Tag Archive - downtown vancouver

Playing solo rumba flamenco guitar for the Canadian Association of Orthopedic Medicine

October 29, 2011 in Behind the scene at the Gigs with 0 Comments

Yes, today I’ll be performing solo rumba flamenco guitar for the Canadian Association of Orthopedic Medicine.

This will be a private function at the Pan Pacific Hotel in beautiful downtown Vancouver on the waterfront.

If you would like to see video footage of what it’s like for me playing guitar at the Pan Pacific, just search for “Guitar Slinger Pan Pacific”. From there I’ll take you behind the scenes at other events I’ll played at this venue.

Anyways, back to today’s gig…

This event will be held in the Ocean View Suites. If it’s a big group it can be extremely loud with everyone networking away. So I’ll bring a sound system with 5 speakers to help spread my guitar performance throughout the venue at a nice ambient level.

The downbeat (start time) for me will be 7pm so I plan to arrive no later than 6pm to get set up. I’ll leave my home at 4:30pm to ensure I’m not late due to unpredictable traffic.

With a hockey & football game all taking place tonight in the city the drive in wasn’t to pain full. I arrived at 5:45pm with lots of time to set up.

The unfortunate thing was that the room I was to set up in was locked and now I’m waiting to get inside. Being on time doesn’t always mean things will run without a hitch!

Anyways, I did finally get into the room which was a different one all together. I quickly set up and the client arrived early so I began early. The funny thing about this gig was that I was competing with a pianist downstairs and a pianist out in the foyer.

Stereo pianist’s, an opera singer and my guitar all playing different tunes at the same time competing for our own little sonic space. Crazy!

What a night, lot’s of fun as always!

Check back soon to join me on my next guitar slinging adventure…

Playing guitar for the grand openning for the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver.

July 15, 2011 in Behind the scene at the Gigs, Guitar Slinger with 0 Comments

Today I’m up at 3 am! This early morning performance is for Vancouver AM’s Tourism Association gala opening breakfast and the grand opening of the new Rosewood Hotel Georgia.

The Georgia Hotel was originally opened July 1927. Today this wonderful building has been newly renovated leading up to today’s big event.
I’ve packed all the sound gear into my truck last night. Then I hit the road to downtown Vancouver at 4 am. I arrived at the hotel at 5 am to load in for a 6:30 am performance.

My performance will be from 6:30 am to 12 noon. As for the flow of the event, I have no idea. I’ll perform the stay very close during speeches to be ready for anything!

At 6:15 am I was asked to accompany Dal Richards to perform Oh Canada for the clients guests. Yikes! I’m very patriotic and can sing our anthem however I’ve never worked out a guitar arrangement! (By the way, Dal Richards is a very well known big band leader in this town) It’s an honor to play for him.

So I quickly grabbed a paper napkin and scratched out a set of changes for the tune. Once again you just never know what can happen on the gig. It’s always an adventure!

My first performance began at 6:30 until 7:45 am. Then I was instructed to come back at 8:30 ish to move down to the lobby to perform for the grand opening at 10:30 am. I’ll then play until 11:30 am.

At 9:45 am I began bringing a small sound system downstairs to the lobby where I would begin my 2nd performance. There was a little location juggling then I was all ready to begin round 2.

For the second performance I was asked to play from 11:15 am until I was done at noon.

Here’s the video of my gig behind the scenes!

Double the guitar gigs, double the fun!

June 17, 2011 in Behind the scene at the Gigs with 2 Comments

Today I have two back to back guitar gigs! Should be a crazy busy day.

Task 1: Rent a battery powered amp from Long and McQuade for tomorrows wedding gig.

Load up the sound gear then we’re off to…

Gig 1: I’ll be playing solo guitar for Harrison Pointe in Langley, BC from 2pm to 3:30pm then it’s off to…

Gig 2: A guitar duo corporate performance at the Oru Restaurant in the new Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in downtown Vancouver from 6:45pm to 8:15pm.

I would also like to welcome Vangel who will be sub’ing in for Andre Stepanian in the second guitar chair tonight.

As always I’ll be taping both events to present to you Guitar Slinger Season 1 Episode 6 – Double the Fun.

Once again I’ve taken my “Gig Cam” with me so you can join me behind the scenes on the gigs.

Here’s the 411 on Vangel my new guitar sub. Vangel came out to my March 12th performance here in Fort Langley with Ben Woods. Then he contacted me via email asking to get together to do a little playing. Andre Stepanian (my first call) has been busy performing weekends at the Latin Quarter in Vancouver so for a short notice performance such as this one Vangel was the perfect fit!

Once we’re done with the gigs I’ll rush back home to rehearse song for a wedding tomorrow. The scary part is, the bride still hasn’t advised me as to what songs she would like me to perform!

Wish me luck! I may need it.

Oh, I forgot to mention that this morning I was also busy getting a raccoon and her babies out of my work shop attic!

Stay tuned…

Fiery Rumba Flamenco duo performance No. 2 for Architectural Institute of BC

May 28, 2011 in Behind the scene at the Gigs, Guitar Slinger with 4 Comments

The new Vancouver Convention Centre

Today is day 2 performing at the new Vancouver Convention Center for the Architectural Institute of BC.

For this gig we’ll be performing once again as a rumba flamenco duo however today Lyndon is in Vegas so this evening Emad Armoush will be filling in on percussion.

Once again I’ve taken my “Gig Cam”
with me so you can join me
behind the scenes today
on the gig.

Here’s today’s Gig Cam video…

If you would like to share my little reality Gig Cast you can do so my clicking the “f” or “t” button. (facebook & twitter)

Or you can click the <> button to copy the code to your clip board and post the video in your own blog or website.

So this gig will begin at 6pm so I’ll leave at 3pm for downtown Vancouver. I’ll be bringing enough gear to fill a room with 500 people. The gig today is also a short one, only a one hour performance. So it kind of breaks down as…

  • 2 hours driving
  • 1 hour setup and sound check
  • 1 hour performance
  • 30 minutes tear down
  • 2 hours loading out and driving

I love the work that I do however 90% is “the work” and 10% is actual guitar playing.

I think I’m really enjoying doing these live “Gig Cam” video’s as you really get a good feel for what it’s like as a working independent musician. (at least on the gigs)

It might also be fun to do a “working musician cam video” as well however I think the business side could bore you to tears.

Currently I’m building my new web site, trying to write for my next cd, always working my social media and creating new lesson material for YourGuitarSchool.com.

Anyways, enjoy the video and please send me feedback.

Next up… I’ll be back at Taverna Gorgona for a solo rumba flamenco guitar gig.

Stay tuned…

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