One and all[/b] are cordially invited to attend a party in celebration of Pique's new book and the glory of pianos along with music in general on Saturday, January 19, 2008, commencing at approximately 6 PM. Attendees of NAMM are encouraged to attend and will be excused if they show up a bit later than that.

Bring your friends, spouses, sweethearts, bring your music, bring your kids, bring your folks (you know they don't get out much these days), bring something to eat and/or something to drink. It doesn't really matter what you bring - store bought or home made we'll eat it.

Dress is casual - this is California, after all. Night temps in January range in to the 40's - Midwesterners and Mainers should be OK in tank tops, Californians and Hawaiians may wish to bring a jacket in case the group spills out on to the patios.

Players of the piano and/or other instruments will be encouraged to do so as they like. Skill and style are not required, which is good because I may want to play something myself. Those who prefer not to play are encouraged equally to come to the party to enjoy the music and camaraderie without feeling obligated.

Piano and guitars provided. If you play the Lute or something similar you are on your own.

Party is to be held at my house in Yorba Linda, approximately 13 miles east of the Anaheim Convention Center just north of the 91 Freeway. PM me for address, directions and phone number or e-mail at cheyenps at pacbell dot net (you'll figure it out). Lodging/sightseeing information provided upon request.

Hope to C-YA!

Sounds great Steve, I'll see you there.

Best,

Frank B.

the "new book" is "grand obsession: a piano odyssey."

to learn more about it, take a look here:

http://www.pianoworld.com/grandobsession/

and on the book's website:

www.grandobsession.com

frank is going to post some new excerpts very soon!

i'm looking forward to meeting you at steve's on the 19th.

i just got word today that a local independent bookseller will supply books for the party. so if you don't have a copy by then and want one signed, you can get one there.

Congratulations on your new book. I was in my late 40's, when I realized that my destiny was playing and teaching the piano.

thanks, jerrie,

and now you are a piano teacher--how inspiring!

will i meet you at steve's?

Just joined and got the link from Frank so hopefully wifey and I will be there (so long as I am not travelling)

Congratulations on finishing the book. We'll try to be there.

ddf

del, that is wonderful! i look forward to seeing you and barbara.

Wow!

Two[/b] published authors in one room. Will there be room for the rest of us?

Looking forward to seeing everyone there,

Hard to believe the party is only 3 weeks away.
Hope to see more forums members there.

Come on folks, this is a great opportunity to meet other members, eat-drink-and be merry

And... you get to meet in person the author of the soon to be famous new piano book - Grand Obsession!

(Yikes, and NAMM starts in about 2-1/2 weeks.)

Make that three[/b] published authors (if I can make it).

My Lazy Man's Guide to Purchasing an Accoustic Piano , may be out of print and obsolete, but it did sell a few thousand copies!

I'll try to make it to the party, however I'll be working at the Bechstein booth and may have dinner commitments.

In any event, anyone attending NAMM is encouraged to stop by and say hello.

Maybe the PW folks who are going to be at NAMM could rendevous at the Hyatt Regency after the Piano Traveler's reception and carpool over to the booksigning and piano party. Perhaps Frank could expedite this and we will organize an even larger group than the Millers are expecting!

piano peddler,
that sounds like a great idea.

i have been trying and trying to get a room near the convention center, but it seems NAMM has locked them all up.

if anyone has a tip for me on a place to stay close by, please email me through the contact form on the website:

www.grandobsession.com

thanks!

Here's a blast from the past, but my family and I would love to attend the party. I'm looking forward to meeting Pique. I'd love to pick up a book and get your autograph! Our piano searches overlapped, I believe, and I remember your search well (especially since you ended up with my favorite piano!). :-)

Steve (Miller), could you email me directions via the Toll Roads again? It will be really great to get caught up with old friends.

penny

p.s. I'm not playing right now, but hubby is on his fourth teacher and has been studying blues lately. If you can endulge them, my son (now a teen-ager!) plays guitar and even has a "jam" with piano-playing dad. :-)
p.p.s. I don't have a book, but have been published for years in newspapers, magazines and on a newswire. Does that count???? ;-P

Wow, glad to hear you can make it Penny!

Here is the thread where you announced your decision...
http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/1/18.html


Penny is member #13, party hosted by member #14, book written by member #138, with members #19 and # 54 attending. Yikes, it's like old home week!

Considering we are going to hit the 28,000 registered members mark today, this party group is definitely part of the original gang!

BTW Penny, did you know you're in the book?

Looking forward to seeing everyone.
(Hey Steve M., could you email me the address and stuff too, just in case? I have a ride but I want to be prepared).

Best,

- Frank B.

I'm in the book? No, I didn't know. I'm afraid. Very afraid! :-P

BTW, way to make me feel OLD!

Looking forward to reconnecting!

penny

wow! penny! I AM SO EXCITED YOU ARE COMING!! yes you may remember you played a very important role in this story.

it will be great to meet you at last.

this party is going to be a total blast.

Dear Perri:

Unfortunatley I can't come to this year's NAMM and very much regret meeting you there!

Please say 'Hi' to all and have a wonderful show yourself!

I just put a sizable order in for your book and decided to make it a gift to all my future customers of a fine grand! [or piano...]

Hell, the way you talk about Grotrian, we'll pobably will sell one each day....

Kindest regards, with sincere congratulations & Bavarian *mug sized* admiration and adolation,

Norbert

norbert,

i am SO disappointed! but i do hope to see you this summer. my brother and his partner (see the new york events thread) have just become canadian residents, they are making abbotsford their base, and they plan to marry in vancouver this summer. i have told them to look you up when they return to canada in april. maybe you can help my brother find a piano teacher in the area? he was inspired by the book to take up piano lessons again.

just a general announcement:

it may be very hard for me to get online after tomorrow, when i fly to anaheim, so if i don't reply to you or show up for a while, that's why.

here's a heads up for this coming sunday, january 20th: both the new york times book review and the washington post book world are reviewing "grand obsession" ! we should be able to read it online during the party at steve miller's.

of course i am a bit on tenterhooks about what kind of a review i will get, but considering that these publications only review very few books out of the 200,000 that are published every year, just to appear in their pages is an honor, no matter how the review turns out.

so, look for it.

and also thanks to the many of you who have provided those five-star reviews to amazon!!! you are really giving the book a boost and i appreciate it so much.

frank, will i be able to reach you at your usual cell phone number while you are at NAMM?

for all of you who will be there, please stop by the grotrian booth to find me.

norbert, if you are buying the book retail and it's not too late to cancel your order, you should do so. you can buy the book wholesale (half price) if you buy at least ten copies for resale or promotion. i will get you the information on how to do this. i will have this information for anyone else who wishes it while at NAMM.

We're up to about 35 people confirmed and it's quite an international group!

Niles Duncan is here messing with key bushings and doing a bit of final voicing right now and the piano sounds great. We've laid in supplies to make "Peach Madras" - a rum based umbrella drink that we tried in Puerto Rico and my wife really likes. The bookstore called and is bringing copies of "Grand Obsession" so you can get a copy autographed by the author if you are so inclined.

It's not too late to make your plans. Hope to see you here on Saturday!

Party lady, Terrytunes, and I were talking just last night about how we wished we were able to attend...

Hope you all have a great time. Have your digital cams and Zoom recorders in hand. We want all the detail of who was there, who played what, and, well, I guess we know what you are drinking, so you can leave that part out!

LL

Will Niles be there? Oh, I do hope so! And what about Rick Clark and Joy? John C.? Any other "old-timers?" :-)

penny

Steve lives sooo close to me, and I would have loved to come -- but I already have a previous arrangement. It would have been nice to hear Niles play again and chat with everyone

Niles said he will be coming. I hope so - he left his jacket here.

I'd really like to see Rick, Joy and JohnC again, but alas I have no way to get in touch with them and as yet have not heard from them.

This just in - JohnC RSVP'd!

woo-hoo!

So what about Joy and Rick?

What about Kenny? Anyone know?