Where The Music Leads Us

WHERE THE MUSIC LEADS US - AND WHO KNOWS WHERE WE WILL ALL BE A YEAR FROM NOW

     When we helped our sons launch their vintage music business, on the main street of Gravenhust, well more than a decade ago, we wondered how we were going to keep the doors open, especially with both limited inventory, thin financial resources, and what we were facing of a typically long, bleak, low-business winter; as a new venture owner in Muskoka, not quite used to what that kind of hiatus between sales, can impose as a limit to business revenue. We have never had the kind of deep pockets that would have afforded us any real liberalities, or unrestricted speculation, but we did what we could, and invested as sensisably as possible; which is bloody hard in the retail sector at the best of times.
     Andrew and Robert were new graduates of Gravenhurst High School, and outside of a federal business course Andrew took, it was about the "greenest" way to start such an enterprise. Suzanne and I fortunately had retail experience to pass on! At least part of our early success, was that we made every effort to become a "local" business, and not one that catered to the tourist economy as a mainstay. We also stayed away from lending institutions, and funded our own success, or folly, depending on the month; so that we never got too deep in the hole financially, which limited our inventory, but not our enthusiasm to be good at everything else, including hosting guitar lessons, and recording local artists and bands. I had an antique associate, one day, tell me quite bluntly, that of course my sons had a successful business, because "you and your wife bought them one!" I was initially angered by this ridiculous statement, that was so far from the truth, it didn't warrant a response. I was mildly impressed she thought we were rich. I just walked away, and thought this was what a lot of other folks probably thought as well. It didn't seem imperative to correct this, by taking out a full page advertisement in the local press, or buying a radio spot, to tell listeners, and our customers, that we were, to the contrary very poor, but like the ant trying to move the rubber tree, we had high, high hopes, determination would would prevail where money was a shortfall.
     Andrew and Robert, like the reputation their ancestors forged in the 1800's, being the Three Mile Lakes Wolves (otherwise, the fighting Sheas), have honed a rather successful music business, by a massive dedication of time, despite those naysayers, who thought we would be gone by year two. We did get some satisfaction proving them wrong. The sad part, was that some of these critics were in our same business association, and as far as comradary, baloney! We have always networked with other local businesses, and in part, it has meant our survival. It hasn't always been easy, as you can imagine, or always financially fruitful, but for over a decade, we averaged the good with the bad, and always came up with the idea, that the best was yet to come. I mean, it would be pretty counter-productive to look at the future as bearing all bad news, just as it would, to naively believe, nothing life altering could happen either. Yet, even from position of sitting on the fence, and pondering what the future might present to the contrary, of what we call our normalcy, we have always understood, as a family of town investors, that the very next year would be the most adventure-filled, and unpredictable in our residency in Uptown Gravenhurst. Here's why this is the year with most potential for that happening.
     In case I didn't proudly boast this previously, Andrew and Robert are currently performing with two bands, one country, and the other folk-roots-Americana (alternative country), and both are doing very well with lots of bookings popping up, not only in the region, but well beyond. It's not the case, we didn't expect, that one day, at least one of them would be a member of a travelling band, but it is a little disconcerting, to have both boys in not only one band, but two, and to have demands that will tug-away at our day to day business; forcing, in many ways, us to inconvenience our customers at times this year, when both boys are "on the road." Both lads have been involved with music and bands since high school, and even before that, as playtime, were holding rock concerts in our backyard at Birch Hollow. This past year however, it has become a much more demanding involvement, with the two groups, including "Grant Tingey and Hired Gun," and "Bette Smith and the Currie Brothers." They will be having a CD launch tonight at our shop, and then on Sunday at Cameron House in Toronto. They have been getting some very positive reviews, and have a number of gigs already planned months in advance. Which, in fact, is good for us, because we can plan this out, with potentially alternate staffing. We've always been able to handle our own staffing shortfalls, by moving around the remaining family members, the real advantage of having four shareholders. The problem more so, is that the music end of the business, is far more complicated than Suzanne and I can handle, should technical questions arise beyond selling guitar strings and straps. In any given hour, when customers are in their wing, technical question abound, and we are glad to have experts aboard to handle them. Being without both lads isn't something we've had to deal with in the past. We're just not terribly confident, about our capabilities, working without their expertise over several days, or full a week, if they were, by chance, to have an opportunity for a minor tour with one of their groups. Grant Tingey and the Hired Gun, has already played three sold-out shows, locally, and a fourth one coming-up is close to be half-sold with a month to go. They may soon be recording a CD as well, and participating in some major venues this summer. Great for them, but not so much for the retail end.
     I am about as intimate with their music careers, as if I was a guitar string, or drum head. I have a chair in the studio, where I work six days a week, writing for various publications, Suzanne's facebook page, and my blog, and let me tell you, the stuff I've seen going on, in this humbly appointed studio, on Gravenhurst's main street, would shock you as far as the musicians and talent we have working here, and dropping by for a visit. Due to confidentiality concerns, we only reveal those musicians who aren't worried about being spotted in our studio, or the buzz it might create. I just sit in awe a lot, as these great and budding talents sit on the sofa and talk music with the "man in the chair," being me of course, with companion laptop. It's not just a fascination with "celebrity" either. So many of the musician who visit here, are not main stage performers. They're hobbyists who have a love of music, and very much enjoy playing a variety of instruments, and we help them in this regard. We've got a wide variety of instruments here to utilize for recording purposes, or for instruction. I love being in this place, because I have always been passionate about music and all its genres. I just can't play anything other than a phonograph or a CD player. I felt a little awkward, in the early going, sitting in this very musical place, but over several years, and having met many fine musicians, as humble about their accomplishments as they are, I'm actually starting to feel right at home amongst them; although admittedly, I don't always understand what they're talking about, especially when referencing amps and recording equipment. I can live with that, because they don't know what I'm talking about, when I start nattering about local history and the art work of Tom Thomson, for something completely different.
     When the studio here isn't hosting visiting musicians, or Robert recording someone, some local group, or from other areas of the province, he exposes me, the sitting duck writer, to the latest vintage records he's purchased, and honestly, I've learned more about the music of my life-span, from him, more than from any one else, including my favorite radio channels going back decades. At night, I always tune into WLS, an American channel, depending on the weather, that played the big hits of the day. Early 1970's. Remember answering your phone "I listen to Chum?" I freaked out a lot of our elder families members, who couldn't figure out what place they had accidentally called, trying to get a hold of my mother. I have developed a serious appreciation for music, from Robert and his vintage vinyl, and just this morning, I was listening to his latest acquisition, by Miles Davis, who I knew very little about previous to this. He likes to see my reaction, and sure, some of the time, it's a look of shock and mild dismay. Yet it's all part and parcel of the music experience, I'm getting later in life, as taught by my sons, and their kindly cronies, who gather in this studio every week of the year. As far as being better for it, there's no question I have benefitted from this most entertaining exposure, although I don't expect to ever become so proficient in music history, as to trump their immense knowledge learned from childhood, first, from the 45 rpm collection of records, given to them by their mother; a hold over from the Windermere Marina snack bar, "The Skipper." The old discs from the juke box, were given to Suzanne by the owner of the music machine, Mr. Arney, in the 1960's, and they were then, in later years, given to both Andrew and Robert when they were old enough to appreciate them. It's where they got their start in the music business. They worshipped those scratched, eroded old discs, and they played the role of disc jockeys on hot summer afternoons, down in the cool family room, to their hearts' content.      Some advancements have taken us by surprise over the years, but they've all been in keeping with the prevailing situation. Today, we've just got a few more situations developing, on their side of the business, than we can be easily organized and sensibly scheduled. Simply because nothing has been finalized, such that we can plan more than a week ahead, let alone a month or two, which would suit us better now that we are entering the busy summer season in Muskoka.
     We are proud of both boys, and appreciate how they have welcomed us old farts into the fold, as outrigger business partners. We told them, when we joined forces, that our best before date is just around the corner, so we're not talking decades here, when we look forward to the coming business years. We have always hoped that one of their "significant others," might soon develop an interest in old stuff, of which we sell pretty well, which would allow Suzanne, and I, the opportunity to travel and vacation where we have long desired. It's coming. Hopefully it won't mean a hiatus of another ten years, because I'm getting too old to haul around flat-to-the-wall cupboards, and pine harvest tables and buffets. I already hobble with a wonky hip. It doesn't mean we plan to close the shop, or even revise what we do in the meantime, but after a long teaching career, for Suzanne, and what seems a lifetime dedicated to regional history and writing, for me, it would be kind of nice to explore other less binding opportunities, than the discipline of running a traditional retail outlet.
     In the next six months, the boys will be showcasing their work with partner bands, in many venues across the region, and potentially the province, and it is really too early to ascertain, what time they'll have left, to devote to the little shop they so passionately built, on a wing and a prayer, a decade ago, in the heart of the town they still call home. As for mom and pop, we are the followers now, and gladly so. Although it may take a few more years, to successfully, and seamlessly pass off our business to Andrew and Robert, it is most definitely our exit policy if all goes according to wishful thinking. Our pre-planning has always worked pretty well, until now, but then we didn't have to worry about touring bands, and new initiatives in performing arts. The gentle family enterprise of once, has in the past twelve months, morphed into something that is going to change our approach, daily and monthly, as well as our long term planning. A sort of contradiction of a "controlled free fall," from the way we used to run the shop and our outreach technical business. As parents, we worry a lot. As business associates, we are tickled by the possibilities developing week by week.
     So if we have to close the shop temporarily, because there has been an unforeseen development, that pulls both boys from the same old, same old, we will let our customers know by posted sign, and facebook updates. I wish we could tell you the exact dates already, but it's just not possible.
     That's the thing about progress, and the fact collateral damage is part of the cost of building new roads.
     Suzanne and I want the boys to succeed, and even if it means profound change to take advantage of new opportunities, we will have no hesitation making the changes necessary. We see it as follow through as parents, and as goodwill between business partners.