A Word From Scotty

[Sandra Scott-Wall]

We are all excited about our move to the St. Louis Airport Marriott for the 2014 International Steel Guitar Convention. Everything we had at the Millennium will be at the Marriott, with variations. We don’t quite have the ballroom we had, but theirs is large enough to suit our needs. The "Down Home" feeling we have enjoyed for the past thirty years, will continue at our new home.

We’ve had many exciting conventions over the years, and this year is no exception. What excites me about this year’s convention, is that we are a bit smaller and it is like going back to our roots when we had more time to be with the players, meet new friends and have an intimacy we have not had with our audience in many years. We have had many of the pioneer players and some of them are still with us. We hope to continue to add additional players as time permits.

If you have never attended our convention, this surely is the one not to miss! Make your plans to attend now.

See you there.
Scotty

[Bill Ferguson]

Well said Scotty.

I am looking forward to yet another great show which will be # 38, consecutive, for me.

Thank you for all you do for the steel guitar world.

Bill

[Don Lanier]

We had a trial run in the Ballroom with the GCMA Show, last Sunday, Im really excited that the new room has good acoustics and sounds very natural, The stage is a bit smaller but will still do a fine job with our Staff Band and Guests and MCs...I think they find the Lighting much better, overhead there is the ability to Zone control the Lighting over the stage, and through the ballroom in ways we couldnt do at the Millenium, Its LED and lends a very beautiful look to the room ambiance with several colors, as well as good solid white light.

We will have a Green Room on the stage Left side that will be blocked by curtains, allowing load ins, Musician prep area, storage, greeting area, with steps going up to the stage. All behind the curtain so as not to take away from those performing.

Monitors and PA system staff will be on the opposite side of the stage, from years past, as well as case storage that will allow clean and open area for the musicians Green Room, This space will allow our gear to be on the floor giving all of the stage to the performers and Pearl Sounds crew space to prep and assist in steel movement into the Green room area.

There will be a Curtain on both sides of the stage, as well as a curtain behind the stage. LED lighting and added lighting to assure great visibility. Im told large screen projection is again part of the show.

Theatre seating with clean sight lines for the entire stage and then the Sound Platform located to one side of the ballroom again gives more seating area and clean sight lines.

I would like to ask the Staff Band guys check in with us early as possible on Wednesday to assist in getting everyone setup and soundchecked, I would like to do a soundcheck about 6 Pm (WED NITE) for about an hour if at all possible. Im excited and I think this will be a huge year for the event.

I suggest you try one of there Club Sandwhiches but you better be hungry ITS HUGE and delicous !!! Also the bathrooms are really close to the ballroom and SPOTLESS...overall the new Hotel is going to be a fun new spot, I hope you got a reservation.

[Jack Stoner]

I liked the sound of the old Chase Park Plaza Hotel, much better than the Clarion and later names. Maybe this will be similar to the old Chase Park.