We have open mic, but nobody is required to sing or play. Husbands come with friends or they bring the wife. Our event is no alcohol. A few locals will bring food.

I give door prizes. So far nobody has ever left empty handed or hungry!

Attendees have come from all over Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, western and southern states, Eastern states, Nova Scotia. We have one AGF member who is an attendee who Skypes but has never been here but because he lives in Australia!

If Ohio is doable driving wise get in touch with Tim or me and I can add your email to the McJam list.

That sounds like a wonderful gathering, Mary. I lived in Ohio briefly as a child and mostly grew up in Michigan, but don't get back to the Midwest very often these days as the family and friends have scattered. If a summer trip looks like it might happen, I'll keep your event in mind.

Earl, I hope you will. You need to come back "home" for a weekend. You can google McJams. You will see how the guys gather by Tim's work bench to talk shop, sit on the patio to chat about typical life stuff or gather in the loft or the house to play guitars and then end up in the garage area to play guitars while you listen to quirky songs, gospel songs or those that are created on the spot type songs.

We would welcome you!

Thanks, Mary. But a road trip from Idaho to Ohio takes a hard three days of drive time, so it won't be a "weekend". I'd have to plan a trip around your event - and a mandatory sidebar to Elderly Instruments in Lansing, MI. But my wife is now retired and things like this might be more practical these days.

If you are shopping you should stop here before stopping there.... ;)

Just sayin'!

oh noooo...Why did I read this?

Now I'm in the mood for a chocolate cake. :lol:

Fair enough. I'm really not shopping for guitars anymore, being far more likely to downsize significantly than to acquire anything. A trip to Elderly is a purely sentimental journey for me. I've been doing business with them since the late 70's. The last time I saw my father before he passed, we made a day trip there, where I tried hard to buy him his life-long wish - a Martin dreadnought. I had the credit card in hand and everything..... but he refused.

And now I want chocolate cake too! :wink: Mmmmmm...... cake.

What part of Idaho are you in, Earl? I'm heading up to Lake Pend Oreille in a few weeks....

Mary I'd like to be included on that list.

Thanks,
Bob

Hey Bob -
Can you PM or email me your email address so I can add you to the McJam mail list?

You are quite welcome. We loved those times and wish you could come to any others we can muster up. By all means of a few are desiring to play our guitars I think they are quite transportable. We were able to have McJams at most of the Healdsgurg shows, South Miami shows and the Memphis shows. We have had a few McJams after southern Ohio IBMA and Nashville IBMA shows, too. It's nice when we get to meet fellow AGF friends. We can't really call our events jams as we get the song circles going. Often there is as much food and chat going on about the guitars. Some want to only play and there are others who wish to sing and just be there. It's all good clean fun for those who are water drinkers. We don't invite alcohol at our gathering.

By the way, if it wasn't seen or announced elsewhere let it be known that Tim and I have made respectfully small wooden badges that AGF members can wear at Woodstock or any other upcoming event so you can be better able to get antiquated with AGFer's at a glance. The badge is one free one per member.