Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair

[Burke]

I know that folks here live all over the map, but is there a chance that anyone is planning to attend the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair at the Dulles Airport Marriott in Virginia this weekend? If not, but you've attended fairs of this type in the past, would you mind sharing your observations about them? I live very near Dulles, and I'm thinking of going on Sunday. This seems like a nice opportunity.

http://fsw.net/fair/

[boglarka]

Hi,

usually, flute fairs are a good place to meet other flutists, hear masterclasses (get tips! learn from others!), performances (nothing compares to live music!) and to try out lots of flutes (even if you're not thinking about buying any). If you have the time and can pay the registration fee, I think it's worthwhile.

[Burke]

Hi,

usually, flute fairs are a good place to meet other flutists, hear masterclasses (get tips! learn from others!), performances (nothing compares to live music!) and to try out lots of flutes (even if you're not thinking about buying any). If you have the time and can pay the registration fee, I think it's worthwhile.

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts Boglarka. Everything you said makes me realize that this is too good an opportunity to miss.

"nothing compares to live music!"

without question, and generally speaking. I'm going. It has been written; it shall be done.

[flutegirl49]

where can you find out about flute fairs in your area? I didn't know there was such thing! where did u hear about them?

sounds like a great opportunity!

[Burke]

where can you find out about flute fairs in your area? I didn't know there was such thing! where did u hear about them?

sounds like a great opportunity!

Hi Flutegirl49,

It does sound like a great opportunity, doesn't it?

I found out about this fair on a local flute choir website, but I imagine that if you belong to a flute society in or near your region, you'll be informed of upcoming events such as this.

[flutegirl49]

where can you find out about flute fairs in your area? I didn't know there was such thing! where did u hear about them?

sounds like a great opportunity!

Hi Flutegirl49,

It does sound like a great opportunity, doesn't it?

I found out about this fair on a local flute choir website, but I imagine that if you belong to a flute society in or near your region, you'll be informed of upcoming events such as this.

So how did the fair go? im really interested in hearing about it!

[Burke]

So how did the fair go? im really interested in hearing about it!

I was so late, that I was only able to get into the exhibition hall to see the various vendor displays. That made me happy enough, but I would like to have seen and done more. I just couldn't get there sooner. Because I'm a beginner, I was just impressed with the incredible number and variety of flutes displayed. There was flute after flute after flute, from different makers and all over the price map. Piccolo after piccolo, etc. I was a little overwhelmed. Did you see Moscow on the Hudson? I felt like Vladimir in the coffee aisle. So many people were playing flutes from the displays, and all at the same time! I realized I had an opportunity to study the way other people play, but I didn't want to be rude. You know how you're acutely aware when someone is staring at you. It sounded great though. Even though I was late, I loved every minute of it.

In retrospect, I wish I'd been a little more courageous about asking questions. The venders were very accommodating. Some asked if I wanted to play one of their flutes. I kept saying that I was new, and that maybe I'd be ready to do that next year. They still invited me to play, but the truth is that I was intimidated by the flutists around me who were so much more advanced. I'm also not used to being in crowds like that anymore. I was afraid that somebody would bump into me and I'd drop a flute. I was paranoid about touching some of the flutes, because so many of them were very expensive.

There were also a few tables with other items such as clothing, sheet music, cases, jewelry, and greeting cards. Everything pertained to the flute.

I'm so sorry that I'm unable to report on activities that I missed, but I can share about a humorous encounter with one of the vendors. He and his wife were selling CDs of their music as well as other things, including flute stands. They seemed friendly enough while I was looking at their stuff. Suddenly, the guy handed me an alto flute stand as though it were a telephone. "It's for you," he said. I took it from him. The hour was late. All these vendors come from out of town, and at the end of the second day they've got to be tired. I appreciated that he still had a sense of humor, so I played along. "Hello?" I said into the flute stand. "They must have hung up," I concluded, handing it back to him. I wish I'd thought to say "I told you never to call me here."

There is no shortage of people here who would be able to tell you more important things, but I can tell you that I'll be ready when the next one comes around, and I'll cancel other plans so that I can attend as much of the fair as possible.

[flutegirl49]

So how did the fair go? im really interested in hearing about it!

I was so late, that I was only able to get into the exhibition hall to see the various vendor displays. That made me happy enough, but I would like to have seen and done more. I just couldn't get there sooner. Because I'm a beginner, I was just impressed with the incredible number and variety of flutes displayed. There was flute after flute after flute, from different makers and all over the price map. Piccolo after piccolo, etc. I was a little overwhelmed. Did you see Moscow on the Hudson? I felt like Vladimir in the coffee aisle. So many people were playing flutes from the displays, and all at the same time! I realized I had an opportunity to study the way other people play, but I didn't want to be rude. You know how you're acutely aware when someone is staring at you. It sounded great though. Even though I was late, I loved every minute of it.

In retrospect, I wish I'd been a little more courageous about asking questions. The venders were very accommodating. Some asked if I wanted to play one of their flutes. I kept saying that I was new, and that maybe I'd be ready to do that next year. They still invited me to play, but the truth is that I was intimidated by the flutists around me who were so much more advanced. I'm also not used to being in crowds like that anymore. I was afraid that somebody would bump into me and I'd drop a flute. I was paranoid about touching some of the flutes, because so many of them were very expensive.

There were also a few tables with other items such as clothing, sheet music, cases, jewelry, and greeting cards. Everything pertained to the flute.

I'm so sorry that I'm unable to report on activities that I missed, but I can share about a humorous encounter with one of the vendors. He and his wife were selling CDs of their music as well as other things, including flute stands. They seemed friendly enough while I was looking at their stuff. Suddenly, the guy handed me an alto flute stand as though it were a telephone. "It's for you," he said. I took it from him. The hour was late. All these vendors come from out of town, and at the end of the second day they've got to be tired. I appreciated that he still had a sense of humor, so I played along. "Hello?" I said into the flute stand. "They must have hung up," I concluded, handing it back to him. I wish I'd thought to say "I told you never to call me here."

There is no shortage of people here who would be able to tell you more important things, but I can tell you that I'll be ready when the next one comes around, and I'll cancel other plans so that I can attend as much of the fair as possible.

for a second i thought you Actually thought it was a telephone! LOL.. ohh you shouldve played all those nice flutes! seems like you had a great time! thanks for sharing

[boglarka]

About you being intimidated by other flutists...you better get used to it!!
Unfortunately, many people who play the flute (regardless of skill or age) are very competitive and will want to show off every chance they get. All my respects go out to this flute forum, which is very supportive and all my flute-friends who are friendly and nice!!!

I CANNOT tell you how many times I've seen teenage flutists dragging their terrified parents to flute shows and "trying out" high-end gold flutes (the parents were terrified mostly by the price tags). The funny thing is that hardly ANY of these students knew how to try out a flute (or if they need a gold flute). They all play loud and fast and ask the SELLER if they sound good (let me think...they are in the business of selling...what might they say when they see a parent with a checkbook in their hands standing behind the kid...hm)

I still believe in attending flute shows, getting used to these situations, and trying flutes for the fun of it! I've been very happy with my flute and headjoint for years, and I still try others all the time. So you should too, so you become knowledgeable about brands, styles, fads, etc!

By the way, I think Damjan and I will record a new video segment on flute buying becasue there seem to be many ideas floating out there, and many are somewhat dangerous.

In either case, I'm glad you went to the show! Don't ever let anybody intimidate you!!!

[powayflute01]

The idea for making a video or some sort of guide on how to purchase a flute is a terrific idea. Back when I purchased a saxophone about 4 years ago, I had encountered something online called the Saxophone Buyer's Guide (http://www.saxophone.org/buyers/) which literally became my bible on how to purchase a saxophone. I had never even thought of some of the things they had suggested, such as bringing a flashlight to check for cracks on the inside of the bell. This obviously doesn't apply to flutes, but I think it's a really great idea to make a guide on purchasing flutes because so many people have no idea of really what to do or look for when trying out a flute.