LET'S NOT DO THAT AGAIN!

 

Six months ago, me and our promotions manager (Jen Melanson) planned a double Air Raid and a double Heart of Worship - four concerts all within 10 days. Insane?  In hindsight - yes.

Jon Bauer, Scott Towaij, me, Shaelynn August and Jordan Donald.

There are many things I love about LIFE 100.3 but Air Raids are my pet project. I love live music. I love the experience of planning a night of enormous detail. And I especially love giving new bands a platform in front of an exciting LIFE audience. Jon Bauer had never played in Barrie and only a couple of times in Ontario, yet he is a full-time worship artist. I guess Ontario doesn't know about this amazing guy!

 

Likewise, The Color from Winnipeg, who have three songs played on LIFE 100.3 but have not done shows in Ontario. I saw them at an awards show, loved them, and made a note to invite them to Air Raid.

HEART OF WORSHIP - Jon, Shaelynn, Scott and Jon,
performing the closing song - "Heart of Worship" theme

The Air Raid dates were selected on availability of bands, and then availability of venues. It's a back and forth conversation between everyone to find the right dates. Air Raid had never been in Owen Sound and we wanted our 90.1 listeners to be included in the Air Raid events. Huntsville has hosted Air Raid once before and it was a great success.


Anthem For Today

With the new Heart of Worship concert series, we planned a Peterborough show, having not done a show there before, and the second show in Barrie was packed out, as expected.



The Color

Going to Peterborough, Huntsville, Owen Sound and Barrie all in 10 days seemed like a great way to bring live music and station visibility to all the cities we reach. We actually thought, "ok, once you plan one concert, it's not much more work to do a second night". WRONG!



To Tell's Zach Havens

It's twice the work. Twice the volunteers, twice the food, twice the travelling, twice the hotels, twice the potential for things to go wrong and let's not forget - twice the expense! But, we don't produce Air Raid shows for profit. In 22 Air Raids, we've found a small profit twice. So why bother?  Because it's ministry. Because it's a great event. It's fun. It's something to do that glorifies God. And it promotes Christian music artists who deserve the exposure. (The double Air Raid last week cost just under $10,000.)



Jon Bauer

At each show we feed the bands and crew upon arrival, then cater a dinner according to their contract specifications, and then an after show snack. There are P.A. systems to rent and transport. Hotels to book. Soundchecks and merch booths, videographers and guest lists!  It's kinda like a small industry with a crew of 25 for Heart of Worship and about 35 for Air Raid!

With Jen Melanson on maternity leave (nice timing - thanks! Haha), Pip Lucas is filling in as Promotions Coordinator. He had been on the job three months, and had the pleasure and pressure of organizing these four shows.

Heart of Worship - a free concert.  In my heart I don't feel it's right to charge people admission to praise the Lord. Yes, it costs money to put on shows but I don't like passing a love offering if I can help it and thankfully two sponsors offset some of the cost - Music For Young Children and Lakeview Surgery Centre.




Mel, Junky and Prosper 

Attendance: Huntsville - 115; Owen Sound 90; Peterborough 150; Barrie 400.

Thanks to all the bands who joined us for four exciting shows of music!

Two Air Raids, two Heart of Worships - four cities - 10 days!??!?   Seriously - let's not do that again!





The Color, Prosper and GPM, Anthem For Today, To Tell, Scott Towaij, Shaelynn August, Jon Bauer and Jordan Donald.