New Years Eve Gig a Thon

1 Jan

As 2016 drew to a close, i had the pleasure of performing at Torontos Great Paupers Pub. A great night, it was the 1st time I ever ‘hosted’ a New Years Eve, meaning; I was the guy who spoke to the crowd and did the ‘countdown’. 10, 9,4,6,2,8 etc. Looking at people’s faces, some looked ‘happy’, others looked ‘depressed’. Tis life  – Happy New Year! screen-shot-2017-01-29-at-3-10-50-pm

 

Holiday Event Central

20 Dec

screen-shot-2017-01-29-at-2-31-36-pmThe holiday season is filled with so many shows at so many venues. For a events marketing musician type like me it’s an amazing time to see so many people and connect musically to them with holiday standards (jingle bell rock) unheard classics (land of misfit toys) and newer classics (all I want for Christmas is you). The one show this December that stuck out to me was for the good folks of Clairvest Equity Management.screen-shot-2017-01-29-at-2-32-26-pmFounded in 1987, Clairvest is a Toronto-based private equity management firm with approximately C$1.6 billion of equity capital under management. – They had their holiday party at a great restaurant called “Speducci Mercatto”.
When I arrived I was met with many meat hooks and the friendly executive staff at Clairvest. screen-shot-2017-01-29-at-2-38-57-pmAs the party started it was clearly evident that the staff had song requests. And such screen-shot-2017-01-29-at-2-52-47-pmgreat unheard requests that made even a couple (who might have been 90yrs old) dance. Other honourable mention holiday parties that came to mind over the holiday season included the  Hunt Club Members Only party, The Reel Heart and StoneBrooke Holiday events. Somethings weren’t mean to be, but thanks for the invite to these parties!

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Songbook Street Cred. vs iPad Tablet

15 Nov

screen-shot-2017-01-29-at-1-07-14-pm As the US election dawned on me and everyone else in the world, I was re-organizing my song book on that cold late Tuesday night. Looking at my setlists for ‘Millennials’ (and the other generations)screen-shot-2017-01-29-at-1-12-19-pm I realized I needed an iPad tablet more than ever before. Sure I get ‘street cred’ on having a book that’s falling apart, but in terms of portability I’ll soon need 2 cars due to the size of the book. screen-shot-2017-01-29-at-1-02-54-pmAfter trump won, and I realized the world has changed,  I was left in a daze, I realized I had at least 800 songs at disposal and 2 key setlists