In my constant search for ways to make gig setup faster, easier and more efficient, I have acquired a new super-compact fold up guitar stand from the geniuses at Hercules. I purchased this online through Ebay at 123Music for just over $20 and free shipping. This thing is actually much more solidly built than the pictures would lead you to believe. And it seems to be very stable as well, which is quite important to me considering how delicate my all solid wood guitar is.

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Just got back yesterday from a week long cruise to Alaska with my wife celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful time and heard lots of great music in the evenings, especially by a blues and R&B group: The BB King Blues Club All Star Band, all great musicians (sax, trumpet, guitar, drums, bass, keyboard) and two terrific vocalists.
I brought my Takamine 132CS cedar top cutaway classical and played every day, sometimes in our cabin or on our balcony, but also in a quiet sitting lounge on deck 2 near the dining room. When I played there I never failed to attract an audience, and after a few days began to be recognized by other cruisers who wanted to know if I was on the music staff and when I would be playing next.
I’ve cruised before and was always curious about what it would be like to be a musician on a cruise ship. My friend Miche Lambro told me that he recently did a 2 month hitch on a cruise ship. I’ll have to ask him depth what that was like. I can imagine a lot of it depends on whether you are hired to play in the orchestra for the large shows–for which good sight-reading skills would be a must (that rules me out)–or as one of the lounge acts. Though we never went in, the piano bar in which a solo pianist and vocalist played every night, was always packed to overflowing. Judging from that, and similar circumstances I’ve seen on other cruises, I get the impression that these guys–the solo pianist/vocalist–who are exceptionally versatile in playing all kinds of music and taking almost any request–are actually at the top of the food chain when it comes to on-ship musicians. I’d be interested to find out if I’m right about this.
So all in all, had a great time. My wife told me today that when we retire–perhaps in 5 years or so (I hope)–she would like to go on a longer cruise, 10 days at least. I guess we’d better start saving up…
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I just finished a video interview (via Skype) with my online friend, the terrific singer and guitarist Miche Fambro for his YouTube video show, Miche Today. Miche interviews musicians from all over the world and puts together a video of the interview and a sample of their work which he posts on YouTube. I was very honored to be picked by him for this interview and I’m quite eager to see the results. He usually finishes up the video by including a performance video with the featured artist in which he joins in for a duet. Got to get busy with that one and send it off to him. Thanks, Miche!
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