Glenn,
So sorry to hear about the household problems that kept you from the show. You should have let me know, and I could have scrounged for any Rogers parts you needed (I picked up some nice machined collets and knobbies). The show was improved this year by holding the clinics and workshops in the large, adjacent auditorium rather than in the basement of the main hall as in past years. The auditorium drew a much larger audience for the clinics, nice comfy seats and the sound system was great. Big improvement.
Both Clayton Cameron and Dave DiCenso put on great master clinics, and W.F. Ludwig III conducted a very interesting history lesson demonstrating the various uses of the rope-tension snare drum during the Civil War period, and then demonstrating all the contraptions (traps) that drummers used in the silent-film theaters of the 1920's. He briefly talked about his grandfather playing in a traveling circus and having to construct his own metal bass drum pedal so he could play both the snare and the bass drum at the same time in the circus band, but I was a little disappointed that he didn't go into further detail about the birth and evolution of the trap kit. Side note: as I was exiting the auditorium, I turned around to hold the door for the senior gentleman walking behind me and noticed it was Bernard Purdie himself! I naturally went to his book signing table and got a nice picture with him.
Most of the exhibitors were the same as in past years. Fellow forum member Matt Alling of CT Pro Percussion was naturally there showing off some of his amazing custom rope-tension snares. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to chat with Joe Montineri and thank him for an amazing snare drum he recently built for me. Even though it can't compare to the 3-day Chicago show, overall, it was a great show.
Hope the termite problems get contained and don't spread to all the other valuable wood in your house.
Mike
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