Bowers Museum of Cultural Art Book Signing
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| Gil Sperry
If you have never visited the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA, you are missing one of the true treasure troves in Southern California. When I was recently invited to sign 'Mariachi for Gringos' in the museum's elegant Gallery Store, I vowed to allow enough time to explore all of its myriad exhibits. The Egyptology collection, on loan from the British Museum,was spectacular:fourteen
mummies and their sarcophagi. Cairo's never been more accessible!
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| Live Music@Signing |
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The Book Signing Itself |
| Pauline Rusterholtz, the Director of Purchasing, took steps to assure a great turnout for this event. In addition to the 'buzz' of 'word-of-mouth' she had color flyers made to pass out a month in advance of the signing; she also positioned copies of the book strategically around the store.But perhaps her major coup was in obtaining the services of Ecuador's most famous guitarist, Galo Nunez, to play the Top 50 mariachi songs contained in the book.What happened next was amazing! |
People from all over the world visit the Bowers and this day was no exception. Amongst them were a physician from Hawaii, an airline pilot from Chicago, an electrical engineer from New York, a former Miss Mexico and a prominent local attorney who spent her free time teaching Literacy and Storytelling at local inner-city schools. It suddenly dawned on me that the best way for them to become familiar with my book was to offer one and all the use of a 'loaner' to 'test drive.' Here's how it worked! |
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| December 21, 2006 |
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| Go See Galo!!! |
At first, the people talking with me were hesitant to 'borrow' the books but I was insistent and then, one by one, they trooped forward to Galo's position at the front of the store. They found the songs they knew ('Besame Mucho' was first, as I remember) and then it was like a 'tidal wave' moving forward with everybody singing and having a great time. All the books on hand were sold and a substantial repeat order was placed. Mission accomplished!!!
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