Back from Zepfest!

[Grant Burgess <grantburgess2001@xxxxxxxx>]

Well it looks like I survived Zepfest once again! This
one was definitely a character builder for me in the
last couple of weeks.
In the past couple of weeks you may have heard Toronto
was the third worst place in the world for the SARS
outbreak. That was one of those problems that scared a
few people away. For those of you wondering, the whole
SARS thing was really blown way out of proportion.

The week before the event, some bad weather returned
as Toronto was hit with a last minute ice and rain
storm. The airport was not prepared for it and ran out
of de-icing fluids for the planes. This caused 400
flights to be cancelled.

Despite all of that we did OK and I got by!

Friday night the event kicked off with local band
Zepplinesque. Some people that know me thought this
band was my idea of a joke for a tribute band to play
instead of the other local tribute band, the White.
When the band took the stage the most obvious things
to notice about the band were that the singer was
wearing a wig and there was a female bass player.
The band did a really good job that night.
Zeppelinesque are more of a tribute band that
basicially plays the music closer to the studio
versions of the songs. From all the US visitors at
Zepfest, they had nothing but good things to say about
the band. Zepplinesque had Healey's filled to
capacity. I kept hearing a lot of comments like" you
made a good choice with this band".

Saturday came the convention itself with about 10
tables of vendors. Not the best display of goods we've
had. I guess we need Rick Back as well. I was
expecting that. The new surprise was having a table
for the ABC trust and that table ended up doing quite
well for Jimmy's charity! Because of a last mintute
change in plans the ABC table were also set up to sell
Frank Melfi's work as well.
About 200 people came through the doors for the
convention itself.
Saturday night, many of the hotel guests hung out at
the hotel and we watched the new Seattle 77 video. The
idea was again to let the people at the hotel get
together in a more relaxed enviornment where the could
shoot the brezze with each other after a long Friday
night and Saturday.

Overall the convention was a success and judging by
the reports I've seen on the Planet Zeppelin and Beads
of time boards, many people were really happy to be
there.
Take Care
Grant