Tonight our group, Saginaw Subterranean Strings Hammered Dulcimer Club, played for a Mother-Daughter Banquet at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bay City (actually between Bay City and Saginaw). We had a great turn-out of 21 musicians including seven hammered dulcimers!!

I’ve been busy this week getting the workshops organized for the Evart hammered dulcimer festival. (It’s a huge job with about 200 classes over three days in eight areas.)

Yesterday I had a fun/memorable experience.

I answer lots of questions via email and phone about the ODPC Funfest because, in addition to being Workshop Chairman, I’m the webmaster for the festival’s website. Sometimes I’m busy and I hustle through the answers but I always try to make sure the person feels welcome. Yesterday, at about 4:30, I received a phone call.

It was an older gentleman who was sweet and very interested in what goes on at Evart. I gave a good over-view (maybe 10 minutes of friendly conversation). I was winding up my “pitch” by explaining that this fellow could, for $3, have admission to the festival which would avail him of the approximately 200 workshops including those for accordion, harmonica, dobro, fiddle, etc. etc. etc.

I assured this very nice man that he could come and he’d have the availability of all of those wonderful instructional workshops in addition to lots of vendor access, stage shows, and of course lots of jamming, all for the remarkable cost of $3 for the whole event.

At that point he quietly said, “I play dulcimer.”

I was pleased and said, “Well, you’ll fit right in.”

Then he said “I’m Paul Van Arsdale. I’ve never been to Evart but I’ve always wanted to attend.”

I went balistic. PAUL VAN ARSDALE!!! I babbled something about we’d love to have him come and I’d always been admirer of him and his playing. I think I said something about “I’ve heard of you all my life!!” He handled it very well.

He said he’s not sure but he’s hoping to come. No workshops, no star treatment (although I did assure him that I’d somehow find a way to get him a campsite with hookups because he just HAD to attend.)

If you aren’t a dulcimer historian or don’t recognize his name, you can read about him on the on-line Wikipedia (on-line encyclopedia), at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Van_Arsdale. Paul is one of the pioneers who helped elevate the hammered dulcimer to it’s current status. He’s 87 years old and one of the most respected musicians in the dulcimer world.

I hope I have a chance to explain to him that I really don’t think Paul Van Arsdale needs to take dorbro or harmonica classes. I just didn’t know who I was talking to and until he said “I’m Paul Van Arsdale” he got the standard spiel.

It was probably the best way to welcome him because I know he realized everyone is welcomed at the festival and made to feel special.

He kept saying he’s not firm about coming but he’s hoping he can make it.