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

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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

The Hampton Stop on Mike's Tour Tunnel

Personally, I love the way he takes funny little moments and focuses on them.  Being famous and semi-unrecognizable.  Sitting by a mirror and getting caught by the onlooker-"non-girlfriends" who flirt with him.  Beyond the idea of sexuality/fame/"meetings that are a touch strange".

Very eloquent in his own way, letting you know why he'd be wearing shades.  His head seems to be the most interesting at the moment. Peter and Micky seem content to just show up.  Mike's still thinking and out-putting.

To quote his latest FB post: (dated 7/15/13, probably noon Eastern Time, a few hours before their first stop in Port Chester, NY, the first of their 2013 Summer tour dates)

Notes from the Road – Monkees Summer 2013

I’m starting to feel like I live on a different part of the planet. This is not a nation state I’m talking about – it is actually not even a space – it is more like a space of states – like thay have over in the Quantum garage.

The constant traveling creates one long tunnel – and I am familiar with that now – but it also creates an insular community at its center with access now and then to little stops along the way to get out and explore the land and the people.

Latest for me was the Hamptons – up to visit a new friend with some time off – and we went to the Candy Kitchen for a meal. I little local’s place with pretty good breakfast and lunch. It looked like a real soda fountain but I didn’t try it.

We took a seat at the back of the restaurant where we could watch the people making a long walk from the front entrance past our booth to their tables. Pretty people, ordinarily pretty if you catch my drift. All shiny and all making eye contact.

When the lovely young girls came by and smiled coyly I got a little self-conscious but always returned the smile. I was surprised how unabashed they were – they would walk the whole concourse from the front door to the back room beyond our booth and never lose eye contact, and almost all were showing off – even posing a bit -- but, like I say mostly coy.

A group of particularly beautiful young women came in and all of them were staring, looking directly at me and turning this way and that showing off their best features. I was surprised at their recognition of me. I haven’t been recognized out of context in years. I am usually just another old guy about his business, having dinner or breakfast. The best I usually get is the Starbuck’s shout-out to no-one or the captured cashier at the grocery store and supermarkets wondering how I am.

I figured the recent Monkee concerts must be building the awareness and so I was happy to greet everyone as they came by with a smile and a nod, although the exchange was a touch strange. It didn’t matter. I was swept away by the open friendliness and the acknowledgement.

It took about thirty minutes of this until I realized I was sitting in a booth that was in front of, and just below, a huge mirror. I was invisible down in the booth – but the customers could all see themselves in the mirror as they walked by staring, primping, smiling -- making eye contact.

My friends and I laughed when I finally pointed it out and explained why I had been distracted for the last half hour.

My friends were not members of the Roadspace nation – they were landed gentry who lived among the locals – and they had a good laugh -- but not the same laugh I did,

I knew what this was. The beginning of the “twist” from here to there and finally to everywhere on the road, where all realities obviously intersect at the ego and pushes buzzers never felt before.

I had dozens of new non-girlfriends at the Candy Kitchen – quantum state girlfriends.

I am going to have to wear special glasses on this Monkees tour to make sure to stay out of the gentle traps – I can see that.

Port Chester NY tonight -- with a new video wall.

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Mike's FB Moment of "deja whoa"

I feel the need to copy Mike's Posts on Facebook because he seems to delete them entirely after a few hours.  Part of his mystery, or dedication to inaccessibility (not sure which).

I like that he is seized by a moment of primal recognition, returning to a set he had first visited on his first day of shooting for the Monkees.  First impressions, first emotions.  Primal for most of the rest of us as well, but our memories connect with our own unique series of sensations and histories.

Here's his:

"Years ago my first day of shooting was at the Columbia Ranch. Now it is just called the Ranch but I think it is part of Warner Bros. It is a large installation at the corner of Hollywood Way and Oak out in Burbank --the valley -- in California.

I went down to LA on Tuesday to shoot the Kroll Show and Wednesday morning I got up early and drove out of the hotel but had to pull over in order to get my nav set up to get me to the studio.

After I stopped I looked up and realized I was sitting at the entrance to the Ranch. 

It wasn't exactly deja vu -- more like deja whoa -- and it made me laugh. As I sat in the car alone I had all the same emotions overtake me that ran through my head on the first day of shooting back in 1966. Not exactly D Day levels of tension -- but it took hold on much the same terms.

I drove over to cast and crew parking where I got in the van to go to the location. I was the only one in the van besides the driver who said not a word.

It was like getting on the school bus the first day of school -- or a first date -- any of those firsts where you don't know exactly what to do, don't really know anyone, or which way to turn. As a recurrence it was bittersweet -- I had been here before -- but I was surprised at how eternal the moment was -- timeless and real.

The show was fun to shoot. I love collaboration with a creative team. Nick was warm and hospitable and fun to work with --Levy, my friend was solicitous and attentive and helpful -- and the sketch was pretty funny.

We won't know till Krisel gets it edited -- but I'll bet it will come out fine. Krisel -- the director -- knows his stuff.

By the end of the day I was back in the saddle and confident and comfortable and happily rocking back and forth on my feet waiting for the school bus to take me home.

Turns out the next school bus is a tour bus. It shows up for me Thursday in Nashville.

Life as a 6 year old -- all over again."

Posted on Facebook, Friday, 3/15/13, 11:21am.

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And also, a fan commented, "This is similar to the way you make your fans feel".  Another added a link to the actual Columbia Ranch set.