3:00pm – To see the other big chain store in the mix was a must , so I drive over to the closest Guitar Center . It is located in Huntington Beach in a huge super-mall . The store is as expected – large with tons of guitars . You must ask yourself , “ How do they ever reach those guitars on the top shelf ?” Ha !
4:00pm – Time to finally eat something other than trail mix and Judy ’ s home cooked oatmeal cookies ( they are delicious , but now I need a hearty meal ).
I meet up with a lifelong friend Tom Brooks at a hip venue called Campus JAX in Newport Beach . We hang with the owner of the venue some – they have some great musicians who play there in the evenings and thankfully for me , the food is good too !
Tom is the most gifted musician , producer , music director and educator I know . He has a few Grammy ’ s under his belt and has produced over 100 records for Integrity Music . He tours the world as Alan Parsons Music Director and is also the Director of the Center for Commercial Music at CBU ( California Baptist University ) in nearby Riverside .
Tom is a big thinker , and we have a rousing conversation on multiple topics . What a fun time .
6:00pm – I arrive at my hotel , the Ayres in Costa Mesa . The room is super nice with a great bed and lots of pillows . I call up Judy to tell her about my day and then settle in to watch the Dodgers on local TV . I started my day at 3:00am , so now it is time to just mellow out .
SATURDAY , JUNE 17 I sleep-in for a little bit , and then get up , shower and get ready for the day . I answer some magazine emails on my iPhone , pray with Judy over the phone and then check out of the hotel .
9:45am – I drive to the Orange County Fairgrounds . Today , I am going to the Amigos SoCal Guitar Show . I have been to several of them , and I have known the producer of the show for years – Larry Briggs . I have attended as the publisher of our Collectible Guitar magazine ( collectibleguitar . com ), as well as just another guy who is looking for a guitar deal . Plus , since I produce four different guitar shows / festivals myself , I know a lot of the vendors at this show . If you are ever in town for the NAMM Show in January , head over to Larry ’ s show , too . I go every year .
10:00am – I stand in line to buy my ticket and then walk into a large metal hangar that is host to hundreds of guitars … vintage , used and
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