[78-L] Whither NOLA

[DAVID BURNHAM]

I'm rather proud of myself. I spent my entire time either at the ARSC conference, walking around town, listening to music, or eating (sometimes did the last three simultaneously). I watched no television, turned on no computers, and basically submerged myself in the NOLA scene. I'll gather my thoughts together later this week and give a report, but suffice to say, it was a whole lotta fun.



Cary Ginell

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I concur completely with Cary's last phrase.  This was my first ARSC conference, aside from a brief visit during the 2004 Cleveland one, and the first time I've been a member.  The administrators and attendees exuded a warmth which was palpable.  I got to meet lots of new friends and people who had only been names to me, like Cary, Seth Winner, Doug Pomeroy, Kurt Nauck III and particularly Mike and Leah Biel.  These last two I met briefly at the 2004 conference but this time we had extended chats about everything phonographic, particularly for about 3 hours after the final night's banquet, and I discovered an affability which can only be appreciated in person.

The only problem I had with the conference is that with the structure of having two presentations happening concurrently, it's frequently difficult to decide which one to attend.  I sometimes ran back and forth between two presentations and missed the full impact of either.

I'm still on my way back to Toronto, (in Birmingham Alabama), but the sounds of the conference are still with me as I enjoy a set of CDs which was launched during the conference, containing early 20th century New Orleans jazz recordings.

db