Festivals & Event "Web World Strategies"

Interview with Mr. Shawn King
Web World Strategies

Part 2 - The Importance of a Good Website
for Festivals and Events

A few festivals/events do not have websites, which I think is a big mistake. With those that do have websites, some are very difficult to maneuver through and lack important information, such as contact names and phone numbers, while others are very welcoming for their visitors. I asked Shawn King why he felt having a Good Website was important for Festivals/Events. He answer, summarized … “EXPOSURE”!  "A website might attract stable clients, clients that know about your Festival/Event. With an aging clientele your website visitors may decrease.  A poor website will not attract new clients unless referral by word-of- mouth. Shawn tells us “that it is vital to attract new clients/visitors to your website! Through our Social Media World today “Exposure” is the “Virtual Bible”! You need to be seen in the millions/billions of choices out there”.

I have my own opinions as to what constitutes a Good Website, but I wanted to know from Shawn what he felt made a Good Website. Again, Shawn was concise with his response … “How clearly and how quickly it emphasis’s its point!”  "If you are searching for a Festival/Event to attend and you use a search engine (like Google) to find it, and it takes too long, you may give up looking. You may see other Festivals/Events listed on the first few pages that may catch your attention and choose attend them instead. Even with the fast speed of our information highways today, people do not have a lot of time or patience to look for things. If you don’t catch the attention of a client/visitor to your Website in 7 seconds, you have lost them. Shawn said “Speed is no longer really a case now, unless you are in a foreign remote country”. Dial-Up- Rural is what it is and is getting left behind”

(To Be Continued)

Festival & Event "Web World Strategies"

Interview with Mr. Shawn King
Web World Strategies

Introduction written by Judi McWilliams

Ontario Visited - Part 1

During high school, I was fortunate to have had “Typing 101” as my introduction to what today are computers. I had an amazing teacher who encouraged the students by supplying the “fastest typing row of students” with a large Laura Secord Chocolate Bar. I became so fast at typing that the other students in the class fought to sit in my row, because they knew I was going to win the competition and they would receive the chocolate bar too. In college, my two year course was called “Computer Science”. I called it a glorified secretary course, (secretaries now referred to as Executive Assistants). Back in the day, typewriters used ribbons, hand pushed return handles, black carbon paper, rice paper copies and more. During college, we progressed to what I would liken to an “x-ray” type of memory. It was an unprotected piece of flat “x-ray like” item inserted into the “computer”. We had to share this memory stick with the entire class. Back in the day, I could type (correctly) about 96 words per minute. I wonder today, if “spell check” would correct any errors and make me even faster? Today, of course, there are clouds, chips, discs, and items I can’t even begin to comprehend. Technology though, is what is keeping Ontario Visited and our various websites “linked” to our visitors and organizers of the fantastic festivals and events throughout Ontario. Our website has grown over the years and now attracts over 400,000 web Festival and Event visitors per year.

Today, I am fortunate to share with you some SCOOP from a leading “expert” in the “Web World Strategies”! These next few INSIDE SCOOP blogs will focus on Festivals and Events websites. Shawn King has been a colleague of Gary’s and mine for about 5 years. He was willing to share some of his years of experience with us.  I was able to ask questions about WEBSITES… the IMPORTANCE of WEBSITES for FESTIVALS & EVENTS, WEB OPTIMIZATION and much more!

(To Be Continued)  

Special Anecdote from Jan Bonhomme ...

Jan Bonhomme
Executive Birector
St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance
Experienced, Insighful, Knowledgeable and fun!

Finally, it would make sense, that since during the course of the year I have been collecting some "special anecdotes" to publish...that with Jan’s vast experience, I was sure she would have something she would like to share with us in our THE INSIDE SCOOP special “anecdote” section … and of course she did … “I have learned that as event organizers we take our event and its activities much more serious than our visitors do. They come for the unusual experience, to spend valuable time with their families/friends in a fun way, and to try a new activity. With this in mind, I changed all of our event contests to activities instead. Contests mean judges, prizes, unhappy parents and/or kids. Why do that to yourself as an event leader? By changing your contests into participating activities where everyone gets a ribbon – you keep costs down and management headaches to a minimum. We changed our scarecrow making, seed spitting, watermelon eating etc. contests into family activities and our numbers went up and challenges down! Another thing I have learned is to never say why but why not! When African Lion Safari contacted Pumpkinfest to say they wanted to bring their elephants to our event, my first reaction was what do elephants have to do with our event. But then I started thinking “pumpkins so big we need elephants “and Pumpkinfest goes wild. Instead of saying no to all the stuff that comes out of elephants, why not sell their waste as a new type of manure for our pumpkin growers. Over the years, the elephants have added a wonderful experience for young visitors with not only the rides but the popular elephant tug-a-war. And last but not least, elephants eat pumpkins whole just like we would eat a chocolate bar – it’s one of their favourite foods – who knew!”

Stratageis in Obtaining & Keeping Sponsors

Jan Bonhomme
Executive Director
St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance

The Festival Nomad and I have seen some very successful festivals/events that take the time to properly acknowledge their sponsors. The Railway Chocolate Festival in Smith Falls is a perfect example of this. They have professional signs for their sponsors all along the rails at the boardwalk by the waterway. These signs are in clear view for all visitors and participants to see. During these times of economical challenges that we are experiencing today, I wondered if Jan had any strategies in obtaining and keeping sponsors, and, how do you acknowledge their support? Jan shares with us … “My experience has taught me to treat your sponsor like a partner. Sit down and talk to them about the event, what you are offering and what they have to balance that – is it food, clothing, equipment, people or prizes? Then work together to create some arrangement where they supply product or equipment or cash to balance one of your event needs. Let them have ownership of that aspect – they are the stage sponsor, or the tickets, or the refreshments or info booth etc. I break down the event in every possible way and find the best sponsor/partner to enhance each aspect. Therefore COMMUNICATION is the key in developing and keeping good sponsors.” For myself, I feel you should treat Sponsors like your Volunteers! Treat these folks with respect and kindness at all times.Don't forget to acknowledge them prior to, during and after your festival or event.

The Importance of Volunteers

Jan Bonhomme
Executive Director
St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance

By now, you may be aware how I myself realize and appreciate the importance of VOLUNTEERS! For many festivals and events, it is critical to have volunteers! I like to ask our leaders in this industry how many volunteers they require for their events and if they have a system in place to “keep them happy?” Jan replies… “ We truly understand the importance of volunteers especially re-enactors who give up just about every weekend, work their butts off all weekend long, sleep outside on the ground, etc. Our Flight of the Royal George signature event on the July 1st long weekend in 2012 expects to have more than 1000 re-enactors involved. Our plan is to treat them like kings not servants providing good meals, good supplies, constant support and appreciation gifts. For the IPM, we created a Volunteer headquarters for our 1500 volunteers (the Sunshine Team) where they could go to relax, get fresh food and drink, share their stories and re-group. We made sure to train, identify, cloth, feed, and thank each and everyone in a special way!” Jan is very much like-minded with me on this issue! Fortunately, for many other wonderful festivals and events, they too have the realized the importance of volunteers, and in part, how their success is based on the dedicated, hardworking, committed volunteers efforts!
(To Be Continued)

Problem Solving ...

Jan Bonhomme
Executive Director
St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance

Ms. Bonhomme is experienced, to say the least, when is comes to creating “problem solving techniques” used during a special event! (For example … weather conditions, volunteers/re-enactors/staff being absent due to unforeseen emergencies, etc.) The story she shares with us now sums it up well! … “When our event site went down in a “microburst” just hours before thousands of visitors were expected, it was a nightmare that we had to turn around quickly. Cleaning up the site and salvaging what we could became the priority – forget having tents and pretty decorations etc. However the shock and learning point that came forward a few hours later, was that our visitor was very flexible. They still came in droves, had a good time and liked our new “open air site”. Go figure after spending thousands of dollars on large tents that we learned that we didn’t have to put everything under cover which had limited the number of visitors who could see the activity. Events are meant to be outside – it’s part of the Canadian experience. Give your visitor credit that he will dress accordingly and not criticize you if the weather isn’t perfect! Learn to go with the flow and remember to keep things fun!” This is great advice! For visitors, it is right in keeping with my TIPS that I have written about over the years for festival/event goers. (You can check out my refreshed issue about the TOP 10 TIPS at http://www.ontariofestivalsvisited.ca/top10_festivaltips.html ).
(To Be Continued)

Which Way To Go ...

Jan Bonhomme
Executive Director
St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance

One of the challenges we find in visiting events, is that the town/city/location does not put out Proper Directional Signage to the event/festival site. I think organizers assume that most folks know their way around the town, however, we are usually “out-of-towners” and we often get lost. I asked Jan what she would suggest to combat this issue, and what has worked for you in the past? Her solution is fantastic! … “I have always believed in the importance of the visitor’s perspective and meeting their needs, so welcoming and directional signage is always a priority! When we opened the Special Events Resource Centre, our signage improved drastically as it doesn’t need to say Pumpkinfest washrooms or gates, it just needs to say Washrooms or Info or Parking etc. All our area events combined their signage – from large structures, to “A” frames, to prong signs and banners and now they are able to sign the whole town and highways leading in with adequate signage to leave a good visitor impression.” My thoughts also reached to the visitors to our festivals/events and I wondered if Jan had ideas about how to “Keep Things Fresh!” Ms. Bonhomme was right to the point here … “By taking what traditionally happens and adding a new spin to it each year. It might be an extra activity, a personal touch or interview, a prize or a souvenir. Take your theme and build on it!” I wanted to share my two-cents with you also on this issue. I believe that “Keeping It Fresh” is important for your volunteers and staff also, they are the key to success, and, if you keep them excited and interested, it too will go a long way in making your festival/event successful!
(To Be Continued)

Insights ...

Jan Bonhomme
Executive Director
St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance

As I mentioned, Jan is busy these days as the Executive Director of the 1812 Alliance. Her role is to co-ordinate, facilitate and support any War 0f 1812 Bicentennial activities happening in Eastern Ontario over the next few years. As you can see, Jan has been and is very successful when it comes to all aspects of our wonderful festivals/events in Ontario. I asked her if she could share some of her “secrets” with us! She tells us …“My event experience has shown me that bigger is not better – you are better to do 10 activities well than 20 not well. Other tips include the importance of keeping your event fun, family and affordable. Your theme should be front and centre in all ways so that the experience becomes memorable – the wackier the theme, the better! Finally don’t be afraid to let other non-profit groups become involved in your event – these partnerships will help your event grow to a new level and add to your volunteer base”. With all that being said, I asked Ms. Bonhomme what “the most critical step in planning an event” were… Jan replies ... “Developing your theme – not only creating an event that is unusual and special, but make sure your visitor becomes immersed in what you are selling. Colours, smells, decorations, activities, food, vendors and marketing all should showcase your theme. Never compromise your theme or dilute your package!” Wow! … I told you this would be great SCOOP! Jan Bonhomme is very generous with this article and helping us get THE INSIDE SCOOP! I wondered what Jan thought would be the largest factor in making a festival/event successful? Jan was quick with this response … “Recognizing the importance of details! Take every aspect of the event and break it down so you know who is doing what, where, when and how. Not only have all the event requirements needed but a back-up plan if someone gets sick or the weather plays havoc or someone/something doesn’t show. One of my biggest mistakes when I first started out was having too much in my head and too many people standing around waiting for me to tell them what to do. I have never wasted a volunteer’s time again. I have also lived through my event site being wiped out hours before the gates open and still managed to go forward because of planning!”
(To Be Continued)

A Whole Lot of Experience

Jan Bonhomme
Executive Director
St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance

For this INSIDE SCOOP article, I thought you would like to know a little about Jan Bonhomme, the Executive Director of the St. Lawrence 1812 Bicentennial Alliance. Jan shared with us the following, which just may be the most “insightful and useful" SCOOP you might have enjoy to date … “I have spent the past 35 years planning events and working with volunteers in every way possible and have more “getting down and dirty stories” than anyone else I have ever met. My experience has also taught me how to do a lot with very little – limited facilities, limited funding and limited volunteers – what every small town in Ontario faces when staging successful events. My first 20 years was working in municipal recreation organizing sporting tournaments, jazz recitals, beach concerts, gymnastics meets, Canada Day etc. - a good lead up to the next ten years of my career. I then became the Event Co-ordinator for our local Chamber of Commerce with Port Elgin Pumpkinfest being my main responsibility. Playing a part in that event growing from 200 to 50,000 visitors taught me so much about the value of community involvement and volunteer efforts. At the same time, I also saw the benefits of all of our community groups sharing event supplies which led me to open the first Special Events Resource Centre in the province. The success of this facility then led to a position with Festivals and Events Ontario as their Network Development Manager, going across the province providing event training, and promoting the benefits of working together regionally. While in this position, my husband retired and we moved to the other end of the province – Eastern Ontario – where I was asked to co-ordinate the International Plowing Match in 2007 that was being staged in my new home town. After three years of putting my heart and soul into that massive event, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism & Culture started planning the 1812 Bicentennial and I was approached to lead the Eastern Ontario efforts. Throughout the past 20 years though, the highlight of my career has been going into small town Ontario sites and teaching volunteers learn how to stage successful events. I have visited more than 300 towns to date and hope to continue in this wonderful mentor role for the years to come”.
(To Be Continued...)

Interview with Jon Law

Jon Law
Manager
Peterborough Concert Band

Vital Community Link

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I feel that such a group is a vital link to a community. It helps promote fellowship, economic strength and provides a forum for the community citizens and visitors alike. I asked Mr. Law if he thought the Peterborough Concert Band is an important part of our society today and what role do you see as its importance? He tells us that … “Concert bands like this one are vital. They provide a place for musicians to grow after formal education and can be a stepping stone to a fully professional career”. I asked him to tell us about the importance of youth today and their role of being in “the band”. He states that … “It is absolutely important and we encourage youth. We always include some music younger audiences will enjoy. We have several high school aged members, and when they go off to college or university, their place in the band is waiting for them when they are home for the summer or are finished their education”. As many of you know, I like to get THE INSIDE SCOOP! I asked Jon if he could us the “scoop” about the process of booking the Peterborough Concert Band’s performances …“Choosing a date, to the location, to the content for each Concert. Gigs come to me in many ways. The first are our annual dates like the St John’s Anglican Church Strawberry Social which the Band has done since the Strawberry Social started. The second is organizers contacting us; this could be a new festival or another group looking for a joint concert. The last way is the Band contacting events when there are important dates in our calendar not filled by the other ways. We need a space large enough for 40 people plus our percussion about 20 to 30 feet from the audience. The program is built by the person who will be conducting the show and will always contain as much variety as can be fit into the show. Inquiring about a date is as simple emailing me at jlaw8@bell.net or calling me at 705-876-8773”. You can also view the Peterborough Concert's Band website at http://www.peterboroughconcertband.ca/I recommend taking the time to hear the“Peterborough Concert Band – Celebrating over 150 of musical excellence playing music from Beethoven to Glee”.

Interview with Jon Law

Jon Law
Manager
Peterborough Concert Band

Band Manager Jon Law (Part 2)

Not only are “back up plans” important and “contingency plans critical”, it is also wise to have “layout reconfigurations” ready at hand. For many festivals and events, it is critical to have volunteers! I asked Mr. Law "how many volunteers do you require for your Concerts and do you have any systems in place to keep them happy”. He replies … “Our volunteers are our members. I make sure the truck is there and that our host has chairs out for us and they gladly take care of the rest”. With the exception of chairs, the band comes in a delivery truck. We also have our own sound system". I wondered if the Peterborough Concert Band Manager had any ideas about how to “keep things fresh” for the patrons and performers alike? As mentioned before, the Band can perform music from Beethoven to Glee. Jon states that … “Our folder is changed a lot during the winter months and contains enough music for about 2 completely unique shows”. I was wondering how many people were active with the Concert Band, we did mention the ages of the members, but I also wondered what the criteria was to belong to the Band. The Peterborough Concert Band … as Jon tells us is “currently have 40+ active members ranging in age from 15 to 80 and beyond. We accept anyone who can handle the level of music we play. There is a trial period for new members to make sure they fit well with the band”. We practice once a week from September to mid August”.
(Conclusion of this interview next week)

Interview with Jon Law

Jon Law
Manager
Peterborough Concert Band

Band Manager Jon Law (Part 1)

As Manager, and to share some SCOOP, I asked Jon to tell us about logistical challenges … dealing with outdoor elements, parking issues, band members not attending at the last moment, etc? He replies … “If the gig is to be outside, we like to have an indoor alternative if possible. We obviously cannot play if it is too windy or raining. We need to be able to get our truck close to the stage. Moving all our percussion equipment any great distance is very challenging. We also need enough parking for our members. Members not attending at the last moment are a very rare thing for us; we have a sufficient member base to cover anything truly unexpected”. When we had arrived at the concert, it seemed well organized. The band was up in the Gazebo playing and the audience was spread out throughout the park in lawn chairs, on blankets with umbrellas for shade or under the trees at picnic tables. There didn’t seem to any challenges. I wondered if there ever were some of the challenges that the “audience” does not see. In addressing Jon’s concern about the challenges of “moving all our percussion equipment any great distance” … we did notice that the Peterborough Concert Band’s van was parked beside the Gazebo. Jon told me other challenges …“The biggest challenge is usually space and making sure the band is set up for the best sound for the audience. The second biggest is instrumentation. Not all our members can make every concert. Luckily we have a large percentage that plays more than one instrument”. The SCOOP here the Manager says is saying …“We have a few preset layouts for the band that we pick from depending on the space and its acoustics”. This tip might help other organizers or coordinators!
(To Be Continued)

Interview with Jon Law

Jon Law
Manager
Peterborough Concert Band

The Peterborough Concert Band

Now that is some SCOOP that shows commitment to community involvement! Back to the Peterborough Concert Band. We were treated to a concert at the Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough. The highlight for me was a piece of music performed by the entire band that was composed by Jon Law. I wondered how he came up with such an amazing arrangement. Jon tells me, “The Otonabee March was written over ten years ago and didn’t really have a title and had never been performed. Our lead conductor Peter Sudbury was more than willing to have the band play it and it found its way into our concert folder”. I asked Jon if he had a favorite performance piece and why? He replies … “In this year’s folder it’s our big “wow” number “Malaguena” from the Adalucian suite. The arrangement we play shows everything that makes us a great band, dynamics, technical challenges, and soloists”. Jon also shares that his favorite composer is … “Hands down, Sir Arthur Sullivan, and not just for his well known works with W.S. Gilbert for the Savoy Theatre. He wrote some amazing pieces, including one for his dying brother”. As Manager of the Peterborough Concert Band, I wondered what Jon’s duties were prior to and during a production. Jon states simply … “As the manager I arrange for our gigs, negotiate fees, and make sure we have a large enough space for both band and audience. The day of the gig I make sure our truck arrives an hour ahead of the gig so we can set up and be ready to start warming up 30 minutes ahead of the gig”.
(To Be Continued)

Interview with Jon Law

Jon Law
Manager
Peterborough Concert Band

JON LAW... COMMUNITY PARTICIPANT
The current Manager of the Peterborough Concert Band is Jonathon Law, who has been an active part of this group since January 2011. Music is not new to Jon, as he has being playing the trombone during his high school years. He also participated with the Newmarket Concert Band and several smaller groups. It is interesting that Jon was part of a festival that Ontario Visited owner, Gary McWilliams (aka The Festival Nomad), founded in the Port Hope area. The Great Farini Festival ran for three years in Port Hope back in 1998-1990 and included musical entertainment at several gala’s held during the event. The Newmarket Concert Band made the journey to Port Hope and preformed during the festival. A testament to Jon’s strengths, as a contributor to community, is his innate nature of helping others. Before his concert, one year at The Great Farini Festival, there was an urgent dilemma. The organizers had not been able to find a “human” to wear the Great Farini costume. It required a tall slender person, who had the courage to walk around greeting visitors and “kids”. The head of the costume was extremely large (made of paper mashie). Jon stepped right up to the plate and volunteered to wear the costume and “save the day”!
(To Be Continued)

Interview with Jon Law

Jon Law
Manager
Peterborough Concert Band

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE … GOOD OR BAD

In today’s society we seem to be getting used to the idea of change! With festivals and events these changes are constant. Some groups or organizations prosper, some find the need to amalgamate to combine their efforts, in order to succeed, and some dwindle in membership numbers, as an aging population is not replenished with youthful vibrant folks with fresh ideas and concepts. And, sometimes, once in a while, you may come across a group of folks, members of an organization, who hold festivals or events that have remained a vibrant constant in a community. I feel that such a group is a vital link to a community. It helps promote fellowship, economic strength and provides a forum for the community citizens and visitors alike to have comradely. One such group, we found, is the Peterborough Concert Band. We were told that they are one of the longest continuous bands, performing for over 150 years. It is interesting that the members range in age today from youthful to 93 years old, yet exist as equals. Jon Law, the Band's Manager, tells us that the “Peterborough Concert Band – Celebrating over 150 of musical excellence playing music from Beethoven to Glee”. We recently had the pleasure of listening to the Peterborough Concert Band at the Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough. With this being said, I thought, since I know a member of the band, that I would get the INSIDE SCOOP and share some insight into this vibrant community organization.
(To Be Continued)

Interview with the Honourable Michael Chan

The Honourable Michael Chan
Minister of Tourism and Culture
Province of Ontario

PART SIX

My final question to Minister Chan made him chuckle, as he told me that he had just, the other morning, had the same discussion with “himself”. The Festival Nomad and I had been discussing if it were possible to have too many festivals and events in Ontario. We found ourselves conflicted recently by being asked to attend two different festivals in two very far away regions of Ontario! We wanted to attend both, but this was not physically possible. Minister Chan feels that this question is a challenge indeed. He feels that the key to success for everyone lies with "CO-ORDINATION”! He feels that communications and co-ordinated efforts will benefit all communities with their efforts. Mr. Michael Chan states … “that organizations need to seize efficiencies, seize opportunities to better coordinate efforts, locations and communications. He feels the whole province can be vibrant. That not one or two have just is the destination, but all of them being sustainable. The government obviously has many priorities; however it would be best to streamline efforts. We need to focus on results. Question ourselves as to “are we getting the preferred targeted expected results?” Minister Chan feels that from our diverse culture we can constantly be learning new ideas and perspectives. As Muku pointed out, our society today lives their lives as “just in time lives”. It took a moment for me to digest what Muku had said, however I feel he is right. With technology, our fast pace of life, our cultural diversities, our own interests and values … both Minister Chan and Muku are right. We need to “seize the moments”, “get out of the box”, “engage people” to Ontario, its Tourism and Culture!

Interview with the Honourable Michael Chan

The Honourable Michael Chan
Minister of Tourism and Culture
Province of Ontario

PART FIVE

Minister Chan seems very excited about the upcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebrations. As you may know, Ontario Visited has a dedicated website for these celebrations and to the future beyond. (link: War of 1812 Celebrations). What the Scoop here is, that Michael Chan is a first generation immigrant himself. He feels the War of 1812 gave Canada an identity and that it is important to remember the War and the heroes of that time! Minister Chan was emphatic again as he stressed the importance of engaging New Canadians, as it will enhance the integration of these people into Canadian life and society. He said he would like these celebrations to be highly promoted to help “pull the new immigrants from their own box into Ontario”. It will be an opportunity to enhance integration, Mr. Chan states. He considers himself a “pioneer voyager”. He reminds us that in 25 years from now, these New Canadians will not be new. They will be integrated and form our Canadian communities. These folks will continue to immigrate and become the supply of the new people. Michael Chan said he appreciated the effort and direction that our Prime Minister. Apparently Prime Minister Harper is a War of 1812 fan.
(To Be Continued)

Interview with the Honourable Michael Chan

The Honourable Michael Chan
Minister of Tourism and Culture
Province of Ontario

PART FOUR

Our discussions led to the topic of the newly formed Regional Tourism Organizations. At first the leaders in these regions were apprehensive and a little anxious about the unknown and outcome of this new strategy. Minister Chan believes that the vibe of these regions was “we alone can’t do it, but now we can work together cohesively”. Minister Chan tells us that if the Regions package the best they have to offer, visitors will come to stay and enjoy all that the communities have to offer. Michael Chan said “it is really no use to have people stopping by, snapping a few pictures, then leaving without shopping, enjoying the restaurants, theatres, museums, attractions and so on”. I laughed as I have to confess that I was guilty as charged! I recently “snapped a few pictures from the sunroof of our car while at a red light”. We were heading home from the Canadian International Military Tattoo in Hamilton. It had been a long day and we did not have time to stop and enjoy the Dundurn Castle that day. Minister Chan feels that each Region has diverse skills to contribute to create a great organization. The role of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture is, as Minister Chan states, “not to tell the Regions what to do". He hopes “that the funding from the Ministry will only add to the excitement of promotional efforts in the Regions of Ontario”. He continues, "The role of the Ministry is not to administer the RTO Regions, however, there is a mandate of the RTO’s to advertize and promote tourism and culture".
(To Be Continued)

Interview with the Honourable Michael Chan

The Honourable Michael Chan
Minister of Tourism and Culture
Province of Ontario

PART THREE

I’ll now switch gears a little and give you more INSIDE SCOOP about Tourism and Culture from Minister Chan. I have written a lot about volunteers and the importance of these dedicated people to our society! Minister Chan added to this issue by saying “can you imagine going to a festival or event (or even our local hospitals) without volunteers!” Michael Chan feels “Ontario is one of the most generous jurisdictions in Canada and (he) is very proud of this”! He states these volunteers greatly help our economy. Minister Chan was emphatic that he was correct on his statistics, as he himself worked on them. They even surprised me! As many of you may know, I have volunteered at Lang Pioneer Village and Museum in Keene, Ontario for the last couple of years. Here, I help the 120+ volunteers during the course of the visitor season. I was surprised, when speaking with Melanie Fernandez the Director of Community and Educational Program’s at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto, that she is responsible for co-ordinating 4,000+ volunteers for Harbourfront's events and activities. Minister Chan’s, statistics state that approximately 5 million volunteers, in Ontario alone, are helping our economy, by not only increasing revenue into our communities, decreasing personnel costs, but, by adding a work force that Minister Chan goes on to say "this adds 8-10 billion dollars in time costs alone". All this done by the hard work and dedication of these volunteers!
(To Be Continued)

Interview with the Honourable Michael Chan

The Honourable Michael Chan
Minister of Tourism and Culture
Province of Ontario

PART TWO

I wondered how Minister Chan became the Minister of Tourism and Culture. He shares with us that his portfolio with the government started as Minister of Revenue, then Minister of Citizenship & Immigration and now Minister of Tourism and Culture in 2010. He tells us that the government found it a natural choice to combine Tourism and Culture. Muku adds here that “it is the Premier's prerogative to appoint a Minister, but they wanted to put someone with an economic background to the portfolio and someone with a business mind. Mr. Michael Chan met all these requirements and more”. The Festival Nomad and Minister Chan had a chat about both of their backgrounds. Michael Chan spent over 30 years as a leader in the insurance business in the Mississauga and Markham area. The Festival Nomad’s family is now in its fifth generation of insurance agents. Here though, Minister Chan went on to give us the Scoop, that he likes the business “because of the people he dealt with”. His brokerage offered both life and general insurance at competative and large quantities, which few agencies can offer. What Michael Chan enjoyed was “engaging the people all the time!” He tells us he “enjoyed the flexibility of time and enjoying life all at the same time!” Michael Chan shares that it was his own choice to go into politics, as he feel “it is also a way of engaging people”. He seems proud of the fact that he has trained himself over the years. It appeared Minister Chan is well received within the political field as he won the past election with the approval of 33% above others. Minister Chan states that “once people understand your style … like an Out-there-Person who likes to talk about issues and concerns of others, you get to engage with them”. He tells us “that regardless who the people are, what their philosophies are, whether they agree with him or not, he still enjoys his challenges”.
(To Be Continued)

Interview with the Honourable Michael Chan

The Honourable Michael Chan
Miniter of Tourism and Culture
Province of Ontario

On this warm sunny Wednesday morning in July, the Festival Nomad and I traveled to downtown Toronto to get “THE INSIDE SCOOP”! It was with great anticipation and excitement today as we were being offered Scoop from none other than one of the main leaders in the industry, The Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture! Much preparation went into this occasion. The Minister is fortunate to have a remarkable advisor helping him with coordination and details. I must say that Mr. Mukunthan Paramalingham, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Michael Chan is incredible at his job! Muku (as he prefers to be called), is completely thorough, responsible, knowledgeable and kind! I had pre-sent Minister Chan a list of INSIDE SCOOP questions to ponder prior to our meeting. I might be a little “thorough” myself. Some of my pre-questions had been answered through our ever changing society and its rapid media availability. Fortunately, I had time to adjust my questions, which, in the long run, turned out to be much more genuine and I hope will help give you the best INSIDE SCOOP!

A day in the life of Minister Chan usually begins at 6:15 a.m. and he doesn’t return home until 9:30-10:30 p.m. Many times, he tells us his dinner hour starts at 5:30 p.m. and goes on for a long, long time as he is often required to attend up to 4 or 5 dinners per night. He laughed when he told us one of his nicknames is “The Honourable Ministry of Food Tasting”.
(To Be Continued)

Interview with THE MANTRACKER

Terry Grant
aka THE MANTRACKER
Visit Terry's Website to learn more (Tracking with Terry)

PART FIVE

I asked him if he sold his furniture in a store or elsewhere, and he tells me he “only makes custom furniture for people who ask him to”. He helps out at the Calgary Stampede at the Chuck Wagon Races. Of course, I was not surprised when he told us that his job was to round up the loose horses. I told him about my exciting experience, when I sat on a beautiful horse right on the first corner of the dirt ring where the chuck wagon races took place. The first time the horses and wagons came barreling down towards me, the ground and my horse shook! I hated to admit to The Mantracker, I was terrified! He just smiled across the table at me. Oh well!

I finally asked The Mantracker if he gets tired of all the interviews, and all the questions he gets bombarded with. He admits to me, “yah, sometimes!” … and without letting any negative thoughts get to him, he smiled and marched on his way to the autograph signing and the long line-up of anxious folks waiting for a chance to meet The Mantracker! For those of you who didn’t get a chance to meet The Mantracker, Terry Grant is as genuine a cowboy and man, as genuine can be!

Interview with THE MANTRACKER

Terry Grant
aka THE MANTRACKER
Visit Terry's Website to learn more (Tracking with Terry)

PART FOUR

We did ask a few questions about “the game” and Terry tells us that many athletic teams try to beat him these days and they are young and cocky. He is friends with most contestants after the game is over. There is one thing I know that The Mantracker said “you can mess with me, but don’t mess with my horse”. He talked about this today saying that “he’d ruff it up with anyone who challenged, this is true, and it is true “don’t mess with my horse”, respect seems to be the main issue for Terry.

We asked him about his search and rescue efforts working with the R.C.M.P. He does not “track criminals”, never. He has assisted with search and rescue efforts. He told us though, that even if it is he himself who finds the victim, it is truly a “team effort”. He says “it has to be a team effort”.
As you may have read or seen reported lately, the Mantracker series is in its final season. Terry said there were challenges going on right now. Terry says OLN want to keep the series going, but without him! As The Mantracker told before, he ALWAYS keeps positive! He shrugged his shoulders and said, “we’ll see”.

Like I mentioned, Terry doesn’t seem to let negativity creep into his life. So, I asked him what he would do after Mantracker. He was quick to respond … “go back to what I did before Mantracker, carpentry, building custom furniture, doing renovations and helping people drywall, and leading the life of a cowboy just north of Calgary”.
(To Be Continued)

Interview with THE MANTRACKER

Terry Grant
aka THE MANTRACKER
Visit Terry's Website to learn more (Tracking with Terry)

PART THREE

I asked Mantracker how he learned respect and the work ethics he has adapted to over the years. He said “once you spend 8 to 10 hours every day out on a horse, come in to do your chores and take care of business, you learn quickly”. Terry tells us that when you are all alone in the bush, you need to be able to take care of yourself, there is no one to rely on but you!.
We asked the Mantracker how genuine he was while filming the TV series, was it just an “act” for the cameras? He quickly responded … “no acting, no script, it all comes right from my heart”.

A question you might not know the answer to is that Terry has never come across any serious danger in the bush. There was a cougar sighting by the “prey” and a black bear sighting, but other than that, nothing exceptional to speak about.
After talking about the youth of today and realizing just how negative our society seems to be (in parts), I asked Terry how he stayed positive. He actually seemed surprised by this question, as if it were a redundant question. He says “I have always been positive. Negativity doesn’t even entre into my life” An example Terry told us, was “if you loose you keys in your house, why get all upset and frazzled, eventually you will find them, they are there”. Another answer to this question he tells us that “I feel is VERY VERY positive … I very seldom say I lost! I’ll say I just didn’t get there first!” We mentioned to the Mantracker that he seemed to be “upset” when he lost to a competitor. He admitted that “you do get cranky if you don’t win the game, especially when you think you should win”.
(To Be Continued)

Interview with THE MANTRACKER

Terry Grant
aka THE MANTRACKER
Visit Terry's Website to learn more (Tracking with Terry)

PART TWO

My next question for Terry started out by asking him … it seems that you respect people who they themselves have respect for nature, horses and other humans. It also seems you respect people who have courage and perseverance. How much do you perceive the youth of today and their concept of the importance of these qualities? With this Mantracker said … “tough question!” “I don’t get to see many young kids and the kids that I see don’t have the skills or work ethic that we had at kids”. He went on to tell me that “when he was a kid, there was no back talk, you went about your day knowing that you had chores to do. If your parents said go feed the chickens, you went, “no backtalk”. Terry said that “Kids today don’t seem to have any kind of drive anymore”. “Kids seem to have poor attitudes and are very cocky. They have no respect for elders and no discipline”. Mantracker totally believes that “kids should “be yourself”, but, that you should learn respect.” He says that “time outs” just don’t cut it” He feels that “parents/caregivers keep treating our kids like kids, “like sissies”, and that the grown ups want to keep the kids, kids. Later, as the kids become young adults and still act like kids, the parents wonder why they act the way they do”. He says “the kids are not taught to respect, be mature and aren’t learning to care and fend for themselves”. Terry was raised in Creemore (near Staynor, Ontario), with his Uncle who stepped in for his Dad. At the age of 10 he lived with his grandparents until he was 17 when he moved to Alberta.
(To Be Continued)

Interview with THE MANTRACKER

Terry Grant
aka THE MANTRACKER
Visit Terry's Website to learn more (Tracking with Terry)

PART ONE

It was with great anticipation that the Festival Nomad and I sat in the boardroom at the Lindsay Agricultural Society Exhibition grounds during their recent event “All About Horses”. Bev Roy, event organizer, had arranged for us to meet and interview none other than The Mantracker! Terry Grant was appearing for both days at the show, to sign autographs and talk. If you are horse lover and a lover of adventure and excitement, you will know The Mantracker! He appears on the television series Mantracker on OLN.

I gave a great deal of consideration to the questions I was going to ask Terry. I wanted my INSIDE SCOOP interview, with The Mantracker, to be different from others. When asked one particular question, even Terry said... “that’s a tough question”! Here is my interview.

I asked the Mantracker if he thought his “talent” was a dying art! He said that “it is a dying art! Through my efforts of the television series, it has just has brought it up to the top of the water”. He does as much educational training and workshops, but, cautioned that, in his words, “I can teach anybody to track, but you have to go into the bush and us it!”
(To Be Continued)

Interview with Laurie Siblock (Part Five)

Laurie Siblock
Special Events & Community 
Lang Pioneer Village Museum

I asked Laurie if she could share some “problem solving techniques” used during a special event! (For example … a bus load of visitors that were not planned for, weather conditions, volunteers/staff being absent due to unforeseen emergencies, running out of “treats” during an event, etc.) … She tells me … “One thing that you can count on when running big events is that something is going to go off the rails. To help ensure a great event, I do what you can to plan in advance for “unforeseen” events. I make sure that I consider a rain plan. A back-up plan for every aspect of the event that could be affected by rain needs to be detailed in advance and communicated to the people involved. You hope you don’t have to use it, but you’re sure glad you’ve got it if you need it. It is also important to prepare in advance for medical and/or fire emergencies. Senior staff at Lang Pioneer Village are trained in First Aid response and Defibrillation (in the event someone on site has a heart attack) and seasonal staff are trained in how to contact First Aid Responders. Having a well-thought out Fire Plan and extinguishers throughout the Village and staff and volunteers who are trained in how to use them are also important. Finally making health and safety a priority in the Village helps cut down on smaller accidents. Statistics show that organizations that are able to reduce the number of small accidents also show a corresponding lower rate of serious incidents. In terms of how we handle volunteers and staff not making it into work, the critical thing about the Special Event Task List is that, should someone not make it into work for an event, all we have to do is look on the list for what that staff/volunteer was responsible for and divvy up the tasks to ensure that everything that person was responsible for gets done. In any emergency or challenging situation, I think the most important thing is to keep a level head and get as much information as you can given your situation. Listening and having clear lines of communication can go a long way to diffusing an emergency or challenging situation”. With all of these great suggestions, tips, words of wisdom and experience, my final question to Laurie was how far in advance did she “plan”. I know the answer in part because as a volunteer at Lang, I have been busy cutting out material for a craft project these past few winter/spring months for their Spooky Halloween Event in the Fall. But, Laurie does say that …“As I’ve been in the Special Event and Community Liaison position for almost five years now, I’ve increasingly been able to plan further and further ahead. My first year in the position, I was just one step of the event in planning. That was a stressful situation. Now, four and a half years later, it’s January and I’m doing all the bookings for musicians and community guild and demonstrator groups for all the events for the season. Why today I was even planning the Halloween event kid’s craft activity!” And, that my friends, is this edition of THE INSIDE SCOOP!

Interview with Laurie Siblock (Part Four)

Laurie Siblock
Special Events & Community Liasion
Lang Pioneer Village Museum

Getting “THE INSIDE SCOOP” focuses on specific questions that may help festivals, events, organizers, and others interested in SUCCESS in their endeavors! You are very good Laurie at problem solving, managing people and as hectic as it is with all the chaos you seem to maintain your professionalize and composure. With 10+ people at a time calling out your name with questions at peak moments during an event (problems that need immediate answers), you still seem to manage. It is my understanding that you have a system to help you stay organized … could you share some of your “secrets” with us! Laurie tells us … “The single most important thing that I do to stay organized is to write EVERYTHING down. Even the most mundane and seemingly small things get written down on a Special Events Task List and each item on the list is assigned to a particular person so that one person is taking responsibility for that item. It’s amazing what can fall through the cracks when no one in particular is responsible for making something happen. For example, I’ve heard of a culinary event at which, after all the guests had gone home, the organizers discovered that the desserts hadn’t been served! As an event organizer, I’ve got to think of every last detail to support each aspect of the event. EVERYTHING needs to go into the task list right down to who is bringing and setting out soup spoons to accompany the soup. Getting everything down, assigning ownership and then checking in with people to make sure things are on track are very important before every big event”. “In order to organize volunteers for events, all volunteers complete a Volunteer Availability Form at the start of the season on which they indicate which Special Events they wish to help with. I use that list to fill volunteer needs for each event and contact each volunteer weeks prior to the event to ensure they are still available and to discuss their role at the event with them. I also have a database, Volunteer Works, which tracks what skills and knowledge volunteers have so that when I need a volunteer who can spin, for example, I can look up in my database and see who might be able to help with that. I know the volunteers quite well, so most of that is in my head anyway, but it is important to have it down so that if I am not here someone, who may not know the volunteers, could easily take”.
(To be continued)

Interview with Laurie Siblock (Part Three)

Laurie Siblock
Special Events & Community Liasion
Lang Pioneer Village Museum

To get THE INSIDE SCOOP, I really wanted to understand why “living history” was important? Laurie tells me that “an important aspect of “living history” is that it helps preserve the knowledge of how objects of the past were used. If an artifact, say a rope-making machine, is only on static display and no one is operating it then it won’t be long before the knowledge of how the artifact was used and the skills to use it are lost. In museum terms, the artifact is tangible heritage and the knowledge of how to use it and its cultural significance is intangible heritage. Living history helps preserve both tangible and intangible heritage for future generations.” I asked Laurie, again, why this was important … I really wanted to understand and get SCOOP! Laurie seemed to be very reflective when she replied … “part of understanding history is to help us not repeat the mistakes of the past. It helps us gain appreciation for what we have today”. Laurie says it is important to get into the mindset and understand the personalities of the people before us! Laurie herself states she is just intrinsically interested in “living history”. Our ancestors paved the way for us and she appreciates what we have. Laurie mentioned the fact that it would have taken three days to journey, of about 55 kilometers (about an hours drive today). The richness in the past can inform you and help you understand the present. An example of the past influencing our future today is the weavers “loom” at Lang Pioneer Village. It is similar to our modern computer, with Laurie saying that it’s amazing that the origin of computer technology (in part) came from the textile industry.
(To be continued)

Interview with Laurie Siblock (Part Two)

Laurie Siblock
Special Events & Community Liasion
Lang Pioneer Village Museum

THE INSIDE SCOOP allows me the opportunity to really obtain insight and get the answers to perhaps question you too have wondered! I got to ask Laurie what helped make Lang Pioneer Village so special and different. Laure says …“I think it’s the “living” aspect of the Village that makes it so engaging for guests when they visit Lang Pioneer Village. Having interpreters in costume demonstrating 19th-century living creates a vibrancy and energy in the Village that you just wouldn’t get with static displays or digital interactive units. We consistently hear from visitors that the interpreters were “so welcoming” and “informative” and “friendly”. It is one of the things that keep’s people coming back”. What Laurie hears from the visitors is that “they get to reflect on simpler times, (not that these times were simple) and they learn to appreciate what they do have themselves today”. Laurie says “people get a sense of peace when they visit the village. It’s a time when families get to connect, stop and reflect!” With visitors coming back to the Village to re-visit from time to time, I wondered what Lang does to keep things fresh for these visitors? Where does Laurie get additional ideas and information from? She tells me “I think the most important thing I do in my job to keep things “fresh” at Lang Pioneer Village is to listen. My coworkers and the volunteers at Lang Pioneer Village have lots of great ideas and when they pass them on I’m grateful. Even if I’m not able to bring an idea to fruition right away, I always write it down in my resources and ideas spreadsheet so it’s there to pick up on later. The other thing I do is to constantly keep my eyes and ears open for performers, demonstrators, collectors, potential partnerships, craft activities - in a sense I’m always on the job as I seek out these things wherever I go. It’s also important to keep in touch with what is happening at other museums and events. To stay in touch with that I surf the web but also attend conferences and workshops to network with other event and museum professionals”.
(To be continued)

Interview with Laurie Siblock (Part One)

Laurie Siblock
Special Events & Community Liason
Lang Pioneer Village Museum

Lang Pioneer Village Museum was established by the County of Peterborough in 1967 to celebrate and preserve the rural history of the area. Each year, thousands of visitors from around the world take a trip back in time to discover how the pioneers lived.
Nestled along the banks of the historic Indian River, Lang Pioneer Village Museum features over twenty-five restored and furnished buildings constructed between 1825 and 1899. Many of the buildings were donated by townships within the County of Peterborough and were moved to their present site when the Museum was founded.

A photographer's paradise, the Village is complete with lanes and pathways, farm animals, rail and stump fences, vegetable and herb gardens, as well as other authentic details of a 19th century hamlet. Villagers of all ages, dressed in authentic historical costume, go about their daily chores contributing to the authenticity of this living history experience.

The vibrancy that visitors find at Lang Pioneer Village Museum is made possible through the efforts of over 170 volunteers who contribute their skills, time, energy and passion to bringing the Village to life and to preserving the buildings, artifacts and knowledge for future generations.

This is the world that this weeks interviewee, Laurie Siblock, lives and works in!

Laurie Siblock has been with Lang Pioneer Village since August of 2006. She has many responsibilities and varied duties. She tells me “there is never a dull day working at Lang Pioneer Village Museum!” Laurie plans the Special Events for the season, manages the Volunteer Program and develops community partnerships. The Village is closed to the public from January to April and that time is a crucial planning and development time for her! This is when all the bookings of performers, demonstrators and crafts people for all the season are completed. Needless to say, Laurie is extremely busy during this time! I asked Laurie how they kept things fresh and new for visitors who frequented the Village! Laurie tells me that it’s really important to find new and interesting things (that are still in keeping with the representation of 19th-century living)! She says… “We have a terrific team of 170 dedicated volunteers, but as we grow, it is a challenge to find enough volunteers to meet the needs and demands of the Village. Also, there are fewer and fewer people out there who have the traditional skills that are needed for demonstrations such as tinsmithing, blacksmithing, butter making, spinning, weaving, broom making, etc,. It is important to keep these skills alive so training the volunteers becomes more and more important. Finally, in order to engage the community and provide diversity in programming, it is important to develop partnerships with community groups and organizations. The Manager, Joe Corrigan, and I do presentations to community groups, meet with other museums and organizations to partner and reach out to Guilds, trades groups, and specialist organizations to stay connected with the community. I am also one of the Professional Development Directors for the Peterborough Chapter of the Association of Managers of Volunteer Services. In that role, I create learning opportunities for and network with other Volunteer Managers in the area”.
(To be continued)

Interview with Madeleine Marentette (Part One)

Madeleine Marentette
Founder
Grail Springs & Grail Lady Faire

“SITTING ON THE FENCE!”
When I heard about The Grail Lady Faire, I wondered what it was all about! After exploring their wonderful website (http://www.grailladyfaire.com/), I still was “on the fence” whether I would like to attend. Clearly I had some questions. Fortunately, through THE INSIDE SCOOP, I am able to talk with interesting leaders and organizers of festivals and events across Ontario. So, I thought I would speak to the founder of The Grail Lady Faire, Madeleine Marentette.

Madeleine is the Author and Founder of Grail Springs a retreat that lies in one of the most enchanted regions of Canada. Located in Bancroft Ontario, it is nestled amongst a stunning setting with a spring-fed lake, meditation gardens, horses, wildlife and hundreds of acres of forested trails. Healthy forests, hiking trails, abundant wildlife and breathtaking scenery. The Grail Lady Faire is a wonderful opportunity for women to gather, as Madeleine states, “to be inspired and inspire others”! The photographs on the Grail Springs website were a little intimidating to me. I felt the visitors to the festival had a certain fitness level (as Yoga is a part of the events offered). Madeleine was quick to clear this up this misconception by stating, "you do not require any fitness level nor other previous experience to join in this journey. There is something for everyone to participate in". There is just so much to choose from, I recommend you too check out their website for all they will be offering at this great Grail Lady Faire!

I still had a few questions for Madeleine that I found helpful when making up my mind to attend. I have never tried Yoga before, nor experienced a lot of what will be offered at this event. I did not want to be naive, but asked a simple question to Madeleine, "What is the “Grail” and what was her goal for this event?" As I understand it, from speaking with Madeleine, "The Grail concept is basic, if you ask, you will know! It goes back to ancient times, with discussions in King Arthur’s time and the Nights of the Round Table. Esoteric spiritual schools were based in finding the truth, seek and she will find! Madeleine explains that our experience is the human journey". She said "that is not until we ask the questions, do we begin to follow on a path." What Madeleine is excited about with The Grail Lady Faire, is that a “whole bunch of individuals can get together, a networking opportunity as it where”. Madeleine went on to say, "It is an opportunity to meet potential future business partners, investors in your own projects and goals, women sharing visions and finding answers to make changes in their lives, to grown and prosper. This festival attracts women looking for change and support in their lives. The Faire is looking for women are ready to roll up their sleeves and answer the call to action. Women, who are looking for support and to co-create, invest and collaborate to be the change." I asked Madeleine if she herself had some “answers” and had been able to “make changes”. She shares that "she has had challenges in the past, but, when she decided to stop trying to fix her body, and focused on fixing her way of life did her body heal. She said she had resolved her challenges and feels that everything has a solution, in body, mind, spirit and relationships." For Madeleine, she tells me "she has reached a sense of peace and there in nothing she wants for." Here is the INSIDE SCOOP; Madeleine said “life is a journey. We need to learn to love the mystery of life and enjoy the feeling of discovery." I felt right then that I connected with Madeleine. I feel sometimes, people spend a lot of time focusing on the “whys” in life. It is not until we embrace all we have, good and bad, and all the challenges that we can move forward. I feel most people stay stuck in the past. I know I have, but, with love and support, I am learning to do exactly what Madeleine is trying to do. She says “I live to be inspired and to inspire others”. So I say, enjoy the journey, learn to love the mystery. At The Grail Lady Faire, Madeleine hopes to inspire participants/attendees to help them reflect upon their own personal passions and drive in health and well being. Madeleine is just there to “drive the bus” … I recommend going along for the ride!
(To be continued)

Interview with Ian Farthing (Part Four)

Ian Farthing
Artistic Director
St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival

Focusing on THE INSIDE SCOOP, I wanted to help other organizers get a feel for some of the challenges the audience/visitors to a festival/event do not see. Mr. Farthing’s comical side started his reply and went on with “Now that would be giving away some of the secrets that make up the magic of theatre! Joking aside, probably the largest challenge is raising enough money each year to ensure our survival. Ticket sales only make up 24% of what it costs to put the festival on in the summer, and it is important to us that we keep our ticket prices affordable. So that means we have to do a lot of additional fundraising – applying for grants from differing levels of government, foundations, and our very generous individual and corporate donors – people who believe that we are making a difference in our community and want to support our vision.” As Artistic Director, Ian Farthing perhaps was the best person to get THE INSIDE SCOOP from regarding how many people audition for the season’s performances and what the process entailed. I had heard rumors that the competition is fierce! Ian tells me, “We get in the region of 600+ submissions from actors who want to audition. Because we like to have a mix of returning actors and new faces, that means that we are usually looking to cast about six new faces each year. So there’s a one in a hundred chance to start off with!” Oh my goodness, from all the reality competition shows we see on television these days, we see how tens of thousands apply and it gets down to the final 20 elimination. The odds at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival seem good in comparison, but the stakes are so high and the competition of professionals fierce! Mr. Farthing goes on to explain the audition process, “We hold auditions in Toronto and Ottawa and we can usually see about 60 actors over three days. They are asked to prepare one or two Shakespeare monologues and a short song”. Yes my friends, these people/actors at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival are among some of the most talented singers I have ever heard! Ian says, “If we think they might be a good fit for us, they will be asked to read from scenes from the two plays. It’s a tricky process because we perform our shows in repertory, so we need to make sure the actors are right for both plays. And that they’re right for Prescott. Not every actor is suited to living in a small town for 10 weeks in the summer!” I will have to ask Ian another time if the outdoor amphitheatre creates any bearing on choosing an actor as their voices would have to have great projection to be heard over the sounds of nature!
(To be continued)

Interview with Ian Farthing (Part Three)

Ian Farthing
Artistic Director
St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival

What you may also not know about Mr. Ian Farthing is that he is a professional singer and has had the opportunity to perform with the acclaimed men’s choir Chor Leoni! Since this group is primarily located in Vancouver I asked Ian if he was active with them still. Ian shares with me that “The choir are very generous and allow me to slip in and sing concerts whenever I’m back in Vancouver (which isn’t often). I started singing with them about 6 years ago when I was going through a thin period on the work front and I found that I got amazing artistic sustenance singing all of that wonderful music. I love the fact that we sing everything from Canadian folk songs to classical to Queen!” I wondered if Ian had a preference of Directing versus Performing and his reply was “Not really a preference, as I enjoy both processes immensely. If I can continue to do both alongside each other, I will be very happy!” Ian seems to be happy. When I have seen him, he always has a continuous smile on his lips and a gleam in his eyes! Getting more SCOOP, Ian shares his role as Artistic Director at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, “involves working year-round to ensure that the summer is a success. Although the summer festival is just over 5 weeks of performances, we have to start planning a year in advance”. (This sounds typical of most festivals/events throughout Ontario, where the dedication of volunteers, staff and the community play a critical role in the success of a festival/event!) He goes on to say “Whether it’s fundraising, marketing, planning the performance schedule or organizing other events during the year, there’s never a dull moment! Although part of the AD's job is to be “the face of the festival”, that is only the tip of the iceberg and administrative tasks take up 90% of the time.”
(To be continued)