In a tradeshow, it takes a 20-foot booth with at least three presenters to look like a real company, especially if you are new. South-by-Southwest 2015 was Ridgewing’s first real steppin’ out, and there were five of us. After the better part of a year sweating out the design and creation of the fist suite of Ridgewing prototypes, the guys were on fire, and the guitars were hopping around the shop in equal excitement.

The guys also designed a 20-foot vinyl fabric booth graphic. A few days before leaving for SXSW it was delivered and we hung it in the house dining room to check it out. The light molding we hung it on was one foot short. Not too bad. Things were getting real.

We had it shipped down to Austin, and it was the first thing that go put up. Scott, Jay and Nate were in fine form.

The next morning the doors opened, and we didn’t know what to expect. Never were there so many Chrysalis and Ridgewing guitars in one place – three Chrysalis and four Ridgewings. It was grand. Harvey Reid brought along both his Chrysalis guitar, Chrysalis mandocello and stage gear, so the booth had amazing music, too.

And then they came.