MH: The Dallas Guitar Show is also very well known for it's live Musicfest, and the support of live music. Tell us about this years Musicfest and other live music attractions that the show supports.

MP: Well, the Musicfest will continue to grow and we envision that it will probably end up on the Internet. The live music portion will continue to grow, no doubt about it. Who knows, it could even springboard out of that, we could have concert halls around Dallas tied in with the guitar show.

We also have something unique this year called "Texas 10 under 20". To enter, you must be under 20-years-old, live in Texas, and have a guitar or bass in your band or solo act. If there are multiple members in your band, at least half of them must be under 20 as of April 18, 2004. They can submit as many songs as they like to the contest for a chance to perform live in front of a Dallas Guitar Show audience and celebrity judges -- with an opportunity to win up to $10,000 in prizes! Ten finalists will be invited to perform on-stage in Dallas, at the 27th Annual Dallas Guitar Show & MusicFest on April 17-18, 2004. A portion of the entry fee will benefit the Texas Music Project and music education in Texas schools. For more information, go to www.guitarshow.com and click on the Event tab.

MH: This will be the first year of a location change to The Dallas Market Hall, obviously to provide additional space to accommodate the growth of the show. How else do you see the new venue benefiting the show?

MP: There is a place called Freeway Hall and we are looking to put a live music stage in there. We are concerned about the weather, and the cold. We are really trying to get the music inside. Not only do we have the main floor of 130,000 square feet, but also the auction itself is going to have about 30,000 ft. Then under that is another 30,000 ft. that we are using for live music. Plus we just rented another room that we are going to utilize, that is another 60,000 ft. We may put another stage there. Then of course Ernie Ball and his truck will be outside. We will have one, maybe two outdoor venues, which is still in the works. This venue is perfect as far as I'm concerned.

MH: This year's show will also feature a "Live Auction with Odyssey Auctions featuring collectable celebrity instruments and memorabilia. Tell us a bit more about the auction, and how it all transpired.

MP: It started with Scott Jennings from Route 66 Guitars, who was authenticating a George Harrison guitar for Odyssey Auctions last year. They were so successful with that guitar that the folks at Odyssey knew they were onto something. They decided to build their inventory of vintage and celebrity instruments and memorabilia, and then they needed to create the event. But instead of starting from scratch, Odyssey wanted to find an existing show or event. I ran into Scott at the Arlington show, and then the light bulb went off for both of us. Why not hold the Icons of 20th Century Music auction at the biggest guitar event in the world?! So that is what we are doing. For a list of the items on the auction go to www.guitarshow.com then click on Live Auction.

MH: Musicians Hotline is proud to be premiering the very first "Official Show Guide" for the Dallas Guitar Show. How do you see this Show Guide contributing to the keepsake status of the show?

MP: I'm really excited about the show guide for a couple of reasons. First of all, we started out as a single sheet of paper announcing where the party was Saturday night and it has just grown from there. The really good thing about the new Show Guide is it is being handled by professionals. In 20 years these programs will be on Ebay selling for who knows what. You can have the guide and get some autographs on it and that will only increase the value. I see it becoming a collectable item. I'm really excited about the whole thing.

MH: In closing Mark, how do you see the show continuing to evolve?

MP: Our original mission was to celebrate the guitar from every aspect and that is what it still is today. I think we will see more and more manufacturers, whether it is amps, speakers, picks, strings, straps or cases. Not only do we have amps but also we have amp components. We may get a company that makes capacitors. Their entire booth will be devoted to where you can go in and they can revamp your Fender, your Gibson or your Marshall amp with these different capacitors. I think that is one way it will really start to branch out to get more component stuff. They are people that are not truly in the music industry but they are a part of the chain. If I had to sum it up in one phrase it would be; The Dallas Guitar Show is a celebration of the guitar! But even that doesn't encompass that we have mandolins, banjos, violins and handmade creations that have no manufacturer. There is no limit to where this could go. The guitar is certainly this century's most popular instrument.

For more information regarding the show go to www.guitarshow.com