MINI of Nashville

The WannaBeatles played a special event April 17 at MINI of Nashville, a car with a distinctive British identity.

Here we are setting up onstage, with a large Union Jack behind us. Plenty of MINIs in the parking lot.

We discovered that Cool Springs is growing. The MINI dealership is located on the section of Mallory Lane that extends north of Moore's Lane, next door to dealerships from Audi and Porsche. The road is not yet completely paved, and a traffic rotary is being built. We learned there are plans to build a Maserati dealership nearby, so it is definitely becoming a luxury district.

The MINI is a fun car - a mixture of sporty performance, hip design, and upscale status that sets it apart from the pure luxury cars. 

They were having a big party to celebrate their new model, called "Bloody Original." Corporate executives from Atlanta and New Jersey were attending. Tee shirts were printed up for the occasion, and gift bags handed out, emblazoned with British flag emblems. The gift bags also included free CDs from The WannaBeatles, so we were part of their marketing efforts.

                 Here's a view of the party from upstairs

There was plenty of fine food and drink offered, much of it offered British style, such as fish and chips (which were delicious.)

After setting up on the stage in front of a large British flag, we went upstairs to a conference room to change clothes. While there, we rehearsed and recorded a brief promotional video for a gig we're doing later this summer.

As it turned out, Nathan brought to the gig a large cardboard Yellow Submarine, which had been made for a musical he had just performed in, at H.G. Hill High School. We balanced it on some chairs, and stood behind it while reading a script Dennis had written, recording into a video camera we rigged into position to capture our faces.  

Here's the camera, mounted in a chair, below large print versions of our script, (what? you expected us to memorize it?) as Dennis the WannaDirector ponders the shot. 

And here are David and Nathan, behind the Yellow Submarine, as we rehearse a final run-through. 

Thanks to a photo provided by Nathan, this is the Yellow Submarine, in its original setting, with Kevin Redmond, who created it, and Rhonda Carter, who encouraged him. 

Meanwhile, we went onstage and played Beatles songs and people enjoyed it. 

We met the manager of the MINI dealership, the energetic man who produced the entire event, Roger Harrison. He was very happy with the way the night turned out. 

 Here's happy Roger at the end of the evening:

When it was over, he told us "You have just improved my legendary status."

Same to you Roger! 

It's always good to recognize, and to be, a "Bloody Original." 

Bloggin' Bryan 28 April 2014