I helped Bob today sell CD's and explain the Chapman Stick to people at the A2 Art Fair today.
Really a great experience seeing so many people take interest and buy a ton of his CD's as well as giving him tips. Afterwards had dinner with Bob, Steve Osburn, Glenn&Rasa Poorman, Brad, and Bill McBride, six Stickists altogether



Also got a shot of Rob Thomas of Inlakesh who makes Didgeridoos here in the US:

Props. Like. Super genius.

Ah... so there's where it's at. Seems I'm on the wrong side of the pool

Funny, I mentioned you to Bob - the harp guitar you have. I forgot what country you lived in, for some reason I thought you from Europe but were residing in California. Seems nowadays with the internet the world just keeps on shrinking. That guy with the Didge I read comes up here every year from New Mexico, it's a must do for a variety of artists, not just music.

Unfortunately when I was trying to find Bob, I wandered throught the "alternative religion-off-beat-political" tent row. I didn't stop thereto take pictures and would have started running if there were not so many people

What does religion and politics have to do with an Art Fair? If they managed to sneak on the site they should have been escorted to the food court and served up accordingly

They've been part of the Ann Arbor Art Fair for as long as I can remember. The Art Fair itself is gigantic and those booths have historically been relegated to their own block off the beaten path where you generally won't find yourself by accident.

It's fairly typical. It's the college students (which Ann Arbor has plenty of) who have just learned about injustices in the world and are hell bent on "doing something about it" (which usually means protest signs, shouting, and smoking a lot of dope).

Honestly I don't mean to make light of some causes that are worth the effort but for the most part, this part of the fair is pretty stereotypical and harmless.

I was just busting chops. You know me. I just walk away. But for those of you that can't seem to tolerate any form of gentle criticism I suggest heading to the food court where you'll be...

My reference was light-hearted as well - pretty large fair where they can afford to grant space to more than just art. I parked at a nearby "frat house" lot the kids were selling parking spaces for, so I ended up in that religious-political section not realizing what I was walking into. Like Glenn said, a lot of causes are worthy, but even if it was a cause I believe in, it's a "no, not now, someone's waiting for me" situation. Someone from one of those booths started to approach me, but I promised Bob to be there at a certain time, so I didn't want to get into a debate, be it positive or negative.

I only stopped for the Didge player because I recognized the guy from a few internet searches I've done on that instrument, and he was in a middle of a song. Plus I have a deep connection to Australia where I actually met Bob for the first time.

Really a great time. One thing I'd like to add is how Bob often introduces people to the Stick. Instead of waiting for the usual "What is that thing/instrument?" he frequently takes initiative between songs and asks people for a show of hands if they have ever seen the instrument before. A few times he had some nice responses from people who were familiar with Tony Levin and Ann Arbor's own Steve Osburn. I enjoyed watching the faces of people that never seen the instrument before shocked when other people who knew what a Stick was spoke up. A really simple, but effective way to explain the Stick with audience interaction, rather than just a one-way lecture.