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I am trying to sort out the lighting for the jazz party. Does anyone have any specialist knowledge?
I have a balcony which will become a lighting gantry a one end of the ballroom which I suppose will be the nerve centre. I thought I would get a spotlight for the singer. Slinging anything from the roof would be simple as I have the oak beams.

This got a bit buried but as there is chat about it on another forum I thought I would give it a bump.

Well, the thought of going to Bulgaria for Philip's piano party has crossed my mind, although I've never traveled out of the US. Heck, I've never traveled much at all, except to bordering states on occasion.

My sister and I did drive up to Ohio to visit our older brother and his wife this past July. It was over 800 miles and a 14 hour drive through 4 states. But I enjoyed the scenery and the visit with our brother.

I just checked and Bulgaria is over 5,500 miles from Georgia. Probably not a bad flight on a commercial jet, which I've never flown. But there is always a first time for everything.

Rick

If you are remotely considering the trip, you need to apply for a passport now; there is a horrendously long wait time.

Thanks for the heads up, dogperson. I was not aware of this and have never applied for a passport. Will keep it in mind.

Rick

Since you have never traveled outside of the US, don’t you think you should stick your toe in the water snd go to Bulgaria? But a fair warning that you might become a travel addict: there is something energizing to see different landscapes, buildings centuries old, meet people with a different history and culture to yours. And trying new foods? Wonderful

Give it a try🙂

Hey Rickster!

dogperson is right about the passport application.
A trip to Bulgaria from Georgia would be a grand adventure! Atlanta is a Delta hub, so from there you could probably fly to one of the big European destinations, like Paris, Amsterdam, maybe Munich. I imagine that you would want to explore for a few days before connecting to a smaller flight to Sofia. Then surface transportation to Philip's. We rented a car and drove which was an adventure in itself. Our co-guests hired a car and driver which seems like a much better way to procede.

Certainly an adventure from beginning to end.

Thanks, malkin! Info like that is helpful, because I would not have a clue where to start, except with the passport.

It would indeed be quite an adventure for me, but also an adventure for Philip and his other guests, when they here me play the piano. However, diversity is not a bad thing...

Rick

Rickster--You'd have a blast playing all around Philip's place on all his pianos!

I was worried about the C Bechstein upright but I think it has just snapped a couple of strings.

Well I shall use the new info as a way to bump the thread.

I am planning on running activities sort of from 9 to 16 July. That gives guests a fairly large target at which to aim. It should, also, encompass the Bulgarian national folklore festival which normally (pre covid) runs here in the village. That is very music and dance based. Until you have heard a hundred Bulgarian amateur bagpipers playing you don't know what living is!

The party is just a piano party but try to theme it a bit there will be some jazz emphasis this year. I have booked Marina Dragomiretzkaya as the main soloist and have booked a supporting act. Anybody is welcome to attend at any time between or even close to those dates.

Background activities can include a trip to a local luthier, masterclass lessons (subject to prior booking) and even a visit to see home distillation of rakhia. That might be of particular interest to any American visitors. I know the Volstead act has been repeled but who knows what is around the corner?

If you want to combine this with touring Europe, let me know and I can make some suggestions.

I hope Putin's tanks will not have reached the Balkans by July. The world would be so dull if we knew what was around the corner.

I came across that purely by accident, on YouTube. It is my music room and I think is from the 2019 piano party, but I am not sure.

That is a very nice music room there, Philip! And, the piano sounded great!

Also, while I'm here, although the thought of attending your upcoming Piano Party in Bulgaria this July did cross my mind, and I thought about it, and researched obtaining a passport and visa, I've decided there is just too much else going on in the world right now to risk it this time around. Maybe things will be better by July, or maybe next year, if we are all still around.

Loved the video, although it was short. If I had been there, I would have to give that stand-bass a try, while someone else played the piano. I've played a stand-up bass before, and am somewhat familiar with it. Love the deep, rich sound of that stand-up bass!

All the best!

Rick

There's a guitar, a fiddle, an accordion and drums. There's probably other stuff too, I forget.

Those of you who have attended the parties in earlier years will be saddened by a bit of news. The maid, who looked after us all so well, Veska, died yesterday the 8th of March. She was only 57 and died of a heart attack.

I am in Cambodia and am struggling to come to terms with the idea that she won't be there when I get back.

So sorry to hear this, Philip. When we lose people in our lives whom we appreciate and depended on, it is still a loss, even though they may not have been family. Some people are like family, even though they are not family literally.

My condolences to Veska and her family.

Best regards,

Rick

That is so sad! My condolences to Veska and her family, and also to you of course.

I'm sorry to hear about Veska. She was a gem.

Apparently she didn't suffer. She deserved better though.

Things get worse. Her brother, who used to do some gardening for me, has joined his sister! The worst part is that they leave 2 disabled family members who used to rely on them for help. Of course being temporarily in Cambodia I can't do much.

If you are thinking of the party, don't be put off by all this doom and gloom. Guests have been known to survive past parties.