Live Entertainment Venues drop like the Celebs of 2016

Aurora Winter Blues Festival All Star performers 2015 Sean Pinchin, Conor Gains, Paul Deslauriers

Are smaller live entertainment venues going by way of the dinosaur? It seems possible, based on the closures of so many G.T.A. live venues. Mainstays like Hugh's Room and even the El Mocambo, once untouchable, and where the Rolling Stones once played unannounced, are throwing in the towels it would seem and of course flagship never-a-cover, Gasworks, is long gone, as is Club Blue Note. Even Toronto's Hard Rock Cafe doesn't host live bands anymore while longtime venues like Yorkville's The Pilot and TO's The Silver Dollar are still around but are they thriving enough to resist the condo brigade from moving in on them too eventually?

Today's youth often embrace Hip Hop's Electro beats

A recent visit to another longtime Toronto live act venue, The Birchmount Tavern, saw a sparse crowd to take in often really good rockin' talent for no cover. If this is the support these performers are getting regularly it could be a death knell there as well. I do know a longtime sound and lighting guy is no longer an in-house luxury there, perhaps the first casualty of their live rock and roll war. Click here to check out TPE's video visit.

TP with Paul Deslauriers Band Video footage here

The owners of Toronto live act venue The Rock Pile - 2 locations - know the haydays of live bands, along with throngs of attendees, are gone, yet continue to run their venues anyway and you have to respect that. The former owners of the infamous 3 floor bar at Queens St W, The Big Bop, are theme oriented too and so a cool spot, with a good stage and plenty of seating for a show - but again, much of the onus is on the promoters to bring people in, as there is not a regular bar crowd per say. Each show being an independent one put on by the acts. Click here to check out TPE's visit to The Rock Pile.

El NO Mo'cambo

Even in smaller towns that once sported live entertainment in almost every venue, it's getting harder to find bars featuring live acts, and certainly beyond just having just locals play. Even the venue operators these days seem to leave all the promo work to the bands, acts, and promoters making it even harder to get people out or aware. Often the venue will also "pay" you the door - that you have to man to collect - and perhaps a cut of sales which never seem to add up to much.


On New Year's Eve the event we promoted offered great, live ambient entertainment during dinner & later a DJ, a 5 course meal, bar inclusive at $75, and it was still tough to get people out! It certainly would have been both cheaper and easier using "canned" music but some appreciate live, and it's they who the eve was targeted. Click here to check out great live ambience highlights from New Year's.

Imagine no live music....

Sure, we have internet means and Face Book to get the word out nowadays - but they don't always transform people from their seats at home to seats in the establishments. And these days they can get some video footage often from a show or event they are missing or missed.

That said, perhaps there are ways we can better use technology to entice bar and event / venue operators, to want to accommodate live music by perhaps additionally selling on-line live streaming to live shows using stationary in-house video cameras. Do it right, and this could be extra revenue streaming in potentially from around the world. They can set it up or promoters can and give them a cut, whatever works best in each case. Make it simple to tune in @ $5 a pop or monthly fees for unlimited live shows viewing. TPE currently records performances for perhaps future use or viewing on one of our on-line shows like I Really Am Tom, but I believe revenue from "attendees" not present could go a long way to supporting acts / venues to stay operating in the future.

Upcoming Not-To-be-Missed Live Events

Thursday Night Jams at Birchmount Tavern, Scarborough

Upcoming, there are a few live venue shows in the G.T.A. that I'm looking forward to, one being at the Horseshoe Tavern on Wed Feb 22, 2017 with The Marcus King Band featuring US guitar wunderkind Marcus King and the other being The Sixth Annual Aurora Winter Blues Festival, just north of the city along Yonge St., and running Feb 4, 24 ( Legendary Downchild Blues Band) & 25th 2017.... And keep checking in with TPE as we have some live shows in the works and live shows to announce and the Great Valentines Day give-away. TPE video clip AWB Festival past.

Stay in the loop on TPE Face Book.

Tom out

Homeless York Region Family gets full treatment

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well let's hope they don't mean that literally. That was the worry of a York Region family to be, young mom pregnant with child and concerned dad to be trying his best to find a solution to them being homeless while retaining control of their and their baby to come's lives.

He'd come 'home" from working out west with good intentions, getting his Georgina girlfriend pregnant was a byproduct but just one his fathers spouse was not willing to also take on, so the couple and their cat found themselves suddenly homeless with her pregnant and them unable to stay anywhere but a forest after being turned away from a shelter. That's where I found them "arguing". In a location a stones throw from a busy plaza.

At first I couldn't make out the yelling I was hearing as I couldn't see who was talking but the brunt seemed being flung towards a 'homeless looking' from someone up the forest area and by the look at the guy's face his girlfriend. The guy stood half in and out of the tree grove while another woman stood half in and out of her car, standing in silence between outbursts from the forest and as I overheard a bit more, I offered that maybe I could be of assistance and told him a little about my self at which point the semi-standing lady, now fully out of her car, was addressing me,

"Are you Tom Pearson? I'm Jane Haslam".

 Jane, of course, the Homelessness Prevention worker for the Salvation Army, central York Region.

" Oh, you're Jane. Hi!", I replied. Or something to that effect. The situation suddenly making sense.

 " No way!" I heard from the forest, " I'm not going anywhere where they'll take my baby. And what about my cat. Nobody will take my cat!"

Cat rescue puts mom and dad to be at rest

So with the nod of approval from 'dad' I waded in past a sign declaring " Hobo community. Hobos only!

" She made that", the young man offered, half reading my mind.

Then, in a subsequent discussing on the situation with the distraught mom to be and after I mentioned they would be eligible for emergency funds for food even if her spouse was waiting for a paycheque so they could eat....and which Ms. Haslam offered up she just happened to know exactly where the person from the Region who is the field worker to arrange this and where she was! So the plan became was she was going to go find her while I stayed and allayed and put out some calls for help.

The temporary homeless compound they'd set up was complete with tent in a spot long used for those in the know, once the 'home" to a former gold glove boxing champ, John Fletcher who died an alcoholic and homeless in Newmarket in June of 2011. That little patch in the grove of trees had been his home for a number of years. going inside to couch surf or into a shelter when it got really cold.Surely we've learned lessons from john and others' deaths? This family to be deserved a better fate, two weeks in tropic-like hot temperatures with no shower access was plenty enough.

I let her know we'd find a place to take her cat temporarily - which Jane arranged as well - and that we'd get them into a shelter together today. Which was done - even a cab there, and all handled with dignity. As for the young man involved, I was very impressed by his resolve to be with her and stay by her side despite being ostracized by his own family for doing so. He also seemed resilient, although perhaps hungry.

The community workers hadn't been aware of this spot, although truth be known its seems more a stopover spot mostly these days, another on the fringe type guy showing up after their cab had left, his spot in the shade reserved for sipping his drink of choice in the hiddens of the foliage den.


Ironically I'd only wandered back there to kill time while awaiting a meeting to find new landlords for a home that assists those with addictions or mental health that was just up the street. When I returned from said meeting with ice caps, Elizabeth Pepin, Outreach worker for York Region, and Jane Haslam were also arriving - all the arrangements all ready wrapped up in a neat, dignified bow.

The cat sanctuary lady also showed up as it all went down and we thanked her for her efforts including getting free shots for the family feline.


Even a family of what appeared to be ground hogs, babies too, were wondering about in the compound, almost too close, perhaps used to being fed by humans. Whatever the case, the human ones have a much better chance now, and having been homeless, do indeed move up somewhat on the waiting list for assisted housing.

And so there it is the happy ending. ( Insert happy faces and hearts here) Back pats to all.... 

But wait!

Always a but with me isn't there?

Here's my but. What happens in 6 weeks after their stay time in the shelter is up and they don't find a place they can yet afford? It's not like Y.R. is ripe full of rental housing, with one of the lowest per capita stock in the entire country. Does C.A.S. move in at that point and make a liar out of me, starting a "file' before the baby is even born to these two victims of circumstance?
\
But you said earlier it moved them up in priority on the waiting list for housing!

Yes I did, but moving up can mean going from 8 years to 4 years...who knows?

Is there anything that can be done about getting the Homeless in York region a higher priority on this waiting list?

This location is currently vacant and ideal for housing 15 residents

Yes! Aside from the obvious of actually building more affordable housing, I believe actually it can be done simply through changing a YR housing policy which does not need governmental approval. York Region was once bound by a trade-off agreement with Toronto for some social services pooling dollars which we fought successfully to have returned. Remnants of that deal, which is accepting of G.T.A. residents awaiting housing or shelters on the same priority list as those who live in Y.R. and no priority to local residents.

This means that a person or family in Scarborough or even Ottawa can be ahead of a mother who lives or even grew up in YR yet we do not have the sane exchange of residents being placed into Toronto housing stock. There was a time when York Region housing was obligated to offer this, as funding had been tied to it, but with that no longer being the case, I see no benefit to York Region residents to continue such a system - and especially those who have lived and paid taxes and supported the communities for many years, hoping against hope, that one day they can live without fear of homelessness. All the housing help centres in the world won't help us if we have no where to place them into afterward.

"Shelters are not homes. They are part of the recycling system"

Tom Pearson

Pan Am Games Torch Bearing hits Newmarket

Photo by Glenn Rodger Photography

Anticipation had been building up in my friend Danny Philion as the date to the torch bearing ceremony approached. He was confused about what would take place at the Riverwalk Commons in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada prior to his nearby torch leg, but still, he could hardly hide his excitement with it all. Well wishers from everywhere have been greeting him since word got out, with congratulations and the like pouring in like love letters to Bobby Sherman. I think the topper for him was all the supporters that braved the rain and called his name out on the street as he "legged" his part in his wheelchair.

 Afterward, Dan soaked in the atmosphere at Riverwalk Commons, Newmarket's now unofficial town square where the O.L.G. rolled out its slick Pan Am machine, including a mobile stage emblazoned with large flat-screens showing the stage talent which had included everything from aboriginal to U2 cover to Juno Award winners, an array of interactive games depicting Pan Am Games events, and even bingo!

Then, the final torch bearer, Donald Bond, a long time Newmarket volunteer, made his way into the square, slogging his way towards lighting the ceremonial Pan Am Games torch set onstage as the crowd buzzed with excitement, surprisingly, myself included as I caught glimpse of the older gent wading his way seemingly through a sea of equally enthralled, mostly Newmarket, residents.

 I've been a volunteer in Newmarket for over 40 years. I do recommend it. Donald Bond Photo below by Glenn Rodger Photography


I'd sort of promised the OLG media people I'd remain in the media area to capture the final runner and interview him for YOURKnews & Events right after which I did. Prior, I'd also been briefly, accidentally steered into the sandwiches and goodies area for about 5 minutes ( Mmm the freakin' butter tarts were great!), then allowed to keep my food when semi sheepishly informed it was for stage talent only. Ha....After that, I "wangled" my way into the torchbearer briefing area, stating I was Dan's helper, which i did help him to get there, but his sister had arrived by then and I hadn't noticed she was sitting in until I got inside and it had begun. Gulp. Shhhh!

At any rate, it gave me an opportunity to hear first hand how each participant got to be torchbearers. A mixed bag of nominees and applicants it seemed but with one common thread, that of commitment to community, or nominated as such, each now etched in history, but each proud to be one.

Dan in his glory

Dan, I knew, had loved taking part , particularly the opportunity to make people laugh and to try out his latest "sit down comedy" routines on his largest continual audience ever.


" It was great, I'd do it again tomorrow no problem, if I could. I really enjoyed it" Dan Philion

Tweet this #@%&! Online Bullying a Political Affair

Learn something new everyday. Recently I released a short, mostly humorous piece around local issues, having noticed through social media that some had a hard time understanding which government body or person to call for various issues. One I noticed was someone who was advised online to contact their MP about garbage issues. So the video contained info about who you would call for certain issues and has fun with it a bit.

Ombudsman Andre Marin

While communicating that message through the unique delivery style, unlike you'd get everywhere else, I also added the fact that an area ward meeting was being held that night, and that it could get interesting as it marked a return of Maddie Dimuccio to address an issue, which I had heard was the case. My pre-meeting piece featured a short 3 second clip of her making a statement - which I had on file from covering the Ombudsmans visit - I thought was covered quite neutrally, considering it was a PACC report, yet it must have displeased her highness, blasting me on social media for "speaking for her". Huh?

"No one speaks for me!" she posted out with a picture that referred to me personally as a Bitch.

"You must be a fan Bitch" her rant continued...and on...Asking me to move on, yet continuing to 'insult bait". This, over 3 seconds of footage of her making a normal statement on an issue. I didn't even spoof her which is oh, so tempting. Gulp. I'd hate to see her really mad. A mad Maddie!

Name withheld by request

In the morning I noticed her minions had added their jabs and pokes and "likes', with Dimaggio also trying to ridicule me for my Twitter following numbers. I do Tweet, but not obsessively, and our strategy is to place relevant content online where it can easily be found, whether through direct link placement or natural searches as our stuff dominates key word searches and we have over 100,000 total views now through our various channels to prove it, but I wasn't going to get into explaining that to someone who only seems to know real time Twitter and FB attacks on others as a means of online strategy.

If one expects to be in the public light, one should expect a little attention now and then and I'm afraid she'll need a much thicker skin for anyone actually gunning for her. Christine Elliot didn't complain about her PACC report coverage.

No complaints from this classy lady

I was no "fan", in fact I don't believe in the whole 'fan" idea, don't get gaga over play actors and have interviewed many. But I wasn't against her either when I first started hearing about and following the various seemingly outrageous stories about her behaviour while Councillor and even beyond. In fact, as more piled on her, the more I thought she may deserve some slack. They seemed the bullies. Hey, what can I say, I'm a sucker for the bad girls I guess, but heck enough's enough.

Attempting to alienate someone through name calling and bullying online won't win me over that's for sure and I'm sure others have felt the same - likely why she was soundly defeated in the municipal ward 6 of Newmarket. I used to think she might have been misunderstood. Now I just think Dimagine-o is just quackers.

I don't like bullies. I've seen them all, and from tougher places than she's ever been.


Later,

Tom

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2015 Aurora Blues Fest coverage in York Region

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