New Possible Spring 2020 Dates: Ramsey County and Lyngblomsten

I've posted some more possible dates at Ramsey County Care Center and Lyngblomsten for Spring 2020 shows at https://rsvp.mmo.mando.land/ .  Could you please visit the site and indicate your availability, or email me (Jonathan)?  I'm happy to help with password and other site assistance.

The Irish Ensemble is looking to play at Greenhouse Village March 11 as well as another opportunity or two around St Patrick's Day.  Let me or Allison know if you'd like to join in and we can get music and practice times to you.

Jonathan

Directions to and Arriving Episcopal Homes

Sunday we have a 2pm performance at Episcopal Homes at 490 East Lynnhurst Avenue in Saint Paul.  Our host, Kristin, will greet us at the door and has a couple of notes.

- When entering the parking lot from University, use the first door on your right to the Welcome Center.
- You can park anywhere, but please sign your car at the desk to the left entering the Welcome Center.
- There's not a lot of parking, and Kristin is expecting family visitors, so if you can carpool, please do.

I live nearby at XXXXXXXXX.  Feel free to use my house as a staging area, parking usually isn't tight on Sundays.  If you like, we can head over to the Blue Door after the show for a burger and beer or a beverage at my house if the Blue Door is crowded.

Jonathan

Mandolin orchestra rehearsal Tuesday, October 29

Reminder: No mandolin orchestra rehearsal Monday, October 28. We will rehearse on Tuesday, October 29 instead. Usual place, usual time.

Anyone have a bowlback?

Does anyone have a bowlback they'd be willing to lend me for a few weeks? I'm interested to try one after CMSA, but would rather not buy one just to try it. Or if you'd rather hang on to it but wouldn't mind sharing for a rehearsal, I would enjoy that too!
Thanks all!
Ben

Some interesting (and very good) mandolin picking: https://youtu.be/BWxs1cZEwTY

A new project: mini guitar to octave mandolin

A Luna brand travel guitar - 22.5 inch scale - which I bought some years ago for 20 bucks - its cracked back and brace were easily fixed with Elmer's glue.  Now planning to convert it to an octave mandolin, using amazingly cheap eBay tailpiece and tuners.  I'll post again when it's done.

7-8 Players for St Mary's December 10, 12:30pm?

An audience member from Parkshores asked if we had 7-8 members to play for 45-50 minutes at a church lunch, December 10th.  He has a Greek carol he'd like played but is leaving the rest of the set open, perhaps Christmas Carols.

Is anyone interested in playing in a sept/oct/ish-tet at Saint Mary's?

Kentucky Mandolin For Sale

At the risk of a game of telephone, a friend of the orchestra would like some help selling her Kentucky mandolin.

Allison:

Hello from Iceland, Jonathan! I’m about to start my wilderness horseback tour and can’t follow up on this, so I’m wondering if you’d post the information below about a friend’s mandolin for sale onto MMO’s blog. I won’t be back until August 12; the best response contact is the seller at her email address: Joan Cochran, joanlcochran@gmail.com

Joan:

I have a Kentucky FM-250 mandolin I bought from Homestead Pickin Parlour in 2014 but I've not caught the bug to learn to play it well - time to part ways.
Through your mandolin orchestra, could I list it for sale?
Mandolin/strap/canvas case were $450 five years ago.  I'd like to sell if for around $350. It's in perfect condition; not played much.

Rain Contingency for Today

It looks possible that this afternoon will be stormy.  The Loring Park Art Fair directors have asked that we defer any decisions to cancel until noon today.

At noon I will email the group with the prognosis and whether the orchestra is on the hook to perform.  In the event that our performance is cancelled, I will also call all members who have RSVPd affirmative, using the phone numbers on the roster.

Thanks for your patience,

Jonathan

Rehearsal attendance

Next week, July 22, is the last rehearsal before our Loring Park concert. After that, August 5 will be the last rehearsal before our Edina, Harriet, and Como Concerts. In recent weeks, various factors have conspired against rehearsal attendance. On July 15, we were under 50%. If we're going to be ready for our summer concerts, we need to have our players in attendance at rehearsals.  Please make attendance a priority on July 22 and August 5.

If your status for any upcoming concerts has changed, please update that information at https://rsvp.mmo.mando.land