2010 Wrapup
The past year, 2010, was something of a relief to many in the entertainment industry. After suffering through two years of tough times, thanks to a global economic meltdown, 2010 saw the beginning of what will hopefully be a long-term recovery.
Our band, The Pride, was not immune to the effects of this weak economy and though we were moderately busy in 2008 and 2009 it was a far cry from previous years. We noticed quite early in 2010 a modest recovery as more and more companies began to host conferences, parties and other events and we were in fact noticeably busier in 2010 than 2009. This is obviously a good thing and we look forward to an even better and busier year in 2011.
After a very busy summer and decent fall season we raced into the 2010 holiday season with confidence, armed with a respectable number of contracts for parties, large and small. Notable among them was a Christmas party for the CSSS (formerly the CLSC) held at the golf club in Lachute. Truly an epic party, the guests were as energetic as any we've ever had and, playing as a 6 piece, we gave everything we had to them. With the enthusiastic promise of a re-booking for next year's event and a raft of business cards handed out, it was mission accomplished.
Attitude has so much to do with the success of a party. While we, the band, always do our very best to entertain all of our audiences, I've noticed that the corporate attitude toward the party itself and its guests plays a very large role. On occasion it seems as though the company feels it is obliged to host a party and begrudgingly offers a meager budget, all the while downplaying the significance of the planned celebration. This can lead to a certain reticence on the part of the party-goers to really let loose and have fun as it may seem inappropriate. The party for the CSSS, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. The management really encouraged the employees to go for it... let their hair down and party. This enthusiastic attitude meant the guests could simply relax and truly enjoy themselves. And, man, did they ever. I have no doubt that employee morale was improved by that simple gesture on the part of the management. If any corporate bosses read this please take note: while these are merely my own observations and are not in the least scientifically valid, my 30+ years in the business, I think, confers on me a certain authority and expertise in the entertainment industry.
So... what's next? Nothing earth-shatteringly different for the near-future. Rather a continuation of the momentum built up over the last 12 months, hopes for a yet stronger economy, and many more parties to look forward to. The Pride already has wedding and corporate bookings throughout the year and while we are far from completely booked up we are anticipating a strong and busy 2011. We hope to see you at an event soon!
As always, I and the rest of The Pride would like to wish all of you the very best for this New Year, with much happiness and prosperity.
Marc C.
Our band, The Pride, was not immune to the effects of this weak economy and though we were moderately busy in 2008 and 2009 it was a far cry from previous years. We noticed quite early in 2010 a modest recovery as more and more companies began to host conferences, parties and other events and we were in fact noticeably busier in 2010 than 2009. This is obviously a good thing and we look forward to an even better and busier year in 2011.
After a very busy summer and decent fall season we raced into the 2010 holiday season with confidence, armed with a respectable number of contracts for parties, large and small. Notable among them was a Christmas party for the CSSS (formerly the CLSC) held at the golf club in Lachute. Truly an epic party, the guests were as energetic as any we've ever had and, playing as a 6 piece, we gave everything we had to them. With the enthusiastic promise of a re-booking for next year's event and a raft of business cards handed out, it was mission accomplished.
Attitude has so much to do with the success of a party. While we, the band, always do our very best to entertain all of our audiences, I've noticed that the corporate attitude toward the party itself and its guests plays a very large role. On occasion it seems as though the company feels it is obliged to host a party and begrudgingly offers a meager budget, all the while downplaying the significance of the planned celebration. This can lead to a certain reticence on the part of the party-goers to really let loose and have fun as it may seem inappropriate. The party for the CSSS, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. The management really encouraged the employees to go for it... let their hair down and party. This enthusiastic attitude meant the guests could simply relax and truly enjoy themselves. And, man, did they ever. I have no doubt that employee morale was improved by that simple gesture on the part of the management. If any corporate bosses read this please take note: while these are merely my own observations and are not in the least scientifically valid, my 30+ years in the business, I think, confers on me a certain authority and expertise in the entertainment industry.
So... what's next? Nothing earth-shatteringly different for the near-future. Rather a continuation of the momentum built up over the last 12 months, hopes for a yet stronger economy, and many more parties to look forward to. The Pride already has wedding and corporate bookings throughout the year and while we are far from completely booked up we are anticipating a strong and busy 2011. We hope to see you at an event soon!
As always, I and the rest of The Pride would like to wish all of you the very best for this New Year, with much happiness and prosperity.
Marc C.
posted by The Pride at 2:00 PM
