Pete Seeger banjo auction

Subject: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: GUEST,Celtaddict (broken cookie?)
Date: 19 May 10 - 03:42 PM

Passing the word: Coming very soon!

With the generous help of the Deering Banjo Company, Local 1000 will be auctioning off a Pete Seeger-style long-neck Vega banjo that Pete has signed and played.

On or about June 7th the banjo will be put up on eBay and the auction will run for approximately 10 days.

All the proceeds from the auction will benefit Local 1000's Emergency Relief Fund, which provides assistance to musicians who fall onto hard times due to illness, natural disaster, and economic problems. It will also help fund the Local's organizing efforts to bring union benefits (such as health care and pensions) to working musicians throughout the acoustic music world.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 May 10 - 07:00 PM

That will be outside MY price range for certain !

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: kendall
Date: 19 May 10 - 07:23 PM

Oh, Jacqui, Christmas is coming...

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: Amos
Date: 19 May 10 - 07:24 PM

Hey!! Is there a "Buy it Now" price?


A

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 19 May 10 - 09:54 PM

Heehee....good. The word is out. We will be starting the auction around the first week of June and we'll let folks know when the bidding can start. You can read more about the Pete Seeger banjo at the Local 1000 website. There are some great pics as well.

Deb Cowan
Eastern Representative
Local 1000 Executive Board

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 20 May 10 - 09:18 AM

&, Jacqui, the goose is getting fat. But it may take more than a penny...Tw

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 03 Jun 10 - 03:11 PM

The Pete Seeger Signed banjo auction will be going live on Ebay on June 14. You can view a video video of Pete signing and playing the banjo

Deb

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 05 Jun 10 - 12:53 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 09:12 PM

Okay...we're counting down.

Only seven more days until the auction goes live. If anyone can help us spread the word about this auction, we'd really appreciate it.

Here's the full press release:

ONE-OF-A-KIND PETE SEEGER AUTOGRAPHED BANJO TO BE AUCTIONED STARTING JUNE 14, 2010

With the generous support of the Deering Banjo Company, American Federation of Musicians Local 1000 will be auctioning off a one-of-a-kind Pete Seeger-style long-neck Vega banjo that Pete has signed and played.

On June 14, 2010 the banjo will be put up on eBay and the auction will run for approximately 10 days.

All the proceeds from the auction will benefit Local 1000's Emergency Relief Fund, which provides assistance to musicians who fall onto hard times due to illness, natural disaster, and economic problems. It will also help fund the Local's organizing efforts to bring union benefits (such as health care and pensions) to working musicians throughout the acoustic music world.

For more information and to view a video of Pete signing the banjo, go to
http://local1000.com/auction-for-pete-seeger-signed-banjo

For interviews and press inquiries contact:
President John McCutcheon:

Email: [e-mail]       Phone: [phone]

ABOUT AFM LOCAL 1000:
We are American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 1000, the Traveling Musicians' Union. We are specially chartered to represent acoustic musicians who perform most of their gigs away from the AFM jurisdiction where they live.
###

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: olddude
Date: 07 Jun 10 - 10:20 PM

Well if it goes higher than the 7 bucks, some change and the lint I got in me pocket right now .. It will probably be outta my price range ...
LOL

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 09:01 AM

Any one want to run a book on how high the price goes ? I would suggest well in excess of $2500

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 04:42 PM

There is a reserve...so yes, LF, it will go above $2500 :-)

Debra

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 09:40 AM

Auction is now live! You can go to the Ebay web page to take a look at the banjo.

Please help spread the word.

Debra Cowan

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 10:16 AM

And of course, I put the wrong URL in there. It's actually HERE .

Debra

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: Amos
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 10:46 AM

Oh, gawd, it doth make me to drool most wantonly....



A

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 11:03 AM

I just hope it goes to a PLAYER , not a bloody collector !!

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 08:05 AM

at $4000

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Jun 10 - 08:57 AM

ONE bid at that level ! A Collector ??

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 10:26 AM

This is a *FUNDRAISER*. With all due respect, the point of this auction is to raise money for Local 1000 members who need a wee bit of help with their bills. We have had many of our members who have fallen on hard times for various reasons, but mostly due to illness. Our Emergency Relief Fund provides a no-interest, pay-it-back-when-you-can loan when a member demonstrates hardship to the Executive Board. I don't think we've ever turned anyone down who has applied. This, to me at any rate, is one of the reasons why I love my Union.

Deering gave us a banjo at a reduced cost and Pete (one of our members!) agreed to help by signing it.

As I said on another list, this is a wee bit like giving $45 to your Public radio/TV station and getting a coffee cup or a tote bag, only on a larger scale. Our Relief Fund is getting a bit low and could be totally wiped out with only a couple of requests.

Yes, the cost is way beyond what many of us can afford. But if this auction helps a few musicians in need, then I am really not concerned to whom the banjo goes or what they do with it.

Debra Cowan
Eastern Representative
AFM Local 1000

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: Leadfingers
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 10:31 AM

That's fair enough Deb , and Good Luck with the fund raising , but as a player , you can appreciate that an instrument like this should NOT just be in a glass case for the odd person to look at , but OUGHT to be played !
I would be quite happy to put something forward to get a body of PLAYERS to buy the banjo and have it avalable for use ! I just wish I could bid enough on my own !

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 10:40 AM

No need to explain, Deb. The Mudcat auctions often go for exhorbitant prices. I paid $41 for Spaw.
I hope you raise $100,000.
Mary

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 12:42 PM

Thanks for the understanding. LF I do understand what you are saying as I know someone who has three 1930s era Gibson A model mandolins sitting on a wall in his house. They should be played. I would hope that whoever wins the banjo does play it and not put it away somewhere.

I hope we raise that amount as well, Mary. But even a fraction of that would be good. With so many of our members without health insurance (we do offer it, but it's pretty minimal) we are looking at ways to help our members who face catastrophic medical bills.

Deb Cowan

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 01:01 PM

If you just want a banjo to play you can buy an identical banjo sans autograph for a lot less money. The whole point of this excercise is to raise a good thick wad for a deserving charity, much thanks to Pete for doing it.
There are a squillion more excellent banjos in the world than there are banjo players - I know, I think I've played most of 'em! Many good players are also collectors and a stash of 40-50 banjos owned by one of these is a lot more common than you'd think - one of the reasons for the high price of collectable banjos, I suppose. Banjos are capable of having a much longer life than people, just because a banjo gets hung on the wall for seventy years you can bet your Fairbanks that one day it'll get loved and played.
Cheers
Ray (who won't be bidding because he doesn't have a good enough singing voice for a long-neck).

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger banjo auction
From: DebC
Date: 24 Jun 10 - 10:46 AM

Last day to bid!! http://bit.ly/cUoRWb

Deb Cowan