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SPAH?
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outdoor joe
21 posts
Feb 07, 2017
3:13 PM
Anyone ever been to a SPAH event?

-- Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica

The annual convention is sort of near me this year, and I am thinking of going. - Tulsa, OK

joe
The Iceman
3051 posts
Feb 07, 2017
3:31 PM
I've been to a few...
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The Iceman
florida-trader
1079 posts
Feb 07, 2017
3:42 PM
Been to four of the past five. You should definitely go. No need to elaborate. You can thank me later.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Gnarly
2111 posts
Feb 07, 2017
4:14 PM
Suzuki sends me there to work the vendor area--so I have been to the last 5 or so.
It's great fun, and I don't even get to go to the seminars!
In my opinion, any harp players within driving distance should go.
outdoor joe
22 posts
Feb 07, 2017
4:25 PM
^Thanks guys! Sounds like a pretty neat time.

joe
dougharps
1354 posts
Feb 07, 2017
8:00 PM
You should go to at least one SPAH to check it out. I went to one nearby in St. Louis in 2008 (which is a few hours away from home) and since then I have been to 5 more. It is not all blues centric, since all kinds of harmonica music is presented.

Blues jams and jams in other genres take place every evening, there are informal hallway jams constantly, there are workshops of all kinds, and there are more harmonica players than you can imagine being in one place making all kinds of music. There are also shows and demonstrations by pro players playing blues and also in other genres. There is a lot of good information on technique shared in the workshops and among players.

If you go, expect to end up with sleep deprivation issues.

I plan to attend again this year, driving from Central Illinois. I plan on returning through Arkansas and Missouri timing my trip to be in the Eclipse Zone on Monday.
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Doug S.

Last Edited by dougharps on Feb 07, 2017 8:05 PM
RyanMortos
1605 posts
Feb 08, 2017
5:55 AM
I've been to 6 of the last 7 and really enjoyed myself. Very eye opening, lots sharing. Daily jams, daily performances of many artists you might not see otherwise, lots of genres of harmonica playing, store where you can look and touch all the latest stuff, plenty of options for classes to find the ones that match what you want to learn, make new friends you only see there, sometimes there's time for sleep and having something to eat too! Even better if it's close to you I estimate about $1500 each year I've gone all said & done and flight arrangements are a big part of that. If you can get a roommate at the hotel you can save big there too as the rooms are normally $100/night. The cost of the event itself is a steal though. I'm debating on going this year myself though I'm contemplating other vacation possibilities too.

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RyanMortosHarmonica

~Ryan

See My Profile for contact info, etc.

Last Edited by RyanMortos on Feb 08, 2017 6:03 AM
Owen Evans
210 posts
Feb 08, 2017
6:51 AM
I went to my first SPAH last year in San Antonio and I learned more in a week than I could have ever imagined. The most generous folks I have ever encountered were there and 'everyone' shared their knowledge! The icing on the cake is that you establish tremendous friendships which can never be anything but a wonderful outcome. Can't have enough friends nor harps!
Greg Heumann
3312 posts
Feb 08, 2017
10:56 AM
+1 SPAH should be on everyone's bucket list. It will open your eyes to more kinds of harmonicas than you knew existed, more styles of harp playing than you ever heard, and more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

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/Greg

BlowsMeAway Productions
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outdoor joe
23 posts
Feb 08, 2017
2:00 PM
^dang, I didn't expect much traffic on this thread, but I guess I didn't know the magnitude of the SPAH!

I wish I was into playing the harp last year, San Antone is real close by! kind of..

I am already pretty sleep deprived being in the military, so I'm used to it ! :P

I also am a fan of sleeping in Walmart parking lots when I can, so that'll save me some change!!

When it gets closer maybe we can make a meet-up thread?

joe
WinslowYerxa
1258 posts
Feb 08, 2017
9:54 PM
The SPAH convention is the most concentrated dose of harmonica you can possibly get. If it was a pepper, it'd be a habanero.
===========
Winslow

Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Join us in 2017 for SPAH in Tulsa!
outdoor joe
26 posts
Feb 09, 2017
9:29 AM
@winslow

Thanks for the laugh haha! I am not sure if I'll be good enough to really benefit from it in August from starting to play the harp last month. I practice everyday and listen/watch videos everyday as well...time will tell I suppose.
AirMojo
369 posts
Feb 09, 2017
10:47 AM
If you're near the event, I would definitely go... you'll never forget it.

I went to my first SPAH in 1979 shortly after I started playing... held in Romulus Michigan, near Detroit... went to several more after that... close drive from Youngstown, Ohio at the time... wish they were still so close !

Try to find at least one roommate... sure helps with the cost !

Last Edited by AirMojo on Feb 09, 2017 10:47 AM
BKimmusic
4 posts
Feb 09, 2017
12:09 PM
Are you able to try out harmonicas, too? We could do that at the Hohner Roadshow.
dougharps
1359 posts
Feb 09, 2017
3:14 PM
Some of the vendors usually have instruments to try out with sanitizing wipes to clean them after you play. But that is up to the vendors and for you to decide.
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Doug S.
Gnarly
2112 posts
Feb 09, 2017
3:25 PM
@BKimmusic That's why Suzuki sends me (and Daron) to SPAH--we have a booth in the vendor area with many of our harmonica models available for folks to try.
Last year we also had them available for sale--don't know if that will be true in Tulsa too, guess we will all find out.
Killa_Hertz
2207 posts
Feb 09, 2017
5:27 PM
Im dying to goto SPAH!

All the videos ive seen from spah are amazing. I really only get a chance to take one vacation a year.
Im sure i would catch hell from the old lady for taking it on my own.

You know what we need to do is get a puppy and gardening convention going on at the same time. Lol. I could pull it off no problem then.

Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Feb 09, 2017 5:28 PM
outdoor joe
30 posts
Feb 09, 2017
7:49 PM
@Killa

LOOOOOOL, we should all contact the SPAH and set up a convention across the street for the ladies :P
RyanMortos
1611 posts
Feb 10, 2017
5:49 AM
Killa, not sure she'd be interested at all but I know some harmonica players bring their significant other who then spends the day exploring the city/shopping/whatever and then they get back together for dinner, go to the shows in the evening, and the late night jam. I don't know if there's a cost just to attend the shows or how that works. Course, she'd have to be keen on that, lol.

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RyanMortosHarmonica

~Ryan

See My Profile for contact info, etc.

florida-trader
1081 posts
Feb 10, 2017
6:59 AM
The evening shows at SPAH are open to the public - for a separate admission charge of course. So even if a local resident or a visiting spouse does not pay a registration fee for the convention or have access to the workshops, they can still go to the shows at night. I'm pretty sure the Vendor Area is open to the public as well- without a registration fee.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
 photo BMH Banner resized for email signature_zpseilpcgeo.jpg
groyster1
2912 posts
Feb 17, 2017
7:30 AM
where will it be next year?
timeistight
2080 posts
Feb 17, 2017
9:12 AM
The 2017 SPAH Convention will be held August 15-19, at the Hyatt Regency, 100 E 2nd St. Tulsa, OK 74103
florida-trader
1088 posts
Feb 17, 2017
10:56 AM
George. I will be there. How about you?
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
 photo BMH Banner resized for email signature_zpseilpcgeo.jpg


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