Grey Cup 2008: Montreal, Highlights

Mr. Grey Cup

Olympic Stadium

This was my second year DJing for the Grey Cup. Last year was pretty amazing because it was in Toronto, where I grew up and lived for many years, and I got to DJ at CiRCA, which was intimidating but a really incredible experience.
inside the dome (I wanted to go home with that DJ equipment!)

2008 was also really cool because this year Montreal was not only hosting the Grey Cup, but the Montreal Alouettes were in the final against the Calgary Stampeders. The Alouettes really turned it out for the fans and created a Grey Cup Village for the days prior to the big game and the Olympic Stadium. In the middle of the Village was a white dome which was where I got to spin. They had it set up sort of looking like a club/lounge which was pretty swank for the Grey Cup. I actually had a few people ask me if it was a VIP Lounge.
The Dome at the Grey Cup Village

Calgary fans (Stampeders went on to win the Grey Cup)

All in all, it was a pretty long week. They extended my hours to accommodate the fans and I also was still spinning at Typhoon. There were the usual rough patches during the gig that I have grown to expect. Liz and Julie in the DomeOne of the big lessons I continue to learn is to not take things too seriously, try to keep things in perspective and to have a sense of humour. It's a difficult thing sometimes to bite my tongue when everybody seems to think that they can DJ. While some people are only at the lounge for an hour or so I have to take into account the big picture and know that I have to create a musical atmosphere that will last the duration of eleven hours. Hamilton Tiger Cats fans

I was never really bullied as a child, at least not too badly, but you do get bullied when you are behind the decks! Drunk people always have opinions. They flip through your CD binder looking for songs they want to hear. Or when they request something they get mad when they do not hear there song right away. Ultimately there is no way to please everybody. It's like that in life as it is behind the DJ table.Gladys, Alouette Cheerleader and Co-Host of the Cheerleader Party, HUDDLE

There were some great moments too. One night a girl requested to hear some House, which I was dying to play because the space looked like a club and the system was decent. I played about an hour of House where her and her two friends proceeded to dance all around the lounge trying to get other people to join them. There was a guy dressed up as the Grey Cup and his friend was dressed as Pee Wee Herman. Apparently the Grey Cup is also Halloween. Tequila!They were cool guys and the dude dressed as the Cup asked me to play Tequila so his friend could dance an impromptu solo to many flashing camera lights and claps. A drunk guy got up on one of the tables to perform a little strip dance for the crowd. I was about to play a song when I saw what was happening so I seized the moment and decided to play "What is Love". Someone who was close to me turned and said, "nice job!"

On my last night I was pretty much delirious from DJing so much. I wasn't sure how I wanted to end the evening when a lady came up to the table and said, "I have these kids here who have been dancing outside. Do you think they could perform a little hip-hop number? I have a CD of their music." I said, hells yeah! Apparently they really wanted to play at a Club but they were all under age. So everyone who happened to be there that night got to see a dance show. It was awesome.
Getting ready: backstage at HUDDLE

Still, one of my favourite moments is when I finally finished my contract and was leaving the Grey Cup Village. One of the maintenance guys who mopped the floor came up to me and asked me about a track he liked and where he could find it. It's a real nice feeling knowing that people are listening and enjoying what you are playing.


the Alouettes dancing at HUDDLE

When friends come to visit...

...trouble.


I heart beer. Can you tell?


Coming back to Canada and especially Montreal has been such a blessing. To reconnect with some friends I haven't seen since I left for New York and to make new friends have been so special to me.



I like to think of myself as a pretty social person. But there is nothing like those old friends who know you through and through and have been there thick and thin. I cannot think of two other people who represent that for me than Mat and Brendan. We have seen a lot together and have grown so much as individuals. I am so proud to have them in my life. As Artists in life it's often hard to find the time to spend together. So the moment was not lost on me when we all happened to be in Montreal at the same time. Props to Mat for driving from Ontario!

Duncan came from Liverpool to be with Brendan while he was rehearsing for a Dance Show. I call this their American Apparel Ad

Dean and Me

A week later Dean Voon was in town for a quick visit. Dean and I met randomly at a cafe on Queen West while I was performing in The Lion King and what a fortunate meeting that was because he's such a great guy. We hadn't seen each other in many years so to have the chance to sit and have sushi with him was a great moment. Just to be with him and to share our life experiences was awesome. Afterward we met up with Brendan and his dance friends as well as some of my friends from work for some crazy Karoake. What a fun night.

Brendan showcasing the jeans he bought at Value Village. Irony is the new black for Spring '09. Icing on the cake? There were pleats in the jeans.

what do you sing when doing Karoake? Alanis Morissette of course!

It's unfortunate that these crazy nights of play seem few and far between. But it's also what makes me so grateful when the social stars do align, even for only a moment.

To My American Peeps: Happy Thanksgiving!

As I stare out my window all I see is grey and the little flakes of snow swirling in the air. These are just two pictures that prove that Montreal does indeed have an Autumn. It doesn't last very long but it happens.

Toronto

Winter is, rather quickly, coming to Montreal. But I wanted to add some of these pictures from my trip to Toronto late in the summer. My friend Krista Leis was getting married in Stratford so I spent a day and a half there and also in Toronto seeing some friends.

I don't go to Toronto very much which is strange I guess because I grew up there. It took a minute to really take in where I was. It was a little sad to sense that I didn't feel a strong connection to the City anymore. But what I loved the most was spending time with friends I hadn't seen in a very long time. That made the trip really special.

Hanging out with Rhonda and Davis
I was introduced to Rhonda and Davis through my friend Mat. When I lived in a Co-Op in Cabbagetown they were our neighbours. They now live in their own House on Queen East. It;s a pretty cool up and coming part of town with some wonderful restaurants and bakeries. It's always great to see these two because they tell the best stories. I am always laughing and learning when I hang out with these two.




Krista and Randy met in Stratford while performing in Gigi. So it was only fitting that they be married in Stratford. Really, you can't go wrong having a Wedding there. So beautiful.

This is Devon posing with the wonderful cupcakes he made for the reception



I didn't have a lot of time off over the summer because I was really committed to saving money, buying a new laptop and getting new DJ equipment. So this trip to Toronto, though short, was a real treat. I really wanted to see Joshua since he had also been a way from Canada for a while living in London, England. Like most people, Joshua was working, but I was able to hang out with him while he was on break. He's such a special guy and I really do hope I get to see more of him now that we are both in the same country.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of Chad who was kind enough to let me stay at his place while I was in the t-dot. That was also quite special for me because it had been a while since we really were able to connect. He's such a lovely man.

One of the highlights for sure was hanging out with this lady. Karla Jang and I did two shows together and our friendship has continued to stay strong. She and I have moved on from the 'Business' in our own ways so it's always great to get together with her, not only to reminisce and catch up on gossip on such but to also talk about where we are in our lives and what's new. This is a shot I took while we were shopping for beef to put on the grill for dinner.


There were a few more people I would have loved to see but my trip was so short it wouldn't have been possible. It really wasn't so much the City itself as it was the close friends I have there that made the trip really awesome. I hope I can create some time to go back soon.

Word up

Integrity:

1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship's hull.

It's talked about a lot in Landmark. It's at the foundation of it's principles of transforming your life. In a nutshell it's about keeping your word.

Some people are probably thinking, "Keeping my word? That's not too hard." But imagine all the times we break our word in a single day. I say I will call a friend on Tuesday and then I don't. I tell someone else that I will attend their party and then I flake. When you make a commitment to keep your word in everything you do it makes you pause. I ask myself, "Can I really go to the function or am I just trying to be polite? If I say yes to a coffee date with so-and-so will I be truly committed to going?"

I only bring this up because I want to make a commitment to this Blog. I want to be a man of my word. And sure I've got some gentle nudging from some friends to keep writing but this is a commitment I want to keep for myself. I'm sure there's some aspect of these public journals that seem self-indulgent. But bottom line I just like writing. And it's an important aspect of my life that I want to continue developing so long as I am breathing.

So I am making a commitment to Blog twice a month. They may be long blogs, short ones, boring, full of pictures, I don't know! Maybe no one will read them and maybe lots of people will. But for those of you who do it's my wish that it gives you a moment of reflection and inspiration. I think that's why I named my Blog that. Because more and more I am present to the little moments of creativity and those tiny sparks of joy.

Last night my sister and I went to see a rehearsal for a Dance show. Mistaya has been working with La La La Human Steps for many years now and they are just about to go on tour again. They were doing their final rehearsals at Concordia University which is right down the street from where we live so it was a perfect opportunity for us. And what I was really present to at that moment of watching them dance was how amazing they all were and how blessed I was to be sitting there. These talented performers have traveled the world with this piece. People from Paris, Vietnam, Tokyo, New York, Barcelona have all paid top dollar to see these people in action. And here I was with my sister watching for free.

We're always searching for the big trip, that amazing vacation, that wonderful partner to breathe life into our sometimes-dull lives. But that spark is everywhere. We just have to create it. And that's what this blog does for me. Because it gives me the opportunity to reflect and encapsulate some of the magic that's been going on around me and inside me. And this is what it takes to live a magical life. because when I share with you and you read my words and feel inspired, then I feel inspired.

And hey, if you're ever feeling run down or swamped or that you just can't take t anymore, find a friend. It could be anybody. Someone you're not even that close to even. And share a laugh with them. Feels good, right?

Summer...where did it go?

Happened pretty quick didn't it...I won't lie, I'm a little bummed out that the weather has gotten cooler and the sun is setting quicker. People are getting sick easier. Still, it's fun to see all the new students, bright-eyed and bushy tailed walking through the McGill ghetto, getting to know the city for the first time. It's time for change.

This is the portion of my blog I am calling "Random Pics of Summer". So many amazing things happened and I just didn't have time to talk about them all. Here are a few of them:

This is my friend Mat (www.matjash.com) I have known him since I was nine years old. Mat continues to have a wonderful, adventurous dance career. He's an amazing Choreographer and happened to be in Montreal performing with Marie Chouinard. We don't see much of each other these days but when we do it's as though little time has passed which says to me that our bond is strong.

This picture was taken at the "W" Hotel. I met Kafi when I was doing the Lion King. She is a talented dancer with a beautiful spirit. I wouldn't say we were ever really close when we worked together. And while I lived in New York she was performing on Broadway in Bombay Dreams. But New York has a way of keeping everyone busy and I never really saw her while I was there. She was on tour with Cirque du Soleil's Delirium and was only in Montreal for a short while to learn Dralion. I remember that when we met up for dinner, I had party all night (and all morning) so I was pretty shot. But it was so great to speak with her and share everything we had gone through over the last five years. We only had the opportunity to hang out twice while she was here but it was really special for me to hang out with her. In this picture she's with her friend Anika.

"Go Alouettes!" Marie-Eve, Julie and my sis Liz watching and away game. I am so excited to spin for the Gey Cuy this year!

Steve Lawler @ Tribe Hyperclub.What can I say? I was so excited to see him spin in Montreal. I was disappointed that I couldn't make it to Toronto to see him spin at Guvernment but his set at Tribe was on point and everyone was feeling the vibe. Good night.

This man is my heart. Brendan and I don't speak that much anymore which is why it meant so much to me that he texted me while he was in Montreal for an audition. We got to hang out a little bit and catch up which was beyond special to me. We just hung out, walked around, chatted and ate. I love this guy.

Hanging out with Mistaya in Old Port Prior to this photo being taken I made Mistaya try on a pair of Crocs that we both agreed were the ugliest things on the planet. The minute she tried them on her entire expression changed. "Mark, you don't understand. They are SO ugly. But I feel like I'm walking on clouds." We have a date to go to the Crocs store to buy a pair. Don't tell anyone.

On a rainy day in August, this many people and then some congregated to Parc Jean Drapeau to watch one of the best bands on the earth, Radiohead. I admit, I don't know their new album very well. And even though it was raining and everyone's shoes were covered in mud, nothing beats hearing Thom Yorke sing Fake Plastic Trees while Fireworks were going off in the distance for the final night of the Festival of Lights. Coincidence? I think not. An amazing moment of the Summer.
My sister, Frances who came with me to the concert





Of course I wish there were many more days to just hang out with friends and explore the city but even just looking at the pictures makes me think that I had a pretty good summer overall. I did have a chance to go to Toronto for a few days (which I will blog about soon, I hope!) and me and my sister just moved to a new apartment. All in all I am still enjoying my life here in Montreal. Of course it has its ups and downs but more often than not I feel extremely blessed. I can't wait to see what the next few months brings...

(thank you all for being patient with my blog. I wish I had the time to write more and I promise to do so in the future)

Divers/Cite

Montreal Pride: a little confusing.
Basically the entire month of August seems like Pride. Towards the beginning of the month are the Festivities called Divers/Cite (there's an accent on the "e" but don't know that feature on my laptop). It's a week long event celebrating diversity, particularly in the gay community, in Montreal. I assumed Divers/Cite was Montreal's Official Gay Pride but there actually is an Official Montreal Gay Pride weekend coming up which has the Parade and its own parties.

"Pierre is such a wonderful person. My sister's adore him. He was Angel on the National tour of Rent and also in Miss Saigon. When I showed him the picture of Neil Patrick Harris on the cover of OUT magazine he said, "'Oh my God, NPH. He looks so good. I should text him'. And then he did. They did Rent together in LA. I admit that I am a bit of a celebrity whore. I just think it's fierce that I know people who know famous people."

It's actually pretty cool because they close off the main street and build terraces and stages for performances. Unfortunately the weather was pretty drab this year which made it a bit lacklustre. I don't know why, but for me, it was hard to get into the spirit of things. It was yet another busy work week and I just didn't feel really pumped for pride. The great thing was my friend Pierre was in town to celebrate and the last time I saw him was early in the winter. Pierre has been living abroad teaching english in Hungary so it was nice to have him in Montreal to catch up.

"gay day in Montreal: don't forget your umbrella"

Our gay adventures were pretty tame. I kept my DJ gig at Typhoon Saturday night so the following afternoon we headed into the Village to meet up with some of Pierre's friends who were also in town celebrating. It was pretty grey out so there probably wasn't as many people walking the streets as per previous years but we headed over to the tea dance to party on the street. At the Tea Dance I saw a lot of familiar faces I couldn't seem to place. Are you from Toronto? New York? Did I see you at Stereo? So many people. The music was what was to be expected. High Energy, pumping tribal, with some diva vocals. Hands were raised in the air, cuties were gliding around in Dolce sunglasses and there were plenty of misfits to critique and judge."tea dance "
My sister, dancing amongst the 'mos.

This pretty much carried on well into the evening when Pierre and his old roommate and friend Brian (along with his partner, Martin) headed out to the D/C after party. I'll try not to bore you with too many details of the party. I'm falling asleep just thinking about what I want to write about it.

It's not that the event was terrible. It was just sort of generic (for a gay party). Firstly, the party was to have happened at Stereo but that club survived a fire about a month before Divers/Cite so they changed the venue to the Telus Theatre, which was pretty much a regular theatre with the seats taken out and everyone facing the DJ on the stage. Architecture and Design play such an important part in a really successful club experience. Friends went to the same venue for a different party a few nights earlier and their comment was, "it felt like you were dancing in the bottom of an empty pool". I couldn't have agreed more. A Theatre is a poor substitute for a Club Space. Clubs are about diversion and entertainment. Great clubs are either dark, seedy, sweaty black boxes with intense lighting or there filled with colourful corridors, dark-lit corners, seating and roped off VIP sections. Going to the bathroom, though annoying at times, is also an adventure in and of itself. Good Clubs have levels, have shape, have character. We were dancing in a pure, square space. And there was nowhere for us to hide or go but stand still and stare at the DJ.

This would have been okay had the DJs been interesting or worthy of commanding such attention. Again, they weren't bad. They did their jobs and they did them well. They played all the right tracks (I suppose) but they just didn't really build any moments that were memorable. Building a night takes control. It's about creating a vibe, an atmosphere. The few times I was fortunate to go to the Roxy in New York (I was also there for the closing) for the most part, no matter who was on the decks, at around six or seven in the morning the mood of that space became different. The music shifted slightly. It was though the night was slowly building to a high energy, tribal heavy, crescendo and then out of nowhere it slinked its way into something darker, dirtier even, and downright sexy. At the D/C after party I was kind of waiting for the moment to arrive. Perhaps I didn't wait long enough to see it happen (Pierre and I hopped into a cab at around six in the morning) but after about twenty minutes of listening to the headlining DJ I kind of felt like I knew what kind of music I was going to hear for the next three hours and I felt ready to go. It only made me even more aware of how much my priorities have changed. Yes, I still like to go out but music plays such an important part of the experience. I didn't find the music inspiring nor the crowd. Mediocre space, mediocre music, mediocre crowd (myself included). Three strikes and it was time to get out.

What really made that weekend special for me was the following night when Pierre, Brian, Martin and I went to a lovely restaurant in Old Montreal called Chez L'Epicerie. I would never consider myself a cuisinista or Foodie. I would see people all the time in New York City get all decked out for a night of eating and think to myself, "how fun could that be?" But honestly, that meal was probably the most fun I had that whole Pride weekend. The meal was fantastic, the service was prompt and our food runner was Wallpaper-magazine-cute. Yet another sign that perhaps I am getting a little older and appreciating some of the finer things in life like a great meal amongst good friends. If I had to pick between my meal at Chez L'Epicerie or the D/C After-Party as to what brought more joy and inspiration to my life, hands down: Duo seafood of Scallops and Lobster tail on a bed of diced sweet potatoes with oven-roasted cloves of garlic.
"Martin, Brian and Pierre"

Where I am...

the day I injured my knee at the Cirque du Soleil audition I came home with this.


I carry this little saying in my wallet that my sister bought for me in Australia when she first started touring with Cirque Du Soleil ten years ago. It reads: Wherever you are in this moment is exactly where you are supposed to be, no matter how things may seem to appear.

Funny how time flies when you're having fun. The summer seems to be moving in lightning speed and yet ironically I feel I have created the time to really enjoy it for once. A lot has happened since my birthday.

I auditioned for Cirque du Soleil but didn't make the final cut. It was something I half expected and to be honest it came as somewhat of a relief. It's true I may still have a semblance of a dancer body but I am not nearly as fit or as committed to dance as I used to be. I still love it. I still hope to be onstage one day. But I think the "toe shoes" are finally finding a resting place in my closet, possibly for good. In my own way I've sort of made some peace with my own limitations as a dancer. I think what's difficult at times is the fact that people are still drawn to that label and still see me as a dancer. First and foremost I've always believed that I am an Artist. A human being born to create and manifest into this world a sense of joy and inspiration. How I choose to be a creative force in this world is up to me.

Dance will never leave me. Not entirely. It's the one thing I have devoted such a significant amount of time to. I imagine it's like people who go through military training. I don't think that ever leaves you. The way I relate to people, how I view the world, how I problem solve all stems from my life as a dancer. When I DJ I dance. It's hard to imagine that I will ever stop, whether I am in Cirque du Soleil or on Broadway or not.

I just finished completing my Landmark Advanced Course. I have one more part of the curriculum to finish what Landmark calls The Curriculum for Living. I have never been to University so this is the closest thing I have to that sort of experience. I remember when I first wanted to do the Advanced course. It was still cold out and I was writing in my journal telling myself, "how am I ever going to afford this course? I have no money." And the more I kept writing these negative self-defeating comments down on paper it finally hit me. If I keep identifying myself as a broke artist, as someone who never has money to accomplish his dreams, then I will forever be the broke artist with no money who can never accomplish his dreams. And right then and there I knew it had to change. So I went home and told my sister, "Liz, you work in finance. This is how much money I make bi-weekly. I want to take this course and I want a new laptop. I want you to help me create a budget so I can do that." I put my pride aside and we came up with a plan to put my life in action. And by the time the Advanced Course came, I had my money.

I'm not going to harp on Landmark. I know the kinds of good and bad press it gets. I sometimes joke and say that Suri Cruise was our keynote speaker just to loosen the ice. The first thing I want to say is that no one needs Landmark. People lead perfectly fine lives without Landmark. It pretty much teaches what anyone with any sort of spiritual inclination already knows. If you've read Tuesdays with Morrie or A New Earth or The Four Agreements you can pretty much understand what the whole idea for The Curriculum For Living is all about. All I can say is that it's given me a greater sense of who I am and the life I wish to create. It's intense at times, it requires a lot of listening and a lot of letting go. But it's one of the best gifts I have ever given myself.

When I left New York City I didn't know what had become of me. I spent four years with a person that I loved and wanted to build a life with but found the life I was creating for myself was full of suffering and strife. I didn't like who I had become. I had lost my way. I couldn't even afford to leave New York. A friend paid for my bus ride to Montreal and another friend gave me some pocket cash. I came to Montreal totally and completed demolished. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I left everything in New York. There was no fight left in me to even discuss taking whatever I thought was rightfully mine. Sub-consciously I think I knew that the only important thing I needed was myself. And the sooner I took myself out of that environment the better off I'd be.

I think a lot of Artists can have such a debilitating view of themselves. I've been totally guilty of self-sabotage and doubt. There are still times when I DJ and think, "I am such a fake. Sooner or later people are going to realize that I have no idea what I am doing." As a DJ duo in NYC I relied on my partner on everything. He created our sound, our style. I allowed myself to be overpowered by him. He's a brilliant man and a brilliant DJ. I am totally confident that he will go far in anything he desires to do. But I never held that same kind of belief in myself.

It's been nine months since I left that world I created in NYC. And in nine months I have created a new world for myself. I gave birth to a beautiful DJ set up. It's not fancy, it has no bells and whistles but it allows me to beat match and cross fade and that, to me, means the world. My job gave me a raise to acknowledge the hard work I have done at the restaurant which I accepted graciously. And a place that I had given my Mix CD to back in the winter took another listen mid-summer and decided that I might be a good candidate for their bar after all. I've been spinning at Typhoon Lounge for over a month both on Thursdays and Saturdays. I've given myself the title of "glorified I-pod" but to be honest I really love being at Typhoon. It allows me the freedom to practice, to share my love of music and to just have fun. So I'm not a big House DJ in Ibiza yet spinning in front of thousands of people. But for the first time I truly believe that I am indeed a DJ.

when I first got here I gave my mix CD to a guy who runs one of the most succesful spaces in Montreal and he said, "I like your mix. It's a little too mellow for what we do here but it's good." Months later I started to intern for GOTSOUL, a very successful deep house label created by International DJ Jojo Flores. when they listened to the same mix they said, "We like it. You mix really well. But it's a little too hard, too commercial for what we do". And you know what? I really liked those comments because it made me realize, I might be doing something different here. Something unique. Montreal loves Electronic Music. There is a home for every genre in this city. And I am positive there will be a home for an awesome Tech-House DJ such as myself. You heard it here first people...

Guitar Heroes

The Jazz festival sort of escaped me this year. It's such a highlight in Montreal and I've had so much fun at the Festival in the past. I did manage to take in a few things sort of in passing. But I did plan on seeing one concert in advance. It was suggested that I go see a duo called Rodrigo y Gabriela and just from the description this guy gave of them I was definitely interested. Mistaya's boyfriend Fred actually worked on the Festival this year so me and Kendra were able to go for free which was awesome.

I knew a little about Rodrigo y Gabriela because I checked them out on youtube before. What I loved about the performance was that it was simple in presentation but dynamic and infectious and totally inspiring. These two people just love playing guitar, they're good at it and they want to share with the world what they're passionate about.

I loved how they weren't really playing to each other. They sat side by side most of the time but they played as individuals and yet their music was always in synch and supportive of one another. Gabriela does a lot of the bass driven, percussive rhythms and Rodrigo does incredible finger work and melodies and together they play at record breaking tempos. It's just so amazing to watch two people who are genuinely good at their craft. The energy they gave off was truly humbling. There was no bullshit to their performances. They simply came out and did a wonderful show for the audience at Place des Arts. Amazing.