I Saw It Through Her Eyes

She looked to be about eight years old. Her clothes were a little bit tattered and her pink jacket, faded from use, seemed a few sizes too large for her. Her sister was beside her. I guessed that she was a year or two older and I wondered if the jacket had been hers as well.

I had helped this family find their seats and it was easy to see that this was their first time here. The mom, like many other mothers, was gently telling both girls to be very quiet. All of them seemed to just quietly fade into their seats, as if not to be noticed.

I stood where I always do at the beginning of a performance, leaning against my favourite post. Like an old friend, that post and I have, over ten years, shared many a performance together.

I often stand there at the beginning of a performance and look over our audience. I have learned to tell very quickly how a concert will go. You can tell a lot by the expressions on people's faces. A face can tell an entire story but tonight that face and the story it told will stick with me for longer than any other.

She had been sitting on her mothers lap when the first ballerina took centre stage. The lights were dimmed. The audience hushed. Then the music began softly and the spotlight focused on the young dancer on centre stage. The light sparked off her dress and she began to dance.

There wasn't a sound in that room.

Except for one.

The voice of a little eight year old girl who in a moment of childlike honestly, shouted out "Mommy a princess! I have never seen a princess!"

I have seen a lot of great performances. I have heard a lot of performers. I have been moved by many things.

But I have never felt like I did when I heard the voice of that little girl standing there in her, much too big, faded pink jacket. Every head turned to that little girl and everyone was smiling. Even the ballerina looked at her and smiled.

Now let me give you a story behind the story.

That little girl was there because she and her family received tickets due to two fabulous sponsors. Portage Revitalization and our local Royal Bank sponsored over sixty tickets that were given to families in our community. Their support is greatly appreciated.

Tickets went to Child and Family Services, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Young Family Resource Centre and Youth For Christ. These community organizations then offered tickets to individuals and families who, because of economic hardships, may not have an opportunity to experience a performance like the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Concert Hour Tour.

That little girl, probably for the first time in her life, got to see a princess!

I hope that in her lifetime she will see many more.

I have to make a hard decision after this concert. We have been trying to build our audience for this yearly concert for the last four years. While it has experienced respectable growth, we still have not received the audience support needed to offset the cost of this type of a production. I realize that this is a very busy time of year for most families. Maybe our community hasn't given themselves an opportunity to experience something as wonderful as the ballet. They may not realize how wonderful a performance it really is. Maybe we just haven't advertised it properly to let our audience know. Maybe there isn't a will for this style of performance.

What I do know is that the performance is an incredible one. I invite you to join us for this performance on Sunday November 27 at 7pm.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students and children. You can order online at www.glesbycentre.com or call our box office at 239-4848.

To Wander or To Wonder

My mind tends to wander and my mind tends to wonder. My friend Kris was in to see me today. It's always a pleasure to talk with her. She and I have a common interest in that we're both avid readers. She was telling me that one of her dreams has been to have an extensive library in her home. In fact, she has many of the books that she has read over the years and still has in her collection.

She also told me that she recently received a gift of a Kobo reader. When I asked her how she liked it she told me that at first she wondered if she would miss what it feels like to hold a book and manually turn the pages savoring the tactile part of reading a book. To her surprise she found she very much enjoyed it! Having an e-reader had benefits that she hadn't realized including having a large number of books that you could choose from and all fitting into a lightweight little unit smaller than a paperback.

This led me to wander to a book my wife and I are reading as part of a home group study we're part of. The book is called "The Life You've Always Wanted" and the author is John Ortberg.

Ortberg is one of my favorite faith based authors and somehow my mind wandered to a section I had read about our tendency to be a very hurried society. I could relate to so many things he was saying. Sometimes I feel I live my life on a treadmill and to be very honest, I hate that feeling. Trying to get some control back..to be able to stop the rush long enough to be still and savor some of what is happening in my life...well sometimes it seems impossible.

Which led me to wonder how many other people feel this way? My guess is probably a number of us. That's when another thought struck me. You know how when someone asks you what's new in your life we often say something like "Not much really". But one of the things that challenged me in reading John's book was to be more conscious of things that happen in my life. I thought that maybe I should write some of them down to help me remember; otherwise I've used up hours of my life that I can't reclaim. Those hours and the impact they had, must have affected me somehow.

It was at this time that my mind wandered off again and a little voice in my head said "You're beginning to sound like Oprah. Give your head a slap before you sound as goofy in real life as you do in your head!" My mind often brings me back to reality that way.

But there were some really wonderful things that happened to me. Some were so simple, others not. For instance, my wife Leta and I had a great lunch date at Horfrost in the Park at the PCU Centre. We had the best bowl of cabbage borscht that I've ever had. I mean it! It was so, so good! I'd go back any day just for that alone.

Then there was the Aboriginal Gala this past weekend. Musicians and dancers, colorful outfits and drums. It was a wonderful event and it was exciting to be part of it. But a highlight was seeing my friend Edna Nabess again. Edna is an aboriginal fashion designer who works extensively in leather outfits. Edna and I worked on a number of events with the Manitoba Arts Network many years ago. Her creations are incredible! Watching everyone in practice for the evening also made me wonder why, living in a community where we have a large Aboriginal population, I hadn't learned more about their history and their culture. I've determined to change that.

It struck me then that there's lot of things I don't know about Portage. That's when my mind wandered off to my friends Shane Neufeld and Bill Plenty. These guys always bring a smile to my face. What goes on in their heads should be part of a scientific research paper. They are both unique people and I love to be around them. They are brilliant, challenging and they can drive me nuts! They are creative people whose ideas challenge me and admittedly make me feel inadequate. But I like being around them simply because you never know what they're up to. Lately it's a new website called "Hoop and Holler.com" If you haven't been there make a point of checking it out.

So there you go! Was there a point to my story? Not really.

Just aimless wandering on my part. Or should that be wondering?

Experience the Extraordinary

I would like to invite you to experience something extraordinary!

I?m not trying to be outrageous in my comment. I?m being quite sincere.

When it comes to change in any of us one of the biggest roadblocks we face is our perception. It is based on all kinds of knowledge and experiences we?ve gathered and then somehow we sift out a final product that seems to fit our personal belief or value system.

Let me give you two brief examples and I?ll start with a question about each.

What do you immediately think of when I say the names Flin Flon and then Pinawa/Pine Falls?

If I were to guess I?d say for Flin Flon you?d say things like northern, mining, great town mascot, and maybe fishing and logging.

For Pinawa/Pine Falls you might say hydro, recreation, natural beauty or cottage country.

What would you say if I used some of the following terms? Opera, scientists, world educated, ballet, music, and culture, just to name a few. Probably not the first things to come to your mind are they? It?s probably not in our first perception-unless we?re challenged to change it for some reason.

But, what if I told you that both Flin Flon and Pinawa/Pine Falls have a strong percentage of well educated individuals, all who have come from various parts of the world to work at very specialized jobs? There are mining specialists, geologists, market analysts, environmental specialists, engineers, doctors and medical specialists, hydro consultants, structural engineers, electrical engineers, heavy equipment specialists, lobbyists and civil servants, just to name a few. They also have very dedicated individuals who are working hard to provide opportunity to experience culture and make their communities a great place to work and live.

Were you aware that Flin Flon for example, had a world class opera singer living there and who performed in major centers? Jon Vicars was thought to be in the same class as Pavarotti and went on to perform across the world. A funny side note was that he was convinced to join the Flin Flon Glee Club chorus by their piano player-who was Neil Young?s grandmother!

For a small community they have a very vibrant arts culture. They have performed classical Masterworks productions and choreographed Broadway musicals in alternating years which are very costly to produce.

I didn?t know that. But they do.

My perception was similar to many others and I was quite surprised at how strong both those communities are culturally. But my perception was inaccurate simply because I hadn?t been challenged with an experience that would make me think differently.

Let me take you closer to home. For the last four years we?ve been presenting The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Concert Hour Ballet Tour.

Concert Hour Ballet was conceived by David Moroni, C.M., Founding Director of the RWB School Professional Division, as an opportunity to present young audiences with dance. Its goal is to bring the art of dance to students who would not necessarily have an opportunity to experience the performing arts.  Each November, senior students in the Ballet Academic Program embark on a two-week tour through Winnipeg schools, rural communities of Manitoba and neighboring provinces.

A unique aspect of the program is that the dancers all pitch in getting ready for the show, taking on tasks that would normally be done by a technical crew, such as laying down the dance floor, assembling and setting up the ballet barres, etc. Concert Hour Ballet allows RWB School students to gain experience touring and performing for a live audience and are invaluable in preparing them for the demands of a professional career.

The school performances begin with a short lecture demonstration that introduces the audience to the history of ballet, dance terminology, a dancer?s training and other interesting facets of the art form. A fully staged and costumed performance follows the lecture demonstration, in which the artists present a mixed repertoire that includes classical ballet, modern pieces and excerpts from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet repertoire.

From these modest beginnings, RWB School Professional Division has risen to become one of North America?s most respected institutions, training dancers and dance professionals worldwide. Graduates of the Professional Division are highly sought after and employed by dance companies in every capacity from principal dancer to teacher, artistic director and choreographer.

Recognized as a national center of dance excellence, RWB School is able to offer all the benefits of a close-knit community with the prestige of a world class dance education.

When I first brought them to our city I knew very little about ballet. Except for the fact that I was often the brunt of jokes from my more sports loving buddies who mocked me when I told them I was going to bring them here.

I still remember to this day how moved I was when I first saw them perform. I had never seen such wonderfully choreographed dance. They performed excerpts from classics such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Their costumes, beautifully designed and vivid with color, were a delight to any artist.

As I grew to understand this art form more, I came to also understand that these people were athlete?s who have to be in outstanding physical condition to do an entire performance. Their training would rival any football or hockey player. Like every good athlete these people devote their life to their craft.

We?ve opened up the opportunity for people in Portage to experience the ballet. Like my experience, it may be a chance to change your perception of this beautiful art form.

I know that when I see parents and grandparents bringing their children to it and hear the laughter, or the ?awe?s? and ?oohs? I?m reminded why we do this. It?s an incredible experience for both young and older alike.

If you haven?t yet attended this concert may I encourage you to do give it a try? If you have children or grandchildren it?s the perfect opportunity to build some wonderful family memories. Or, come as a couple or with friends and don?t worry about coming by yourself. You?ll meet lots of wonderful people here just like you trying it out.

As I look ahead to a new generation in our city it would wonderful to leave them with a legacy of telling their kids ?When I was your age I remember going to see the ballet at the Glesby Centre. I?ll remember that moment for the rest of my life!?

I invite you to experience the ballet. You?ll experience the extraordinary!

Royal Winnipeg Ballet School

Concert Hour Tour

Sunday November 27, 2011

Showtime : 7pm

Tickets: Adults $15 Students and Children $8

When I had a "Moment"

So...let me tell you something! Any good writer will tell you that line is a stupid way of starting an article. Any writing course instructor would also probably look at you as if you've just fallen off a truck and the damage is beyond what they can do to help.

It's a line that can also make you hear your father's voice when he was just on the verge of giving you "what for"! But in my defense let me expand a bit.

I was up on a scissor lift -twenty eight feet up actually- when I had a "moment".

I was in the middle of getting ready for our first season show, which as of my writing, is tonight. I'm also thinking of all the things that need to be finished for the Gomie concert tomorrow night. We've just finished installing new LED performance lighting that we'll be trying out tonight for the first time. I spent most of last night installing sign brackets for new

Galleria signage to promote our shows. The banners were supposed to be ready yesterday but there was a problem and they didn't fit. The crew is busy modifying them at this moment. Ironically, as I began installing the sign

brackets to hold the banners I found that they were made incorrectly so the signs wouldn't fit anyway. Can you sense a twinge of pressure? Our treasurer is also in our office trying to get a handle on our box office system. Rose Carriere our ticket office lady and all around "what would I do without her" gal, is busy trying to help our treasurer. The phone is ringing off the hook as people are phoning to order tickets for tonight's show and for the Gomie show tomorrow night. We're also trying to find some load-in guys for the Gomie band's equipment that's arriving early tomorrow and the air is filled with last minute phone calls for that concert.

Somehow in all that confusion and bustle my newspaper editor phoned to say  "where is your article"?" Actually it was Rose who called to me as I was atop the scissor lift to convey the message and her phrase had some words that cannot be printed here. I think it sounded like "bell" or something...then get your butt in gear. I think that's what she said but I was pretty high up so I could be mistaken.

The point here is that as I was up in the air, I felt like I had a different perspective on things. I was floating above all the commotion that goes with getting ready for performance. People below me were banging off walls and all I could do was smile. I was enjoying it so much that it occurred to me that maybe next time I'd take a book with me...probably a reading light and I'd put a comfortable chair on the lift. I'll close off all the lights and just hoist myself way up and read my book. I think that could be a great
place to get away from things. Better than a holiday and less expensive. Then I started to imagine taking my laptop with me so that I could also watch a movie. At the same time it occurred to me that we own a popcorn machine. I could pop a big bowl of popcorn and butter it with our fake hydrogenated oil. It would give it a real theatre buttery taste. The more I thought about it the happier I became. The possibilities were endless.

Do you know the feeling of being in the middle of a great dream when suddenly, your alarm pierces through you're head like a metal stake- and startles you awake?

I didn't have an alarm. I had Rose. "What are you still doing up there? I called you an hour ago to get at that article!"  More or less in those words! One thing about our Rose...she doesn't mince words. They say that all good things must come to an end. As I lowered myself and joined the masses doing life I realized I'd seen the world-my world-from a different perspective. I'm going to make some changes. I'm going to act on my "moment"! I know now where I'll be taking my vacation. It's a quiet and remote spot close to home. Was I really that happy up there? So... let me tell you something. It was incredible!

There's A Change In The Air

You can tell there's a change in the air. Its funny how you can not only see the changes as fall approaches but you can actually feel it. There is something about the way we're wired that changes how we emotionally react as the seasons change.

I don't know about you, but fall seems to bring about more structure to my life again. Summer is wonderful and freeing but there's also something reassuring and calming to be getting "my house back in order" in fall. Maybe it's new resolve to do something. Take a class. Try something new. It also seems to be a time when people spring into action again. We are seeing that as our ticket sales are moving more quickly for our three upcoming concerts in September. There's an excitement as people fit seeing a special concert into their "I'm going to do something special for myself" list.

The performers are pretty excited as well.

I was reminded of this morning when I met with Dave Wasyliw. Dave, also soon to be well known as Gomie, is scheduled to perform here in his hometown debut concert on Friday September 16. He and his band mates are so excited to be doing his debut concert here at The Glesby. Dave is also very well known as part of the award winning Doc Walker Band. They have recently returned from a tour of Australia, played a number of gigs on the east coast, and are looking forward to even touring in Japan at some point. But even though his performing is now taking him to different parts of the world, what is he most excited about? Playing this concert at home! Playing to his friends and to his hometown!

Dave isn't the only one who travels the world. Many performers that play in our intimate theatre to three hundred people this weekend may likely be playing to three thousand on another weekend. That is the high caliber of performers we present in the MainStage shows and that our audience gets to enjoy.

A great example is the Dr. Zoo Band. They are the first MainStage performers this season. Their band, while based out of Alberta, is flying in from different parts of Canada. In the last few weeks I was giving the lead singer and head of the band directions by email on how to get to Portage and the Glesby Centre...while he was touring in Africa. " First you get out of the jungle...then you hit Sask. Ave. which is our main drag, then turn left at the Royal Bank" "If you hit a sign that says Oakville then it's time to turn back. You're going the wrong way!" That was the best direction advice I could come up with. I hope they find us.

It's a small world indeed.

I share this with you because I'd love for you to experience some of the excitement that comes with listening to any of these performers. They are all tremendous artists in their own right. Their songs and music or acting reflect where they've travelled and what they've experienced. And they bring all of that for you to enjoy right here in our theatre. I hope that you'll get a chance to catch some of the shows. If you haven't been to one yet I can't even begin to tell you how great you'll feel at the end of an evening.

You just feel better about life!

Spring for many people is a time for new beginnings but for me fall always feels like a putting on my favorite sweater for the first time this year. It's comfortable and just feels so good.

That's what our concerts are like. Come on down and snuggle in. You'll love us!

Order tickets online at www.glesbycentre.com or cal our box office 239-49848

Dr. Zoo
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Showtime: 7:30
Tickets: $28

Opening act: Shannay Smith
Afro-Celtic-Reggae" - Paul Simon Graceland meets Bob Marley at a Newfoundland Ceilidh! Nominated 2009 ECMA World Recording of the Year and Music Newfoundland Entertainer of the Year. Dr. Zoo is the vision of singer/songwriter Randal Arsenault from Newfoundland, Canada. For years Randal has lived and travelled in Africa and has developed a musical genre known as "Afro-Celtic-Reggae".

GOMIE Hometown Debut Concert
Date: Friday September 16, 2011
Showtime: 7:30
Tickets: $34

Opening act: WhiteMud Hold'Em
Dave Wasyliw of Doc Walker award winning fame performs in his first hometown concert at the William Glesby Centre. This will be an exciting concert featuring songs off Dave's new CD. He'll be backed up by members of the Doc Walker band

Jake's Gift
Date: Thursday September 29, 2011
Showtime: 7:30
Tickets: $20 Students: $12 (Not recommended for 12 years and younger.
This powerful, one person live theatre production is written and performed by Julia Mackey.

"It's hard to say which is better - her script about a reluctant veteran's return to Juno Beach or her twin performances as a 10-year-old girl and 80-year-old man - both of which, in 60 minutes, speak more to the heart about Canada's role in WWII than would a six-hour NFB documentary." - John Threlfall, Monday Magazine, Victoria, BC

What if we changed our focus?

If you've turned on your TV, radio, computer, or if you've picked up a national paper, you've probably been hit with it. The news that the US economy and the global economy is more turbulent than a storm at sea and the world is in a rubber raft being pummeled about, feeling totally helpless as we watch the next wave coming at us.

The media is full of bad news. Is it all real? Is it true? The media wouldn't lie, would they? But the media is power and money driven as well. Altruistic and objective as they would like to appear, they have to make money to stay in business. What makes them money isn't necessarily getting you to read or watch positive, constructive and heartwarming stories, but stories that grab us, work on our senses and from my limited perspective, focus on the more negative aspects of what's happening in the world.

Why? Because that's what we want! Maybe it makes us feel better when we see how much worse the rest of society is. Maybe it helps us cope in our own situations when we know that others are in the same boat. Maybe it makes us feel better when we read that someone else "got what was coming to them"

Maybe, like an addict, we await our next fix of how the world is going to "hell in a hand basket". Many think there's nothing we can do about it and it's only going to get worse.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of it. I'm tired of the constant effort aimed at me telling me how terrible things are in the world. No, I'm not burying my head in the sand. I consider myself well read, interested in the world around me, and although not overly intelligent, I'm smart enough to know that I'm tired of the media feeding me this crap.

I also think that some of you may feel the same way I do.

Instead, I'm working hard to choose what goes into my mind and what affects my thinking. I'm trying hard to spend time talking with interesting people where we encourage each other instead to do life better and become better people.

On a personal note, I belong to a small home group with people from our church. I can honestly say that I love being with each of them because they take me for who I am and still care for me. I hope that they feel the same about me.

I'm working hard to read and watch stuff that helps me remember that there are also many good things going on around me. I love hearing about the many people here in our city, who give freely of their time volunteering for community groups, helping in our soup kitchen, working with new immigrants work with our youth, and are working with our poor. They don't normally hit the headlines.

There are people who support children in third world countries and even take time out of their lives to work there for a season. There are people everywhere doing their best to do something good.

I'm also trying to watch my experiences. It can be taking something simple as taking more time to enjoy a walk. Maybe I'll sit on a bench soon and just enjoy the lake or the sunset a bit more. I love music. Maybe I'll take more time to listen to artists I love. As a musician, I'll play more myself.

What about you? Do you feel it's time to turn away from all the negative news? Maybe shift the focus of what you allow to affect you? You have a choice you know. Maybe we could all a cut back on the craziness that the headlines drive us to.

May I offer you two such choices at the Glesby Centre? I'd like to highly, highly, recommend the following two performances.

Dr.Zoo is a musical group based in Canada, but with members and musical influences from around the world. Their world music can be described as "Afro-Celtic-Reggae" and has the feel of Paul Simon & LadySmith Black Mambazo.

The Dr. Zoo band includes Juno award winning Youssou Seck from Senegal (African drums and vocals), Ghanaian singer Nikki Hylton, Afro-reggae bassman Joe Hylton, Irish multi-Instrumentalist Roxanne Young (fiddle/whistles), Sudanese guitarist David Kabbashi, and Reggae kit drummer Jim Johnston.

Since 2003, Dr. Zoo has toured Canada, Japan, UK, US, and South Africa, and won nominations for 2009 World Recording of the Year (East Coast Music Awards), 2009 Music NL Entertainer of the Year, 2006 Music NL SOCAN Songwriter of the Year, 2003 Music NL Artist of the Year, and a finalist position in the 2003 Canadian Songwriting Competition.

I'm also very pleased to tell you that Portage's own Shannay Smith has been signed as the opening act. This talented young musician has been performing with major cruise lines over the last few years and is an exceptional performer.

The second performance is a one person theatre performance called Jake's Gift.

It features Julia Mackey and is a powerful one woman play. Karen Jeffery, Artistic Director of the Sunset theatre in BC describes it far better than I could; "...moving, poignant, exceptionally funny and timeless ... one of the best pieces of theatre

I have ever seen." She is so bang on in her comments. This is an exceptional play which has won huge acclaim.

Regardless of what you see in the headlines or on the news, there is also much good in the world. I invite you to join us and experience some of it right here with us at The Glesby Centre.

Our website is www.glesbycentre.com. Our box office is 239-4848

The Battle to Build A Committed Audience

I'd like to talk with you about a few benefits of becoming a season ticket holder at the Glesby Centre. Many people just like you have added a lot of enjoyment to their lives, experienced music and theatre that they may not otherwise, and have done it at very reasonable cost. I'd also like to be quite honest with you about how important it is to us to have you as a season ticket holder.

First let me start with a little bit of background. Every year we look at some of the best touring performers from across Canada. We also try to find a cross section of different styles that we think you as an audience would enjoy. Normally I begin this a year in advance as that is how far ahead many work in order to fit things into their tours.

This past year, I sifted through over two hundred performers, both through the Manitoba Arts Network on whose programming committee I sit, and though our own extensive network of agencies and personal contacts. I narrow these down to about twenty five that I think you would enjoy, then working with my marketing team, I decide on the final season lie-up.

As you can imagine the cost of major performers can be high. As a centre, we couldn't afford the cost of the quality of performers we bring in based on ticket sales alone. To help offset this cost we have applied for, and for a number of years been very fortunate to receive, a grant from Canadian Heritage.

But in turn, we have to meet their criteria, both financially as a centre, and to present Canadian performers in a variety of styles. So as I'm choosing performers I have both of you in mind because I need to keep both of you happy.

Let me now tie that in to why we work hard to develop a strong season ticket audience..

The reason is simple.

What "makes or breaks us" is our audience.

Not only does it cost a lot for performers, but it also costs a lot to keep this building maintained and to continually upgrade our sound and lighting equipment to keep us up to date. That cost is offset through a city grant and RM grant, rentals and fundraising. Unfortunately that's not enough.

Especially important is keeping our season ticket audience up so that we can continue to bring in higher calibre performers and to have a solid base from which to cover our costs. Each year our season audience will fluctuate slightly but we constantly work to grow it, even if by a few. Our goal for this year was to have a minimum of 190 people. Currently we're sitting at 165.

In all honesty I don't know why this is such a struggle to reach this number in a city of our size. Other much smaller communities such as Neepawa,

Virden and a number of others can average 300 season tickets.

I've heard reasons such as we're so close to Winnipeg, or we're a sports town, peoples lives are too busy, "I just bought a big screen TV"...well, you get the drift.

I've had other people tell me they would buy but they go away for part of the winter and they'll try and buy for a show or two along the way. I understand. They may mean well but quite often they don't. Something always comes up.

I've had both individuals and business' tell me they're committed to funding the PCU Centre or Centennial committee or other organizations. I'm happy to hear that because these are great groups who also need your help.

But we still need people coming here.

My wife will challenge me at times saying that "I try to be so nice getting to the point that I never get to the point!" She may be right. I have to be "politically correct" in my position. I have a board to answer to; I have an audience to answer to, and a community to answer to. But for the next paragraph or two let's assume that none of that matters and let me speak freely.

So, why would you even consider season tickets? First you save a lot of money of the regular price of shows. We offer a great package of performers for only $105 and our coffeehouse are only $45 for the package. For $150 you could get nine incredible performances. Even if you go away for two or three months why not give your tickets to a friend who is staying here or give them to a charity that will pass them to someone who would be totally blessed by your gift.

It helps us, you have given a gift to remember to whoever gets the ticket, and in a much broader picture you support a centre that serves the community in many more ways than just performances.

Second benefit; this place was built not just for you and me, but for our kids and grandkids. I encourage you to bring some of them with you to experience what it feels like to see and hear a high calibre performer in an intimate setting. A few of you have done that and have started to build a whole different memory for them. I've mentioned it to others who had never even thought of doing that. Think of it. You're building something of lasting value into them and your support ensure that they and maybe even their children will benefit from.

Finally, it helps us to bring in even higher profile performers here for you to enjoy. With a larger base of season ticket holders we are able to brin in higher name acts. We really do appreciate your support and were trying to find a way to give something back to you as well in other ways. This year as a season ticket holder you can also buy tickets to thee additional performances. "Jake's Gift", an award winning live theatre performance, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and MTC's live theatre performance of "The Mellville Boys". All three are available to you as season ticket holders at a huge...and I mean huge....discount! And you aren't limited to how many you can buy. This is an opportunity to bring friends or family without breaking the bank.

I'll address one more "elephant in the room" Many people are season ticket holders at MTC, the Symphony or just go to individual shows. I think that's great! It shows you enjoy expanding your horizons. Performances in Winnipeg can be wonderful and I encourage people to experience live performance as much as possible. It's different, invigorating, and grows you as a person.

But... don't miss the opportunity to experience the gift in your own back yard. No long distance driving, an intimate venue with great acoustics and the opportunity to spend time talking and getting to know the performers who have just been on stage.

Finally, with a little respect to all the people who who believe that any talent of worth only happens in the big city...well...grow up! I'm not knocking Winnipeg. Okay, maybe I'm knocking Winnipeg. Although I am a strong believer in supporting as much locally as I can, I have also been part of many others who zip into the city to either spend a day shopping or hitting a favourite restaurant. We think nothing of the drive. We're from the country and don't give it a second thought. And I certainly don't want to tick off those hundreds of people from the city, who with anticipation in their hearts, are lined up at the perimeter just waiting to be given directions as to how to get to Portage.

I wonder how nice my wife will think I am now! Eh?

What we trying to encourage you to do folks is not only think of us, but continue to support us as we grow our programs. I know there are twenty five more people out there that would love our series shows. In fact I know there would be many more. Check our website www.glesbycentre.com or call us at 239-4848. We'll be more than happy to talk with you.

A Rose Without Thorns

Many of you know Rose Carriere. Rose is the habitually perky gal who comes in on Tuesday and Thursday to work here in customer relations. I call it customer relations, but the relationship is already built with many of the people Rose calls. People know her, like her, and they trust her. If Rose says you're going to enjoy something well...you're going to enjoy it. End of story.

She brings me the latest Tim's coffee shop news in the morning then sits down and starts calling pretty much anyone who's ever come to a concert here. Many people might find it intimidating to call so many people, but not Rose. It's amazing to many how many people she knows and how many people know her. She gets on the phone and in her lovely way tries to convince people to come and take advantage of the great performances here at The Glesby Centre. She's pretty darn successful at it too. She gets so excited about our performances that she gets others excited about them as well.

Her favorite line is "It doesn't matter if you've never heard them before. You've got to broaden your horizons. Try something different. Maybe it won't be exactly what you thought. But on the other hand you may really enjoy the performer. Isn't it worth it just to find out?"

She does it in such a great way that before you know it customer are here buying tickets. Rose has done this for us for quite a few years now. Do you know what's interesting? Almost everyone who came would say Rose was right. They didn't know what they would expect but they ended up enjoying the performer. Rose was right again. That perky, irritating lovely little woman!

How about you? Is it time to stretch a bit? Is it time to be a bit adventurous? The best part is you'll have so much fun that you will wonder why you didn't do this sooner. So the next time you get a call and it's Rose on the phone just smile and say "Rose...I was expecting your perky call. Put me down for season tickets."

You know she'll convince you to buy them anyway, don't you?

That perky, irritatingly lovely, little senior citizen, dynamo of a gal!

Rose's MainStage Picks

Dr. Zoo

-featuring a unique blend of Reggae/African influences with music that is reminiscent of Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Thursday September 15, 2011

Spinney Brothers

-East coast music award winning Bluegrass group. The Spinney Brothers musical identity is the sound of traditional, Southern flavored bluegrass music.

Saturday October 15,

Cynthia MacLeod

-from Prince Edward Island this fireball fiddling sensation and songstress has won countless major awards and has been likened to the fiddle fire of Natalie McMaster.

Saturday January 28, 2012

Sultans of String

-World music from this multi award winning instrumental group. 2010 JUNO Award nominees and "Canada's ambassadors of musical diversity"

Saturday February 18, 2012

Brad Johner

-Canadian Country star Brad Johner started the award winning Johner Brothers Band and has been touring and performing as a solo country performer for the last eight years. One of Saskatchewan's most awarded and respected artists on the national stage, Johner has enjoyed over two decades of success as both a group and solo artist.

Saturday March 24, 2012

As a season ticket holder you can purchase these five concerts of the best in Canadian artists in our MainStage package for only $105.

Additionally as a season supporter, you can add our very popular four-concert CoffeeHouse package featuring some of the best emerging Manitoba performers for only $45 if purchased along with your MainStage tickets.

Call the Glesby Box office at 239-4848 or drop by and see us.

It's All Doc Walkers Fault

It?s all Doc Walkers fault. The pain I?m in could be fodder for a hurting country song.

In fact, the hurt I feel could be enough for a whole album.

Pain catches us at the strangest of times. Mine started on the night of the much anticipated Doc Walker concert in April of last year when they opened up the PCU Centre.

The storm clouds were looming, but I didn?t know it. I had helped to organize the concert and in spite of the pressures that often come with planning an event of that size, everything was pulling together well. Tickets had pretty much sold out. Everyone was excited to see what the PCU Centre was like. Best of all, the feature act was the Doc Walker band. To us these hometown boys were the icing on the cake.

The excitement in the crowd was electric. I had one old gentlemen tell me he hadn?t felt that excited since the day the Coke can went up! I told him I knew how exactly how he felt because I had spent half the day driving up and down the new paved road to McCain?s the day it opened up. That cemented the

bond between us because he had done the same thing. Wow! That?s the joy of a small town...er..city.

It just doesn?t get much better than that!

You can appreciate then that I was giddy with excitement. Feeling like a carefree teenager, my heart was pounding with anticipation at seeing Chris, Dave and Murray step out onto the stage to the roar of a hometown crowd. I must admit my normal stoic guard was down. My emotions had overcome me.

That?s when she showed up.

What struck me were her eyes. They were green, but not just green but luminous. In fact, they were eerily iridescent. She was petite but somehow managed to weave her way among the crowd toward me. I was taking tickets on the second level of the centre and there were a few thousand people there. Somehow, whether by faith or coincidence, she managed to find me in that massive crowd and walked right up to me. I must have been in an intoxicated state when she found me. Not caused by alcohol but by the euphoria of the evening, because before I knew what was happening she was in my arms.

It all happened so fast that she took me by surprise, especially since my wife was by my side.

It was at that very moment, in spite of a thousand eyes upon me, I instinctively held her close.

Then she purred. And purred. And purred!

I knew then it was over. My wife knew it was over. That cat was coming home.

I played my tough card though. Yes, we had a cat already and no, we weren?t going to keep her. Two cats! Who could be that crazy? But, I couldn?t leave her roaming around the parking lot, could I? Some uncaring idiot had already tossed her to die on this remote island.

No! She had already experienced too much trauma at this young age.

I would find a good home for her. Tomorrow. I even named her ?O.C.? Other Cat. I was not getting attached.

But ?O.C.? had other ideas.

It?s been a year now since the Doc Walker concert. That cat has dewormed her way into my life and my heart. Even my wife has become fond of her. Our other cat has become fond of her.? O.C.? could do no wrong in our home.

Until this morning.

As I was toning my well sculpted body on the treadmill this morning, ?O.C.? was sitting on the window sill beside me cheering me on as she always does. My iPod was blasting some mundane music that was almost depressing.

Suddenly, as if by divine providence...a Doc Walker song started to play and my world turned from shades of grey to a rainbow of delight.

I got so excited that I let out a ?Yee Haw!?

That?s when I lost my footing on the treadmill. It wasn?t ?O.C.??s fault that I fell on her. I must have hurt her because she let out a bloodcurdling howl. With terror that I?d never seen in those luminous eyes, she scrambled up my back and over my head and completed a long jump that would have made an

Olympic athlete stand in awe. She drew blood every step of the way.

My blood.

Finally, after all these years, I know where hurting country songs came from.

But I can?t blame ?O.C.?

It?s all Doc Walker?s fault.

? ? ?

You can check out other hurtin? songs at the Glesby Centre website www.glesbycentre.com

If ?O.C.? were to ever have a family Jerry and his wife have chosen names for the kittens. Chris, Dave and of course...Pulver!

You Can Still Call Him Dave

(Article by Jerry Maksymyk)

 Ask any number of people in Portage if they enjoy Gomie?s music. Some may look at you blankly. Other?s may hesitate a minute and then the lights come on. ?Gomie? Oh you mean Dave, right? ?

Dave or Gomie is non-other than Dave Wasyliw. Dave Wasyliw is best known as one third of Canada?s celebrated Doc Walker band. But for many people in Portage la Prairie he?s just ?my friend Dave?. For many others it?s Gomie, a nickname that his grandmother bestowed on him and one that has stuck for many years.

If you just met him for the first time you?d get a sense that he?s a pretty decent guy. He seems a likeable guy. He comes across as positive, organized, but still easy going in many ways. Often thoughtful and may be a bit on the quiet side.

You can also add talented to those qualities. As part of the Doc Walker Band, Wasyliw received national acclaim for their 2009 Juno Country Recording of The Year as well as 20 other top ten singles. Not ones to rest on their laurels the band is also currently in the process of writing new material for another album as well as planning a new performance tour.

So what would make a busy and successful musician decide to take on another major project in his life?

? It?s simple. It?s something I?ve always wanted to do. I?ve been writing songs since I was a kid? Wasyliw said. One of his songs ?Barber Shop? is used in Doc Walker?s live shows and has always been a favorite of audiences where ever they?ve toured. It?s a song that takes a light hearted look at Dave?s life growing up under Doug?s Barber shop in Portage. This talented writer has also written many others. Songs that need to be sung. Songs that he wants others to hear.

What is also different is Gomie?s ?hands on? approach to the entire album. ?As part of Doc Walker we have an amazing machine behind us. From technical people to PR people to musicians. We?re in a very intense and competitive industry and at the level we play every move is crucial. I wanted this project to be different. It was like going back to the early days in my career. I wanted to take me back to how it used to be. Back to grass roots.?

That back to grass roots approach has him doing pretty much everything on his own to market this project. He has personally worked on everything. Getting the front money in place for the project. Putting together all the marketing materials. Laying down countless tracks of his music until he was completely satisfied with the quality. ?I?m a perfectionist. Everyone hears differently but because of experience over time I?ve learned to listen and know what kind of sound I want? he explained. ?I actually ended up re-recording my guitar tracks when I found a guitar that I felt would add a sound that I liked better. Most people would never notice it. To me it was important. Fortunately I had the gift of extra time in order to do that, but it was a lot of work, yet so worth it?

When asked to describe his music he chuckled. ?That?s always a tough question to ask an artist. I?ve had such a wide range of influences from a mass of different artists. When I was young my mom had an incredible record collection that we always listened to. In fact I still have it. She was a single parent who worked hard but somehow music was never a luxury. We had an old TV with "farmer vision?...maybe two channels at the time. So music was everything to us. Portage then, just like now, also had some outstanding musicians around town that I would listen to. I was a huge fan of the Double Eagle Band for instance. Muriel Milgrim was my band teacher. She made music come alive for me and it opened up a whole new world for me. And then of course playing in Doc Walker. So how do I describe it? It?s a little different but people seem to really enjoy it. I?m from the prairie. I think our music is special. So maybe what I do is prairie rock and roll?

Whatever name you give it, audiences not only from Canada and the US, but from other countries are discovering the music of Gomie. His album went from #34 to #30 on the iTunes chart in less than an hour. People are discovering the music of Gomie and loving it! Wasyliw is quite thoughtful about that. ?It took me by surprise. I didn?t know what to expect. I just put my music out there and people seem to be enjoying it. It?s a wonderful feeling.?

Gomie has been putting a lot of time preparing for this show. ?It?s my first solo project and my first solo concert in my hometown. I have to admit I do feel a bit of pressure. I?ve been putting in a lot of time preparing for this show. I really want people to have fun and enjoy themselves?     ?It?s my hometown. They?ve supported Doc Walker so well. I appreciate Portage and want this to be a great concert for them.?

There?s no doubt that will turn out to be a great concert. Backing him will be most of the Doc Walker band members with the exception of Chris who is anticipating a new baby in their household about the time of the concert. Special guest performers for the evening will be local WhiteMud Hold?Em, who have been attracting large audiences. They will add their blend of country rock to the evening. There?s no doubt that the PCU Centre will experience another great night of music that Portage will remember.

When asked if there was anything else he wanted to add he was silent for a moment. ?It?s amazing that I can do what I love. To be in both projects where I can do two things I love to do. I?m in a business where it?s wonderful to experience the joy of numerous awards, yet find just as much joy with my family and friends who support me. It?s a crazy way to make a living. It?s a wonderful way to make a living?

You can call him Gomie. You can call him Dave. You can call him a friend. You can call him a great guy.

Either way you?ll be right.

http://www.gomie.ca

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You can catch Gomie, along with WhiteMud Hold?Em, in their hometown concert at:

The PCU Centre

Friday June 17, 2011.

Showtime: 7pm.

Tickets: $25 plus GST and are available at the PCU Centre box office at 857-7772 or order online at www.pcucentre.ca

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You can also check out the Glesby Centre website www.glesbycentre.com to view all our upcoming performances. You can also join our e-zine for up to date information on events and a chance to win free tickets to our shows.

Their Music Was In the Cards

(Article by Jerry Maksymyk)

 Mothers, never let your sons out of the house to play poker. After a few drinks and a few bad hands they?ll start singing sad songs. Suddenly it will dawn on them that by some strange coincidence of nature, both their voices and personalities blend well together. Then one of them may get an idea and spout off something like ?Hey this sounds pretty good. Maybe we should do a gig?? It?s a slippery slope from there to the point where your guitar is worth more than your house.

Ever wonder how many great performers got their start that way? The stories will surprise you.

That?s pretty much the story for local country rock group WhiteMud Hold?Em.

What started as an evening out with the guys playing poker has ended in a musical connection between six friends. Most Thursday nights could find them sitting around a poker table listening to various bands and artists. These evenings spent as friends just having some fun gave them the realization that they had more in common than just poker. As this group of friends got to know each other better, they realized that each one shared a love for playing music. Their backgrounds ranged from playing locally with friends, to playing in rock bands touring across the country, to performing on cruise ships travelling the world. So when someone mentioned playing a gig you can bet your bottom dollar that all chips were in.

Originally from Portage la Prairie, MB, WhiteMud Hold?Em has six members each bringing a different style and gifts to the table. Together, they traverse across blues, country, and rock and combine them to create their own unique sound and style. 

The band is comprised of Aaron Beauchamp on lead vocals and guitar and Beth Beauchamp on vocals. It was interesting to note that she was not a poker player but was very encouraging to her husband since the other members of the band didn?t think he was much of a poker player either. Darren MacDonald on vocals, guitar and a charming personality in his own right, Jo Breckman on bass, Scott Maksymyk on lead guitar and vocals, and Greg Steinke on drums.

Whitemud Hold ?Em had their debut concert at the William Glesby Centre to a sold out audience. They are currently working on their debut CD which is scheduled to be released later this year.

http://www.whitemudholdem.com

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WhiteMud Hold?Em, will be the guest performers for the Gomie concert to be held at:

The PCU Centre

Friday June 17, 2011

Showtime: 7pm.

Tickets: $25 plus GST

Available at the PCU Centre box office at 857-7772 or order online at www.pcucentre.ca
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You can also check out the Glesby Centre website www.glesbycentre.com to view all our upcoming performances. You can also join our e-zine for up to date information on events and a chance to win free tickets to our shows.

Claire Lynch Band

Bluegrass Female Vocalist of the Year performing at The William Glesby Centre

(Article by Jerry Maksymyk)

 If I had to pick one style of music that seems to cut across all age groups, economic levels, and personality types it would be Bluegrass.

Mention Bluegrass and your mind might go to the diehards. They?d be just a happy to pull together three or four other pickers, sit beside a fire picking and singing songs until the wee hours of the morning, with a taste of the fermented spirits sitting within arm?s reach.

A second group is much more discreet. They are what I?d call the ?closet Bluegrassers.? Looking at them you?d never guess they were Bluegrass fans. They could include a cross section of business people, teenagers, country music fans and even a few rockers who have crossed over to the dark side. If you were to check over their home CD or iPod music collection you?d be sure to find at least one favorite bluegrass album hidden away to be listened to.

Bluegrass is a unique music style. It originated in the south-eastern US during the years following the Second World War. The term "Bluegrass" came into use in the mid-1950s and was coined after Bill Monroe's pioneering band, the Blue Grass Boys.

Bluegrass, especially traditional, is performed on acoustic instruments. Banjo, mandolin, guitar, dobro, and double bass and fiddle. Vocals normally feature lead and harmony singing. It is certainly a culture of purists?although people have tried to break that mold. Show up with an electric guitar or electric bass and you?re liable to find yourself turfed to the other side of the ditch.

Currently there are Bluegrass musicians in 22 European countries including Germany, Italy, Norway and Russia as well as many other countries. As well, there are annual Bluegrass festivals in other countries like Japan and Canada.
While Bluegrass music came out of the experiences and traditions of the Appalachian people, its music that all people from any land can relate to.

There are a lot of great names-names you?d instantly recognize even if you?re not a Bluegrass fan-who have grown the music worldwide. Performers like Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs and Allison Krauss just to name a few. An interesting note is that Bluegrass music is getting an unprecedented ?push? into mainstream music circles through the growing popularity of Steve Martin. Martin who is well loved for his comedy is no slouch when it comes to being a banjo player. He has decided to devote himself at this stage of his career to focusing on his other passion of Bluegrass music. Backed by the outstanding Bluegrass band ?The Steep Canyon Rangers? Martin is attracting large crossover audiences to all his concerts.

Women are quickly becoming some of the fastest rising stars in Bluegrass.

One of the ground breakers is Claire Lynch.

Lynch is a two time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards: in 2010, in recognition of her current work with the Claire Lynch Band, and in 1997, for her influential work with the Front Porch String Band, and as a solo artist.

She formed her own Claire Lynch Band in 2005 and has consistently been a top pick of prestigious publications, critics and audiences across the nation ever since.

A s a songwriter, her tunes have been recorded by such luminaries as Patty Loveless, The Seldom Scene, Cherryholmes, Kathy Mattea, the Whites and Stephanie Davis

Claire?s Lynch has also received a GRAMMY nomination for her CD ?Silver and Gold.?

Lynch?s career has also included being backup vocalist for a ?who?s who? of female superstars including Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Pam Tillis, Alison Brown, Patty Loveless, and Kathy Mattea. 

"Her original songs display her gifts as a songwriter of uncommon skill, and her outside song choices reinforce her artistic self, one who feels deeply about home, family, strength, resilience and courage."
The William Glesby Centre is very excited to host this world caliber Bluegrass performer in a special concert on:

Sunday June 19, 2011 at

Showtime: 7:30 pm.

Tickets: $26.75

Available online at www.glesbycentre.com or Glesby box office at 239-4848

Presented by: Back Porch Entertainment

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Check out our website www.glesbycentre.com to view all our upcoming performances. You can also join our e-zine for up to date information on events and a chance to win free tickets to our shows.

When Romance Goes to the Dogs

(Article by Jerry Maksymyk)

 Valentine Day is also just around the corner. This is the time when you see every kind of imaginable chocolate from little candy hearts to twenty pound ?all you can eat? boxes coming on sale. I realize that chocolate is ?fall back? for many men to buy as a gift for women. Personally I rarely buy chocolate for my wife?mostly for my own well being. It isn?t that she doesn?t enjoy certain ones, but more often than not, I was the one who ate them and I was started to get a bit chunky.

But that?s not the reason I quit buying chocolate.

I think it had more to do with aftermath that happened when our dog, now deceased, got into a suitcase filled with special homemade chocolates. They weren?t your run of the mill homemade chocolates either. They were gourmet Belgian chocolates that took hours and hours to make. They were chocolates that my wife?s very good friend from Victoria made with loving care and brought as a gift for my wife for her birthday.

They were also the same chocolates that our dog found in her suitcase in our guest bedroom and the same ones he ate. All of them! Every last stinking, sweet, Belgian chocolate.

Now I am a parent. When our kids were babies I had the opportunity to help change many a diaper and thought I was able to endure pretty much any kind of nightmare. NOTHING prepared me for what happens when your dog eats half a suitcase of gourmet chocolates! Not a room in our house escaped the after joy of that monumental feat. My wife?s friend was furious. My wife was furious. And somehow in that anger our dog became my dog. With two women glaring at me the responsibility of looking after all that mess became my responsibility. Well, that?s my story. Mention chocolate around our house and the tension level just shoots up.

One of us thinks it?s a good idea.

Have you been to one of our live music concerts lately? I have a great idea for you. Many people are aware that Tom and Lori Neufeld are award winning children?s performers. But did you also know they perform hundreds of adult performances including a Patsy Cline and Hank Snow tribute show featuring the best of both as well as western swing music. They are also with various bands including Prairie Red Coats, various dance orchestras and of course the Ukie Yuk Yuk Band. This couple is amazingly talented! Tom and Lori Neufeld will perform a special concert here on Saturday February 12^th. You?ll hear songs of love, romance and ?giddy diddies? from years gone by to the present. This will be a great relaxed evening of music stretching across time. It?s for people who love music, for people who still believe in songs of the heart and it doesn?t matter if you?re single, married or even hate dogs. This concert is for you. I?d love to have you join us.

We?ll even have chocolate on the tables for you.

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Check out our website www.glesbycentre.com to view all our upcoming performances. You can also join our e-zine for up to date information on events and a chance to win free tickets to our shows.

Our Continuing Challenge

(Article by Jerry Maksymyk)

I?d like to begin this article by saying thank you to everyone who reads my column. I always appreciate it when people stop me or call me to tell me that they enjoyed a particular story in an article. I have great fun writing them and realize that my life is dysfunctional enough that I seem to have plenty of material to choose from.

But today I?d like to talk with you more seriously about a challenge that we face here at the Glesby Centre. It?s one that we?re not alone in.

Our challenge to grow our season ticket audience.

Let me start by saying we have the most wonderful and loyal audience anyone could ask for. I?ve been here about ten years and a high percentage of our season ticket holders have been with us for that time. Of the ones we do lose, there seem to be two main reasons. One is health related issues. They?re just not well enough to get out as much. The others are the ones we lose because they?ve just retired and their health is still good, so they head out for the winter to warmer climates. We lose occasional ones because they didn?t care for the performers we?ve chosen so instead they?ll buy for individual shows.

But for a new generation coming up our challenge seems to be twofold. First is to try and get people to commit to attending something in the future and secondly, to get them away from their TV set.

It seems we are a society with a penchant for large LED screens and surround sound systems. It?s startling when you read the studies for how much time we spend in front of our televisions every night. That has affected all kinds of areas including people getting out seeing a live concert.

Additionally, because we?re so close to Winnipeg we?re also competing for the audience that does attend live performances with venues in the ?big city?. Sometime that can be quite frustrating. A good case in point is a conversation I had with a well meaning lady two weeks ago. I was telling her about the new acts I?ve booked for the next season and asked her if she?d ever thought of buying a season ticket package. She told me that she and her husband always bought tickets for MTC and liked to catch different shows at the MTS Centre. She was also quite proud of the fact that they liked to catch ?up and coming? performers at some of the great little restaurants in the city. When I asked her if she?d ever come to one of our shows she said that they had occasionally in the past but there just didn?t seem to be enough time or money to go to everything!

Just so that you know, this lady and her husband are wonderful, caring, hardworking people who have lived in our community a long time. They?re great people. But it just didn?t occur to her that we ALSO need her support. She was exactly the type of person we need to come to our performances. They love live theatre and live music. They are folks who were open to discovering new musicians. Somehow they got into the habit of thinking they could only meet that need by going to the city.

This brings me back to the reason for this article and my challenge.

I don?t know exactly how to get you to buy into becoming a season ticket holder. I know that we are bringing in a great diversity of performers and a higher caliber of Canadian performers and our costs have increased to reflect that caliber. I also know that to survive we have to grow our season ticket base to cover our costs.

I don?t know how to convince you to leave the comfort of your own home except to say that once you experience it?once you savor live performance? you?ll love the experience. It?s real, and pure, and so enjoyable!

I don?t know how to convince you that the performances we have here are every bit as good as you?ll find in the big city for comparable performers. No, you won?t get the same theatrics and light shows and staging that you get at the MTS Centre. Many of those acts cost a few hundred thousand dollars or more to bring in and you?re paying some crazy ticket prices. And you know? that?s OK. But what we give you is a more intimate concert, in a great little theatre, with lots of free parking, for a very reasonable ticket price.

I don?t know how to convince you that we need you to think more locally as well. We have a reputation as one of the finest rural venues in Manitoba, both among performers and within the performance community. I used to be a nicer person and just let it go when I heard people say dumb things to me. Now I just challenge them on it. How do you know what we present isn?t as good as elsewhere if you haven?t even given us a try. I know that that there are hundreds of people who come to our performances that would agree with me.

I don?t know if some of the things I?ve said here may offend some of you as you read this article. I do know that I believe this centre offers so much to our city and to all our rural friends that it?s worth fighting for. So many of you have supported us for so long and for that we thank you. Stick with us. Sell your friends on us. You are the best marketing force we could ask for.

Thanks for sticking with us! You are part of us.

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Check out our website www.glesbycentre.com to view all our upcoming performances. You can also join our e-zine for up to date information on events and a chance to win free tickets to our shows.

Did You Say Something?

(Article by Jerry Maksymyk)

 Are we becoming a society where listening is a lost art? This was something that struck me again this week. Have we become such a fast paced society, so intent on moving on to the next thing that we fail to value what others are saying?

I know that when I think about my own life, with my friendships and business relationships, I can certainly remember many times where I failed to listen. Any of us who have a spouse or significant other, or children in our lives can probably write pages about times where we should have listened more and talked less.

Two incidents over the last few weeks reminded me again of how valuable the skill of listening is.

Both were frustrating. One of them was costly.

Step back with me a few weeks. I had a major internet issue at the centre. I called our computer solve-it-all tech people who have solved many other problems for us in the past. I tried to explain that I had a large meeting here where people had to access internet information throughout the meeting and we couldn?t get onto our network. As computer guys often do they led me through a series of telephone directions that didn?t fix my problem. I realize that I?m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but there?s something about a conversation with a computer guy that can make me feel like a downright idiot. In the end we never got the problem resolved. My next step was to take the part that I thought was the cause of the problem to the store to see if that could be replaced. After explaining my problem again to a new person I was told that we?d have to fill out a work order, leave the part there and someone would get back to me. Finally in frustration, I just took my piece of equipment and left.

But they also failed to hear what I was saying. Yes I had a technical issue. But what I really had was a people issue! During the two meetings I had over five hundred customers here to participate in fairly important meetings. We needed to have internet access, and we were having problems. What they also didn?t seem to hear me say is ?I?ve got a lot riding on this. Just fix the blessed thing!?

Another example, but a different picture. The buzz words in today?s society seems to be ?social media? We text, we Tweet, we Facebook and we Bing. We probably do way more, but in excess these are irritating enough. I had someone buying tickets for a dance recital. It took almost fifteen minutes to sell them two tickets. Why? Mostly because they felt the need to text or answer a text on their cell every ten seconds as if the world would stop if they didn?t. Every time I?d ask a question they had their head down scrolling for the latest messages. Without a word of exaggeration between her calls I asked for her cell phone number. Then I called her asking if she minded if I could finish selling her the tickets. I know that sounds a little weird but I really didn?t know how to get her to listen to me. She actually thought that was funny, paid for the tickets and went off, head down, happily texting away.

Maybe I?m making too much of this. Maybe I?m missing something. I know we are in a society where the pace is fast, people are more committed and time seems to be at a premium. But what will happen to us if we lose the skill?the art?the desire?to stop and listen to others around us.

I was doing some research on another article I?m writing and a strange irony seems to be emerging. In a society where we can communicate at almost any time, anywhere in the world, with anyone we want there is another common element binds us.

We?re lonely for someone to talk to! We miss having someone who will listen to us.

As I thought more about this I realized that I could think of a half dozen time this week I was guilty of exactly the same thing. Shamefully I didn?t want to think much harder.

Maybe it?s time for all of us to put aside our technology for a while and just listen to someone for a change.

Face to face.

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