Working at the JUNO Live Music Labs & Children's Concert

For weeks I've been helping plan the JUNOS Live Music Labs - liaising with the marketing team, ordering catering, organizing parking, planning logistics, the list goes on. The big weekend finally came last week and for the most part, everything worked out well. The crowd wasn't as big as we were hoping but what can you do?

Carly Rae Jepsen and JRDN composed a song on the spot with suggestions from the audience. The verses may not have made the most sense (since the ideas were from the crowd) but I have to admit, the chorus Carly Rae came up with is really catchy. "Kiss me, if you want too. I've got butterflies-eyes-close my eyes, I'm flying."

Carly Rae is so energetic and adorable and I loved that she was really into the whole process. JRDN is surprisingly cute in person! They both seemed genuinely nice and were down for pictures and autographs with their fans. I have a newfound respect for the two of them. 

Lyrics written down by Carly Rae Jepsen

Source: JRDNmusic

Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida also came on Saturday to talk about their songwriting process and they brought their 3 sons with them (so cute!). It was interesting to me to see how different Chantal and Raine's personalities are from each other. The highlight of my day, hands down, was hearing Raine Maida singing "Innocent" with just his acoustic guitar. That man's voice is hauntingly beautiful.

Kardinal Offishall came on Sunday. The audience was the smallest out of the four Live Music Labs but Kardi was really humble and kept thanking the crowd for coming. He's also got some pretty funny stories and a great laugh.

Down With Webster came in the afternoon and the minute I first saw them, I couldn't help but smile. I don't know what it is about them that makes me act like a teenager. I met them briefly in the Green Room and was my usual quiet dork self. It's kind of funny that as I shook their hands, they each introduced themselves to me. I'm well aware of who they are but it's nice that they're polite and still down-to-earth guys. As I took a picture with them (which I'm still waiting to get from the OSC host!), Tyler was next to me and his phone was making noises - he was playing Draw Something and across the screen were stick-figures and the word "whores", haha. I wonder what the word was.

Pat & Cam may have become my new favourites...

Look what I saw parked next to my car ;)

Going on at the same time was a JUNO Children's Concert with 2 groups: The Bee's Knees and the Monkey Bunch. I pretty much organized the entire event by myself and I'm really proud of how well it went. The little kids seemed to have a great time dancing along to the music. I missed the second half of Down With Webster's Live Music Lab since I had to help with the Children's Concert load-out but they were so appreciative that I didn't mind. I even got hugs and bananas from the Monkey Bunch!

It was a tiring weekend and the Science Centre is a really awkward venue to load-in band equipment (especially at 8am when I'm not even functioning yet!). I definitely got a mini-workout running up and down 5 floors. It was really cool to see all these artists but honestly, I'm glad that's all over and done with. Once I got home, I spent the rest of the day lying on the couch in front of the TV. That's my paradise, haha.