Million Dollar Round Table

Anaheim, CA - June 15, 2004

Watch a video from this performance, "Infected with Hemiola.mpg"

I don’t usually do write-ups about private gigs, partly because they are private, and partly because they are not of general interest to the public.  That’s not to say they aren’t enjoyable.  Most of Matt’s concerts are LOTS of fun, but Matt plays so many concerts that I can’t write about every one.

But Matt did one private gig on June 15, 2004 that was unlike any previous concert he has performed, and unlike any concert he will perform in the future. 

The Trio performed a gig for The Million Dollar Round Table, a group comprised of successful people in the insurance industry.  The Round Table holds an annual conference for its members.  This may sound dull, but it is as far from dull as it gets.

There were over 7000 people who attended this conference.  The MDRT members are so international that they translate speakers’ presentations into 13 different languages.  I’ve been told that the UN translates speeches into just 6 languages.  The stage on which presentations were held was huge.  A gigantic movie screen acted as a backdrop behind the stage.  This screen was, in fact, the largest one of its kind in the world.  There were two additional huge screens, one on each side of the stage.  There was a huge moving boom camera that filmed each presentation as it happened and displayed it on these screens.  This camera was the same one used for the Oscars, and was the same one used at Ronald Reagan’s funeral.  When Matt and the Trio performed, the performance was filmed live and displayed all over these huge screens so that the people all the way in the back of the convention center’s gigantic room could see.  When you stood at the back of this room and looked at Matt on stage, you could barely see him.  So, when I tell you this was a huge room, I mean humongous!!!

The MDRT conferences are meant to do several things for its members…inspire them to be better people, teach them to be happier in their lives, and raise money for charity.  The most impressive thing is that the entire event is put on by volunteer members, not by  professional event planners.  You would never know this, however, from the caliber of the event.

There were several things about this gig that made it special to us.  Despite the large numbers of people there, every single person we met was warm and generous and kind.  It was like being with and playing for a large family, not like doing a gig at a huge convention.  The other speakers and their messages also made this a special gig.  Each story was more moving and evocative and memorable than the next.  Each person had something to teach.  The messages were lessons about values and life and love.  And finally, the foundation raises money and does great things for other people.  They just put in a new leukemia unit at a hospital.

If I sold insurance, I would definitely become a member of this group.

Matt and the Trio performed for just a short time…perhaps a half hour of playing and another 10 minutes of interview with Matt.  But 7000 people from all over the world gave them a standing ovation.  This gig was special not because of the size of everything or the number of people in the crowd, but because of the people in the organization and the messages they were sharing with their members. We made some wonderful friends at MDRT, and I can only say thank you to the many people who worked SO hard to bring us to Anaheim and allow us to be a part of the conference.  We will remember you always.  And the song that Matt wrote especially for you all at the meeting, entitled “Wow!”, will be on his upcoming CD in September.