AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

You'll NEVER guess what the heck happened to me on the 13th!!!! XDDDD

Mom called me out onto the porch where she was sitting with Grandma, and she said, "Look, there're guys over there who are taking their guitars out of the trunk."
"Oh, haha, cool!!", I said.
"You should go down there with your guitar and say, 'Hey, I saw everyone come down here with their guitars!'" Mom laughed.
"Yeah, that'd be awesome," I replied.
"No, seriously, go and get your guitar and go down there!! GO!!!!"

And so I did. XD

Turns out, Tommy Emmanuel was giving a workshop down the street at the most famous ice cream parlor that we have on L.B.I., and I got to pop in there, pay for it, and sit down and be taught by quite possibly the greatest guitar player in the world.

I went down to the ice cream parlor two times--the first time was just to check it out and see what was going on down there. Tommy walked out just as I got to the door, and he smiled and said "Hi!" to me, and I did the same. I kind of knew then that that was Tommy Emmanuel who just walked by me, but since I've only seen his picture about once in my life(it was Friday night, though, so the way he looked was still fresh in my mind), I had a slight doubt.
I then waited my turn in line at the door, then asked the lady who was behind the table if I could just sit down and not play, and she was all like, "Oh, nononononono!! That's called FREE. That's called getting in FREE for a paying event!!"
I laughed politely, thanked her, then left.
(Hey, it was worth a shot, right? )

Mom then insisted that I go, and made me go back with money.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, Ariana!!" Grandma said, equally as anxious for me to take the workshop.
SO.
I did. XD
I had talked to a few of the people who were in line who had previously heard about the workshop and who had payed prior to arriving there. A kind man told me that it was $80, and something about being a student and having a student I.D..
I told Mom this, and she gave me $80, and Abby said that she'd come with me down to the ice cream parlor.
When we got there, Tommy was standing outside, and he said to me, "Don't leave me!!", as I guess he saw me leave the first time.
Abby and I both laughed and smiled at him, and then I stepped right through the doorway. The lady said, "You got money now?" as I showed her the bills. I laughed, replied "Yes,", and then she asked me if I had a student I.D..
"An I.D. of what?" I asked.
"Of a SCHOOL?" she replied, making me feel stupid as I hadn't heard of this confounded thing before. (Hey, me and my sis have been homeschooled our entire lives--we just started highschool a bit over a week ago. Cut me some slack!! )
"Ooooh, no, sorry," I shook my head.
"Well, how old are you?"
"Thirteen."
"THIRTEEN?!?!?"
"YESSSS!!" I almost yelled at her, exasperated now with how she was putting emphasis onto almost every word she spoke.
"Alright, just give me fifty dollars," she said.
I handed her the bills and walked further into the parlor, un-zipped my gigbag, got out Mercury(my black Fender acoustic), got my twentypence I use for a pick out of my pocket, and sat down and got comfortable.

I managed to choose a seat that was RIGHT. BEHIND. a column that's in the parlor, and I thought, "Ohhh, that's no big deal!! He's going to be right here in front of me anyway!!!!".
Oh.
How wrong I was.
The whole time he was playing, all I could see was the back of his guitar and how his thumb moved(while I was sitting there, I could see that the back of his guitar's neck was very worn in the section nearest the headstock, which I thought was pretty dangin' cool. ). He saw me(and probably a few other people) craning their necks to see what he was doing, and then he instantly turned around to face our side of the room.

When he was showing the crowd how to do harmonics(which I already knew how to do, but I love playing them, so I was very grateful that someone had asked him to show how he does it.), he came over to me and helped me out with the fingering he was currently showing. First he told me from where he was mainly standing to play C "up here", which was on the seventh fret on the low E string(I was playing it on the third fret of the A string).
Then he came over and showed me where to put my pinky, and he said to lay it over the top four strings(or maybe it was three.... But I'm %99.99 positive that it was four.), and not to press down. Just lay it over top of the strings(I was like, "Duh", a'cause I KNEW how harmonics worked--I just forgot in that split second and made myself look like a newbie. ). He actually physically moved my pinky from the thirteenth fret, from where I had thought he had pointed to, to the twelfth fret(his hands are really nice and warm--just sayin'. ).

I asked him later on(it was almost at the end of the workshop) my question I'd love to ask to every world-famous guitarist; "How long do you practice every day?"
When I raised my hand, he said, "Ah, it's good to finally hear from you!!", like he said to almost everyone who hadn't asked him a question yet.
I laughed and then asked him my question, and he replied that since he's very busy, he squeezes in practice time whenever he has the chance. He told me that he practices in the airport before they go through the security check or waiting for the plane(either one, but he said something about security, so I think it was the security check--but maybe he said while he was waiting for the plane, as well. ), while he was in the hotel prior to the concert, and while he was doing the soundcheck just before the concert, which can be very long, he said.
He talked more in response to my question, then a few more people asked questions, and then he ended the workshop.
We all clapped and he smiled and nodded his thanks, and people immediately started lining up to greet him.
I zipped my guitar back up in it's gigbag, and thought nothing of it to go and say a quick "Hello!" to him. When I saw the line forming, however, I thought to myself, "Wait, I could actually MEET this guy!!" SO. I stood up with my guitar in it's bag, and since the line was forming literally RIGHT next to me, as I stood up, I was already in line. XD *lol* People still cut in front of me, though, but I didn't really mind a'cause they were way bigger fans than I was. I'd only heard about the guy a few times, and I had only seen him on a YouTube video a few days prior to that day, for cryin' out loud!!

I saw Tommy take out a silver marker(he had a black one and a silver one) and sign someone's guitar, and I instantly wanted to take mine out. After a few moments of pondering if I REALLY wanted to ask him to sign something like everyone else did, I un-zipped my gigbag and took out my guitar. XD
The line moved quickly, and I was the third or fourth person in line when I had un-zipped my guitar from it's gigbag. I was wondering if I should have him sign my gigbag or my guitar, and ultimately, I decided on my guitar(it just made sense. XD).
When it was my turn, he smiled at me and said "Hi!", and he took my guitar into his lap and un-capped the silver Sharpie. He then signed his signature onto it and gave it back to me. He exchanged a few brief words with someone who had interrupted, and then turned back to me. I extended my hand and we shook hands, and he asked me, "Did you like it?"
"Oh, it was awesome!!" I replied, smiling widely.
"Haha, good!!"
I thanked him and went on my way.

I waited around for a bit longer before I left the parlor, just to relish the feel of surreal-ity of what had just happened. :lol::lol::lol: XD

And all of this because Mom spotted three guys taking out their guitars from the trunk of a car.



(Edits: Typos)

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"If it's planned, it's boring." - Freddie Mercury

Hi Khashoggi, that is totally awesome. I have seen Tommy Emmanuel a few weeks ago and this guy can not only play, but he talks to the audience, he sings, hums while playing, he makes jokes, he really is a great guy, a great artist. I'm happy that you could have a masters class with him, I hope that he inspired you to put more music in your life.
Claude.

That was a great story Khash and had to be a mind blowing experience. I bet you have been woodshedding double time since that took place. Tommy is at the very top of the list of acoustic masters and something like this does not happen everyday. See Mom does know best.

I've seen him play before and needed help getting my jaw up off the floor.

He is amazing!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

That's an amazing story. 13 years old, eh? It's great that you have parents that encourage you. Not like poor SRV.

You're gonna be a monster on gittar.

hahaha thats a great story props to your mom for that one xD.

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Guitars:
-2008 fender american standard telecaster
-homemade stratocaster (TA guitar)
Amp:
-Fender Deville
effects:
-Boss Md-2
-Vox V847