Today is the small brewer's festival. Envious that I am, I've got business to conduct. On the bright side it could be a little easier to sell expensive guitars. On the minus side, would you mind breathing into this little device before touching anything?

Brought in the Marshall and tucked it under the register. I need a decent amp to sell guitars. The best one I've got for sale is impressive, but when you pull the plug out, it goes blap!. That's it. You pull the plug off a real amp and it kinda' goes kazzigghhhttt.... That's the sound we're looking for.

A serious collector. The Phoenix bass. Had it two days now. Or was it longer? I forget now. Gorgeous inlay. Practically a museum piece. And like the guitar, this one is the prototype. The strings were a bit low so he asked if he could tweak it. Sure, he knows what he's doing. We discussed that the guitar had been on the road being shown to people so probably needed a good setup job. He tweaked it, checked it out and then walked away. ...He made it to the end of the block and then came back and pulled out the card. He wants me to set it up properly - and I gladly obliged. Almost sold the other one. Lessee... that's three people now that really want it. But none of them have actually commited. Still it's the most interest in any guitar in the shoppe. It looks like I'm going to need more. The first container is due to clear customs any day now and everything's sold. Maybe two guitars for me. Better plan ahead for the next load.

There's nothing in this business that is set in stone. It's a very fluid dynamic. I got an unsolicited catalog. Brand name oboes and bassoons and french horns and you get the picture. The big freaking amps may get pushed down to number two priority. You can't find an oboe on the shelf without driving to Berkeley. Smells like a nice little niche. Yes, there is demand. We just send everybody to Berkeley. Bzzttt....

Doesn't it seem like there could be two shoppes that sold oboes in northern California? I know, I'll do like Paul from the Diamond Center. Cheesy TV ads. Come on down. It's your last chance to own a quality Chinese bassoon. Get 'em now... these prices won't last. Bad credit? No problem. We'll accept cash.

Or the emotional tug. Help prevent childhood AIDS. Don't rent your oboe, buy it new. Otherwise you just don't know where it's been... Or the new car commercial. Sounds of Van Halen in the background. Get your new EE-flat contra-bassoon today. The freedom to express yourself (images of deviant sex, drugs, and rock-roll). To be quite honest I don't think anybody can tell you how contra-bassoons might fare in the mass market. Nobody's ever tried it before.