HomeEmail me at jeffstonemusic@yahoo.com
Jeff Stone
PO Box 7156
Station A
Toronto, ON
M5W 1X8
Canada
Autumn,1998
Dear Friends,
Some of the following notes were a journal I kept at the start of my tour. The other bits I added to the compilation when I reached Vancovuer.
Notes On A Tour In Progress
This is the story of how I went from a nobody in the music business to...well...Vancouver, anyway. You may use this as your personal guide. I did!
I am a singer/songwriter. Some of you may think that there are too many of us already. I am of the position that the world would be a happier place if everyone were a singer/songwriter (after learning to play an instrument; sorry, but you need a grounding in music first, or else everything you write will be shamefully crappy, and then the world will not be a happier place).
I play guitar, and I made a CD called I'm Not, which was released, so to speak, through my own record company, Dachshund Records. Dachshund Records has a roster of one, at this point. I like his music very much. The music could be described as Pop Alternative Folk Rock with a Hip Hop beat. I have really got to come up with a better name for that.
I was working at a TV station in Toronto, and playing open stages when I decided to take a leave of absence and tour Canada in support of my CD, which was ready for pick-up from the duplicator on May 20, 1998. I was going to take a train. Not to the duplicator. To tour Canada. I simply took a city bus to get to the duplicator.
One evening, I said to fellow singer/songwriter and good friend Tom Glenne, "Hey there fellow singer-songwriter and good friend Tom Glenne."
To which he said, "yes?"
Then I said, "I would like to do a gig before I leave (June 16). Do you know of a place that I would be able to book really quickly?"
I would not have written the last three paragraphs of course if the answer was not yes. He arranged to have a gig for Sunday, June 14, 1998, with him and me and one invitee each.
I invited the duo of Joel and Dave. Tom invited Leela Gilday. I had not known Leela before, although I had seen her perform once at an open stage.
We all held a gig meeting, during which Leela informed me of how she was planning to do a bit of a tour, starting westward on June 18.
I'm doing exactly the same thing", I said.
She asked if I wanted a ride to Edmonton. I accepted. This is the first of many coincidences that told me I was on the right track, or some track anyway. You will get this theme as you read on. (ed. note: future letters.)
Leela also invited Tom a few days later. He hummed and hawed and accepted. The tour was born. The new date for leaving Toronto was Friday, June 19, 1998.
The June 14 gig went great. Tom had promised the owner of The Oasis an audience of 40. Assuming exaggeration, she felt 25 was acceptable, and it was apparent that she had doubts we would bring out that many. She has had bad luck in the past with this sort of thing.
I think the final count was 97 (paid) for a room that is meant to hold 50. Everyone performed well, and I was deluged with compliments and made about 10 CD sales. My cut of the door was $71.
Tom is an excellent guitarist and lyricist, and has very good stage presents, which he gives out to little kids who are good.
Leela is a superb singer, and also a guitarist, and a songwriter. At least two of her songs should become big hits, as far as I am concerned, and the others I have heard are solid.
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The response to my last letter was wonderful. Some of you wrote me back, and I want to encourage all of you to do that. Some of the letters were very touching. I want to share one of them with you:
Dear Mr. Stone,
We at Mastercard value you as a customer. However, we note that your bill is several months outstanding and growing at an alarming rate. We are hereby cancelling your Mastercard, and should you not pay the full amount by the end of this month, we will be sending your bill to a collection agency. And not just any collection agency; one that hires goons.
If you have any concerns outside of your outstanding bill and big brutal ex-cons at your door, please do not hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
U. O'Bigtime
Manager, Past Due Accounts
Mastercard
Thank you, Mr. O'Bigtime for your kind letter. And everyone else, keep that mail rolling in!
Until my next writing,
Jeff Stone