Seeking "alternative" talent

[Stacy]

I'm in the early stages of recruiting talent for a large number of club gigs in support of a product launch. Cities include Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

What I know at this point:
"Alternative" acts are sought for a blow their socks off event to remember. Dates and venues will be confirmed 45 days out, and appropriate talent booked. The plan is to develop a core talent roster and provide performers with as many repeat gigs as possible. Also on the roster will be dancers, DJs and host/hostesses.

Audience is an invited, targeted demographic.

Exact fee per gig is not yet confirmed, but naturally all travel and accommodation expenses (if applicable) are extra. Per diems will be provided for performers required to travel.

What I need from interested performers:
- description of act (video is mandatory; client will be screening shortlisted submissions)
- length of act
- space and technical requirements
- what you travel with (gear, props etc)
- desired fee for evening gig (performances will take place between 9pm and 1am) AND travel day fee

Send info to:
High Strung
89 Bowmore Rd
Toronto, ON M4L 3J1

or email info@highstrung.ca with questions. Thanks!

[scot]

Thanks for posting on Performers.net. It would be helpful to us if you were to post more about what kind of acts you need (musical, silent, circus, etc.); what demographic on which you are focussing; and how much time you require filled.

[martin ewen]

Scot..come over here..Take my hand...No it's OK..
now the type of act thats been described as being wanted is 'Alternative' which is helpful because its actually quite close to the front of the dictionary and should save you time.
Another hidden clue is that they are club gigs which suggests that if your act consists of making tunes derived from amplifying the sounds of pins dropping then this might not be an easy gig.
The mention of DJ's and dancers also subtily tells us that the event will be one of many focus's, multi-focused if you like. Things that get on with each other, like dancers and dj's aaannd?....?
[scot] "Um, Something visual?"
Thats very perceptive.
Now..."what demographic on which you are focussing."
Scot this is an ugly sentence, it obscures whatever beauty you may possess as a person and its sentences of this magnitude of uglyness that might be responsible for your lack of employment.
You've left out who , how and when but I understand your asking the question, "who goes to nightclubs?"
Marketings a funny thing, manys the evening we could sit around howling together about marketing scot.
Those marketing people might be shallow (poor them eh scot) but they're not stupid.
They tend to try and capture markets rather than invent new ones.
However this could be one of those rare instances where a demographicly 'youthful' venue is used to herd wheelchair bound geriatrics together to plug incontinance trousers. ah ha I said 'plug' I made a little joke.
Finally you address the length of the show, mmmmmm. Lets guess together.
An hour?
[scot] probably too long
45 minutes?
[scot] thats still pretty long for a nightclub
30 minutes?
[scot] I'd say something a lot shorter than that, like around 5/10/max 15/supermax 20.
mmmmm. You may have answered your own question there scot.
Now off you go you young scamp and remember.
"jesus saves...although Jews traditionally invest."

(might be hard to see from your angle but nothing personal, sometimes I just need to practice)

[scot]

Thank you, Martin.

You are right.

Scot

[Rex Boyd]

Martin that is the funniest posting I have ever seen on p.net while at the same time I am sure that it is pretty close to spot on about what the gig involves.

Cheers,

Rex

[Dan The One Man Band]

" Gee, I'm glad I didn't ask a stupid question like Scot did, he's an idiot".

Martin, I find your reply funny as well, and I often find your posts funny. (I had a good laugh about the "Jet Ski" post)
That said, I couldn't help thinking that it is posts like yours that keep "guests" from ever becoming "members".
You scare them into not signing up and saying their opinion. They're afraid of writing a stupid post, and you making "impersonal" attacks on them.

I know it doesn't stop some people, but who are these "guests" that never sign up? and why don't they sign up?

You scare them off!

Not everyone is as smarte as you!


DTOMB

[pablo]

Martin didn't scare me off, and he's welcome to write whatever he wants. A good performer can handle a few hecklers.

[Peter Voice]

Dan, have you seen Martin perform?

[Rich Potter]

I am afraid

I personally am afraid to post anything on this website for fear of writing something stupid and laying myself prone to the rapier-like tongue lashings of a man who makes his living with his mouth shut.

I wouldn't want to appear stupid.

--Rich

P.S. I have to cut this short because I have to get to the bank to wire $8,000 to a man in Nigeria who wants to share $68 million with me. He says if I wire it by midnight, my penis will grow by 2 inches (on average).

[Dan The One Man Band]

My point

This thread is supposed to be about Stacy looking for alternative acts for Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

My point was more to do with people who visit p.net but never post, or never join. I wondering why they don't. I figure it must be fear. We know they're out there...

But again, this thread is about Stacy looking for alternative acts.

This whole thing started by Scot asking some moronic questions.

DTOMB

[martin ewen]

Yes it could be fear although to fear looking stupid is itself a sign of intelligence (grasshopper)
Maybe its just the natural tendancy people have of having little to add.
Maybe the really stupid people have supervision and aren't allowed to post. (nah)
Maybe the really bright people have better things to do, richer lives that preclude 'Hanging out' on an online BB thats full of twaddle (guilty) with the occaisional joke or spat or job prospect.
Maybe this BB is just plain boring to the majority and interesting only to a minority with little else to do.
Maybe apart from conversational leeching people might consider what, if anything , they can offer the site rather than bemoaning that which isn't.

If I am in fact scaring people away then at the very least I expect some gratitude.
Easily frightened people tend not to expose themselves to discerning crowds. If they want to start here then I'm doing them and us all a favor.
Before ridicule I usually ask myself these questions.
Am I funny?
Will they survive with humour?
I love it if I can pull both off but sometimes 50% is better than nothing.
I admired scots sidestep.
This topic is effective only in that people are free to e-mail the person concerned. Gig posting people don't do their business in public, they post then wait to see if its an effective forum. If you havn't understood them then thats not really their problem. Those that e-mail them are the people they deal with.
(PS I've got the job had it the day after the post)
But there are still positions available!!

[Daniel Zindler]

How did you already get work from Stacy's clients? From what I gathered after having talking with her on the phone is that she hasn't even introduces any performance to the client that is holding the events across Canada. There is no date, no set location yet. So how did you get work a day after her post? Just wonder, am I mistaken?

[martin ewen]

Short answer... I lied
Long answer. I know Tracy, we worked together at the Just for Laughs fest this year, she met my partner and the kids (one of whom got busted for shoplifting while there, I mean, who would think a surly pimply 14 year old with a mohawk would do anything anti-social once they walked into your shop?
He's since had his hair and legs removed)
We have communicated and things may or may not progress.
I lied.
I will undoubtedly lie again.
This post itself is suspect.
I love you all.