Thursday, December 18, 2008

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

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

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.