Page 4 - Big Blues Bender Program Gude

Welcome to

the Bender!

It’s our honor and privilege to welcome you all to the 4th installment of the Big Blues Bender! To our veterans, we hope you
can see the attention we have given to the feedback from our community to make this event even better, year after year. To
the virgins, welcome to the family - you’re one of us now! You’ll be hard pressed to find a more fun-loving, friendly, and all
around excellent group of people than are surrounding you this week. Make new friends of your fellow guests, and be sure
to come say hi to all of us. We are here to make your experience the best it can be, and we’re excited to prove it! Finally, we
would like to acknowledge the hard work and support of the Plaza Hotel staff and CEO Jonathan Jossel. We could not ask for
a better team to make the Bender feel at home.
-Much Love, Team Bender

BENDER SUPPORT PRE & POST HOURS : Wed, 9/6: 12:00p-11:00p • Mon, 9/11: 10:00a-12:00p PANELS & PARTIES
Appear in yellow on the schedule
Bender Party With H.A.R.T • Wed, Sept. 6 • 8:00p • Showroom
$30 GA - The Official Bender Pre-party is proud to support H.A.R.T. 100% of proceeds benefit the Handy Artists Relief Trust.
Veterans Welcome the Virgins Party! • Thu, Sept. 7 • 4:00p • Pool
Join Bender veteran and host, Marice Maples, in welcoming this year’s crop of Bender Virgins!
The F.A.C.E Of Women In Blues Panel • Fri, Sept. 8 • 11:00a - 12:00p • Showroom
The Bender is the first blues event anywhere in which women outnumber men in the attending audience. To celebrate this milestone, the
Blues Bender hereby invites ALL Bender guests to explore The F.A.C.E. of Women in Blues 2017 panel led by Dr. Marie Trout. This panel will
feature four remarkable artists: the winner of International Blues Challenge, Dawn Tyler Watson; singer, songwriter, and violinist Anne Harris;
singer extraordinaire Teresa James; and blues-rock “force of nature” Sari Schorr.

Sidemen: Long Road To Glory • Fri, Sept 8 • 8:00p-10:00p & Sun, Sept. 10 • 12:00p-2:00p • Juke Joint
The Big Blues Bender invites you on a special trip into the heart of the Blues, a unique experience that will stay with you for a very long time.
Director Scott Rosenbaum will be presenting a private screening and a Q & A for us of his acclaimed documentary,
Sidemen - Long Road To Glory

Yoga To The Blues • Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11:00-11:45am • Theater
Wake up and Stretch with Laurie! Gentle Yoga set to the music of Bender 2017 Artists. SEATING POLICIES

• No saving seats for people that aren’t there. Did someone run to the bathroom or go for a drink? Great, hold their spot. But if your friends
are bouncing around and will join you “eventually,” please don’t hold a spot for them.
• Do not move seating and furniture. Our seating is where it needs to be, and in accordance with fire codes. Do not block aisles and exits.
• BALLERS: Cabanas are for ALL Ballers. If your crew is in one, and more Ballers stop in, great! You’ve got a chance to make new friends!
Don’t leave your stuff in the Cabanas. If you get up to go watch the show, don’t try to “hold” your Cabana.

• ADA POLICY In order to better serve our guests with ADA needs, we now require an ADA wristband for entry into ADA seating areas,
and for use of seating marked ADA. Wristbands will be available at bender support during the hours noted in the schedule. Note: The
wristband does not guarantee a spot in these areas. Our limited capacity ADA seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The
wristband is non-transferable.

2 Big Blues Bender Official Program 2017