As we decided to return to the Midwest Homeschool Conference in Cincinnati this year, I looked at my colleague Annie Dean and said, "Either we sold CDs to everyone who was interested in classical music last year and we will not sell another CD or everyone who purchased CDs last year will have told their friends and it will be wonderful. GREAT NEWS! It was the latter and we were flooded with families saying, "I bought one CD last year and am coming back to buy ALL the others," and "I heard about you from a friend who said I had to stop by the booth and listen."
For two and a half days, we had 3 and 4 headsets going with people waiting in line to listen to the London Philharmonic Orchestra with Yadu the narrator. Twice as many CDs went out the door as the year before, setting a new homeschool record for us.
I love going to the shows and meeting the actual people who will enjoy our CDs hour after hour. The smiles that come across faces as they put on the noise-canceling headsets and are transported to a different world are marvelous - peace and joy are the only way that I can describe them.
One new aspect to the booth were the new wireless headsets by Sennheiser. Wonderful sound and no wires! Many asked if we were selling them... no, but certainly recommending them.
BTW - The Tortoise and the Hare won a Parents' Choice GOLD, the most coveted award in the children's toy/media business. While all of our CDs have won Parents' Choice awards, this is our second GOLD. (4 SILVER as well.)
Bonnie Simon has introduced thousands of children to the joy of music as a teacher, a concert producer, an orchestra executive, a CD producer, and has published articles on children and music. Your child loves music and loves to sing. What do you do now? Ask Bonnie.
