OK, here’s a demo for you.  A Finnish rock group called the Leningrad Cowboys are singing a song by Queen, backed up by members of the Red Army.  Believe it!

“The Cellist of Sarajevo” is a moving account by Maine pianist-composer Paul Sullivan.  Worth the read!

Good news on him, here.

CONGRATS, Buddy! 

Some knew her as Dot Matrix, others called her Dot Comm.  Dot O’Donnell is my good friend and was my faithful and fun employee from March 1993 to April 2007.   First, I worked with her husband Dave in the only job I ever had where I wasn’t the boss.  I well remember the birth of their kids.  Now, the younger is all growed up and if you don’t believe, check this out: http://knox.villagesoup.com/weddings/announcementStory.cfm?storyID=107173

Many happy returns! 

Oh, yeah, and happy New Year to all.

December’s Children is the name of one of my favorite albums by the Rolling Stones.  That’s how old I am. 

 Lest We Forget:  The great Otis Redding died in a plane crash 40 years ago this month, just a few days after recording his seminal hit “(Sittin’ by) The Dock of the Bay”. 

Thanksgiving is so yesterday, but I remain grateful that my business sustains without such complications as inventory, warehouse, trucking, employees, etc.  Thank You Thank You Thank You

Call me.

In a move designed to convince myself that I’m simplifying (oh yes and saving $45 bucks a month), I have ended the life of the dedicated fax line.  All it has brought in the past year is junk faxes, and they always seem to use twice as much paper as would be required if it was something I wanted to read. 

You can still fax the office, just call first.  The non-dedicated number is 207-354-8239.  Please don’t give it to anyone with cheap vacations or hot stock tips.

Email is great: cbk@entertainmaine.com  

Phone still works fine, too: 207-354-8928

“Hello, it’s been a while. Not bad, how about you?”    – England Dan

It’s a full 2 decades (!?) since this company was born. It’s impossible now to pin down a precise birth date (and let’s just forget about the weight), but experts agree it was 1987 when I was managing Tim Sample and other friends like Devonsquare, Dave Mallett, Jud Strunk, Marshall Dodge, and Bill Chinnock asked me to help them book gigs. (uh… Dave? You’re the only one left…).

At about the same time, a few friends with yachts in the Caribbean asked me to line up some charters for them in the summer on the coast of Maine. All of a sudden, it was “Hey, I don’t have to play all these gigs.” By 1990, I was all done with the strumming and driving portion of life’s program; a full-time desk jockey. Mr. Mom to son Casey, a phone (sometimes two) stuck in my neck, deals everywhere. Life was pretty good, I didn’t miss the gigging at all. Still don’t.

Every year, the company grew. L.L. Bean was bragging about how they topped themselves each year and lavishing bonuses; until one year, they didn’t. And I felt some good matching or beating them on the points — if not the volume.

Let me now pause to salute some fantastic folks who served as staff over the decades: Carol Reece, Susan Jones, the great Dot O’Donnell (more about her later), Stacie Mariano, Caleb Winslow, Joy of Many Names, Phil Clement, Liz Gross, Anonymous, Annoynymouse, and the one with the Hair. You were all wonderful and I wish I could have quadrupled those bonuses and given 4 times as many. Really.

It sounds like I’m about to announce my retirement. Uh, sorry, no.

But I am reimagining, perhaps reinventing, my work self. Again. And if you have read this far, I hope you’re part of the future. It’s not fully designed, of course, but please come for the ride.

“Ultimately, it’s all about the shows.” – Paul McCartney

Is it ever. Since the last newsletter, we’ve had a good number of interesting and notable shows. Among them: Suze Orman, Frankie Valli, Suzy Bogguss, Terri Clark, Leahy, Don McLean, Blood Sweat & Tears, Three Swingin’ Tenors, Pink Flamingos, Don Rickles, Blood Sweat & Tears, Mamadou Diop, Tess Gerritson, Boogaloo Swamis, Pete Kilpatrick, Rustic Overtones, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Amy Dalley, Enter The Haggis, Chuck Negron, Julie Roberts (to name drop only a few). See a more complete list here.

“What is it that you do, anyway?” –Sue

We book and produce special event entertainment for corporations, private and public celebrations, festivals, and weddings. When we’ve matched up the perfect artist at the fairest possible price, we use our experience and extensive national and regional contacts to pull together everything else you need for the greatest show possible at the lowest cost imaginable. To discuss more, Call 207-354-8928.