Hey Friends
So today is my last day at Dine Alone, and I thought it would be nice to write a little somethin’ somethin’ to say farewell.
Dine Alone was my first real experience in this crazy world we call the music industry. I was terrified, and had no idea what to expect. I can still remember how nervous I was to talk to Joel for the first time. I’m still counting my lucky stars that I didn’t puke on him. I can imagine the outcome of that encounter would have ended differently…
I have no idea how I got so damn lucky. Honestly. I just spent the past 10 months being a part of a team who work their asses off for some of the sickest bands in Canada. Most of my friends spent the past 10 months filing paperwork.
This probably sounds uber corny, but I feel like Dine Alone molded me, took a little piece of me and made me into a stronger, educated, and confident individual. Throughout my time in the office, I’ve made some great friends, learned many lessons, and had an endless amount of opportunities.
I owe it all to these eight amazing people:
Joel – Thank you for taking a chance on me, and thank you for being the world’s most humble man. You truly do work your ass off for the bands, the music, and the people you love. It’s such an inspiration, and I thank you for letting me be a part of your stellar team.
Lisa – Oh man, where the crap do I start? You rock, plain and simple. I don’t think I can ever say thank you enough for all that you’ve done for me. You’re such a mentor, someone I will always look up to. (Warning: here comes the sappy part) Thank you for kicking my ass when it needed to be kicked, for guiding me when I got a bit lost, for encouraging me when I was damn scared, and for believing in me. All the time and energy you’ve invested in me is so much appreciated, and I hope I make you proud :) Thank you for everything Lisa.
Tricia – From the bottom of my heart, and the top, and the middle, actually, the whole damn thing – thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for letting me do all your tour stuff. You totally spoiled me, thank you for always including me. I’m going to miss all the laughs, you put up with my retardedness, and I appreciate that. I hope you and your Macintosh learn to love each other. Just remember that when all else fails, Apple Q!
Ryan – It was such a pleasure working with you. Throughout these months you’ve put a lot of trust in me, and I’m so grateful to you for doing so. I’m also thankful for your kind words of encouragement, especially with this new chapter in my life. It means the absolute most to be supported. Thanks again Ryan!
Serge – You like Beat Union so that means you’re pretty much amazing. Thanks for being a really wicked dude, and always helping me out when I have retarded questions. You’re a wealth of musical knowledge, and it’s quite impressive. It’s been great working with you on festivals, kind of sad to have to leave it, I was learning a shitload! I’m sure I will see you around from time to time, so let’s have some drinksssss, I mean, a chat…..with…..drinks? Take care Serge!
Justin – Alright, so I talk a lot of shit about you, but you’re actually one of my favourite people. You totally listen to all my lame-o stories about hookers, and streetcar crazies. Most people would walk away and pretend they have something to do, but you actually stick around and endure. I appreciate that. Although I did not actually throw your shit on the ground, I definitely contemplated it. Lucky for me, karma found it first! I’m going to miss our little fights and asshole behaviour, it was fun :) You’re a very talented individual, and I wish you the best buddy.
Nathan – So you by far have THE BEST music in the office. Your room was always my favourite place to sit and work. I really admire your work ethic Nathan, and hope you achieve everything you set out to. Also, both you and Guenette are a freakin riot, thanks for the laughs!
Dave – I’m pretty sure you’re the nicest man of life. Thank you for always being positive. We only got work with each other for a short time, but I’m so grateful regardless. Also, thank you for singing “It’s so coooooooooold in the D” at the top of your lungs, it’s my favourite part of the day! Behave yourself Guenette!
To our Curbsiders - YOU make a difference, and all of your hard work makes this possible. Thank you for being my family these past few months!
Holy crap, I wrote a novel. Sorry. I suck at goodbyes :(
It’s been a motherf***ing blast!!! Thanks again!
Love Kels
xoxo
June 16, 2009
May 29, 2009
Young Cardinals on MuchMusic's First Singles Player
Alexisonfire “Young Cardinals” is featured on MuchMusic’s first spin singles player. Check it out:
Young Cardinals on MuchMusic's First Singles Player
Lauren.
Young Cardinals on MuchMusic's First Singles Player
Lauren.
April 16, 2009
ARKELLS POSTER CONTEST
Hollerrrr
So Dine Alone Curbside recently held an Arkells Poster contest for our Canadian Street Teamers! The results were intense, and everyone put so much effort into this task - they all impressed the crap outta me!
I'm so lucky to work with each and every one of our Curbsiders, and truly feel all their mad love and dedication makes the biggest difference.
Our VanCity Curbsider Sarah decorated her whole damn car in Arkells posters, including her back windows. I feared for her safety, but loved her just that much more for doing it. What a trooper!
Our wicked family team Cam & Dagny from Curbside Toronto totally rocked the downtown core with Arkells posters, and busted their humps at every show possible.
Lastly, our winners Lucina & Fabiana completely took the competition to the next level! With their own Arkells inspired decor, they took on a busy street corner in downtown Edmonton.
Check out the photos below and see for yourself! Feel free to check out all contest submissions at www.myspace.com/dinealonecurbside.
Thanks again to everyone who participated, and to the rad staff at Dine Alone for voting.
Much love, and respect
-Kelso
So Dine Alone Curbside recently held an Arkells Poster contest for our Canadian Street Teamers! The results were intense, and everyone put so much effort into this task - they all impressed the crap outta me!
I'm so lucky to work with each and every one of our Curbsiders, and truly feel all their mad love and dedication makes the biggest difference.
Our VanCity Curbsider Sarah decorated her whole damn car in Arkells posters, including her back windows. I feared for her safety, but loved her just that much more for doing it. What a trooper!
Our wicked family team Cam & Dagny from Curbside Toronto totally rocked the downtown core with Arkells posters, and busted their humps at every show possible.
Lastly, our winners Lucina & Fabiana completely took the competition to the next level! With their own Arkells inspired decor, they took on a busy street corner in downtown Edmonton.
Check out the photos below and see for yourself! Feel free to check out all contest submissions at www.myspace.com/dinealonecurbside.
Thanks again to everyone who participated, and to the rad staff at Dine Alone for voting.
Much love, and respect
-Kelso
March 10, 2009
Never Hiding in the Moments of Weakness and Insecurities
I work in a business were business and personal blends, were love and commerce collides, where friendships come and go, where the product is an art and they revolt against commerce; that very commerce that can give them a career, where my peers are more interested in doing cocaine than seeing their wives, where people do not have to take responsibility and the hiring and firing of people is so common that nothing can build. Its fucked, for sure. I love it because I would like to believe we do our best to stand out amongst those people and I truly love music, i love living my childhood, teenage and young adult dream.
Lately things are going amazing but i am still faced with plenty of pressures and business decisions that will effect peoples lives in a positive and negative way. I still stand strong and make those decisions but god damn does it take a toll on my heart. The hard thing is being some one who cares when you have to be strictly business. I have the ability to business the fuck out of things but its does chip away at ones soul.
Then you take that home and don't know how to channel the it, at least I have moments of weakness, i guess. I actually said a hurtful thing to my best friend in the world, my love, just because my emotions where so far gone I didn't know how to use her as crutch. I know that is typical guy but no one wants to be that. I was mean to someone because I didn't know how to remove this ability to see the other side. You have to fire someone because they are not good enough, I look at the chain reaction, even though its that persons fault for not excelling, I still sympathize.
Its my burden as business begins to grow. The best advice I can give is to deal with things head on and don't let them build. The more they build the more things get out of control. The more you try to hide in those moments of weakness and insecurities the more they will eat at you. I think I am writing this more for myself as a reminder but maybe it can help, who knows, back to work
joel
Lately things are going amazing but i am still faced with plenty of pressures and business decisions that will effect peoples lives in a positive and negative way. I still stand strong and make those decisions but god damn does it take a toll on my heart. The hard thing is being some one who cares when you have to be strictly business. I have the ability to business the fuck out of things but its does chip away at ones soul.
Then you take that home and don't know how to channel the it, at least I have moments of weakness, i guess. I actually said a hurtful thing to my best friend in the world, my love, just because my emotions where so far gone I didn't know how to use her as crutch. I know that is typical guy but no one wants to be that. I was mean to someone because I didn't know how to remove this ability to see the other side. You have to fire someone because they are not good enough, I look at the chain reaction, even though its that persons fault for not excelling, I still sympathize.
Its my burden as business begins to grow. The best advice I can give is to deal with things head on and don't let them build. The more they build the more things get out of control. The more you try to hide in those moments of weakness and insecurities the more they will eat at you. I think I am writing this more for myself as a reminder but maybe it can help, who knows, back to work
joel
February 23, 2009
Roaming in Italy...brought to you by Rogers!
This is a little story, a life lesson if you will, about how a mobile company can fuck you if you aren’t careful!!!
It turns out roaming DOES in fact cost a shit load of money and if you aren’t mindful of your usage you may run into this situation. Lisa got a call from Rogers today claiming that my mobile usage was unusually high and it was primarily used in Italy. Well according to Rogers I had used enough data and minutes to rack up our company bill to $10,000….HOLY FUCKING DONKEY DICKS! Apparently that was only my share of the bill. You see, Ryan and I recently went to the MIDEM Music Conference in Cannes, France to do some business and post conference decided to take a couple of days to chill and visit Italy where we checked out Cinque Terra. I’m well aware of roaming charges, but unbeknownst to me, I was accumulating some serious charges by what seemed to be infrequently checking emails or maybe sending a text here or there. The funny thing is I barely used my phone while in France and Italy since, as those who own iPhones know, the battery is terrible and dies within the hour. That’s why the obscenely high amount was really strange to me. Lisa finishes her heart pounding call with Rogers and comes out of her office half flustered, half painfully smiling, “HOLY SHIT SERGE YOU ARE SO LUCKY”. Before any explanation of that statement was made to me, the news that I accumulated almost $10,000 worth of charges during my trip to MIDEM and Italy came from Lisa’s face. My stomach almost exploded out of my mouth. The prospect of me having to pay such a gross amount of money back to the company on top of dealing with my own personal debt, was not something I was seemingly looking forward to…who the eff would. Alas, there is a happy ending to this monetary nightmare. Lisa miraculously managed to get those charges removed from our account and essentially got Rogers to wipe the slate clean. I don’t know how she did it but thanks to Lisa I basically averted a premature midlife crisis! By the way, did I tell you I sold my iPhone just yesterday? Welcome back Blackberry!
Serge.
It turns out roaming DOES in fact cost a shit load of money and if you aren’t mindful of your usage you may run into this situation. Lisa got a call from Rogers today claiming that my mobile usage was unusually high and it was primarily used in Italy. Well according to Rogers I had used enough data and minutes to rack up our company bill to $10,000….HOLY FUCKING DONKEY DICKS! Apparently that was only my share of the bill. You see, Ryan and I recently went to the MIDEM Music Conference in Cannes, France to do some business and post conference decided to take a couple of days to chill and visit Italy where we checked out Cinque Terra. I’m well aware of roaming charges, but unbeknownst to me, I was accumulating some serious charges by what seemed to be infrequently checking emails or maybe sending a text here or there. The funny thing is I barely used my phone while in France and Italy since, as those who own iPhones know, the battery is terrible and dies within the hour. That’s why the obscenely high amount was really strange to me. Lisa finishes her heart pounding call with Rogers and comes out of her office half flustered, half painfully smiling, “HOLY SHIT SERGE YOU ARE SO LUCKY”. Before any explanation of that statement was made to me, the news that I accumulated almost $10,000 worth of charges during my trip to MIDEM and Italy came from Lisa’s face. My stomach almost exploded out of my mouth. The prospect of me having to pay such a gross amount of money back to the company on top of dealing with my own personal debt, was not something I was seemingly looking forward to…who the eff would. Alas, there is a happy ending to this monetary nightmare. Lisa miraculously managed to get those charges removed from our account and essentially got Rogers to wipe the slate clean. I don’t know how she did it but thanks to Lisa I basically averted a premature midlife crisis! By the way, did I tell you I sold my iPhone just yesterday? Welcome back Blackberry!
Serge.
January 30, 2009
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