WE’RE GETTING BACK ON TRACK - BEHIND THE CONCERT SCENE IS TOUGH SLUGGING - COMING OFF A GOOD EVENT MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER

We’ve done many, many concert fundraisers, even when the lads were in High School. Then it was the Pure Gold Variety Show, which Suzanne co-ordinated for a few years, and we did a Battle of the Bands, both putting money back into school music projects. Ever since, we’re felt right at home at the Opera House, and setting up for the main event is always well organized and fun. Take down! It sucks. For an old fart like me, staring at a two hundred pound chunk of sound equipment makes me cringe. We brought about eight of these suckers this time around, not to mention a wide assortment of other equally heavy and bulky equipment. While loading-in, the adrenaline is pumping through the old heart, with an outward smile.....load-out is just grinding work and lots of it.

But you know what? We had just handed out money to two of the four families, affected by last week’s fire (we’re still planning meetings with the other two families), so it wasn’t such a bad load-out this time. It was a good feeling to have been able to deposit so much money, donated by this wonderful community. As for the event being a success.....in every way we can think of.....it was a milestone for the Currie boys. And yes they do keep a record. A book is being planned. It was a nice coming-together, but we wish it had been under better circumstances. Sometimes however, the only true test of a community’s resolve, is to face such a crisis. I’m satisfied we’re up to challenges.

It will take a long time to thank everyone who helped us with the “For Our Friends Benefit Concert,” on Sunday. We we’re very pleased to have a show of solidarity from the Gravenhurst BIA members, and it was pleasing to see representatives of the executive in attendance. We were delighted to have town and provincial representation; Gravenhurst Mayor Paisley Donaldson, and Muskoka - Parry Sound MPP Norm Miller. We would like to acknowledge the kind donations from businesses such as Muskoka Bay Clothing, Triple Sick, Applause Toys, North, Papa Larry’s Pizza, Tim Hortons, Artstract, and personal donations from well known Team Canada hockeyist, Graham Murray, used to raise funds in the silent auction. The silent auction raised approximately $150, and was added to the day’s proceeds which was just shy of $5,000.

We owe a special debt of gratitude to Peter Swanick, of Gravenhurst’s newest entertainment venue, “Peter’s Players,” on Muskoka Road.....well on its way to becoming a legendary music landmark, on the Ontario entertainment scene. Peter donated $380, the proceeds of a draw at his Friday night concert, and he got up on our stage, Sunday, to officially recognize the musical talent in our hometown. From a guy bringing some of the finest international musicians, to Gravenhurst, this must have been a tremendous vote of confidence for the local music scene. Peter has been a sponsor of our fundraising events in the past.

When we discuss putting on a fundraiser, the first issue to be discussed is whether or not we can call up the same folks again, and expect they will be willing to volunteer a twentieth, thirtieth time! We know a few of them are a little weary of our phone enquiries.....but they never turn us down when we ask them to provide the entertainment, or help work back stage. Two of our volunteers keep the show running. Without them....we’d be lost. Our trusted, faithful friends Fred Schulz and Doug Chamberlain. Fred handles the master of ceremony duties and Doug is our pillar of strength as stage manager. We can’t imagine them not being part of our concert projects.

We are always glad to see Lori and Doug Wallace, and Kelly and Jane Duggan, as a battle-weary regiment, “us” ..... hopes the cavalry is coming soon. We can’t imagine doing these projects without the footfall of the cavalry, flags “a-waving,” coming through the Opera House doors. We have to extend our most sincere thanks to a talented local musician, and long-time advocate “for the sustaining legacy of music in our town,” who co-ordinated the Trillium Court acoustic entertainment, which drew a large and enthusiastic audience. Thanks to Wayne Hill, for doing this for us, and he fire victims....and so generously volunteering to work with the boys on other events within the community. They do appreciate your support.....and they have great respect for the efforts you’ve gone to, in order to promote the Red Lion musicians’ association, here in Gravenhurst / Muskoka.

As for the musicians and so many other volunteers, we want to hug them all.......because there is no way the Currie family could have taken one step to establishing the fundraiser, without co-operation of people like Ray Parsons, Gill and Jon O’Connor, their daughter, singer, Dani, her guitar accompaniest, Aaron Binder, Nothing Box, Steve Ambroise, Shane Squires, Isaac Boyes, Aiden Chamberlain, Mark Wigston (M.T. and The Toasters), Ginger Graham, Van Newell, Tim Norrie, Danny Cleveland, The Just 4 Kicks Dancers, James Lucibello (sound and everything else we asked), Luke Thompson (post event helper), Jennifer Jacques, Lisa Mitchell, John Henry (our longtime music buddy), David Pepper (of Bracebridge), the Opera House volunteer ushers and staff, Brad Rundle, Opera House Manager, who helped us with the booking and liaison with Town Council, and so many, many more who helped us at various times through the week. Just because your name hasn’t appeared in this blog, don’t think we’re going to miss giving you a hug when we see you again.

Take-down for this event, was more effervescent than post-event work in the past. We were all pleased about the way the event brought the community together. It was genuinely inspirational at a time when we needed it the most. It will take months, if not years, to straighten out, and restore what took less than a day to destroy.

As the Mayor noted, we will recover and rebuild. I might not agree with Town Council, on many other occasions, but I am profoundly impressed by the mayor’s willingness to confront the crisis head-on, in order to get first-hand actuality of all the events, and implications, affecting the lives and businesses, the result of the April fire. I’m a big fan of actuality......seeing is believing. I like what I see.

Thanks to all for a great day.