Awww, sounds like a wonderful family!

Chris,

1. You're often in a professional environment in which most people are liberals and yet you're a conservative. Most people in the arts are liberals as far as I can tell. I'm not saying that artists are never conservatives just that's is rare in my experience. If I personally surveyed writers, painters, and theater people, for instance, I can't think of anyone I've known who's a conservative. What are your feelings about being a conservative in a professional environment in which most people have different political views than you do?

2. I have a follow up question on this. Why do you think that most of these people are liberals if you do? Do you think this is some kind of accident or coincidence or do you think there's some kind of reason for it? In other words, if my first question is: how do you feel about this, this question is: why do you think this is?

3. When you discuss your political views at WTF, I know you're interested in learning how other people see the world, and in posting about your own views. My question is: are you open to changing any of your political views? I'm sorry if this sounds snarky. I don't mean it that way. There isn't a right or wrong answer. I think some of us aren't open to changing our political views about certain things, so I guess what I'm asking is are there parts of your political views you feel that you'll never change or are there some of your views that you're still considering?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel:
Chris,

1. You're often in a professional environment in which most people are liberals and yet you're a conservative. Most people in the arts are liberals as far as I can tell. I'm not saying that artists are never conservatives just that's is rare in my experience. If I personally surveyed writers, painters, and theater people, for instance, I can't think of anyone I've known who's a conservative. What are your feelings about being a conservative in a professional environment in which most people have different political views than you do?

2. I have a follow up question on this. Why do you think that most of these people are liberals if you do? Do you think this is some kind of accident or coincidence or do you think there's some kind of reason for it? In other words, if my first question is: how do you feel about this, this question is: why do you think this is?

3. When you discuss your political views at WTF, I know you're interested in learning how other people see the world, and in posting about your own views. My question is: are you open to changing any of your political views? I'm sorry if this sounds snarky. I don't mean it that way. There isn't a right or wrong answer. I think some of us aren't open to changing our political views about certain things, so I guess what I'm asking is are there parts of your political views you feel that you'll never change or are there some of your views that you're still considering?

Thanks.

Daniel,

Your first question is interesting. Frankly, I never discuss politics or religion in my artistic workplace. Most folks are very liberal, and it would be deadly for my career to ever bring up politics in this arena. I've probably even gone too far on this forum concerning my views... it's very easy to get blackballed in the performing arts - happens all the time for a variety of reasons.

As far as the arts community being mostly liberal - I think this is generally true but not completely true. Let me think more about how to answer this...

I like the third question, Daniel. I am open to changing my views, absolutely. I love socratic argument and I'm always open to a more true answer. Many moons ago, I was quite liberal - even socialist - it was argument that persuaded me to come back the other direction. I'm still considering most of my views.

I'm not immune to good thought and argument...

Excellent choice for WTFOM!

Chris;

1. What singers have you performed with who left you in awe?

2. Paper, plastic, or reusable?

quote:

Originally posted by OperaTenor:
Excellent choice for WTFOM!

Chris;

1. What singers have you performed with who left you in awe?

2. Paper, plastic, or reusable?

OT, Great Questions!

At the top has to be Kevin McMillian with whom I sang many Carmina Buranas with at the beginning of my career. He's probably one the finest baritones who has ever graced the piece and he did a great job bringing amazing musicality to it. Another singer who was a standout to me is the Lyric Soprano Linda Mabbs who's Messiah is one of the finest ever. Soprano Joanna Mongiardo is less known, but not any less fine. She's a lyric coloratura who has a very warm voice in spite of the register in which she sings. Her energy and character is also extremely welcome on any engagement. I had the opportunity to cover Richard Croft one time (Dwayne's brother) in a production of Rake's Progress along with Sylvia McNair. Both of them had elegant voices and Sylvia's was the finest I ever heard as Anne Trulove. I dearly love that opera.

Oh, I also loved Richard Stillwell! What a Sharpless! The best - I hope he's still singing. And Thomas Allen - wow. Had the opportunity of singing Bardolfo to his first Falstaff in a concert performance of the opera at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Terrific.

Most of my favs are folks who are not so mainstream who's performances have touched me in some way or another. You get rehearsing with these people and close to them and when you hear something click, it's exciting - you know, OT!

Trying to think... Mrs. Beacon's Pie Jesu (Faure) at her father's memorial service - I'll never forget. Julie Andrews in all of Sound of Music My father hymn singing in church when I was a kid...

I also love it when an orchestra is conducted so well that they hang to every word with you. Some years back I was singing a Rogers & Hammerstein concert in my hometown and while doing "Younger than Springtime" I looked over and the conductor's face was turned toward me and he was pronouncing the words right with me (lots of rubato) with his body facing the orchestra conducting. We were exactly together. That was a special concert.

I like paper bags. Like the feel, smell and the way they hold everything together. I like to reuse them when I'm home. I hate those plastic things. Reusable? Not organized enough!

checked bags or carry-on?

quote:

Originally posted by piqaboo:
checked bags or carry-on?

checked bags. I hate carry-on people. Do you really have to bring every thing you own onto the airplane? And how about those airlines encouraging this behavior by charging for checked luggage. I want them all to die!

Can't you see what kind of great day I'm having?

I am sorry that you hate me...

but after loosing luggage and making me wait for 1.5 hours to pick up luggage while loosing my scheduled hotel pick up....etc

I now pack really light and carry on.

Trouble is, my new nice carryon is darn heavy even before I pack it!

quote:

Originally posted by lilylady:
I am sorry that you hate me...

but after loosing luggage and making me wait for 1.5 hours to pick up luggage while loosing my scheduled hotel pick up....etc

I now pack really light and carry on.

Trouble is, my new nice carryon is darn heavy even before I pack it!

I still love you, LL!

what are some of your best memories of growing up on the front range?

what do you miss most about colorado?

how's the piano business doing?

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:
what are some of your best memories of growing up on the front range?

what do you miss most about colorado?

how's the piano business doing?

Piqué,

I have so many great memories of the front range! Fantastic place to grow up and be a kid. I sometimes regret not raising my kids out there - still is time, if I picked up everything and went, I suppose. I think the climate and the farm were the best. So much work with my dad that made our relationship really strong and set me off in the right direction.

I miss the mountains most of all. Used to hike several of the 14ers every year and the daunting Longs Peak which I never made the summit. I'd like to do that sometime. The weather always rolls in early and you have to be below tree line when it does...

Piano biz is OK. I had a very good August as some large deals finally closed. I'm not certain about the long term viability of the industry, but I'm in a pretty good position to maintain my business through the next term. The basic problem is one of too much supply and not enough demand. The entire industry including manufacturers, dealer networks and inventory is functioning on an outdated model that simply provides too much supply. The adjustment over the next several years is going to be painful indeed. I still believe, however, that the piano will always be in demand somewhat and that if the businessman is smart enough and has the willpower and desire to see this through, he can survive.

The key word is survival. Do businesspeople just want to survive, or do they want to profit? I can't know at this point if decent profitability will return to the industry. I wonder myself. I know that some folks who have passion for pianos will stay, but most likely those who are in it for decent profits will leave.

I love the piano for its virtues as a musical instrument. I'm not looking for great wealth in this business. I'm looking for people who are sincerely interested in finding a beautiful instrument and then buying it and playing it. It's my great hope that there are enough people like this to keep someone with a genuine interest in the instrument such as myself in business. Only time will tell...

quote:

It's my great hope that there are enough people like this to keep someone with a genuine interest in the instrument such as myself in business.

well you of course can encourage this by handing out lots of copies of "g.o."

thanks for the overview. sounds like piano retailers need to be pretty nimble in this economy.

has your dad ever come to visit you in nyc?

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:

quote:

It's my great hope that there are enough people like this to keep someone with a genuine interest in the instrument such as myself in business.

well you of course can encourage this by handing out lots of copies of "g.o."


thanks for the overview. sounds like piano retailers need to be pretty nimble in this economy.

has your dad ever come to visit you in nyc?

piqué, you're great! Your book was the first great piano read in a long, long time. I love talking with folks who have read and enjoyed it, and my I dare say that I've not met one person who read the book who didn't enjoy it.

Nimble's the word. Especially right now. It looks as though this fall might provide a good short term retail environment. Let's hope.

My father comes out quite a bit. My parents love visiting the grandkids and we try to catch cultural events in the area when they visit as well. He's almost finished building a high performance airplane, so he's always itching to get back home and work on the plane. He's building an RV-6 two seater that cruises at about 200 knots. He's hoping to be able to fly all over the country without needing to take commercial flights. I don't know, I'm not crazy about small planes. He's currently flying an Aeronca Scout built in 1947.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F...mwa_IA_10.06.06R.jpg

Beautiful walnut instrument display and seating, but really no power to speak of. Only good for buzzing the farm and flying over to Cabela's in Nebraska. There's plenty of wind where they live, and with a stiff headwind, you can end up going nowhere fast!

Anyhow, that's what's cookin'

Can you share with us pictures of your store?

Do you have teaching studio within?

Do you share a space for small recitals for teachers etc? We (when I worked with Baldwin locally) did both. It kept the stores (7 of them) active and the recitals brought the an ever changing group of people into the store and comfortable with the staff/owners etc.

quote:

Originally posted by lilylady:
Can you share with us pictures of your store?

Do you have teaching studio within?

Do you share a space for small recitals for teachers etc? We (when I worked with Baldwin locally) did both. It kept the stores (7 of them) active and the recitals brought the an ever changing group of people into the store and comfortable with the staff/owners etc.

I'd love to share some pictures. Can you tell me how you do it? I'm surprisingly behind the times when it comes to putting pictures up on here.