Say this about C'est What

[mrsomethingx2]

read it, pass it on, and help out!

>The music room at C'est What may be forced to close at the end of >August.

I'm attaching the info from the owners/managers below.

>

>They're asking everyone to e-mail the contacts below, but another >good

idea is to hit the local press:

>

>- NOW: letters@nowtoronto.com

>- Eye: letters@eye.net

>- Toronto Star: lettertoed@thestar.ca

>

>... keep your letters short and to the point, and if you're going >to

mention the landlord, keep it diplomatic, as the whole point is >to get him

to change his mind on this misguided situation. also, >you can send the

same letter to more than one media outlet, but if >you are, don't cc them

all at once or they're catch on and won't >run your letter.

>

>let's do what we can to save this gem!

>

>FROM THE MANAGERS:

>

>nia @ C'est What is being forced to close.

>

>The landlord, Michael Tippin, wants to triple the rent. We can not >afford

the $60,000 increase he is demanding (could you?).

>

>HELP!

>

>We want your help in making Mr. Tippin aware of the impact of his

>decision on our community.

>

>Let your voice be heard. E-mail us at savelivemusic@cestwhat.com >and

please cc your comments to Mr. Tippin (info@tippin.net), the >Mayor

(mayor_miller@toronto.ca), our City Councillor

>(councillor_mcconnell@toronto.ca), and other interested parties.

>

>Save Live Music! Please forward this message on to anyone you >think

appropriate - everyone's voice helps.

>

>Our lease in the music room expires at the end of August. The >landlord,

Michael Tippin, is seeking to triple the rent. As a >result, nia @ C'est

What is being forced to close. (Unless there >is a reprieve) the last show

at this great little venue will be >Saturday August 21. Our thanks go out

to the thousands of talented >musicians that have graced our Church St.

stage over the last >dozen years. We will be hosting a celebration of the

past, >present, and future of the local music scene throughout August..

>Please stay tuned...

>

>*BACKGROUND*

>

>C'est What/nia has presented fresh original pop music with an edge >for

over fifteen years. This encompasses a wide range of styles >from ambient

to funk, hip-hop, rock, and more than a few in >between.

>

>Jewel, Wilco, Jeff Buckley, and Roger Hodgson are among the >international

acts that have been seen on our stage but local >artists performing their

own material are always given preference. >Some of our notable home-grown

alumni include Hawksley Workman, >Sarah Harmer, The Tea Party, Barenaked

Ladies, and Ron Sexsmith.

>

>Our music room is licensed for 105 people. We have a top quality >sound

system and excellent engineers. Great food and an >outstanding selection of

beer, wine, and single malt scotch also >contribute to what is arguably

Toronto's finest performance and >showcase atmosphere.

>

>We believe that venues like nia have an important role to play in >our

musical culture. It is in the interest of all of those in the >musical

community to encourage people to support the live music >scene. For our

part, we do our best to balance artistic and >commercial concerns and

provide a comfortable environment for the >listener, first class

presentation of quality original acts, and >professional technical support

for the performers.

[Mr. Musicface]

Thanks a tonne mrsomething - I'll link this message in the thread I already started on the C'est What issue.

Peace,

Mr. M.

[SaggyBalls]

Torontonians have got to learn to not be so snobby and picky. it's hard to get people out in any city, and toronto's filled with so much music. people seem to have gotten snobby about it in the sense of 'oh i can see them every week' or 'they're not as cool as this band so i won't go' or 'they're not cool. i've never heard of them yet'

150 people out for GTB on a weekend?? at the elmo? still not a flop but come on.

20 people out to that1guy??

at least the sisters euclid pack em in on a monday but i hear the orbit room is TINY.

anyways, people in canada certainly don't go out to enjoy live entertainment as much as they could and should.

i blame their $80 cable bills and convenience based mifestyle, the downtown parking epidemic, and the afforementioned coolness mixed with apathy.

no good really. toronto's probably one of the richest cities in north america as far as culture is concerned and who's enthused? i'd say the people that DON'T live in toronto.

mix that with the high expenses of just LIVING in toronto or any city with a decent nightlife...still cheaper than a movie.

[hamilton]

I'm not sure that not going to see GTB or that1guy means that Torontonians aren't interested in "culture". ::

[CyberHippie]

Yeah that's part of the problem, Toronto is a rich city, but everyone is so spent by the end of day from working so hard to make that mad cash. It's messed up really. People's priorities in this town are out of whack, work, work, work...

However that aside, because there is so much going on in this city, people's musical dollars are much more divided. Personally I don't have the time or money to make it out to everything, typically I get out to one or two gigs a week. Isn't that enough?

[SaggyBalls]

i'm not blaming the people that get out to see shows and support culture...it's the many people that don't just because they're too lazy to do much else other than watch jeopardy or reality television.

you're awesome. you do a lot for culture.

i tried in london and people were even sillier there...not the people that went out but the people that only said anything after 2 venues closed in a month (bye bye bacchus)

anyhow, i'm off to eat my salad a la blue cheese, euopean mix, olives and french dressing.

[CyberHippie]

Sorry didn't mean to lash out. I know what you mean... If more phans did make it out, then it wouldn't matter that I only make it out to a couple of gigs a week. There just seems to be this guilt factor involved if you are a regular, but don't make it out to a particular event. I don't know what the solution is, but I guess there is just too much going on for the heady folks that do make it out. I can think of many times where I've had three or more choices of what too see on a given night. I think one of the biggest shames is the Creaking Tree String Quartet. They are one of the most fantastic, talented, unique bands in the Toronto scene. Yet they play a tiny little club, for free. They should be selling out Hummingbird Centre for christ sakes.

anyhow, i'm off to eat my salad a la blue cheese, euopean mix, olives and french dressing.

You should move to Toronto! LOL

[hamilton]

i'm not blaming the people that get out to see shows and support culture...it's the many people that don't just because they're too lazy to do much else other than watch jeopardy or reality television.

Would you blame a non-sports fan for the loss of a pro sports team in a community, though? People have different interests, and might not be supporting live music for any number of reasons. I skipped GTB last time they were in Hamilton, and would have no trouble skipping them again the next time they were here - they just don't really interest me.

Plus, why focus on the live music scene as an indicator of a community's interest level in "culture"? Plenty of cultural events, exhibitions and such do perfectly well in Toronto and other cities.