[Tradjazz] OKOM BARN PARTY 2007

[Bruce McNichols]

OKOM BARN PARTY 2007

Howdy Folks, 

As some of you know, Bill Taggart (OKOM's founder, and funder) has hosted many Trad Jazz Picnics over the past 8 or 10 years. These events are an outgrowth of the old Smith Street Society Picnics which were held in the 1960's. 

The OKOM Picnics are held at Bill's 110 acre Fred's Farm in rural Sussex County, New Jersey. Bill has retro-fitted a huge barn into a performing and recording space (complete with bandstand). 

We conduct these events as an open-house for trad jazz musicians, families and friends. Everyone brings their own food and drink. 

We got a very big response to the exploratory message I sent quite a while ago. 


THE DATE IS SET FOR

OCTOBER 17, 2007, WEDNESDAY 

12 NOON until whenever


We need the support of many musicians, bands and fans. 

We prefer set bands to participate but ALL ARE WELCOME. We will schedule bands for specific times. We'll also schedule times for open jam sessions. 

  In the past, there have been some picnics were many fine players never got to perform. That was always because we didn't know in advance, exactly who would be there. 
  A problem with us working musicians is that most of us are not willing to commit to a social event, knowing that we might get a gig.  Again, that's what's behind the perplexing task of trying to work out an equitable schedule, so that everyone gets to perform.
As the de facto coordinator of these events, I seek your help.  I need to get a general idea of who is interested and of how many guests you may have with you. We understand that we cannot expect you to make a solid commitment, but if we get a good number of players who will at least say they want to attend and will endeavor to do so, then we'll have something to go on. 

  Newspaper Item: 
  The local police reported that burglars broke into the station house and stole all the fixtures from the rest rooms. The police have nothing to go on.
H E L P ! 

** Please reply, right now, and let me know if you have any interest. 

** Please let me know if you'd like to bring your own band (even though you don't know yet if you'll be able to).

OUR EVENTS TYPICALLY START AT NOON, and go until at least 6 or 7PM. If there are still people and players there, we keep going and keep going.

Did you hear about the support group for boring people. It's called Al-anon, and on and on and on.

Please respond now, to the questions above ( ** ). Here's hoping that we can produce the BEST TRAD JAZZ PICNIC, EVER! 

McN