Today I’m on my way back to Whistler, BC to play a few solo rumba flamenco guitar Christmas tunes.
This will be the first time for me performing in the Fairmont Chateau Golf Chalet for a corporate event. This is a beautiful little Chalet that is used in the summer as the golf course club house and in the winter as a wonderful private event facility.
This event was for a small group of top sales reps from around the world that sell defibrillators. The event began at 6pm with a reception in one side of the Chalet then a fondue dinner at 7:30pm on the opposite side of the room. Once the reception was complete, there was a few speeches then I turned my chair to face the dinner side of the room and began the second half of my gig.
I really enjoyed playing for the group and when I stopped to look at my watch it was already 10pm and time to wrap it up! I hung around a few minutes later to keep the background music on then it was time to pack up and go.
Fortunately for me the set up today was easy. The room was very small so I only needed to use a small pa. Today I used a single Behringer powered B212 monitor on a small stand with my Bose T1 mixer and my Fishman Aura 16.
Also fortunately for me, the weather was on my side and aside from a little rain the drive to and from Whistler was an easy one.
Next for me, it’s off the the Four Seasons Hotel for a Christmas party for St. Paul’s Hospital.
BTW… Here’s a live multi-media performance video high lighting a high speed trip up the Sea to Sky Hwy to Whistler
Stay tuned…
This song is the title track from my cd “Peace” performed live at the North Delta Firehall Centre for the Arts. Transcriptions, lessons and tabs for my music is available at www.johngilliat.com
The footage in the background is driving up the Sea to Sky Hwy from Horseshoe Bay to Squamish on the way to Whistler BC. Home of Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics
Performing with me is Andre Stepanian on the flamenco guitar, Brent Gubbels on bass, and Lyndon Dewitt on percussion.
This performance was on November 7th, 2009
Today I’m playing solo guitar at the Fairmont Chateau Resort Hotel in beautiful Whistler BC. The photo on your left is taken from my car for you to see what the drive is like. It’s a beautiful 1 hour drive through the mountains following the ocean to Squamish then on to Whistler. (another 45 minutes of wonderful scenery)
The image on the right is of my honda, guitar and the sound system all packed on my cart ready to push up to the Chateau. The worst part of this gig is that parking at the hotel will cost me at least $40! So I opted to park in the Whistler day lot for free and walk, with my gear and sound system on a cart, to the hotel.
Now the worst thing about parking in the day lot is that T wants me to use an end parking spot which puts me at the wrong end of the lot. The 2nd worse thing about the lot is it’s all up hill to set to the Chateau.
Now here’s the good parts… I save $40, I get a great work out and it’s all down hill after the gig!
I arrived at the Chateau at 4pm to begin setting up for a 5:30 start. I was playing in the Frontinac Ballroom C were I met the Banquet Captain to get my exact performance location. This was a very small group that I was playing for maybe 50 to 60 people. Also, this was the very first gig that I performed where someone asked if I was an AFM member. (Part of the musicians union) I’ve been a member for years and 
always wondered when someone would check up on me. I’m not to sure who I was playing for as I was booked through an agency and the client that hired me was the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort however, I was asked if I was an AFM member as the clients company was somehow affiliated with the AFM. You have to be a member to play certain venues and to play with other AFM members. They also have a good pension plan for musicians so it’s worth looking into if you want to be a working professional musician.
The gig went very well, a real nice group of people. I had a lot of great feedback. I began as the client entered at 5:10pm and played until 6:30pm then took a break. After my break I played until 8:15pm. Then it was time to pack up, push the gear back to my car and drive home. It’s always great when leaving Whistler and it’s still light out. It makes the drive a little better when your tired.
Check back Saturday when we play as a trio for a wedding and reception in a Vancouver mansion…
