Folks,

Many have said here they have not had the chance to feel, listen, demo or play any of the major arrangers, so I figured we'd get some numbers together so I can arrange a tour with the most population ... WHERE TO DEMONSTRATE/SHOW these top 3 -

KETRON SD5 (or Audya)
KORG Pa2X PRO
ROLAND G70
YAMAHA TYROS-2 (or 3)

Again, the areas we pick for West, Central, East, North and South ...etc MUST NOT BE within 120 miles of a dealer - the goal is to target those that would love to try these out but do not have a place close by to try.

Let's see what we can come up with before WINTER!!

Thanks,

AJ

AJ,

I have a portion of my shop that has plenty of room to have multiple keyboards and probably 50 people at a time.

I usually have most keyboards in stock or display, so you can use my shop in CT for a New England site.

"Again, the areas we pick for West, Central, East, North and South ...etc MUST NOT BE within 120 miles of a dealer - the goal is to target those that would love to try these out but do not have a place close by to try."

Wow AJ...that makes it tough..finding locations that are not near a Roland, Ketron, Korg or Yamaha dealer..

Thankfully store owners like Frank..wouldn't mind...

I can tell you Dayton, OH is a black hole of arrangers...

Sweetwater is 150+ miles away...in Ft. Wayne, IN...Not sure of what Cincy offers but I've never heard of any significant arranger availability...



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Bill in Dayton

If there is a demo at Frank's store, I would think SteveM and I would take a ride down, right Steve? ..
t.

YOu can count me in at Frankieve' Store as well with StephenM52 and Tony Mads.

Al

------------------
Al Giordano
Visit us at ARRANGER WORLD! http://www.arrangerworld.com

Korg Pa2xpro, Roland VK8-M, DW Collectors Series Drums, Roland TD-12 Vdrums, Roland SPD-S.

Frank's place,,yeah,,I would make the drive, just to meet you guys face to face..

Maybe, AJ and I can ride up together..that way I know he will show..

Fort Myers, FL.

Occasionally you may find a Korg PA800 in Brent's but not any of the high end arrangers.

Graham

PHILADELPHIA

Me Too, if we're not giggin' cant be a weekend

How would a Monday or Tuesday be ????

t.

I'm in just say when....Al would be great to hook up with you. Fran, don't forget to drag Donny along.

Mikey Maestro, why not join Tony and I.

Tuesday would be better than Monday, but I'm open.

[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 08-30-2008).]

Tony that would be the BEST days for us for sure. Fran, & Uncle Dave if possible, could shoot up from Philly with AJ in tow if possible and enjoy a great demo show at Frankie's......then ALL out for dinner too

I would love to see something like that. There are plenty of stores around (GC, Sam Ash), but all they carry are much lower end arrangers. I've never seen a G70, PA2XPro (or previously 1X), Tyros or any Ketrons. If you could bring your traveling show to the Chicago area, I'd love to attend!

Count me in for a Philadelphia area showing. As much as I'd like to meet the New England SZ contingency, I don't think I could handle a trip to Conn. And, I would like to see and hear a Midjay Plus as well as the previously mentioned intsruments.
Ciao,
Jerry

Would attend one at Frankieve's place in Connecticut!!!!

I'm about 90 miles east of San Francisco and 80 miles south of Sacramento. Anyone who wants to see and hear a Wersi Abacus in person is more than welcome to come over. The local Guitar Center in my town also has a PA2X Pro, PSR-S900, and other low end arrangers. There's also a Korg Oasys at my GC for those curious as to what one sounds like. If you came to see my Wersi you could also visit the GC and see other arrangers that you may have not seen before.

Where are your Ketron dealers who have floor models in NY?

I'll be having another Arranger Jam in the Shreveport area probably early next year. Attendance was very good last time and it seems to be getting more popular each year. AJ tried to make the last one but couldn't make airline connections.
There are no arranger dealers here.
DonM

How about somewhere in Ohio, it's pretty centrally located for us midwesterners.
Columbus, Cleveland, Cinci/Dayton

You can count me in for the OHIO region

los angeles, ca?

My store is in the Los Angeles area (San Fernando Valley). I sell Yamaha, Korg, Roland, Ketron and Casio arrangers. I stock both the high end and the lower end arrangers. Arrangers are my specialty!


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George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

Just got off the phone with my Yamaha rep, he said if we did get together he would make arrangements to have a product specialist come down also.

Why not contact the main offices for each brand, and ask them that, if the local dealer REFUSES to stock their arrangers, that would give you permission to show the product in their area and take orders for it yourself?

It seems inconceivable that a dealer be allowed to sit like a dog in a manger on an entire product line, if he is unwilling to stock, show and sell it...

Restrictive trade practices like this are anti-competitive, and borderline criminal, as far as I am concerned. Whatever happened to the 'free market' economy that is supposed to be the backbone of capitalism?

?

That's what I'm doing?

Frank who is the Rep in yur area?

Mr Neal Patton, he used to be Goerge's Rep then moved out here

Thanx Frank....I've heard the name somwhere...I would assume he also Demos keyboards also?

This is what I'm responding to, Frankie.

Tough to find ANYWHERE that is not within 120 miles of ANY dealers of ANY of those brands... Comparison is the name of the game, at least for me. But apparently, you can't demo a product within 120 miles of a dealer, even if he refuses to stock the item. Insane.

That's the trouble, over here. Dealers with exclusivity, but no obligation to stock the product. Especially Roland and Korg... Few CK dealers for Roland have ANY E or G-series arrangers in stock. Try to find one, if you can... But don't you DARE try to show one in their little fiefdom.

It is long past time for the manufacturers to take the shackles off of arranger sales, and allow full Internet and MI store sales of these things. Restricting them to high price, low volume dealers who have no obligation to keep one in stock has KILLED the type, IMO...

Who's going to buy a $4500 arranger they can't even try, with restocking fees and shipping so high?

Not me, that's for sure!

Ok guys.

I have been a little quiet - first of all to see where we can set up the first few workshops, but also because I have been 'fighting' to narrow down the radius which many have complained about ... and did! Clinics will now be done within a 50 Miles radius from a dealer. That way, we are not in direct competition with any dealers within the selected areas.

It might require some 're-thinking' on our part, but locations should now be 50 miles away from a dealer who carries the above mentioned products. With this said however, any dealer (like Frank above) can invite/welcome us to come to their store and do the demonstrations too. Dates should be up by the end of the month so hopefully we start in October - this should give people ample time to start planning.

Again, thanks for your input.

AJ

PS: If there are distinguishable dates we should NOT be looking at, please let us know!

Folks,

A special "thank you" to frankieve for agreeing to host our first Arranger Workshop fiesta. It will be a blast as we're planning to have a lot of fun. Come prepared to meet the new distributors of Ketron (CMC) - Ted K. and get some information on our latest line.

LOCATION:-
AUDIOWORKS INC
164 OLD GATE LANE
MILFORD CT 06460

DATE:- SEPT. 23rd, 2008.

TIME:- 12pm - 6pm

For those who want to attend, please contact support@ketronusa.com

Thanks ... start making your travell arrangements now.

AJ

I know my area is far to small and remote to visit, but keep us posted if you make it to the south...

To be honest, I don't think you will have the slightest problem finding tons of major areas where the local dealers don't keep the TOTL in stock. Finding the dealers is easy. Finding them with any TOTL in stock is bloody near impossible

But, just to be sure I understand you right... The big 4 (KoKeR&Y) have given you the go-ahead to show and sell arrangers in another dealer's area IF the local area dealer doesn't actually have one of the TOTL's in stock?

That's pretty cool (and it might get some local dealers off their fat behinds, too)...

Shucks,

This is a weekday event, and I would have to take a vacation day from work - 1 week before a 1 week vacation cruise to Halifax, NS!

Darn it, I wish I was retired like the rest of you folks, but I won't be able to make it during the week. Saturday or Sunday day no problem. And I'm only 2 hrs away!!!

Grrrrrrr!!!!
Al

------------------
Al Giordano
Visit us at ARRANGER WORLD! http://www.arrangerworld.com

Korg Pa2xpro, Roland VK8-M, DW Collectors Series Drums, Roland TD-12 Vdrums, Roland SPD-S.

I have a Yamaha Tyros 3 coming in from Germany that arrived US today (Monday) and is clearing customs. All going well, I should have this too for the show. Also bringing the new Roland Fantom G - for sound comparison ... etc.

Cant wait for reports & pictures from todays events !!!

Cool! A Tyros3 no less.

You guys on the East Coast have ALL the fun!

>> I DO expect an honest opinion on the T3 and every other Board though guys! If the drums stink on the T3 don't mince your words. We're men, we can take the heat. And Yammie won't get upset with you if you dis one of their keyboards either. They're just keyboards... Even if you've owned nothing but Yammies for the last 30 years, please try to give an unbiased take on each of the Boards present at the arranger fiesta. Por Favor!! I'm counting on ya' Stephen, Tony, JCkeeys, and whoever else is privileged to make it there.

Best,
Mike

PS: Oh, and don't forget the pics and video.

hmmm... the fiesta has been over for two hours now and so far not a single peep from anybody that was there. Don't any of you bring your Wi-Fi laptops with you?? You know, the ones with the AT&T laptop connect card so you can access the internet from anywhere at any hour of the day? If nobody has the AT&T connect card is there possibly a McDonald's or Starbucks around the corner somewhere close with free Wi-Fi access? I realize most arranger players on the East Coast are on the backside of 50 + but c'mon!! - don't be such party poopers okay? Do it for the Gipper? Give it the ole' college try and please post something TODAY about the fiesta! Is that too much to ask?? Have a cup of coffee if need be (64 oz. may be sufficient) - but somebody, ANYBODY give us your input!!!!!!!!!!!! Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, but TODAY!

>> Well.., if that doesn't entice them nothing will..

Best,
Mike

PS: Was the T3 that much of a let down that everybody has already given up and gone home?? >> Unless the fiesta was extended beyond the hours listed and everybody is still wailing away on the T3, Audya, Pa2XPRO, Fantom G, etc. as we speak, which is now as I write this 8:19 EDT.

Team,

A special thanks to all who were able to make the Arranger Fiesta at CT today. I must admit we did have fun and plans for the next Fiesta are already on the way (poss5ibly Kaye's Music Scene in CA - to be confirmed).

Due to customs delay, the T3 came in at about 5pm today (while we were at our peek in CT). I have already started going through 'stuff' in preparation for our next show.

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks,

AJ

AJ awaiting your review on the T3 ASAP

Thanx