It should be a great show ... PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT IT!!!

Click Here for the lowdown!!

(the second poster image is the one with the date typo...
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[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 04 April 2002 at 09:37 AM.]

Please go back to Latella's. I didn't mind the three hour drive. I'll just put Teddy Lloyd in the trunk next time. (JUST KIDDING TEDDY!!!!)

Boo;

Let me get this straight up front:

I am a volunteer.

I am not privvy and never have been privvy to the financial arrangements with any "name players" at any of the Jams previous locations: Wheaton VFW, Crossroads, Latelas. You should take up your issues (and it appears you have many) with Dean Black .

As to my being on the bill this year:

Dean has told me that after he had gotten firm committments from so many NAME PLAYERS for the event, that he had to PULL NAMES FROM A HAT to make the decision as to who of the "regional pickers" would play in the limited time left. Luck of the draw.

I "lucked out"...lucky me, I "get to" expose my playing to the scrutiny of a room full of pickers, many of whom are legends, (and many who are not ) most of whom can play rings around me (yourself included)... excuse me, I digress.

Me, personally, I have volunteered my playing, my time for event set up and tear down, hauling PA, and pitching in for promotion for 12 of the last 13 public jams (the last 9 of which I've lived out of the area. ) The only year I missed was the year my father died four years ago April 1st , and I had a 6 month old son and a wife with a broken leg to take care of.

But if my name had not been chosen for this year, I would still be driving 4 hours one way to attend, volunteering to help where I could and promoting the event, as well as Paying My $25 to see a remarkable show with several Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame members, many who should or will be, and several of the best bands and musicians in the area and benefit a good cause.

As to others who may have been "doing this long before (me) and Dean"...

Before this became the organized benefit jam, it indeed was indeed a "circle of local pickers" sitting around staring at each other at Sonny's house. I was there, Dean, Sonny, Mike and Tommy Auldrige...a few others maybe; I don't remember you being there.

I attended the FIRST public jam at Wheaton VFW. I showed up to listen and got told as I arrived "you're on next" and pulled a pickup band from the audience and played a half hour set, seat of my pants, spur of the moment; I don't remember you being there.

Each year after Sonny died Dean has In My Opinion selflessly worked his ass off to organize and pull off a BENEFIT SHOW, dealing with a selfish bunch of cantankerous honkytonkers and hillbilly primadonnas... in short, a thankless task; yet every year there has been a great show, and $$ at the end for the Johns Hopkins Heart folks. Due to the efforts not only of Dean, but of a troupe of VOLUNTEERS who return year upon year.

And it has gotten bigger every year to the point that Dean, the primary organizer of the event , felt it was necessary to move the venue.

He can explain better than I why we are not at Latelas this year. I like Latelas- nothing I like better than a smokey honky tonk. But I was told LATELAS IS NOT AVAILABLE.

The Birchmere is one of the premiere listening venues in the UNITED STATES, not just the area, for roots, country & American music. It's an opportunity to expose the steel guitar and several of it's finest players to an audience beyond the dyed in the wool steel guitar junkies and Caroll County barflies.

I started this thread to promote the event, one I have supported for many years and believe in.

If you would like to start your own thread to address your issues please do.

If you would like to start your own Jam, you are welcome to as well.

"no hard feelings"

i rescind the request to close the thread...

"rave on, it's a crazy feeling!" Buddy Holly

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 04 April 2002 at 09:06 PM.]

The Birchmere was designed to have muisc shows, it's not just a hall or a road side tavern and it is a big step up.

Let's focus on the good all of this does and the bottom line of how it helps so many.

So some get paid and some don't---so what's new, and so what anyway.

It will be a great afternoon.

Ya gotta have heart,,you guys that put on this show have it,and then some. Hey those of you who dispute this,,,"Have a "Heart"