ARTISTS' MANAGER AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

For the last six years I have been working with selected artists in a variety of areas of their career development as an agent and manager. These activities include tour and concert booking, production and coordination; conceptualising, producing and writing of biographical and promotional material; grant writing and administration; negotiations with agents, record companies and distributors and critique and development of repertoire and stage presentation. Artists with whom I currently have an ongoing relationship include Veda Hille, Mother of Pearl, Galitcha, John Millard and Happy Day, Zeellia, Maryem Tollar, Mariam Matossian, Tamara Nile,The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, Bob Bossin and Eliana Cuevas. In addition to these regular clients, I have previously advised, booked or managed a number of other artists in the area of Jazz, Folk, World, and Classical music on career development issues and projects. Among these artists are Marilyn Lerner, Uzume Taiko, Sandy Scofield, Kiran Ahluwalia, Lee Pui Ming, Annabelle Chvostek, (the artist formerly known as) Jane Siberry and the Australian a cappella quintet CocoÕs Lunch.

RESOURCE PERSON

As a speaker, facilitator, advisor, writer and jury member I have provided expertise to a number of organizations. This work has included giving touring workshops for the Pacific Music Industry Association, helping to assess requests for the Saskatchewan Arts Board, addressing arts funding issues for the British Columbia Touring Council, speaking on issues related to artists with disabilities at the Kick Start Festival and Conference, advising on programming to the Vancouver Storytelling Festival and facilitating the meetings of the Jazz Alliance of Canada and National Aboriginal Recording Industry Association boards of directors. I have worked for the Canada Council for the Arts designing and coordinating a three-day workshop on touring called On The Road. I have presented this workshop this workshop at the Ontario Conference of Folk Festivals meeting in Guelph in October of 2004, in Toronto for the Guelph overflow in February of 2005, in Vancouver at Pacific Contact in April of 2005, in Happy Valley, Labrador in spring of 2005 and for the Music Industry of Nova Scotia conference in Halifax in Sept. of 2005. I will give the workshop again at the Ontario Conference of Folk Festivals in Ottawa in October of 2006 and am in discussions with SOCAN to give it in St. JohnÕs in April of 2007.

WRITING AND RADIO

I am working on a book on the history of folk music in English speaking Canada. A presentation on my research into Canadian Folk Music at the North American Folk Music Alliance annual conference in 2001 was recorded and broadcast on CBC radio as an hour-long component of Definitely Not The Opera. Selections from my archive of recorded Canadian folk music were broadcast as part of The Roundup on CBC. I have done irregular spots on a local CBC radio show, North By Northwest on my continuing research on Canadian folk music. I have written a five thousand word biographical essay on Penny Lang and her role in folk music for her CD- Gather Honey, for Borealis Records and a fifteen thousand word booklet on the history of Stringband for their CD anthology. My most recent published work is a profile of the Canadian-Vietnamese ensemble, Khac Chi for Sing Out!, the American folk music magazine.

PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCING

From the summer of 2005 through the holding of the event in June of 2006, I was the coordinator of the Arts and Culture Working Group of the World Peace Forum, an international gathering in support of peace, sustainability and social justice. In that capacity I was responsible for producing several dozen performances of music, dance and theatre as well as another dozen visual arts displays. Venues ranged from small theatres to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts to VancouverÕs 2800 seat Orpheum Theatre. Audiences ranged from a few dozen to a few thousand.

In June of 2006 I conceived and produced a two-hour multi-disciplinary presentation on the culture of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) for the regional government as a networking session at the World Urban Forum, held in Vancouver. The presentation included music, dance, architecture, photography, fashion and other cultural manifestations. It was the first time the GVRD had expressed itself in a cultural presentation.

In July of 2006 the Our Way Home Reunion was held in Castlegar, BC. This event marked the legacy and contribution made to Canadian life by the US war resisters who came to Canada during the Vietnam War and the courage of those currently seeking safe haven in Canada now, during the US war in Iraq. For this event I programmed two concerts of music with artists as diverse as the traditional Vietnamese ensemble, Khac Chi, noted folk and pop artists, Buffy Saint Marie and Holly Near and BC icons, DOA and Pied Pumkin. I am currently working on the music program for the 2007 event.

I produce the occasional concert for artists I like and, often, whom I have a history with. These have included Ani DiFranco, whose Vancouver and Victoria shows my companion and I have presented since 1994; the Irish traditional ensemble, Altan and the American blues guitar virtuoso, Roy Bookbinder.

March 1994 to May 2000

ACTING HEAD MUSIC SECTION/MUSIC OFFICER

The Canada Council For The Arts

During my six year tenure I was responsible for Touring, Career Development, Festivals, and Sound Recording programs as well as other activities in the field of jazz, folk, world and other music. Between June 1999 and April 2000, replaced Head of the Music Section. Responsible for the implementation of all Canada Council for the Arts activities relating to the support of music artists and music organizations (budget- $22,000,000), relations with Provincial and other governmental arts bodies, and administration of Music Section. Member of Transition Team charged with redesign and reorganization of Council. Founding president of local of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the first union at the Canada Council.

1978 to 1994

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/COORDINATOR

Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society

As co-founder I was responsible for all aspects of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Involved in overall planning of festival organisation leading to the first festival in August 1978. Artistic Director from 1980 until 1994, booking over 60 national and international acts per year. Built 1000 member volunteer organisation. From 1980 through 1984 acted as agent, manager, and tour booker for artists including Stringband, Ferron and Roy Forbes. Established Festival Records in 1980, which handled national distribution of thousands of recorded titles of folk music. Established Aural Tradition Records for the production of folk music recordings. Producer or executive producer of over 20 titles. Produced yearly concert series totalling hundreds of shows. Designed promotional and fundraising campaigns. Coordinated national and international tours for various performing artists attending festival. Administered annual budget of $2,000,000.

1992

ARRIVALS and ENCOUNTERS

City of Vancouver

Overall responsibility for designing and producing the official City of Vancouver component of the Captain Vancouver Bicentennial comprising a multi venue (four city parks) program of performing and visual arts and oral histories chronicling the development of the city of Vancouver and its various ethno-cultural communities over the last two hundred years.

1982 to 1986

CONSULTANT AND PRODUCER, FOLKLIFE PAVILLION

Expo 86 Corporation, Vancouver

On part time and later full time basis, conceived produced and administered 6 month long Folklife Pavilion as part of the on site entertainment at Expo 86. Led research and production for an all Canadian program of performing and visual arts, crafts and other activities. This program surveyed "the living tradition" as it exists in every province and territory. Presented over 5,000 performances and demonstrations to over 2 million people.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Until 1994 when I was required to resign all positions as part of the conflict of interest guidelines of the Canada Council for the Arts, I gave my time to a number of boards including the Pacific Music Industry Association, Sing Out!- The Folk Song Magazine, Vancouver Co-operative Radio, Vancouver Mayworks Festival, and the Folk and Traditional Advisory Committee of the JUNO awards. I was also a member of the Vancouver Arts Initiative, a committee of 12 established by and including the mayor to make policy recommendations on art and culture in the city.

CONSULTANCIES AND FREELANCE WORK

Prior to joining the Canada Council for the Arts I consulted to a number of organizations on music related issues. These projects included written contributions, radio programs, program evaluations, and programming advice. Clients included Microsoft Corporation, Department of Canadian Heritage, Secretary of Sate Multicultural Program, CBC Radio, Ontario Arts Council, National Capital Commission, and Calgary Olympic Arts Festival.

LINGUISTIC ABILITY

I speak decent Spanish, passable French, poor Italian and excellent English.

AWARDS

1992 - Canada 125 Medal

1986 - Vancouver Award for Music