Toronto – Canadian Music Week (CMW) is the biggest music festival dedicated to promoting and discovering purely Canadian talent. Fellow Canucks from the left all the way to the right coast congregate in downtown Toronto for five days of music, film, and talks. Over the past few years, the festival has gained a lot traction. Last year marked the first time the entire shindig was sold out.
This year will prove to be no different. There are many exciting acts, great times to be had, and live music happening all over the city. However, with success comes a few pain points. Hot shows mean long line-ups, and sometimes the best laid plans of mice and men are led astray due to the sheer number of people milling about. Have no fear though, the Panic Manual has got yo’ back with this handy dandy survival guide.
1. Minimize Venue Changes
When looking at the line-up, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer number of choices staring at you. It’s hard to resist the temptation to put together an agenda that involves being at Lee’s for 10, at the Gladstone for 11, at the Horseshoe for midnight, and finally back at Lee’s for 1. But resist it, you must.
I’m here to tell you that this kind of plan is sheer lunacy. Lunacy I tell you. This will likely tire you out, preventing you from actually enjoying the music. The combination of line-ups and commute times between venues means that this sort of plan is nigh impossible. It can actually be quite fun to set up camp at a single venue that contains a mix of some music you want to see, combined with bands not yet discovered. My sweet spot and general rule of thumb is two venues per night. I have yet to regret this rule.
2. Eyes On The Prize
If there is one band that you would be really upset to miss, then don’t feel bad about the opportunity cost of making sure you see them. If they’ve already generated a lot of buzz, then it’s going to be a busy show. Busy shows have line-ups, so show up a set or two early to avoid the lines and ensure a spot.
An all-you-can eat ticket doesn’t mean you have to eat all you can eat. Focusing on the shows that are important to you will leave you happier than trying to see every band you possibly can.
3. Explore!
One of the great things about CMW is that it’s a great place to sample Canadian music. You get to hear a little snippet of a band in a convenient 40 minute serving. If you like what you hear, you can follow up after the fact. If not, no big deal. So get out there and listen to music you’ve never heard before! That’s the whole point!
And that’s the entirety of the CMW Survival Guide for 2011. I wanted to keep this list simple and straightforward. Tune in over the next few weeks as we post both previews and reviews of exciting bands playing the festival.
Oh, and don’t forget to be prepared for inclement weather!
