Hi Folks,

The recent L1 Conference in Big Sur was such an inspiration that we want to know if this community wants to do it again, this time East of the Mississippi.

We know a lot of you have read about Big Sur. We would truly love to have you all experience what we did. So many strong and positive things happened.

One of the most interesting aspects of all this is that it was unplanned by Bose. Alan Steinberger got things started in a post dated Jan 12, 2006. It was a simple, yet profound suggestion to get together to “play, listen, and network” with other Bose L1 users. Then, Joseph and ST jumped in to help Alan, and Joseph came up with idea of asking Barklie to donate his spectacular Hidden Barn Studio for the event.

We got together and tried to describe the special qualities and ingredients that made Big Sur such a wildly inspirational event. Here’s what we came up with:

Purpose:
1. Teach what you know
2. Learn what you don’t know
3. Play Live Music with like-minded professionals
4. Listen to live music and rejoice in its power to change the world
5. Relax with friends and loved ones

Unique Ingredients:
1. Conceived and organized by owners.
2. Supported by Bose with technical and cultural presentations.
3. Held at a place where music is made. (The Hidden Barn is sacred ground that inspires truth and love. It is not the “Redwood Salon” at a national hotel chain, and it is not a performance hall where a stage and fixed seating can create a barrier between the audience and the players. The Barn is truly a “level playing field”.)
4. Held at someone’s place, someone who exuded the passions, aspirations, and interests of a lifelong musician.
5. Held at a relatively remote location where people go to get away and relax, and where there isn’t much (else) to do.
6. The conference agenda was carefully coaxed into existence in the weeks preceeding, mostly by our wonderful community member "ST", and then unfolded in a beutiful, organic manner. For example, when things got really interesting musically, we kept going. When there was little or no energy to push on, we took an extended break. Without the preparation, this "looseness" could not have worked so magically.
7. The event was reachable by car from most places in the West. As a result, many were able to cut down on travel expenses and were able to include precious loved ones on the trip.
8. It was held at a quiet time of year, thereby holding down costs, and it was not held on a weekend, so it didn’t interfere with most gigs.

We think Big Sur was a miracle and would love to take the key ingredients from the event and make it happen again (and again, and again.)

What do you think? Would you like to make this happen again?

Cliff Henricksen
Chris Ickler
Ken Jacob
Kyle Sullivan

[ken-at-bose added some material about preparation to item 6.]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ken-at-Bose,

Find a place/host, and I suspect we-all can make it happen... Anyone have a good place come to mind?

I would hope that the magic can happen in the East too, but sometimes I fear that we couldn't create what Cliff called the "supernova" even in Big Sur again. It may have been a once-in-a-lifetime occurence. I hope not, because it has changed me in wonderful ways.

I feel like I missed a great experience, I sure wouldn't want to miss another opportunity. So, Yes, let's do one in the east.

I don't know of a place that fits the descrition of Big Sur and The Barn, but surely there is someplace east of the Mississippi that will excite and inspire.

Maybe in the Smokies, or Adirondacks.

It may be asking too much to try to recreate Big Sur, but I believe that good things will happen if we get together.

Oldghm

I find myself wondering why I wrote this, because it occured to me that there could be a whole different kind of magic at the next one. Then I feel like a little kid saying "Again! Again!"

Given the kind of lead time you folks gave us for the WesternWonder, I WILL be there.
I just have to have 60 to 90 days to allow my wife to work out days with her partners in the E.R. and for me to get ahead on the Farm stuff.

I'm so sorry I don't know of a place to hold this.. heaven knows there are places in the smokies around here.. but all my ideas would require large booking fees and/or a mule train <G>

Well Ken you planted the seed! It took a little over a year from Alan's first post. I'm sure things will evolve when and where they are supposed to just like Big Sur did. I know there is a lot of planning involved but none of us had any idea what we were in for nor what would transpire. It will be interesting to see how the next one unfolds!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dean Randall,

I'd really like to get to the East Coast event. I hope that it will be unique in its own way, and as much fun and inspiration as the Big Sur event.

And Dean it was only a shade over 100 days from Alan's post, to when we all arrived at Big Sur.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ST,

Count me in for sure!

Steve

quote:

...it occured to me that there could be a whole different kind of magic at the next one.

quote:

it will be unique in it's own way

quote:

things will evolve when and where they are supposed to just like Big Sur did

quote:

I believe that good things will happen if we get together

Tom, Dean, OLDGHM, ST you took the words right out of my mouth. Like a great performance, Big Sur is now floating out there amidst the muses, to be savored in memory, and used to inspire the present moment.

Whatever we do, it will reflect the energy of this here and now.

Ken

Wouldn't miss it for the world!

We can't not have one.

Maybe a beautiful New England "Foliage Fest" this autumn?

I think Cleveland, OH is a great central spot for "east of the Mississippi"

Ken, nice avatar. That's the way I like to think of you.

quote:

Maybe a beautiful New England "Foliage Fest" this autumn?

That sounds awesome!

Like Big Sur, if you build it, they will come!


Jeff
www.theunmentionables.com

I'm here in NYC thinking of a place that would be something like Big Sur, but nothing comes to mind. New England would be perfect. The guys at Bose would be close, that way they would have no excuses not to show.

Count me in, as long as it is not on October 6-17 as I will be in Spain for my 5 Year anniversary which is on the 8th.

As a Canadian whose ancestors left the colonies after the revolutionary unpleasantness, I had a remarkable experience a few years ago.

Part of a sales trip was to watch the Army vs. Virginia fall football game at West Point. After the game, we were free to prowl the grounds. I had a transcendental experience at the chapel where, unimaginably, the organist was practicing my favourite Bach work.

West Point went out of their way to take care of us, and seemed to genuinely enjoy doing so. It might be worth contacting them to see what is possible. Failing West Point, there certainly seemed to be lots of interesting areas along the Hudson which are close enough to get to, yet far enough to be... uhh... removed.

And with no rugby trips to Australia to pay for this time, to the extent any of us are able to predict the future, I'll be there! (You would let Westerners in, wouldn't you?)

Your right ST on the dates! It had been a long day of travel (and after enjoying a few hearty yeasty beverages) and didn't seem right when I was typing. Maybe it just seemed like a year from when Alan made the first post until we actually got there! Count me in where and whenever!

Count me in as well!

quote:

Originally posted by Oldghm:
Maybe in the Smokies
Oldghm

This would be good, I would love to be there.