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MartinFest 6
The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum
6th Annual Members' Get-Together
Last updated on Thursday, July 19, 2007
All Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum members in good standing and their families and guests, and all Martin Guitar Company employees, families, and guests, are cordially invited to attend the Sixth Annual informal Get-Together for us lovers of Martin Guitars! The setting will be both indoors and outdoors, definitely informal, and most of all there will be the opportunity to meet new friends, greet old ones, enjoy each other's company, and play the guitars which we have grown to love!
When: Saturday, August 4, Sunday, August 5 and Monday, August 6, 2007, from approximately 10:00 am to dusk each day. But, events will continue after dusk as well.
Where: Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
Who: YOU and your guests!
What: Jamming, a tour of the Factory, some special clinics, and lots of fun!
Here are the up-to-date details. Be sure to watch this page for periodic updates.
The Location --
Saturday: Nazareth Borough Park - The "Large Pavilion" past the concession stand on your left as you enter the Park. It's at the end of the parking lot on the left. We have the entire pavilion. You can park in any open space in the lot - there is no fee.
Sunday: Nazareth Borough Park - Large Pavilion
Monday morning: C.F. Martin & Co. - Private tour, goodies, time with Chris Martin!
Monday afternoon: Nazareth Borough Park - The Large Pavilion again.
The Events --
1. General: Unlike the festivities of last year, this will be a much more laid back event, with most of the time dedicated to fellowship -- song circles, open mikes, and jams. As of today's date, we have no professional performers scheduled.
2. Friday, August 3: We can start at Cheers Lounge in the Bethlehem Comfort Inn. Cheers and the conference room next to it (the "Morgan Room") are reserved for us for the entire weekend. This usually kicks off in the afternoon. There will also be the traditional informal wine sampling party earlier that day at the hotel.
There is NO SMOKING at any time in the Cheers Lounge, Morgan Room, or anywhere inside the Comfort Inn except for certain designated private smoking bedrooms. Please honor this at all times, even if you happen to be alone in one of the rooms for a short time. Smoking is OK outside.
At 8:00, a group dinner has been planned courtesy of Nikki (ndeck2007) at Johnny's, just outside of Bangor. Those signed up can either congregate at the hotel about 1/2 hour before or can go directly to the restaurant.
3. Saturday, August 4: As indicated, we'll be at the Large Pavilion. Setup will be around 10 am after breakfast, and then most of the day is just for jamming, etc.
At about 2:00, Marshall Fleisher will lead anyone interested in a workshop devoted to the basics:
TAKE IT EASY: BASIC
ARRANGEMENTS OF OLD FAVORITES
Learn simple but accurate arrangements of old (nothing newer than 1970)
favorites by the Beatles, Everly Brothers, Paul Simon and more. Nothing fancy;
just enough to get you from beginning to end using chords within most players’
grasp. Participants will receive a handout containing chord/lyric sheets and a
CD with all of the songs (i.e., for those who learn best by ear). Instructional
level: beginner–intermediate (although familiarity with basic barre chords is
recommended). TGFC Certified!
The Open Mike will start between 3 and 4 pm -- then an on-your-own dinner and Cheers afterwards.
A word about the Open Mikes all three days -- No one has to participate in this activity, either as a performer, member of the audience, or worker bee. You do not have to drop whatever you are doing and suffer in silence! We do ask, however, that out of courtesy and consideration for those involved in the Open Mike, you move your jam or conversation to the other end of the Pavilion or elsewhere in the Park so that it does not interfere with the proceedings.
4. Sunday, August 5: Back to the Large Pavilion. Setup again around 10 am, and there will be a Sunday Morning Worship Jam at about 10:30 or 11:00. During this service, we will be remembering those members of the UMGF who have gone home.
Then the Nazareth World Series II will take place at the ballfield at about 12:00 noon, with the revitalized and rejuvenated UMGF Aging Toners up against the CFM&Co DreadNaughts. There will be a coroner on duty.
After that, there will be time for jamming and friendship. During the afternoon, informal groups have set up activities such as a fingerpicking circle and a songwriting circle. These are not part of the organized agenda, and so please see those threads in the MartinFest section of the UMGF for times and places.
At 4:00 or so, we will have the Open Mike again, followed by a group photo at the back of the Large Pavilion. Then dinner and Cheers.
4. Monday, August 6: We will start our day with a private tour of the Martin Guitar Factory starting at about 8:10 a.m. We will break into groups of 12 to 15 or so and be given our private tour in 10 minute intervals in order to space out the groups. Martin has a new sound system for the tours involving headsets which is a great improvement!
Martin will provide a private room for us to store our guitars while we are on the tour. You will be asked to check your guitar at the front desk and take a tag, and it will be returned to you when you leave.
I will have tour signup sheets available at Cheers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and all day Saturday and Sunday at the Park. These will be delivered to Martin first thing Monday morning. This will be on a first come first served basis for those who met the deadline of July 16, and I will have that cutoff list in the signup package. At about 2 pm on Sunday, registration for the tour will open up for everyone. If you are a latecomer, you can also sign up in the 1833 shop on Monday morning if there is space available.
After the tour, we will be Chris's guests for lunch. Lunch will start at 10:30 and will run until Chris's talk. This will occur in a large tent that will be set up on the North Parking Lot - on Beil Avenue. We need volunteers for an open mike during lunch - please sign up on the thread in the MartinFest 2006 Section of the UMGF. New performers will get first preference.
Chris will then speak to the assembled group after lunch, also in the tent, at 12:00. His talk will be approximately 45 minutes, including questions.
Hopefully, there will be another photo opportunity after Chris's talk.
After this, Chris will be able to sign guitars this year in the upper lobby. Limit one guitar per person, and please have your strings loosened. The procedure for all of this will be explained in more detail on that Monday if not before.
Two new activities are planned during our morning at Martin. One is a workshop about "The Care and Feeding of Your Martin Guitar." The second is an exhibit of one-of-a-kind Martin models, including experimental models. This will be a display only due to the nature of these guitars, and will not be available to be played. Both of these activities will be in tents to the right of the main entrance door as you face the building
Also, as was the case last year, Chris would like all attendees to have the opportunity to take advantage of the Museum, the new prototypes in the lobby, and the Picking Parlor at your leisure.
After lunch, Chris's talk, and the guitar signing on Monday, Martin will have its quarterly employee meeting in the tent at about 2:00. This is for Martin employees only, so we need to be out of there before then. Please do not succumb to curiosity (it will be hard for me!) to hang out at the back of the tent and see what goes on at these things. We need to respect Martin's privacy at this meeting, and I know that we all will.
Instead, we will have an afternoon of sociality and music at the Large Pavilion, again private and just for us. At about 4:00, there will a final Open Mike. Once Martin's quarterly employee meeting is over, they will be invited to join us. As you walk through the factory and have your lunch, please encourage those you see to come! Many employees also now drop by on Saturday and/or Sunday. Please be sure to seek them out and thank them for coming!
Parking on Monday at Martin:
There are several locations where we can park. These are:
1. The front half of the employee lot on Beil Avenue (the end of the lot nearest Sycamore Avenue). The tent will be taking up the rest of this lot.
2. The Visitors' Lot.
3. The Schoeneck Moravian Church parking lot down the street (access is on the main road from Nazareth).
4. Any open white, nonreserved space behind or on the side of the Factory.
Videotaping -- Videotaping is permitted, but videotapes may only be used for rebroadcast on the UMGF for our private membership to enjoy. Public posting of videotapes, such as on YouTube, etc., is prohibited unless you have the consent of all parties in the videotape. There are also issues such as covers, etc., and so it really is best if it's just kept local. We have no way of enforcing this, but we ask you to comply.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Buy and Sell -- There will be a designated area Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Park to buy or sell guitars, other musical related gear, CD's and other UMGF related paraphernalia such as T-Shirts. This is limited to private sales ONLY except for CD's, where all artists who are members of the UMGF or are our guests are invited to offer CD's for sale.
Other General Info --
There is no entry fee at Nazareth Park, and there are restrooms, a concession stand, and other facilities available. We will not be providing any food or beverage, so please bring your own or use the concession stand. I have not been told that alcoholic beverages are prohibited, but if you bring beer or wine PLEASE be circumspect and responsible.
Most importantly, there is NO talent needed or required (other than a good sense of direction to Nazareth). We will have an open mike for those who wish to participate, but all three afternoons are really intended just for getting together, enjoying each other's company, perhaps sharing tips and tricks, and just plain old having fun!
You will be responsible for keeping watch over your own instruments and other possessions and for loss of or damage to the same. The parking lot at Martin & Co. is not secure (and also could get hot); however, as indicated above we have arranged for a room at Martin where we can store our instruments. Nazareth Park is a public facility, so even though we have private areas, there could be many other persons passing through.
Food and Beverage -- Since there is a concession stand at the Park, everyone is encouraged to bring his or her own other provisions or use the concession stand. The concession stand is 25 to 30 yards from either facility that we are using. It is not open if it rains, but there is a pizzeria (Mijavo's) right up the road near Martin and other places available.
Pool -- The pool at Nazareth Borough Park is open to all. The fee on Saturday and Sunday is $4.75 for minors (under 18) and $5.25 for adults. On Monday it is $4.25 for minors and $4.75 for adults.
Directions --
From the East: Find your way to Interstate 78 in New Jersey. Follow I-78 into Pennsylvania (do NOT get off onto Route 22, Phillipsburg). About 6 miles into PA, take PA 33 North. Continue until you see Route 248 and a sign for Nazareth. Get off at this exit and bear right at the bottom of the ramp. Go a few miles, past the huge concrete plant on your right, and turn right at the light by the Nazareth Diner. Go through the town of Nazareth and past Nazareth Park on your left (yes, that is the park that we will be using). You will then see the Schoeneck Moravian Church on your right, quickly followed by Mijavo's Restaurant/Pizzeria. Turn right immediately onto Beil Avenue, and you will see C.F. Martin & Co. on your right at the next intersection. The visitor's parking lot is on your right, but we have made other parking arrangements for Monday, as set forth below.
From the West: Find I-78 East and get off onto Route 33, then follow the above directions.
From the South: Take the PA Turnpike Extension up to I-78 East, then follow the above.
From the North: Follow the directions on the Martin web site
Lodging -- There are many places to stay in the Nazareth/Bethlehem area. The Bethlehem Comfort Inn, 3191 Highfield Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18020, 610-865-6300, 800-732-2500, is where most folks are staying. We have a group number, #3414 (NOT UMGF or Martin Guitar, etc.), but all rooms under that number are currently sold out. But it pays to keep checking for cancellations! The rate for the group is $74.00 for a single and $79.00 for a double.
Here are some other suggestions found at the Nazareth Chamber of Commerce:
Bed and Breakfast:
Classic Victorian Bed and Breakfast, 35 North New Street, Nazareth, PA 18064, 610-759-8276.
Inn at Heyer's Hill, 568 Heyer Mill Road, Nazareth, PA 18064, 610-759-6226
Hotels/Motels (all in or near Bethlehem. most with in-house restaurants and lounges):
Four Points Sheraton, right next to LVI. A first class hotel, with an indoor pool, nice lounge and good restaurant.
Hampton Inn, Easton/Nazareth. Low rates, indoor pool, closer to CFM & Co. than the Comfort by a couple of minutes. No lounge or restaurant, but Continental breakfast. 610-250-6500
Comfort Inn, Easton, PA, 610-253-0546
Comfort Suites, 120 West Third Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015, 610-882-9700
Courtyard by Marriott, 2160 Motel Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18018 610-317-6200
Holiday Inn at the Gateway, Rtes 512 and 22, Bethlehem, PA 18017, 800-360-5050
Local sights and activities:
The Martin Guitar Design Seminar, jointly sponsored by Martin and Northampton Community College, will be going on in nearby Bethlehem from the 6th through the 10th of August. This is a great opportunity to extend your stay, learn a lot about guitar design, and keep having fun!
The annual "Musikfest" is ongoing in Bethlehem.
The 19th Annual Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival will take place on August 2, 3, 4, & 5.
Winery tour - Slate Quarry Winery offers tours and wine tasting. The winery is located just outside of Nazareth.
Crayola Crayons - For the kids (including us grownup kids), the Crayola Factory offers tours every day of the week in nearby Easton, PA.
Also for kids, including grown-up kids, is Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown - rides, etc.
There are also walking tours of historic Nazareth and many other activities available.
Registration -- Registration ended on July 16, 2007 for a guaranteed tour and lunch on Monday. The list of registrants is available HERE. If you missed the deadline, I may be able to get you on a tour anyway - show up at the factory on Monday and I'll see what I can do. There will be plenty of other things to do anyway even if it doesn't work out. Please register up until August 2, 2007 if you plan to come to the Park on any or all days.
Registration Fee -- As always, the Registration Fee will be completely voluntary, and I will have a Contributions Jar in Cheers and at the Park all days. The suggested contribution is $5.00 per adult per day, or $10.00 per adult for the entire 3 days. Children are free. This will hopefully be the only "solicitation" - I will not be asking anyone directly absent a large shortfall.
Photos -- Here are some pictures of the Log Cabin, the Large Pavilion, the old Martin Factory, and the old Martin Residence.
Mac Carter, Webmaster