Yesterday was a significant day in my nascent personal Seaboard saga. I woke at 6:00am EDT, and decided to try calling London before the rest of the U.S. stirred and got the same idea. I wrestled with the international number for several attempts – did you know that if you hold down the zero key on an iPhone, it turns into a “plus” sign? – and eventually was rewarded with the pleasant British voice of ROLI’s receptionist.
I gave my name and asked for Danny, the sales consultant who’s been my contact at ROLI. I was told “Certainly, but first let me connect you with Roland.” I was, frankly, still half asleep and a bit confused, and it took me several seconds before I realized that the person I was now speaking with was Roland Lamb, founder of ROLI and the man whose vision led to the invention of the Seaboard.
I was a little flustered; this fellow had only a few days earlier been speaking on BBC World and CNN, and now he was burdened with a bleary-eyed American who wasn’t quite up to speed for morning conversation. Still, his warmth and genuine interest in greeting one of his first customers broke the ice quickly. He’s a busy fellow, but it was a pleasure to chat with him for a few moments; he was aware of my newborn blog, and I was happy to let him know of my plans for sharing my experiences with the Seaboard.
I thought it was rather remarkable that the CEO of a company had left word at the front desk (as he almost certainly would have had to) that he be given the opportunity to speak with his early adopters; the speed with which I was connected was part of what caught me by surprise.
After wishing Roland all the best, I had the chance to speak with Danny at some length, a very enjoyable conversation despite (from my point of view) the early hour. We took care of the brass tacks of transferring the deposit, and I was now officially one of the lucky ones in the queue, awaiting one of the very first Seaboards to roll out of ROLI’s doors.
Danny also went to the trouble of inquiring about my t-shirt and sweatshirt sizes, as I was to be graced with the additional prize of a wearable token that I was now a member of the ROLI family. I promise that when it arrives, you’ll see it here first. Can’t wait!
I also dropped broad hints about my personal preference when it came to the key number to be engraved on the back of my Seaboard. Danny let me know that they were a fair ways away from beginning to assign individual key numbers, but I wasn’t too embarrassed to speak up for what I might prefer, if I happened to have my ‘druthers.
The first keyboard I ever played was on a (then new) Hammond organ, and much of my early keyboard fanaticism involved doing my best to emulate Keith Emerson’s chops. So with the thought of binding the new with a touchstone from the past, I voiced my fondness for Hammond models C3 and B3, knowing full well I may have arrived too late to have a chance. After hearing Jordan Rudess’s remarkable version of Emerson’s Tarkus, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’d beaten me to the draw. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained – and in truth, I know I’ll be head over heels with whichever Seaboard winds up in my life.
Could it possibly happen by December? Patience is key, but it’s certainly true that I’ll be keeping my eyes on the calendar, and hoping for an extraordinary Christmas. C’mon, Santa – I’ve been extra good this year!