May 26, 2009 Just two days to go until the 2009 NY Uke Fest!

There is much excitement in the air and so many of us have reached deep to pull this one off. This year we build the foundation. It will support our future structure. Some are worried about buying tickets online now, since it is too close to the start of the event. That is not a problem. Tickets bought on Paypal even up til Friday morning will be available at the box office when you arrive. On the other hand, if you want to wait to buy your passes at the box office, we want to announce now that we will be maintaining the online pricing, in order to keep this event reasonably affordable. So a 3-day Full Festival Pass will still be $99, even if you buy a t the door. All other prices will also stay at the online level. We hope this brings out those people on the fence that need a bit of a nudge to force themselves to do what they really want to do. Come join us at the Fest!

May 22, 2009 One Week to Go!

So much is evolving with the Fest this year and it is important to let everyone know what is happening. I have to confess to doing a poor job at this, but at least this saves some surprises for the last moment! For example:

• We have listed several additional vendors on the website. Leslie Chase has released an interesting new program, which can be a blessing to uke players, writing their songs or transposing favorite songs to optimum keys. She will be demonstrating the program. Mark Michaels of New York Ukulele School will outline his crriculum and methods. Debi Hula will have a Hawaiian Arts and Crafts table and Todaro Music will bring samples of their unique instruments. Music Mike is outdoing himself with what he is bringing to sell. Jim Beloff is releasing a Lyle Ritz DVD teaching program that sounds very promising. Mya-moe Ukes are coming from the Pacific Northwest with exquisitely-made, resonator ukes that look as perfect as they sound. Curt Sheller is not only exhibiting and doing a workshop, but is also doing a solo set on Sunday evening. Fianally, caracaturist Gerry Allana will spin memories for attendees.

• We are having a true Hawaiian feast! There will be a whole roasted pig-can it be a luau without a pig? Rice, macaroni salad, green salads, chicken, cake, haupia (coconut pudding), shaved ice, beer and soft drinks. We are asking for a $10 contribution for this meal. Or what you feel it is worth. Strictly honor system! Everyone who wants to eat, eats! We are having a massive celebration to thank Pele for looking over the NY Uke Fest this year.

• All tickets purchased on Paypal can be picked up at the box office of Baruch College with a Paypal receipt or ID. Tickets purchased online anytime this week can also be picked up at the box office on the day of the Festival.

That is it for now. More updates will follow over next week!

See you all soon!

Ken

News Posted 5/19/09

Hi All,

To practicalities first.

Ticket-holders: all tickets have been purchased through Paypal, so their list is the official roster of attendees at the Fest and Paypal’s receipt guarantees admission to the Festival. When you arrive at Baruch College, the Performance Center box office will give the tickets to those who purchased them on Paypal, upon seeing your ID.

Vendors: Setup time is scheduled for 11 AM on Friday. I have a production meeting with the Baruch staff on Tuesday, May 19. I will post the arrangements after that meeting to try to simplify the process.

Musicians: It would be good to know your needs for performance (how many mics, jacks, etc, before the production meeting I will attend with the Baruch staff on Tuesday. The only sound check will be on the day of performance between 5:15 and 6:30. This will have to serve for all performers.

Workshop Facilitators: If you have any special needs for your workshop, please let me know.

Now Some News:

I would like to thank everyone for their patience and support in not only keeping the NY Uke Fest alive, but in actually making it better than ever. We will have at least 15 vendors, 28 workshops, 24 performances, countless jams, endless networking, lots of hula, food, hopefully shaved ice! It will be a great Festival. We have added a documentary film segment to the schedule with a screening of a portion of “The Mighty Uke” and other films. We have affiliated with Halau O Na Mele ‘Aina ‘O Hawaii and will help to support their competition in Waikiki in November. We have received support from Kamaka Ukes, Sam Ash, Bushman Ukes, Guitar Center, and many others who could not join us this year, but wish us well. More than two-thirds of tickets have been sold. With to weeks to go, we are likely to sell out. Actions speak the loudest and this is the way to put the NY Uke Fest up there with the best.

News Posted 3/13/09

Many people have forwarded good wishes about the rescheduled Uke Fest expressing their love of the instrument and its music. It has been a challenge to everyone’s patience, but we have made great progress and would like to make a couple of announcements regarding the 2009 Festival. It will be a three day event with five segments: Friday afternoon, Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening, and Sunday. The four segments on Friday and Saturday will be held at Baruch College Performance Center’s Engleman Recital Hall. (Lexington Ave. & 25th St.) On Friday and Saturday afternoons, there will be many available workshops, vendors will offer their goods and services, some informal entertainment and food will be available. We will close for one hour for dinner. Doors reopen at 6:30 PM for the evening concerts, which finish at 11:30 PM. On Sunday, we move the Festival to the Gershwin Hotel (27th St. near Madison Ave.) The Gershwin is a sponsor and the official hotel of the Festival. They will also welcome a midnight jam in their Living Roomafter the Friday and Saturday performances. In addition to sponsorship by the Gershwin Hotel, we have other corporate sponsors, whom we will be announcing in the next couple of weeks.

It is inevitable that Hawaii is a topic when we talk about the ukulele, but there will be a heightened emphasis on Hawaii at this year’s Festival. Not only is our new President from Hawaii, but it is also the 50th anniversary of statehood. Two legendary Hawaiian performers will be on our stage. Headlining the entire show will be Bill Tapia, the Duke of Uke. It is an amazing opportunity to see this musical giant at this event. His first uke was from his neighbor, Manuel Nunez. Bill played with Louis Armstrong. He opened the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s stage almost 40 years ago and he continues to delight audiences in his 101 year! The other Hawaiian luminary is Mihana. She played for years in PUAMANA, her mother Irmgard’s group, and now Mihana has taken over the lead role in PUAMANA, since her mother’s passing. The New York Uke Fest is greatly honored to host these two seminal performers.

As mentioned, there will be 5 segments of the Festival. The price of each segment at the door will be $50. A ticket for one full day will be $80. A full festival pass will be $135. A child under 12 with an adult who purchased a ticket qualifies for half these prices. We will continue the Uke Fest tradition of “Early Bird” purchases. Between now and March 31, we will offer 75 Early Bird passes: a full Festival pass will be just $99, a day pass will be $65.
See you at Uke Fest 2009!
nyukefest@gmail.com