Ernie Ball stand at Music Live NEC Birmingham.

[Spudmurphy]

A while ago I had mentioned to Blind Lemon of Strings n Things, that if he ever needed a hand at a show I would just love to do it.
My CV states:-
Worked with the public for 32 years
Good communication skills (when sober!)
Knows a bit about EB Guitars
Good Team player.

Well Pete took me up on my offer - some staff couldn't make the dates and one member had suffered a bereavement.

My brief was to arrive at the NEC centre, help man the stand - making sure there were always good supplies of stickers, catalogues.
Answer queries, help with the demo artists and get coffee - oh yeah and keep Pete sane by enticing him to a "cigar break".

I was given a "uniform" - a fleece jacket with Ernie Ball on the back and the MM logo on the front. - VERY NICE!!!!

So what were my memories of the 4 days? :-

Being made to feel a part of the team.

Laughing so much I was crying in the evening meal sessions talking to the Devil, the Bushman (Brian) and The Jim Dunlop rep from holland.

Having a blast with the the EB demonstrators - The Devil and Brian of The Bushman Brothers (search for him on You tube - awesome!!)

Amazed at the way some people show total disregard for guitars when trying them out. The first day of the exhibition was "school day". One girl wearing chains was trying out an AL. I asked her politely to just be careful of her garb.
I may as well have been talking ancient Norse - she just looked straight through me and carried on - then noticing my stare, showing I was a bit pissed off, moved on- stoopid girl had scratched it!! One guy hit the headstock of a lovely sterling bass 3 times.

Chewing the fat with Alan from Strings n Things - Alun is very tall in his 50's and I mean this politely looks more like a Bank/financial advisor. He picked up a silo and my jaw dropped - a great player.- so softly spoken - a true gentleman

Standing outside talking to Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Jeff Whitehorn of Procal Harem about the hairlines of rockstars - some of which had receded and some of which had improved (No names for fear of litigation)

Meeting up with forum members dave stockden (his album is out soon plug plug- gotta be worth a signed copy), Grand Wazoo; Dave123 and his Dad; Olplayer and his missus; bearmusic.

It was tiring work - but I enjoyed every minute and still have a smile on my face today.

Thanks to the guys at Strings n Things - you were all ace and a real credit to Ernie Ball.
(in joke - who was that very wealthy man who is a UK resident? Canoe Wood? haaaaaaaa!) sorry, end of "in jokes".

I have loads of photos - pop back to this thread later and I will have posted some.

I was like a kid in a candy store!! -Thank you guys - it was a great experience.

[Smellybum]

He He - Go Spud, sounds like a great time, can't wait for them pics.

[travs]

Excellent report SirSpud. You define the word "Team Player" You sold me my Albert and I hope you sold a few more.

[paulstew64]

Nice one Spud.

I really wished I'd had the chance to travel to Birmingham as originally planned. It would have been great trying out those guitars and meeting you and the S&T team.

Oh well, LIMS 2010 here I come!

[lenny]

Right on Spud ...wicked being a part of a trade show ....cool beans!

[dstockden]

Was great to have a catch up Spud, oh and thanks for the plug the tenner is in the post

[koogie2k]

Very cool...thanks for sharing.

[Spudmurphy]

OK guys gonna start uploading the pics - but I am having Photobucket upload probs - I'll post 3 for now which I took before the show opened and I promise to upload more tomorrow. These I converted to low res because of the upload probs.

[SirVoltage]

I was there on the Friday, my first time seeing most models in the flesh (only seen a Luke before) and it was a truly awe inspiring thing. The Devil has some mean chops.

However, I tried the Silhoutte you had out on the display, it played a dream, but why run it through stomp boxes and then a headphone preamp? It wasn't the most inspiring sound. No criticism, I just found it a little perplexing that they were run through this setup, when the SBMM were played through those multifx, where it was possible to get a pretty good sound from them?
Its no issue to me, because I know what they can sound like (and I know at least, what a Silhouette plays like, and if its anything to go by, when it comes to choosing a model sometime in the near..ish... future, I'm in for a fun time). I meant to ask then why it was this way around, but ah well.

It looked great and was probably the most unique thing there by far.

Did you get chance to checkout any of the other stalls?

[Big Poppa]

Good Job Spud the great thing about meeting Alan Grant the first time is that all of his jokes are new!

Great guys and part of the family....Been doing business for almost 40 years...

SPud the great thing is to get to see the other side....in life we just about never get to. Your perceptions are always based on your experiences so when you get to broaden them you learn something. That girl that banged the Albert is what we deal with every day...People on the forum are constantly berating guitar center because the instruments are dinged.....Now you know how it happens...it isnt the salesmen that bash them.

At bass player live the one off mahoghany bongo got a gouge in it...unbelievable.

[The Devil]

I can answer that for you Sir Voltage.

The Silo was there for you to here the sound of the pedals, not to just get the sound of the guitar.

If anyone wanted to try the guitar we would plug them into the Pandora's that were mounted on the wall, or as was offered all weekend, I would do a demo with any particular guitar that anyone wanted to hear........you should have heard the Albert Lee Does Rock Too! demo...never seen Spud laugh so much!

Plus, in this crazy world in which we live, some people have never tried a Musicman guitar, as we all know this should be a criminal offence, but by cleverly putting it with the pedal displays people get to feel how cool they really are.

Hope this clears things up.

Cheers,

The Devil.

[The Devil]

I would like to say that Spud was great to have at the show.

He fitted into the team like a hand in a velvet glove!

His knowledge of Musicman guitars seems endless and he was great with members of the public.

Most of all, him and all the S&T boys make things run smoothly for Brian (Bushman Bro) and myself when we are demo-ing. From sorting the sound, grabbing guitars, making sure all the duel-ists get there prize etc. It makes it much easier to play when you don't have to worry about anything else.

It's an honour to work with all of them as they are all great guys, in and out of work, and to represent Ernie Ball/Musicman at these shows.

Special thanks to Blind Lemon for giving me the chance over the last few years to be part of the team, I really appreciate it and love him very much....and I'm not scared to say it in front of my mates!

[colinboy]

I would like to say that Spud was great to have at the show.

He fitted into the team like a hand in a velvet glove!

His knowledge of Musicman guitars seems endless and he was great with members of the public.

Most of all, him and all the S&T boys make things run smoothly for Brian (Bushman Bro) and myself when we are demo-ing. From sorting the sound, grabbing guitars, making sure all the duel-ists get there prize etc. It makes it much easier to play when you don't have to worry about anything else.

It's an honour to work with all of them as they are all great guys, in and out of work, and to represent Ernie Ball/Musicman at these shows.

Special thanks to Blind Lemon for giving me the chance over the last few years to be part of the team, I really appreciate it and love him very much....and I'm not scared to say it in front of my mates!

Well said paul,very nice crew indeed and i can imagine spud fitting in like a glove!

I got a new ball myself recently mate and i got the new blackstar series one 200 head and cab a few weeks ago that i was enquiring about a few months ago after LIMS,Blackstar make some fantastic gear and didnt fail to disappoint after you singing their praises.

cheers mate

Colin

[Spudmurphy]

More photos uploading in the hour.

Edit
I have loads of photos to share and 8loody photobucket is giving me upload errors!!!

I have to go to a rehearsal and will try again later Sorry

[Blind Lemon]

I would like to thank Spud for a great job well done. It was as if we'd been working together for several years. We had a ball.
The devil was awesome as usual, as was Brian Kellner