When I first signed up to volunteer for Canadian Music Week, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I had gone through the biggest – at the time – breakup of my life. I can’t possibly be ashamed to say that most of the best things in my life have come about because I was trying to continue finding the light while my heart was broken. I can’t be ashamed because I’ve had years of evidence that this is just how I am; just how my life plays out. I need to own it1.

I remember filling out the form online, and not really expecting to hear back from them. While I had been on many committees and organized many events for school2, I had never been involved with something on this scale. To my delight they wrote back and offered me a Stage Manager position. In my first year, A Stage Manager. ME!

At least those were the thoughts going through my head at the time. Looking back, it of course makes sense. I have a knack for logistics, and I had plenty of experience organizing events. I’m so grateful that he saw that in me.

Year after year, I would look forward to this time of year – up until a few years ago this would have been in March – because when I was doing work for Canadian Music Week3 was the best time of my life. I remember a boyfriend-at-the-time asking me why I loved doing it, and what I get out of it. He tried to figure out if I was doing it for the contacts, or if I was doing it to get a job, to get into free gigs, or to find hot musicians to date4.

And truth be told, sure, I would like all of those things but the fact is that whenever I am doing something for Canadian Music Week – or any event I love – nothing else matters. I have stage fright, but I have to present to a room full of people? No problem5. My heart hurts for reasons I’m not willing to divulge at this time? Definitely no problem!

I don’t actually get to see that many gigs since I started as a Crew Chief though6 but I’m hoping this year will be different. I plan to make the most of this year, both by attending the conference and checking out some shows that I know will kick-ass7.

I love the people I get to work with, and I can’t wait to rock out8 this week.

1. Maybe that’s why none of my relationships ever work out… but I’m going to save that topic for another blog post [↩]
2. both high school and university [↩]
3. whether I was getting paid or not [↩]
4. I know better now of course: Musicians and I, just don’t mix [↩]
5. except for when there is a problem, but you can’t win them all [↩]
6. We manage the Stage Managers, it’s a whole lotta managing [↩]
7. because let’s face it, the line-up is always stellar [↩]
8. in every sense of the word [↩]