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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Well, it is now Monday, I'm home, I feel like I have been run over by a truck but I would not replace that feeling with any other one.
My first thanks goes to the OFC members. Without all of you there would be no event nor message board nor my new group of friends.
Big thanks to Rick Hall, who coordinated the event from the inside. Frank Untermyr who graciously allows us to invade the factory for a day and slow up his production. His tours are always top notch and Frank Rindone did a great job standing in for Jol.
To everyone that was there, I know I did not meet you all, I shook many hands and said hello to as many people as I could but I know I missed some. My apologies, Please in the future don't hesitate to approach me and introduce yourself. I am more likely to be sitting in the back somewhere taking it all in than being in the front.
Those at the tour had a few extra treats in the goody bags thanks to the efforts of Brad and the calendar bunch. Thank you. (the remainders will soon be available for OFC members to purchases)
Matt Smith. What can I say? The ambassador of good will and cool, a stellar guitar player and someone I am proud to call my friend. Not only did he MC the jam on Friday night but he went back to the hotel gave mini lessons to OFC members and jammed along with the rest of us.
Susan Mazur, from Workshop live and the National Guitar Workshop, also gave a clinic on Friday and those that attended also had nothing but positive to say about her. Thanks from me also.
Johnny and Paul did there clinics on Friday morning and those that attended told me they had a great time. These OFC members volunteered (OK I begged them) but they were there to have fun yet took the time to share their talents with us.
This year was particularly stressful and overwhelming at times for me for various reasons. I am happy that everything turned out BETTER than my expectations. Those of you who attended the tour for the first time now know and can spread the word why this event is so important not only to me, but to the fan club and ultimately Ovation guitars. My friend Mike, whom many of you met for the first time this year told me that he has not seen me smile that much for a long time. That statement was so true on so many levels.
To all my old friends, it was great to see you, I thank you for your help and you know who you are, to my new friends, here's to a new lasting relationship.
For those that asked about the plans for the board etc and voiced your concerns and suggestions, as soon as I get out of my current elevated state of chaos and back to the normal chaos knows as "my life" I will address them all.
Hopefully if waskel and phil get the video together they will edit me out this year so you don't need to be subjected to my mediocore (at best) performace.
I do have a request. If you took photos, can you burn them on a disk and send them to me clearly marked ofc 06 with your name? I have a project I am working on and may be able to use some of them.
Well, thanks again. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Al, I got many small chances to talk to you this weekend, as well as jam on guitars, and it was truly a pleasure.
You have engineered something that has cost you in health and mental well-being, but has provided me and others a much-needed weekend of incredible fun and insanity. It was great to see you enjoying yourself.
Right now, all I really want to say to you is "THANK YOU!!". |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Thanks, Al.
Thanks, Ovation. |
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February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | GREAT JOB! Well Done,Al.....Thank You!
And "Thank You" to everyone at Ovation! |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Al,
Thanks to you and all that made it happen! Some spent quite a bit to be there while others robbed their kids piggy banks for gas money!
As to:
"I do have a request. If you took photos, can you burn them on a disk and send them to me clearly marked ofc 06 with your name? I have a project I am working on and may be able to use some of them."
In another thread I jumped up and asked to assemble all and any digital pics. I'd be happy to work this end for you Al.
M(still grinnin)Woody |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Well I am truly sorry I missed this years event. I missed seeing all of the regulars as that is the only time I get to see you, but I also understand I missed meeting the many new faces that attended.
I will post in another thread about what I've been up to, as I don't want to hijak this one, but also wanted folks to know things like the photo gallery and some other improvements are on the way as soon as I get a little more settled.
I think the projects like the CD and the Calendar that members have put out are fantastic and a great example of what the Internet is all about too.
Cheers and I will see you all at the factory next year. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Originally posted by MWoody:
In another thread I jumped up and asked to assemble all and any digital pics. I'd be happy to work this end for you Al.
M(still grinnin)Woody perfect
sorry I have not been reading all the threads..still too tired |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I shudda been there!
Next year I will try to annoy everyone. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I relate! Nothing to be sorry about Al. I'm still catching up on all of the posts myself.
I spent last night in my own bed, in my own home.
I propose we all raise our coffee cups and salute coming home!
And friends! |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Woody,
I slipped a little sumthin' from Stonge's collection in your luggage.
Welcome home. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Originally posted by stephent28:
Next year I will try to annoy everyone. You didn't this year? |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by MWoody:
In another thread I jumped up and asked to assemble all and any digital pics. I'd be happy to work this end for you Al.
Works for me too.
Woody, when you get them could you forward copies on to me for the DVD project, please? |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
Originally posted by stephent28:
Next year I will try to annoy everyone. You didn't this year?
I meant "IN PERSON". Annoying people on this site doesn't count cause they can't throw things at me. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | I'd like to throw in my "Thanks!" to Al, the guys at the factory, Matt Smith and Susan Mazur, Johnny and Paul Templeman, the hotel and all of the OFC'ers that showed as well. You are all one special group and I feel enormously lucky to have made the friends here that I have. What an amazing group. I could really go on a bit about the fun I had but I think you were either there and you already know or you weren't and you're sitting back and regretting it.
To everyone I had the pleasure of meeting this weekend - thank you very much and I hope to see you all again next year. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 176
Location: Denver Colorado | It sure looks like it was a great time... I hope I can make it next year. :)
How many attended this year? |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Were you there, Weas? Didn't see you... oh, wait. You were that quiet guy sitting in the corner, right? ;) |
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October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Yeah, I'm just a quiet guy, Waskel. :rolleyes: |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Good question Sally.
What was the final count on attendees? |
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June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | I really hope to make it next year. |
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April 2006
Posts: 176
Location: Denver Colorado | Yeah... inquiring minds wanna know..... |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by stephent28:
What was the final count on attendees? Depends on whether you mean at the hotel, factory or Jam. A bunch of people showed up at the factory then left, or left after the Jam, never making it to the hotel or Jam. I'm also pretty sure there were people at the Jam that weren't at the factory (there was free food involved, after all).
Maybe Al has a count at the factory, if not Phil will have to count from the group photo. I might be able to count from the video at the Q&A. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Well officially I had 65 on the list but I know that there were some people that just "showed up"
Not sure what the big deal is about how many people were there. if you were NOT there then we were one short. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Well said, Al. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by alpep:
if you were NOT there then we were one short. Ohhhhh...that one went straight to the heart! |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Here is my $.02 worth.
I don't want to sound like an Oscar winner so I'll just give a general thanks to everyone involved.
I brought along my old Breadwinner so to give some people a chance to see what they were all about. I got the biggest kick out of seeing Paul Templeman make that thing sing. He played it a couple times and I got it on tape for the DVD.
It was great to meet Schroeder and Jeff W. Don't let their board talk intimidate you. In real life they are just a couple of pussycats. It's always a great treat to meet OFC members face to face.
Matt Smith.....What a cool, down to earth, talented, and inspirational man he is. If anyone can make you want to take it to the next level, he can. He is very generous with his time and knowledge. Matt was playing the prototype green resonator model in the engineering room. In the matter if minutes I learned a ton about that type of guitar.
I learned things from Strummin' John's seminar that I put to use a couple hours later at the ski lodge jam.
Paul Templeman de-mystified some of his guitar playing. Not all of it by a long shot.....just some.
The engineering room has a red sign on it that says "Restricted Area". We were allowed in and out of that room all day. I'm sure they did not have any secret stuff laying around but there was still alot to see and play.
I asked head luthier / engineer Darren a question..."Forget marketing reasons...forget any prejudice against koa...Based strictly on design and engineering, are your pleased with the 06 koa?" He said, "It's a killer guitar."
Today I'm back at my desk, selling hydraulic components for construction equipment. I gotta tell you what a gas it is to spend a weekend talking to people who live and breath guitars and music 24/7. At time the talk drifts of into a language I really don't understand, but if I keep my ears open I can learn a few things.
Short Takes....
There was an amazing assortment of high end guitars at the lobby jam to test drive this year. Much more than last year.
Matt Smith..."When playing guitar you have to listen the voice in your head."
Cliff...."Excuse me...which one?"
I wish you could have heard the conversation in the men's room as we were changing into the grass skirts. "Paul..could you please tie my skirt in back?"..."Dave, can you help me with this bra strap?" And then Mr. Templeman decides that Kim's and Cliff's bikini tops need a little help with some toilet paper and proceeds to rectify the problem.
The set that BrianT and I did at the ski lodge was the most fun I have ever had in front of a microphone.
I noodled around with two examples of the 47RI for as long as I wanted.
Rick Hall and Kim Keller have some real chops.
Greyhounds are really cool.
BrianT snores like crazy.
In person Weaser is more subdued than you would ever believe. I'm not sure it's really him that I met.
Woody sings great harmony. I wish he would move to Michigan.
In person, even Witco is a nice guy.
Paul Templeman has kind of a little accent. When he says "fook", he means "&^@k*...or when he says "fook", he could be meaning "folk". You should have seen Kim's wife Amy's head turn when she overheard Paul say that he recently attended a "fook" festival. Amy says..."A what?" Priceless.
Next year.....BE THERE!! |
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OFC 06 the final word
