So, there is this event in August where Alex Acuna will be at one of the workshops... and chances are I will be there...

So I keep thinking what can I ask him if I meet him... as far as percussion  playing that wouldn't be lame ... you know like ... "can you show me a beat " ... yuck...

May be I'll ask him to show me an exercise/warm-up he is using on cajon... that could be quick and useful at the same time...

Any thoughts... experiences.... ?

If you have a real question, ask.  If he does a good clinic, you may find one at that time.

If you don't have a real question, don't ask.  Just enjoy the clinic.

That would be my advice.

Thanks for all advice ... (markers "shut-up and listen" being probably best... just kidding   )

I am really looking forward to learning something from him, hopefully there won't be too many people so I can "houg" him all to myself for a little bit.    I am particularly interested in his cajon playing. I should probably buy his video and then I can ask him about something from that ...

I find that not that many people hear about him, even drummers.  

I don't kow about this...  isn't it kind of like asking ... "How can I learn to play like you?"  in other words too general of a question ...

I think I would need a little tid-bit... something I can grasp and apply ... also I am not a drummer so it wouldn't apply but even if I was a drummer I am not sure it's a precise ( ... not sure of a word here) enough question... thanks for sugestions and your input guys I appriciate it.

I have to agree with you on that. I think if you worded the question like that to him (not suggesting that's what was meant), I think you might get a very generic answer.

Generic questions will often times get generic answers. Look at the responses to posts here at the Cafe! What drums should I buy? How do I get good? The responses are usually "buy what you like" and "practice".  

Being a musician who plays both drums and percussion ... and incorporates the two together when I play ... I do think that it would be better to be more specific than that with your question. Sure, keep the idea in your mind, but focus your questions on what you see him doing or talking about ... and be specific. If you see him play congas with one hand while maintaining a drumset groove with the rest of his limbs, ask him about that specifically. Ask about how or what he did to develop that coordination, or what he's thinking when he does that, or his suggestions to developing that type of playing.

Whatever you do ... promise me you won't ask questions like "why do you play Toca?" or "why do you use Vic Firth drumsticks?".    Those kinds of questions drive me nuts when I'm sitting in front of a master drummer/percussionist who's only there for a short time. You can read the answers to those questions in Modern Drummer.

I can think of a few interesting angles on the percussion AND drumset question.
Like:
Does he use his brain in a different way (in the two different disciplines)?
Does he actually think it takes a different mindset to play drums as opposed to perc?
Did he find it hard to gain acceptance as Alex Acuna the drummer?
How did he musically relate to other percussionists (like Manola Badrena) when he was solely the kit player?
Does he think having a knowledge of specific percussion techniques helped or hindered him as a kit drummer?
Does he prefer one over the other? (I guess he'll probably say no).
Did he have a burning desire to play both kit and perc, or was it a necessity to diversify professionally/financially?
Did he come to drums late in life, or was he always a kit player?
If he took kit up later, did he have the same frustrations as the rest of us, or did his percussion training give him a big head start?
I could go on........

Chrisso,
those are some good questions... but I am looking for more practical ones ... knowing if he was burning percussion while wanting to play drums  , will make me more informed, but probably won't help me to become a better percussionist...