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Post by Joe Karlosi on Nov 20, 2013 10:21:03 GMT -5
I have much to say about this event, and not all of it necessarily good. I decided that I really wanted to partake in this special Anniversary, and thought it would be great for my girlfriend and I to book a room in the NYC Grand Hyatt Hotel for the entire weekend. In the past 25 years I have rarely bothered to go to the Beatlefests anymore, except one or two here and there, and then for only one day. BUT this 2014 celebration is a SPECIAL OCCASION!! It will be 50 YEARS that The Beatles came to New York -- and the convention will be held on the very same weekend (Feb. 7, 8, 9) -- how wonderful is that!!? I figured that this time would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so why not go all out and rent a room for three days? Oh, sure -- we are not millionaires, and the rooms are something like $250 per night -- but you only go around once, right? So we booked the room for two nights. Then we waited and waited and waited to get an update on what guests Mark Lapidos would have on this "SPECIAL WEEKEND"! And now that the guest list has been official, what do we get? Nothing: Peter Asher (again). Donovan. Chad & Jeremy. Billy J. Kramer (again). Mark Hudson (for the umpteenth time)Is Mark Lapidos kidding? That is a pitiful "guest list" for such an amazing anniversary. This is the type of guest list that I would expect to see on any ordinary run-of-the-mill annual Fest For Beatles Fans. What irks me even more is that the last time I went to the Fest in 2012 (it was great to meet OldFred and MikeV, which was the highlight of that one -- along with meeting Micky Dolenz!!), I had asked Mark Lapidos if he ever intended to have Pete Best back, as I'd missed him -- and Mark turned on me wildly and barked: "Why would I do that? I had him here two times already! People will start asking why I always have the same guests!!" Whoa, Mark -- well, excuuuuuuuuuse me. Meanwhile, what a hypocritical thing that was to say, since the 2014 guest list stinks of repeat guests. I want to meet Pete Best and get a photo and autograph. Pete was a Beatle, after all. I should have gone when Pete was a guest, but I didn't. And I later found out after the fact that Pete had been a guest signing at a local record store in my area some several years ago now. But my point is, at least Pete was a Beatle. How about trying to get George Martin? Yoko? Julian? Sean? (I have long ago given up the thought of expecting Paul or Ringo to make the show). For all I know, Mark may have already tried getting some better guests. But this list is just pathetic. And in the meantime, I know that Pete Best and May Pang are instead going to be at another Beatles show in Cancoon (I think it is). Even having Micky Dolenz in 2012 and Peter Noone in 2013 were better choices than the ones they're having in 2014. I have nothing against Donovan -- I should make that clear; he's the most intriguing of the guests. So I'm thinking of perhaps at least skipping Friday. But it just so happens that my nephew may also go to the show for one day, so that will be fun. There is a Beatles Fan I have met online at the "Vinyl Community" who will be going for a day, so we can hook up in person for the first time as well. So this is still fun in the sense that it wil be held on the same historic February Weekend Of 1964 -- but man, what an unappetizing menu.
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lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Nov 20, 2013 12:32:20 GMT -5
I have much to say about this event, and not all of it necessarily good. I decided that I really wanted to partake in this special Anniversary, and thought it would be great for my girlfriend and I to book a room in the NYC Grand Hyatt Hotel for the entire weekend. In the past 25 years I have rarely bothered to go to the Beatlefests anymore, except one or two here and there, and then for only one day. BUT this 2014 celebration is a SPECIAL OCCASION!! It will be 50 YEARS that The Beatles came to New York -- and the convention will be held on the very same weekend (Feb. 7, 8, 9) -- how wonderful is that!!? I figured that this time would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so why not go all out and rent a room for three days? Oh, sure -- we are not millionaires, and the rooms are something like $250 per night -- but you only go around once, right? So we booked the room for two nights. Then we waited and waited and waited to get an update on what guests Mark Lapidos would have on this "SPECIAL WEEKEND"! And now that the guest list has been official, what do we get? Nothing: Peter Asher (again). Donovan. Chad & Jeremy. Billy J. Kramer (again). Mark Hudson (for the umpteenth time)Is Mark Lapidos kidding? That is a pitiful "guest list" for such an amazing anniversary. This is the type of guest list that I would expect to see on any ordinary run-of-the-mill annual Fest For Beatles Fans. What irks me even more is that the last time I went to the Fest in 2012 (it was great to meet OldFred and MikeV, which was the highlight of that one -- along with meeting Micky Dolenz!!), I had asked Mark Lapidos if he ever intended to have Pete Best back, as I'd missed him -- and Mark turned on me wildly and barked: "Why would I do that? I had him here two times already! People will start asking why I always have the same guests!!" Whoa, Mark -- well, excuuuuuuuuuse me. Meanwhile, what a hypocritical thing that was to say, since the 2014 guest list stinks of repeat guests. I want to meet Pete Best and get a photo and autograph. Pete was a Beatle, after all. I should have gone when Pete was a guest, but I didn't. And I later found out after the fact that Pete had been a guest signing at a local record store in my area some several years ago now. But my point is, at least Pete was a Beatle. How about trying to get George Martin? Yoko? Julian? Sean? (I have long ago given up the thought of expecting Paul or Ringo to make the show). For all I know, Mark may have already tried getting some better guests. But this list is just pathetic. And in the meantime, I know that Pete Best and May Pang are instead going to be at another Beatles show in Cancoon (I think it is). Even having Micky Dolenz in 2012 and Peter Noone in 2013 were better choices than the ones they're having in 2014. I have nothing against Donovan -- I should make that clear; he's the most intriguing of the guests. So I'm thinking of perhaps at least skipping Friday. But it just so happens that my nephew may also go to the show for one day, so that will be fun. There is a Beatles Fan I have met online at the "Vinyl Community" who will be going for a day, so we can hook up in person for the first time as well. So this is still fun in the sense that it wil be held on the same historic February Weekend Of 1964 -- but man, what an unappetizing menu. I agree with you Joe that the guest list is pretty lame for a 50th Anniversary Fest. Donovan's voice I understand is in about as good a shape as Bob Dylan's these days. Peter Asher without Gordon is like The Beach Boys without Dennis & Carl Wilson. Billy J. Kramer has a repertoire of about 5 songs at best (most given to him by John or Paul), and Mark Hudson has nothing better to do when he isn't dyeing his hair and beard like a peacock than to tell stories about his time with Ringo (Yawn...). I haven't heard Chad & Jeremy since The Beatles were still a band, so that will be interesting. At least Mark Lewisohn will be there on Sunday. I should have most of his book read by then and I'll certainly have some questions to ask him at the seminar. But I agree, where are G. Martin (age?), Cynthia Lennon (she came to NYC on the first trip 50 years ago), or Sean or Julian? I can understand Pete Best passing on this one. He probably still has bad vibes about missing the trip in 1964.... If Paul or Ringo are ever going to come to one of these, then this is the year, though that cannot be announced ahead of time or there will be chaos. What about Patti Boyd? How about some fans that attended the first Ed Sullivan Show? I am only going on Sunday. Ticket prices are expensive enough. I'll pass on staying at the hotel. One day is always enough for me at these things. Though I love to spend time in the dealer room checking serious items. I bought my prized possession; a 1st edition of John's book "In His Own Write" signed by all four Beatles on their first US Tour in the Summer of '64 at a Fest 15 years ago from a dealer in a backroom deal. Frank Caiazzo was there that year as well, so I was able to authenticate the item immediately. I'll have fun on Sunday with my wife and two friends coming. Here's hoping some surprise guests make the weekend memorable.....
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Post by John S. Damm on Nov 20, 2013 14:41:05 GMT -5
It could be worse Joe: Louise Harrison and tag-team Yoko bashers Cyn and May! A wise band once sang: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make!" You got a great room, the "Do Not Disturb" sign should be on the outside handle all weekend!
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Nov 20, 2013 14:46:26 GMT -5
Donovan's voice I understand is in about as good a shape as Bob Dylan's these days. Oy. And at least with Dylan, his voice was never that graceful to begin with! That's very true. If anything 'big' like that were to occur it would have to be a surprise. But I wouldn't count on Paul or Ringo as the surprise because they have never seemed to be particularly supportive of these things. The new catalogue says they're having the fan who held up the sign in the street that many of us have seen in old film clips: "ELVIS IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE BEATLES!". Oooooooh.... I can't wait to hear her story... Same here as a rule. I just figured this might be a special exception. I'm still debating whether or not to cancel the hotel reservations for at least one of the two nights. I don't know what I'd be doing at each day's events -- usually I wind up making multiple trips into the flea market because I'm not interested in hearing the Beatles' contemporaries in the main ballroom going through their stories of what it was like to know them. There was a time in the early '80s where I'd hang out in the video rooms to see rare films -- but these days I own all of it myself. But I think it would be fun to hear the "sound alike" bands with my girlfriend. I think it will be a trip to go to the convention with her, as she has become very knowledgable about The Beatles since being with me and she is more of a fan than she was before. You are correct about the expensive ticket prices. "Ridiculous" is more like it! Admission per person for Saturday and Sunday is $79 for each day! (and that's the early bird special; later on it goes up to $89 per day!). Me too, but I have to laugh when I think that I will have already spent at least $1,000 on hotel and tickets and food and train fare before I even step inside the dealer's room! (And then come home saying: "Oh wow, look - I found an original Beatles Item for only $50 !" ) ...
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Nov 20, 2013 20:05:02 GMT -5
I'm with you , Joe, this is a rather limp guest list. Did you know Donovan was another Fest retread, he was the guest star a few years ago? It appears like Lapidus didn't think beyond his Rolodex. Not one guest I'm excited about. I was looking forward to the location, the same site as those mid-seventies Beatlefests I attended... Those has a real air of excitement, even with David Peel playing on the staircase....
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Nov 20, 2013 20:17:22 GMT -5
I'm with you , Joe, this is a rather limp guest list. Did you know Donovan was another Fest retread, he was the guest star a few years ago? It appears like Lapidus didn't think beyond his Rolodex. Not one guest I'm excited about. I was looking forward to the location, the same site as those mid-seventies Beatlefests I attended... Those has a real air of excitement, even with David Peel playing on the staircase.... Yeah, I thought Donovan had been there before. And I'm pretty sure Peter Asher attended too, last time I went in 2012 (I skipped him). I can give Mark the benefit of the doubt only in that he may have asked better guests to come but they couldn't or wouldn't, or he couldn't afford them. Like I said, it still may be fun just going with my girlfriend and exposing her to everything. We were even thinking of her entering the acoustic contest and doing "My Valentine", which is our song and which she has sung in concert before. (We probably will pass on that though, if she'd have to drag her guitar into the city).
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Nov 20, 2013 21:00:32 GMT -5
I'm with you , Joe, this is a rather limp guest list. Did you know Donovan was another Fest retread, he was the guest star a few years ago? It appears like Lapidus didn't think beyond his Rolodex. Not one guest I'm excited about. I was looking forward to the location, the same site as those mid-seventies Beatlefests I attended... Those has a real air of excitement, even with David Peel playing on the staircase.... Yeah, I thought Donovan had been there before. And I'm pretty sure Peter Asher attended too, last time I went in 2012 (I skipped him). I can give Mark the benefit of the doubt only in that he may have asked better guests to come but they couldn't or wouldn't, or he couldn't afford them. Like I said, it still may be fun just going with my girlfriend and exposing her to everything. We were even thinking of her entering the acoustic contest and doing "My Valentine", which is our song and which she has sung in concert before. (We probably will pass on that though, if she'd have to drag her guitar into the city). Maybe one of the other acts will loan you a guitar...or else you can pull a Lennon
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Post by John S. Damm on Nov 20, 2013 22:47:41 GMT -5
Like JoeK, I have been yelled at by Mark Lapidos for a politely asked question. We could have a fun discussion sharing stories on getting yelled at by Lapidos!
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Nov 21, 2013 6:23:14 GMT -5
Like JoeK, I have been yelled at by Mark Lapidos for a politely asked question. We could have a fun discussion sharing stories on getting yelled at by Lapidos! Really? What happened? I don't recall, if you had mentioned it before.
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Post by John S. Damm on Nov 21, 2013 10:51:40 GMT -5
Like JoeK, I have been yelled at by Mark Lapidos for a politely asked question. We could have a fun discussion sharing stories on getting yelled at by Lapidos! Really? What happened? I don't recall, if you had mentioned it before. In 1982 at the official Beatlefest table of merchandise in Chicago, Lapidos had stacks of Hunter Davies' The Beatles book and while I had the book already, my dust jacket was trashed and I asked Mark, who was behind the counter and not busy at the moment, whether he would consider selling me a dust jacket only as he had literally scores of that book. Hey, I was just 19 and I couldn't afford to buy a second copy of the book but wanted a new dust cover to protect mine. In hindsight it was not a great question but Lapidos screamed at me, "What are you a f_ck_ng moron, what would I do with a book without the dust jacket!?" A simple, "Sorry kid I can't because it would ruin that copy" could have sufficed! I was in shock and not too happy but now I laugh about it and I think that he is one of those Beatles leaches simply making money off them.
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lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Dec 18, 2013 22:20:07 GMT -5
Just announced that on Sat. night of the Fest (Feb. 8, 2014), Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow) will air his bi-weekly Sirius/XM satellite radio show (Channel 6 - 60's Station) live from the Fest For Beatles at The Grand Hyatt in NYC, airing a lot of the guests who will be performing that evening (Donovan, Chad & Jeremy, Billy J. Kramer, Peter Asher, etc.) from 6-9PM ET. In 1964, WABC on the AM radio dial was one of the top rock stations in NYC. They would jack up their signal at night and you could pick it up on your transistor radio from as far as 500 miles away. Cousin Brucie was as big on that station at the time as his NY competitor, Murray the K on WINS. WABC was known as W-A-Beatle-C in those days. That was my radio station in those days!
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Post by John S. Damm on Dec 19, 2013 23:57:14 GMT -5
Head count, who from this Board is going to the 2014 NYC Fest?
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Post by scousette on Dec 20, 2013 0:16:18 GMT -5
Not me! This year they're holding a Fest in Los Angeles, so I'll probably to to that one.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Dec 20, 2013 7:32:09 GMT -5
I'm going -- I have already taken the weekend off from work to attend. It's the 50th Anniversary, and it's all about New York - so that's the place to be!
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lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Dec 20, 2013 12:23:05 GMT -5
I'm going -- I have already taken the weekend off from work to attend. It's the 50th Anniversary, and it's all about New York - so that's the place to be! Absolutely. I'll be there too.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Dec 28, 2013 18:04:11 GMT -5
I haven't ordered tickets yet, although my girlfriend has the hotel room reserved for us for two nights. The thing is, for the past few decades I have been able to take or leave "The Fest" (and I have mostly left it)... but with the one of a kind Special 50th 2014 Anniversary, this is why Lisa and I have decided it would be a good idea to "go all out", for one time only!
I have never gone for all 3 days before (frankly, I think Friday is a waste, as it's only from 5pm to Midnight). But if we're going to do the whole route of staying at the hotel and all, it makes sense to get there Friday afternoon to check in, so we don't have to ruin Saturday by doing that.
But I have calculated the cost of the hotel and the Fest for three days, and it is a whopping $868.00 -- and that's without food, transportation, or buying Beatles memorabilia!! I am lucky in that I have amassed around that much money this season through gifts and work bonus, so in a way it is like "Free Money". It's as though it is an "all expenses paid" vacation. But at the same time, whether it be "gift money" or not, there is still so much other stuff I could use it for (like paying down some of my debt!!).
So that's where I'm at right now. Do we cut out Friday (both admission and hotel)? We have already discussed that we don't want to take the train back home every night at 1 or 2 in the morning.
This Fest is absurdly expensive. And we're not well off or anything.
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Jan 31, 2014 21:23:04 GMT -5
I'm thinking of going either Saturday or Sunday. Is there a schedule available? Not sure which is the better day to attend.
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Post by Steve Marinucci on Jan 31, 2014 23:37:33 GMT -5
I'm thinking of going either Saturday or Sunday. Is there a schedule available? Not sure which is the better day to attend. The schedule should be on the Fest site. I saw it earlier today.
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Post by OldFred on Feb 3, 2014 13:38:12 GMT -5
I'll be there Saturday and Sunday. Looking forward to seeing folks!
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Feb 3, 2014 19:29:19 GMT -5
I'm thinking of going either Saturday or Sunday. Is there a schedule available? Not sure which is the better day to attend. The schedule should be on the Fest site. I saw it earlier today. Thank Steve, found it. It's a push, I think I'm going Saturday? Anyone wanna meet up?
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Post by OldFred on Feb 4, 2014 9:36:11 GMT -5
The schedule should be on the Fest site. I saw it earlier today. Thank Steve, found it. It's a push, I think I'm going Saturday? Anyone wanna meet up? Cointenly!
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Feb 5, 2014 18:39:09 GMT -5
Be glad to see you, Fred. any other posters want to say hi on Saturday?
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Feb 6, 2014 7:25:14 GMT -5
Be glad to see you, Fred. any other posters want to say hi on Saturday? Sure, I do. How do we arrange it? The thing is, I have a few different people all wanting to meet up at various points on Saturday (two of them aren't even on these boards)... along with trying to see some actual events at the Fest! So it's a lot to juggle, but I'd like to meet up.
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Feb 6, 2014 21:01:58 GMT -5
Be glad to see you, Fred. any other posters want to say hi on Saturday? Sure, I do. How do we arrange it? The thing is, I have a few different people all wanting to meet up at various points on Saturday (two of them aren't even on these boards)... along with trying to see some actual events at the Fest! So it's a lot to juggle, but I'd like to meet up. Maybe early on Saturday? I don't need to see Freda's film again. Not sure where to meet- last time I was in that facility was Beatlefests 2975. Any thoughts? Fred?
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Post by OldFred on Feb 6, 2014 22:55:25 GMT -5
It's been years since I've been at the Commodore, now the Grand Hyatt, so I'm not sure how the layout is going to be. We can probably pm each other on the Board once we get there and figure it out from there.
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Post by John S. Damm on Feb 6, 2014 23:04:33 GMT -5
We want photos gentlemen and the wilder the better, you chaps with escort girls, elephant walks, Mumbo Stomps, "Boardies Gone Wild" kind of stuff!
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Feb 7, 2014 6:46:35 GMT -5
It's been years since I've been at the Commodore, now the Grand Hyatt, so I'm not sure how the layout is going to be. We can probably pm each other on the Board once we get there and figure it out from there. I don't text, but my girlfriend is bringing a laptop so I can check in here from time to time. (Hope there's some sort of Internet Access??). I will be arriving in NYC at around 3pm today (Friday) , and we'll be leaving for home next Monday. Fred, the layout is four floors (!) so it's going to be way different than what we have been accustomed to over in New Jersey .
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Feb 7, 2014 6:52:51 GMT -5
Maybe early on Saturday? I don't need to see Freda's film again. Not sure where to meet- last time I was in that facility was Beatlefests 2975. Any thoughts? Fred? Last week I just happened to buy the DVD of GOOD OL' FREDA (which I thought was very good) , but my girlfriend missed parts of it and said she wouldn't mind seeing it again at the Fest... so we might be there for the showing, especially if Freda herself makes an appearance. On Saturday I will be wearing my black tee-shirt with the US "Hey Jude" LP cover on it. Look for me with my dark hair and goatee -- I will be all over the place, especially perusing the dealer's room quite a lot!
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Feb 7, 2014 21:39:00 GMT -5
Maybe early on Saturday? I don't need to see Freda's film again. Not sure where to meet- last time I was in that facility was Beatlefests 2975. Any thoughts? Fred? Last week I just happened to buy the DVD of GOOD OL' FREDA (which I thought was very good) , but my girlfriend missed parts of it and said she wouldn't mind seeing it again at the Fest... so we might be there for the showing, especially if Freda herself makes an appearance. On Saturday I will be wearing my black tee-shirt with the US "Hey Jude" LP cover on it. Look for me with my dark hair and goatee -- I will be all over the place, especially perusing the dealer's room quite a lot! Ok, I'll look out for you, and Fred. I'll be the one in the purple beret and glasses with the multicolored beard and mustache. Catch me singing way out of tune. Hang on a minute, I got confused, that's not me, that's the other Ringo fan. Not sure what I'm wearing yet.
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Post by OldFred on Feb 7, 2014 22:40:18 GMT -5
Here are photos I took of the late Mal Evans when he visited Beatlefest in 1975, the second photo he's on stage with the band Liverpool. See everyone at the Fest!
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