Jonathan Bird speaking at Our World Underwater

[Jonathan Bird]

Hi Gang,
I'll be speaking at the Our World Underwater (http://www.ourworldunderwater.com/) dive show in Chicago on Saturday, Feb 21 and also presenting some new Blue World (http://www.blueworldtv.com) material in the Saturday evening film festival. Hope to see some of you there!

Jonathan

[sorvju-f]

Hi Gang,
I'll be speaking at the Our World Underwater (http://www.ourworldunderwater.com/) dive show in Chicago on Saturday, Feb 21 and also presenting some new Blue World (http://www.blueworldtv.com) material in the Saturday evening film festival. Hope to see some of you there!

Jonathan

I hope good luck there!

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

For those of you who are going to the Friday evening "Fish and Famous" event, there will be a special surprise--an all-underwater photographer band. I can't give away any secret band members...but it's going to be fun.

Jonathan

[solisti]

For those of you who are going to the Friday evening "Fish and Famous" event, there will be a special surprise--an all-underwater photographer band. I can't give away any secret band members...but it's going to be fun.

Jonathan

Is it Sharp? :confused:

[sorvju-f]

For those of you who are going to the Friday evening "Fish and Famous" event, there will be a special surprise--an all-underwater photographer band. I can't give away any secret band members...but it's going to be fun.

Jonathan

I know, but I have to keep it secret...no it is not sharp.

Jukka

[Clay Coleman]

Well??? How did it go?

[Jonathan Bird]

Just got home!

Man, what a fun weekend!

Christine and I arrived on Friday afternoon, just in time to get over to the practice session of the "All Underwater Photographer Band." We practiced for about 30 minutes and decided we were going to suck and we didn't have any more time to practice.

It all started when Michel Gilbert (http://www.sub-images.com/main_frame_bio.htm) (on drums) asked me at OWU in Chicago last month if I would join him, Leandro Blanco (http://divefilm.com/film_makers/leandro.html), and Peter Riekstins (bass) and play guitar in this band at the Fish and Famous dinner for a set as a surprise for the attendees. I said yes before fully thinking this through. Although I played guitar in bands for many years, I have not played guitar in a band since 2000, and in fact have not played the guitar that much at all since then. (I have been playing drums quite a bit, though not in a band either for a few years, due to my children!)

David Doubilet plays a mean banjo, and though he was invited (begged is more like it) to join us, he very intelligently turned us down.

We traded song ideas and mp3s for a week to prepare, but that was all the time we had since I got back from Antarctica.

The Fish and Famous fundraiser started and I spent most of my time wondering if I really should have volunteered for this band. I was chatting with lots of people and nervously looking at the time. Meanwhile the regular (i.e. real) band was up there playing jazz quietly, sounding perfect. This crowd didn't know what was about to hit them.

9:30 came too quickly. The guys headed to the stage, borrowed gear from the real band (they were quite good) and I couldn't hide any longer. I grabbed my guitar and joined them. Once the adrenaline kicked in and we got in a groove, we actually played OK. Although we played songs from the 1950s to the 1980s, our best crowd pleaser was a cover of U2's "I Will Follow" which brought a large crowd to the dance floor. (Leandro had never heard the song before and didn't understand why I was so insistent we play it, but after the crowd went wild, he got it!) We also did a groovin' version of the 1950s Bluesy "The Wanderer" with a guest sax solo that rocked by the sax player from the real band. Leandro sang most of the songs--he is a former professional musician and has a strong and excellent voice. I sang only three songs (China Grove, Hurt So Good, and I Will Follow).

We got off the stage pumped, sweaty and having not totally humiliated ourselves. I was just happy there were no trainwrecks, though there were plenty of missed chords on my part for sure. The Wetsuits as we are now called, seem to have been invited back next year!

Of course, for the rest of the evening I was fortunate to be able to visit with so many great friends that I see only once or twice a year, and also make a few new friends. I was of course delighted to see David Doubilet and Jen Hayes again. David hobbled in on crutches, having broken his foot in a bizarre diving accident involving a golden weight belt (or so he said). :D

On Saturday, I gave two seminars, one on Malapascua, Philippines, and the other about the Galapagos. I had a couple hours to walk around the exhibit hall and a few meetings for Blue World business. I did an interview on camera with theunderwaterchannel.tv (http://www.theunderwaterchannel.tv) and another interview with scubaradio.com (http://www.scubaradio.com). No idea if or when either of them may see the light of day, but I'll let you know if I hear anything.

Saturday afternoon Christine and I attended the Awards Banquet and sat with Stan Waterman, Cathy Church, Michel Gilbert and his wife Danielle Allary. I watched enviously as Dr. Paul Auerbach received the Rolex Award (with the included Rolex!!!) as diver of the Year. Then it was time for the evening film festival.

Mr. Doubilet was Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and he was fabulous as MC. He began the evening in front of about 1,000 people with a funny story about how he broke his foot, then introduced the first speaker. Christine and I enjoyed the show from the front row sitting with Stan Waterman and Ernie Brooks. The evening had no shortage of heavy hitters, as the stage was graced by Stan, Ernie, Jack and Sue Drafahl, Jim and Pat Stayer, Zale Parry, and of course a presentation by David and Jen on how they created that amazing nudibranch story for National Geographic a few months back.

I don't know why, but for some reason they decided to leave me for last, so David finally hobbled back up and introduced me. He was very kind in his introduction, and mentioned how lucky I was to have Christine around since I could ask her such important questions as "Hey honey, a multi-cellular animal--I think it might have been a great white--just bit my leg off. How long will that take to grow back?"

I took the stage and told a funny story about the evolution of Jonathan Bird's Blue World (http://www.blueworldTV.com), and I was happy when the audience laughed in the right places. (Later I was told that I missed my calling and should have either gone into stand-up or at least stayed in a band).

I showed the new Tiger shark segment from the upcoming season of the show, and it went over quite well. I know people liked it because I spent an hour after the show shaking hands and answering questions. I will admit it--it was really fun to show a Blue World segment to such a large crowd and see them enjoying it. Makes it all worth the effort.

After that we attended to super secret post-party for the speakers which was by invitation only, held in a secret location and required a special handshake and calling card to gain access. (OK, I lied about the handshake). We had a few drinks and before we knew it, it was 1 AM and we had to get back to our room for some sleep. By 2 AM we were in bed.

Up Sunday morning for some quick breakfast and then a few more meetings. I gave a talk on Sipadan at 11:30, then we checked out, packed the car and drove home, making a stop to see a friend in Hartford. We would have loved to stay another night and chill out, but we had to rescue my aunt and uncle from our kids! (they were babysitting.)

Christine and I always have a wonderful time at BTS, but this year was extra great fun between the jam session, friends and great presentations, how can you go wrong? We can hardly wait until next year!

I'll post a few pics when we dump the camera.

If you haven't made the trek down there, you should. It's a huge show with a huge exhibit hall packed full of stuff to see, seminars to attend, and more famous underwater types than you can shake a stick at. And maybe an underwater photographer band!

Jonathan

[Jonathan Bird]

Here we are rocking the Fish and Famous and a shot of Christine and I with Michel and Danielle.

[Jonathan Bird]

A party is not a party unless Stan is there hitting on the ladies. In this case, my wife!!

[Clay Coleman]

Good show, Birdman! Maybe I'll get there one day. I see that Stan is wearing his formal eye patch--not the one with the bloodshot evil eye painted on the front. Glad everything went so well. -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

Clay, he alternates eye patches from day to day. He had one with a pair of breasts on it last year!

[Clay Coleman]

Let us know when you have the tiger shark segment on your website.

[Jonathan Bird]

Hey Clay,
When we start posting the second season (in summer) it will be one of the first few. Right now we are trying to get our funding in place and get the second season edited.

And because I can't resist, I'm posting a couple pics that Danielle sent me yesterday! :D

Jonathan

[sorvju-f]

Hey Clay,

And because I can't resist, I'm posting a couple pics that Danielle sent me yesterday! :D

Jonathan

I know why you couln't resist:D

Compare to whole band picture:D :

http://sorvjuf.1g.fi/kuvat/Antarctica%2024.2-14.3.2009%20part%202/Fur%20seal%209%20800%20wm.jpg/full

Jukka

[solisti]

LOL!

That would make a great album cover!

[Andrew]

Great one Jukka. Anyone got a video of this performance?

Well done Jonathan, it sounds like you and Blue World went down well.

Andrew

[Clay Coleman]

You're not playing that Strat through what looks to be a tweed Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, are you?

[Jonathan Bird]

It was a Fender Tweed something or other. The rig belonged to the real band's guitar player. The only guy who brought his own gear was the bass player because the jazz band had no bass player (the keyboard player had a left hand ....LOL!) We borrowed the drum kit, amps, etc.

And the "strat" is a 1980s era Kramer Focus 3000--possibly the greatest '80s rock guitar of all time. Real Floyd Rose, hot humbucker in the bridge, thin neck. Sweet. I have two of them. Scary how expensive they were back then and how cheap they can be had now!!

I do have an authentic (not reissue) 1974 Fender Strat. Too valuable to play out with these days.

Jonathan

[Jonathan Bird]

Hey Everyone!

Anyone going to Our World Underwater this coming weekend? THE WETSUITS will be there, playing Saturday night after the big film festival. I'll be giving a presentation on Saturday afternoon and another in the evening film fest, then going into rock and roll mode. Hope to see some of you there.

The Wetsuits for this event are:

Michel Gilbert: Drums
Michael Lawrence: Bass
Cris Kohl: Keyboards
Me: Guitar/vocals

Guest performances are a surprise, but we have at least 3 guest performers. A couple singers and a harmonica player. :D

Jonathan

[sorvju-f]

Hey Everyone!

Anyone going to Our World Underwater this coming weekend? THE WETSUITS will be there, playing Saturday night after the big film festival. I'll be giving a presentation on Saturday afternoon and another in the evening film fest, then going into rock and roll mode. Hope to see some of you there.

The Wetsuits for this event are:

Michel Gilbert: Drums
Michael Lawrence: Bass
Cris Kohl: Keyboards
Me: Guitar/vocals

Guest performances are a surprise, but we have at least 3 guest performers. A couple singers and a harmonica player. :D

Jonathan

Ask Christine to use videocamera...I would love to see short episode:D

Jukka

[Andrew]

Now that is a video I would like to see....

Andrew

[Jonathan Bird]

Ask Christine to use videocamera...I would love to see short episode:D

Jukka

She is supposed to be a backup singer. We'll see if that happens!

[Neptune7]

This performance will be a good practice for the Beneath the Sea event next March in New York where the Wetsuits will perform again. Count on me to immortalize the performance on video.
Pierre

[Sharp]

The Wetsuits for this event are:

Michel Gilbert: Drums
Michael Lawrence: Bass
Cris Kohl: Keyboards
Me: Guitar/vocals

Guest performances are a surprise, but we have at least 3 guest performers. A couple singers and a harmonica player. :D

Jonathan

Keep on Rock´n roll friends!:)

[Jonathan Bird]

This performance will be a good practice for the Beneath the Sea event next March in New York where the Wetsuits will perform again. Count on me to immortalize the performance on video.
Pierre

Oh god, I hadn't thought of that.

"No video cameras allowed!!!"
:D

[Jonathan Bird]

For BTS, we have a whole different crew of guest performers...including a certain National Geographic photographer you have all heard of....on banjo!

[sorvju-f]

For BTS, we have a whole different crew of guest performers...including a certain National Geographic photographer you have all heard of....on banjo!

I feel banjo suits well to him:D

Jukka

[Clay Coleman]

Yeah, I want to see The Wetsuits, too.

[Jonathan Bird]

We are fun, but we are not good. That's all I can say! :D

[Jonathan Bird]

Thanks to Michel Gilbert, we now have a facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wetsuits/322854376953?ref=ts

And check it out....Dr. Sylvia Earle is a fan!

Jonathan

[Neptune7]

Can,t wait to see the Westsuits performing at Beneath the Sea. Cool pics.
Pierre

[Jonathan Bird]

As long as you don't have your expectations too high....;)

[sorvju-f]

As long as you don't have your expectations too high....;)

World tour and facebook...our expectations are sky high:D

Jukka

[Ken Hawk]

Thanks to Michel Gilbert, we now have a facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wetsuits/322854376953?ref=ts

And check it out....Dr. Sylvia Earle is a fan!

Jonathan

Better than the Dr, I am a fan too :D :eek:

[Jonathan Bird]

Sweet! It's easy to have fans on facebook. They don't have to listen to us, or trudge out to the gig!

I have a good friend in a band who has been gigging for years and years with them. He said "Yeah, we have 2,000 fans on facebook but it means nothing. We still can't get 50 people to show up at a gig."

Jonathan

[dascubanut]

So if we are fans on facebook, do we get front row seats or some other perk at BTS?

[Jonathan Bird]

Hmmmm....have to think of something!

[Jonathan Bird]

The Wetsuits rocked the house at BTS. A few pics are up on the Facebook site. More to come!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wetsuits/322854376953?ref=ts

[sorvju-f]

The Wetsuits rocked the house at BTS. A few pics are up on the Facebook site. More to come!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wetsuits/322854376953?ref=ts

Looks like hell of the show you have had!

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

It was fun!