Bobby Hart at the Monkees Convention!

Bobby Hart-throb

Our favorite songwriter has just been included in the lineup for the 2014 Monkees Convention, Bobby Hart!

Full details of tonight's announcement as quoted from the Eventbrite email (if you aren't on the list, sign up on the Monkee Convention Website!)

New Guest announcements........................!
First we are very excited to announce Rachel Lichtman

! Rachel Lichtman, the talented director who put together the video show for last year's Monkees concert tour, has a new project: an amazing documentary about Monkees songwriters Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart!

Second we are VERY excited to announce...................................
Andrew Sandoval! Sandoval wrote the 2005 book The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation. Mojo magazine said this work was, "...The only Monkees book you need…Essential reading and a poignant primer in how the template was set for today's shooting stars…as close as you'll get to the official word…an engaging document of one of the '60s most important phenomena.”

Last but NOT LEAST...Phyllis Friedman Paganucci

 and Jodi Blau Ritzen

 are beyond EXCITED, THRILLED AND OVER THE TOP About announcing the LEGENDARY BOBBY HART!
In late 1965, they wrote, produced and performed the soundtrack to the pilot of The Monkees, including singing lead vocals (which were later replaced, once the show was cast). In 1966, despite some conflicts with Don Kirshner, who was the show's musical supervisor, they were retained in essentially the same role. It was Boyce and Hart who wrote, produced and recorded (with the help of their band, the Candy Store Prophets) backing tracks for a large portion of the first season of The Monkees, and the band's accompanying debut album.
The Monkees themselves re-recorded their vocals over Boyce and Hart's when it came time to release the songs, including both "(Theme from) The Monkees" and "Last Train to Clarksville," the latter of which was a huge hit. Kirshner suddenly relieved Boyce and Hart as producers, by claiming they were using studio time booked for Monkees songs to record tracks for their own solo project.
After their departure from the Monkees, and the negative publicity that erupted when word got out that the band hadn't played the instruments on their early records, Boyce and Hart were unsure how the Monkees felt about them personally. Attending one of their concerts, though, the duo were spotted in the audience, and singer Davy Jones invited them onstage, to introduce them: "These are the fellows who wrote our great hits — Tommy and Bobby!" Every original Monkees album (except for the Head soundtrack) included Boyce and Hart songs.

SCHEDULE For Monkees Convention 2014!!

Just got a heads up on the Convention! Full Info on what I got from Here & Now Events:

This is just a preliminary agenda of the weekend of the convention. This does NOT include all the Q and A's or the bands. This is an idea of when the big things are happening. Please note that we are starting the shows earlier due to the amount of entertainment lined up. PLEASE understand performances can change but not altered to a different day.

Friday March 14, 2014
Registration will start at 1pm
Vendor Room will Open at 3pm for VIP 4pm for General Admission.
Ballroom will open at 4pm with entertainment.
6pm Introduction
6:15 Nez Q and A
7:45 Buddy Blanc and Romeo Delight with Special Guest Micky Dolenz will perform.
9:15 Circe Link  and Christian Nesmith along with their band take the stage for a full concert.

Saturday March 15, 2014
Registration 10am
10am Vendor Room will open for VIP 
11am for General Admission.
12 Ballroom will open
12:15 Ceremony for the Induction to the American Pop Music Hall of Fame
Micky Dolenz Q & A , Dolenz Daughters Q & A, performances by Jonathan Nesmith

performing songs from Mother of Winter and The Outer Spaces along with his band and Jessica Nesmith.  Coco Dolenz will perform and in the evening Movies of Mind at 9:30.

Sunday March 16, 2014
You can expect Q & A's from the Nesmith family, Circe and Christian will perform, Here we Come stage show, Tribute to Davy, Rare never seen before videos, and special surprises.

All guests WILL be signing autographs all three days. Professional photo ops will be available as well. There will be performances and Q & A's with the special celebrities throughout the weekend.
We hope this will help in deciding which if not all the days you would like to attend the convention.
VIP is only available on line while limited supplies last.
Movies of the Mind is selling out quickly as this holds only 1000 people total.

There will be sign ups for autographs and photos to avoid lines over the next few weeks.
To ensure you have tickets, please order at the official website monkeesconvention2014.com

 

Next week, even more surprises await all of you.
Be apart of the Monkumental weekend, one that you will NEVER forget.

We hope you can make it!

Cheers,
Then and Now Events

Why Would A Monkee Attend the Conference? Why not?

I hate to send you to a link without a story, so here's a link to Mike's announcement (why does it sound like a slight apology?), what he posted on FB, as posted by the good people at Naked Persimmon:

http://nakedpersimmon.tumblr.com/post/72894541589/the-official-word-from-the-man-himself

And if you are following them, you'll also get their reaction, the best of which is also on their Tumblr, and I quote:

"Nez’s first-ever Monkees Convention, the reality is that there is the potential for things to either go really, really, well…or really, really badly. Which way the pendulum swings will be contingent on a number of factors, of course, but should things end up going south, we do not think it will be because of Nez. "

He seems to be acknowledging the "collector community", which personally, he gets.  He feels slightly awkward about being asked for an autograph and feels bad saying no.  I will point out something here that I think NP was SHYING away from *GASP*.

He hasn't publicly discussed how he will approach the "female fan vibe", which I felt permeated the 2013 Convention. That aspect goes beyond the "autograph seeking" and "personal moment" and even the "fan fervor" that accompanied Monkeemania, circa late 1960's.

Which for me begs the question, how much entertainment can a person get being one of the featured acts at a Fan Convention?

How many people want to wait in line for hours for you, for their 5 minutes, photo and autograph-and how do you somehow make a personal connection with them-and help make "whatever their fantasy is" come true?

Difficult job.

Sometimes the applause and money and adulation from random strangers is just not worth it.

==
****UPDATE 1/12/14****

From "The Real Peter Tork" on Facebook.  The responses to this post are full of fans' support, encouraging him to "take care of himself" and acknowledging his support for his fans in the past.  If anyone has ever been to a Shoe Suede Blues event, he always makes himself available for autographs (more so than any of the others in my experience).

"Regarding the 2014 Monkees Convention and whether or not Peter will attend, Peter currently has a personal scheduling conflict and is not scheduled to participate. If there are any updates to this information, we will post it the moment we hear anything. In the meantime, we ask that you please respect Peter, his friends, family, and your fellow fans. Many thanks for your understanding ~ptfb team"

MIKE at the Monkees Convention!!!

FINALLY, a dream come true for Conventioneers!!!  I'll see you there!!  At 12 Noon, I got the following in an email.

Then and Now Events Presents

Mike Nesmith will join Micky Dolenz for the 2014 Monkees Convention

For Monkees Fans, this is 49 years in the making! Be a part of history as Mike Nesmith joins Micky Dolenz for his FIRST ever Monkee Convention being held at the Hilton Meadowlands in NJ March 14, 15 and 16th of 2014.

Promoters Phyllis Paganucci and Jodi Blau Ritzen of Then and Now Events have announced that not only will Mike Nesmith be joining Micky Dolenz at the convention, he will also be performing his new show Movies of the MindsSaturday March 15 at 9pm. Tickets are available onwwww.monkeesconvention2014.com

.

This magical weekend will include performances from Micky Dolenz, Coco Dolenz, Christian Nesmith and Circe Link, Jonathan Nesmith, Jessica Nesmith.  Actress Ami Dolenz will be signing copies of her new children’s book and answering a Q and A along with her sisters artist and photographer Emily Dolenz and Micky's youngest daughter actress and business partner in Dolenz & Daughters Fine Furniture Georgia Dolenz.  With all of their families in attendance, The Monkees will also be presented with their awards of induction into the American Pop Music Hall of Fame as voted on by the fans late last year. No celebration would be complete without a special tribute to the late and great Davy Jones. Other guests of the convention who will be greeting fans and signing autographs will be Butch Patrick, Donna Loren, Valerie Venet, Henry Diltz, Gary Stroble, Gary DeCarlo, Geri Reischel, May Pang, Larry Storch, Beatles Artist Shannon, David and Jennifer Alexander, The Monkeemobile and more.

Along with incredible performances from Buddy Blanc’s Romeo Delight with special guest Micky Dolenz, Coco Dolenz will perform, Circe Link performing a full show, Jonathan Nesmith with members of The Outerspaces and Mother of Winter,     The Characters, The Frodis Capers, The Monkeephiles, The 1910 Fruit Gum Co, you can look forward to singing late into the night with fan favorites of last year The Blue Meanies.  Sunday we are excited to present Britton Payne's off broad way show Here We Come~A Monkee Parody.  This show has gotten rave reviews from all who have attended its performances.

There are sure to be surprise performances as well with a lineup of legends like this.

There will be meet and greets opportunities with all of our guests.

A Monkees Memorabilia Market Place will be open as well.

For tickets to the convention and for the tickets to the Movies of the Mind Show starring Mike Nesmith (a limited engagement) and hotel information please visit www.monkeesconvention2014.com

 and for updates you can check out the facebook page Monkees Convention.

Note As of now Monkee Peter Tork has a conflicting schedule and is not set to appear.

A very special thanks to our sponsor, John Rose, owner of Cella Bagels, Sky Tan and Jazz Audio located  1198 Middle Country Rd., Selden, New York 11784

(631) 320-1213.

Jodi and Phyllis
Monkees Convention 2014
March 14, 15 and 16th
Sheraton Meadowlands
Be There or Be Square
www.monkeesconvention2014.com