[pianotech] My first convention

[Rob McCall]

Greetings all,

I've only been a member of the PTG for about 3 months.  This past week  
I went to Grand Rapids for my first annual convention. I just wanted  
to share my experience for anyone who is new to the PTG or has never  
been to the convention. I also wanted to say thanks to those who  
volunteered their time and shared their immense knowledge and years of  
experience with the rest of us.

By nature I'm not a very shy person, but I was somewhat reluctant to  
attend the convention. This is a change of careers for me and I was  
unsure what type of people I'd find there. I didn't want to feel like  
I was an outsider for 5 days in a strange town.  :-)

What I found instead, were some of the most helpful and encouraging  
group of the finest ladies and gentlemen that I've ever encountered.   
I met dozens of extremely nice people along with a few characters, as  
well! (you know who you are!) :-) Its as if I found a new home with a  
long lost group of friends that I'd never met before. I can truly say  
it was a pleasure meeting absolutely everyone that I was able to meet.  
I didn't have a single uncomfortable or bad encounter with anyone.

The educational opportunities were immense.  The day I spent with  
Laroy from Yamaha learning the 37 steps of regulation and the class on  
action geometry with Richard Davenport were eye-opening and highly  
informational! Classes with Jim Geiger, Steve Brady, Jack Wyatt, Dean  
Reyburn, Randy Potter, Don Mannino and a host of others, all exceeded  
my expectations. I truly believe that was one of the most educational  
(and sleep deprived!) weeks of my career! I hope to see an RPT after  
my name in the next year or so.

To top it off, I was able to sit in and play jazz piano with the A440  
band along with Gordon and Tom, the other two pianists.  I hadn't  
played big band jazz in more than a decade. I had a grin on my face  
that lasted well after the Yamaha reception ended.  I hope to be able  
to participate with the band in Vegas, too!

Which brings to mind, if someone has a picture from that evening (the  
Yamaha reception) that shows me playing the piano I'd love to get a  
copy.  That's because my 16 year old daughter says if I don't have a  
pic, it didn't happen...  :-)  I was the pianist in the blue hawaiian  
shirt that evening. Please forward to my email address... Thanks.

As a new Associate member, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone  
for welcoming me into the PTG along with all your offers of help and  
assistance. I am truly in awe of your generosity.

With warm regards,

Rob McCall
Murrieta, CA