Our Sons Leave One Entertainment Job For Careers In Antiques

STARTING UP AN ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE BUSINESS WAS A MASSIVE, UNRELENTING LEARNING PROCESS

THE BOOT CAMP THAT NEVER GOT ANY LIGHTER IN RESPONSIBILITY, OR LESS INTENSIVE IN LABOR

     I HAVE STARTED THIS BLOG THREE TIMES ALREADY. EACH TIME, UPON A QUICK RE-READ, I ERASED THE STARK BLACK LETTERS, STANDING AGAINST THIS WHITE MONITOR SCREEN. TODAY I'VE BEEN AT A LOSS FOR WORDS FOR HOURS. THE LETTERS SEEM MORE BOLD AND ENORMOUS THAN BEFORE, BUT SUZANNE TELLS ME IT'S LIKE THIS EVERY NIGHT. NOTHING DIFFERENT, EXCEPT MY ATTITUDE TODAY. THIS WAS THE DAY, BOTH MY SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, TOOK A BOLD STEP, AND DECIDED TO LEAVE THEIR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, TO WORK FULL TIME, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST A DECADE, AT THEIR VINTAGE MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP, ON MUSKOKA ROAD, HERE IN GRAVENHURST. THEY DO WORK AS FREE-LANCE TECHNICIANS BUT NO LONGER AS PAID STAFF.

     ANDREW IS TAKING IT THE HARDEST, BECAUSE HE HAS WORKED AT THIS PARTICULAR ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, FOR A LONG, LONG TIME…..SINCE AROUND THE TIME HE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL. HE LOVED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MANY FINE ACTS OVER THE YEARS, AND SOME GREAT STAFF MEMBERS, AND HE TOOK PRIDE IN HIS JOB BEYOND ANYTHING I CAN RELAY IN WORDS. HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES, TURNING IN HIS RESIGNATION, WITH BROTHER ROB, WHO HAS ONLY BEEN WORKING AT THE VENUE FOR A FEW YEARS. ANDREW OF COURSE IS THE MORE SENTIMENTAL OF THE TWO LADS, BUT HONESTLY, THE BIG KID NEVER SAW HIS TASK AS WORK. THERE WERE TIMES HE USED TO COME HOME, AROUND MIDNIGHT (AND AFTER ALL DAY AT THE SHOP) FINISHING A TOUGH SHOW, (HAVING A LOT OF DEMANDS), AND WONDERING ALOUD, WHILE EATING A LATE NIGHT SANDWICH, HOW LONG HE SHOULD STAY, AND WHETHER OR NOT HIS SHOP WAS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA WORK. WHEN HE TOOK THE JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE, IT WAS TO HELP FUND HIS INITIAL FORAY INTO THE MUSIC BUSINESS, AND THEN IT BECAME MUCH MORE, AS HE TOOK ON THREE OTHER ENTERTAINMENT VENUES IN MUSKOKA, AS A TECHNICAL - SOUND (LIGHTING) TECHNICIAN. ADMITTEDLY, BOTH BOYS WERE EXHAUSTING THEMSELVES, AND WHILE MOM AND POP HOPED THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE, IT BECAME HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN DOWN GIGS, ESPECIALLY, WHEN THEY HAD TO POINT OUT TO MANAGERS, THEY HAD A BUSINESS TO RUN AS WELL.

     ANDREW DOESN'T LIKE GIVING UP ON ANYTHING. HE WAS LIKE THAT AS A KID. HE WOULD BUILD WITH LEGO UNTIL HE GOT EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED. NO COMPROMISES. IF IT BROKE, HALFWAY THROUGH, LIKE WHEN ROBERT USED TO OCCASIONALLY ELBOW IT ONTO THE FLOOR, ANDREW WOULD HUFF AND PUFF FOR AWHILE, BUT NEVER CEASE HIS MISSION TO REBUILD. WITH HIS BUSINESS, HE HAS BEEN THE SAME. HE GREW UP IN A HOUSE FULL OF ANTIQUES, AND HE HELPED WITH CHORES AT WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM, IN BRACEBRIDGE, AND WITH THE BRACEBRIDGE SPORTS HALL OF FAME, AT THE ARENA. ROBERT ALSO GREW INTO THESE POSITIONS AS TIME WENT ON. SO WHEN HE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, AND A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR'S COURSE, HE ASKED US TO WORK WITH HIM, TO ESTABLISH A VINTAGE MUSIC BUSINESS, WHICH ORIGINATED IN HIS BEDROOM, AND HIS GRANDFATHER'S LIVING ROOM IN BRACEBRIDGE. HE USED MONEY HE MADE FROM GIVING GUITAR LESSONS, AND AT THE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, TO FUND HIS FIRST SHOP…..WHICH THE CRITICS IN THIS TOWN PANNED FROM THE BEGINNING. THEY LAUGHED AT THE KID. THEY LAUGHED AT THE SMALL SIZE OF THE SHOP, ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE OLD THEATRE BUILDING, WHERE THE FORMER PROJECTIONIST ONCE USED TO RUN THE NIGHTLY FILMS. SON ROBERT HAD MOMENTS OF EMBARRASSMENT, WHEN SMART ASSES WOULD SHOW UP, AND ASK WHERE THE GUITAR STORE WAS….AND HE JUST GOT TIRED OF SAYING "ALL WE'VE GOT IS RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM."

STUCK WITH THE PLAN, AND IT SERVED THEM BOTH WELL

     Over the years, both boys have fanned out into other freelance projects, and have expanded their music lesson program, now also offering recording capabilities with a new studio. They will be opening a new "Muskoka Nostalgia Jam Room," by the first of June, where they will facilitate assorted performers as well as day to day antique hunters. A retail-entertainment venue, which we think will be quite unique. They have expanded a little bit every year, and sometimes doubling that, depending on sales figures. They have enjoyed themselves immeasurably, being in an industry full of so much opportunity and diversity, and carrying on in the antique trade with a little help from mom and pop. Every day I'm with them, in their thriving shop, I feel so proud of their accomplishments in a truly tough and demanding field. Andrew has become very accomplished in guitar repair, and Robert has earned his stripes as a music historian, and seller of vintage and new vinyl, which keeps him busy, let me tell you. Sometimes I sneak away from the antique component of the business, which we assist with, and plop myself down in a comfortable chair (circa 1960's), and just watch the boys at work. I told them the other day, that it is so wonderfully nostalgic for me, because it is the exact same position I occupied, when they were younger…..sitting in my chair writing a column for the local press, as they played with their Dinky Toys at my feet. To be a part of their world now, is the fulfillment of just about every wish I ever had as a parent. Suzanne is going to get to enjoy some of this as well, when she retires at the end of June, and takes the helm of her new business, "Suzanne Currie's Cookery Nookery," in the room abutting the studio. When Suzanne went back to school, shortly after the births of both boys, I became Mr. Mom, and I was the privileged one, to see so many of their childhood "firsts." When we operated our antique shop in Bracebridge, both lads stayed with me until it was time to go to school, at Bracebridge Public. At home they played with new toys. At work, they played with vintage toys. They got to learn the differences in quality, between old and new, and at a young age. Now Suzanne has a great opportunity, to work side by side these young chaps, all these years later, in a shop they crafted by resilience and resourcefulness, when there wasn't a lot of capital to spare. The boys have proven that you don't need deep pockets to be a successful retailer. You do have to be willing to suffer and sacrifice for your chosen profession, if you want it to succeed. It has surpassed our most liberal expectations annually. But to see these guys working flat out, for eight to twelve hours a day, is remarkable for an old-timer like me, who gets tired now, writing a blog.

     The reason I'm writing this blog today, I suppose, is to wear down my own sense of frustration, that their employment situation had to end in this fashion. Circumstances, not of their doing, had created an unfortunate bottle-neck, in staffing requirements, that they could not support, and still be fair to their own businesses, that they have worked so hard to create. It would be impossible to explain to those in charge, of making these decisions, just how painful the decision was to make, and how many long and agonizing hours it took, to finally unclench sentimental attachments, to embrace future challenges. Maybe the boys never thought it would come to this, where they would have to make a choice, between the theatre stage, and free enterprise. But when it came to the new realities they were facing, they sat down with me, like the old days, and calmly said "Dad, we know what we have to do!" It was with sadness on their part, and the nagging feeling they might have been able to work something out, that they were initially hesitant, as if a newfound genie might suddenly appear, and fix up what was going wrong……even though it was a clear impossibility. Even a genie couldn't fix this matter up, to their satisfaction. I knew they had made the right decision, and even though I fought with them many times in the past, about quitting prematurely, or walking out, after an unfortunate encounter, this time it was necessary, to admit they were absolutely right. Their business was the most important consideration at this time in their respective, personal histories.

     We are heading into a busy holiday weekend, especially so here in Ontario's hinterland, and there are dozens of yard sale events on both Saturday and Sunday, which always makes our hunt and gathers so much more exciting and rewarding. We often hunt as a family as well. Sort of the modern day Waltons. This will be good therapy, as they prepare to say goodbye to the old venue, and the old friends they've made through hundreds of special events and performances. They will be thrust right into the busy summer season, and well, we're hoping it will be another good one, at least equal to last year which was amazing. I'm sure they know, without me telling them, that they will have to stay busy, and look within for awhile, to avoid dwelling on an unhappy circumstance; and focus instead, on making improvements at our own entertainment venue….the one where we call the shots.

     If you were to ask them what the antique and collectable business means to them…..well sir, they'd take you on a tour of their enterprise. That's how proud they are…..and that's how proud they have been to work at all the entertainment venues in this region, in one capacity or other. They will infuse their shop with all these experiences gained elsewhere.  But as antiquarians know…..time waits for not man…..or stage technician!

     Thanks for joining me today for this little father-sons retrospective in the antique and collectable trade.

Please visit my other blog at http://muskokaaswaldenpond.blogspot.ca