Topic: My First Meet & Greet...and My Epic Fail!
Okay, you're not going to believe this, but...
Everything went swimmingly, at first. Got to the venue in plenty of time, with one of my students in tow as my guest. Got to chat with some fans, Joe was charming when he showed up (told a funny story about nearly getting mugged in downtown Omaha while doing a little sight-seeing!), and the line moved with dispatch. My student got the thrill of his young lifetime, got his Strat signed, got multiple pictures taken, etc. Then, at last, it was my turn. Joe signed the RAH and Beacon DVDs I had brought for friends who couldn't make the show, he noticed my necktie (which has him playing "Mountain Time" at the RAH concert...see photo), and we chatted pleasantly about the guitar I brought: An Ernie Ball Music Man 25th Anniversary, which I had fallen in love with the first time I saw the RAH video. I told him how long it had taken me to track one down (I believe I compared myself to Ahab pursuing the white whale, which isn't much of an exaggeration), we chatted a bit about the EBMM Reflex (which is the production version of the Anniversary model, only with different finishes, including a gold top/black back version that is, in my opinion, EBMM's "unofficial" Joe B. signature model). We posed together, and the very nice lady behind me in the line took this photo: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8161/7117 … 8a71_b.jpg
At that point, I already felt like I'd taken a little more time than I should, so I thanked Joe and wished him luck for the show later that night and made my way over to where my student was waiting for me. As I opened the case to put my guitar back inside, my student said "So, where did you have him sign it?" And then it hit me...
That's right, ladies and gentleman...after chasing after this particular guitar for more than a year before finally getting one, having a special tie made with a picture of Joe playing the same model on it, buying a litho to get on the meet-and-greet list, and dreaming about the moment for months...I actually forgot to ask him to sign my guitar! 
I wasn't paying attention to the people behind me, of course, but I can imagine what they must have thought. I suspect Joe must have wondered who this nutcase was who wanted him to pose with a guitar but not sign it, too...
I felt like a rookie who struck out in his first big-league at bat not because he couldn't hit a curveball but because he left his bat in the dugout when he went to the plate... 
My student suggested that I get back in line (there were only a few folks left by then) and ask for the signature, but I was too mortified to consider it. I just wanted to post this for the benefit of those of you who are nervous about meeting Joe for the first time...trust me, you won't screw up as badly as I did! 
And Joe, if you're reading this, I'll catch up with you again soon, and I promise not to carry on like a doddering idiot the next time... 
Kansas City, MO
.....trust me when I say this....Joe IS NOT LOL!....well maybe just a chuckle....down the road, you and JB will laugh this one over....try this for a first impression....the day before I was going to meet the man face to face I was in an automobile accident and had this HUGE black eye 
