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Business & Tech

Q & A with House of Musical Traditions' Guen Spilsbury

Store worker and vocalist talks festivals, variety and Takoma Park-ers.

 

has been a Takoma Park institution for 40 years. Patch sat down with Guen Spilsbury, one of the House’s employees to find out what it’s like to be an integral part of the local music and festival scene.

Patch: What’s your favorite thing about working at House of Musical Traditions?

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Guen Spilsbury: Definitely the festivals. The , the Maryland Renaissance Festival and of course, UkeFest [where the House of Musical Traditions sets up a booth or table]. I am an outdoorsy person, and really like to be out there with interesting people. The Renaissance Festival is my favorite – any excuse to dress up in medieval costumes!

Patch: How do you like Takoma Park?

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G.S: While I currently live in Wheaton, I grew up within walking distance of Takoma Park. I love the farmer’s market, consignment shops and the mix of people – they’re weird sometime but always friendly! Takoma Park is sort of its own thing.

Patch: In the three years you’ve been working here, what has been your most interesting experience?

G.S: A guy came in during my first few months here and played just about every instrument we have – banjos, violin, you name it. It’s always nice when a good musician comes in, but that guy was something. I am a vocalist and play hand percussion, and am still jealous of him.

Patch: The Takoma Park Folk Festival is coming up in a few weeks – how does that affect business?

G.S: Well, that’s also the same time as the Renaissance Festival, so we have to staff both events.  We began preparing about two weeks ago for them. On the evening of the Folk Festival, we see some increased traffic – people looking for things we didn’t have at the booth – but overall, any festival or big concert tends to inspire people to want to learn to play. Uke’s are very big right now – Marcy Marxer is a big reason, and she has a ukulele with her name on it here.  

Patch: What’s one thing people would be surprised about if they visit House of Musical Traditions?

G.S: I’d say the variety and just how much we really have here. Not many places have a dozen banjos on the wall, let alone the huge assortment we have upstairs – instruments from all over the world – sitars and other stringed instruments and more.

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