Mark Wilson
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Going to Canada!
- Thread starter viss
- Start date
Hey guys, thank you very much for tips and advices, very nice community here. Really appreciate your help. Have been pretty busy these days and didn't get a chance to say anything but yeah, don't even know what to say anymore. Of course now I'm really willing to go but when I start thinking of it I get more and more questions on my mind, don't want to start to annoy you and overuse (?) your kindness, but if you have more advices and recommendations - fire away! Like - is it hard to find a room to rent and how much could one cost (now I understand that it really depends on province and city but still - approx.), ok, let's say in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. I could compare it with typical wages ( http://www.livingin-canada.com/work-salaries-wages-canada.html ) and get a bit better picture of situation. Also, are cover bands popular in Canadian bars? I think it would be great if I could find a band that I could earn some money while doing what I love, working still a part time somewhere so I could pay a rent and buy food, but that's not a priority, priority is to find a job, stimulate Canadian economics by paying taxes and having a great year in Canada as a reward for that 
Ok, I had a hard day and it's late, so I am not taking responsibility for what I am writing right now
Cheers!
Ok, I had a hard day and it's late, so I am not taking responsibility for what I am writing right now
Cheers!
Its pretty easy to find a part time job here in Calgary. Most places are always hiring. The problem here is finding an affordable place to stay, although I know a lot of people who rent out rooms in their places for roughly $400-$500 a month.
Just remember to say "aboot" and sprinkle your sentences with a couple of "eh"s. You'll do just fine.
When I was in Alberta, I was offered three jobs in the 6 days that I was there. I wasn't even looking for a job. People just knew that I was from out of province. All of the jobs were for more than I am making here in Ontario.
lowsound
lowsound
no man, people flourish here in hunt of the drunken newfie. Which happens to be me a lot of the time.
Okay...if you want to move somewhere for the music? Go to Toronto Ontario. Montreal's a distinct second place there although it's a great place to be also.
Here would be my top 5...not just for music...but the top 3 sure are.
1. Toronto
2. Montreal
3. Vancouver/Ottawa
4. Halifax
5. Thunder Bay
If you just want to be able to live well and have a great time in a city...go to Vancouver. Mountains, salt water, natural beauty...awesome place. Also, most of Canada and the United states are Tertiary produce markets...meaning that the quality of fruit and vegetables ranks 3rd place or worse in the continent, while Vancouver is a primary market.
In the warmer months, local produce is easy to find and blows that rule out of the water. We make some of the finest wine, cheese, beer, and whiskey in the world here in Canada
We don't just HAVE poutine, we invented it. Best Poutine West of Ottawa is in Vancouver...belgian fries AND fritz both have it.
Vancouver is the only other truly urban city outside of New York City - meaning that in almost every neighbourhood there's everything within walking distance. Parks, Grocers, Shopping, laundry...everything you need.
But if you want to go somewhere that has world class music somewhere every night in a few genres, the only place to do that is Toronto.
If you want a few nights off a week...Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Halifax are great choices. Quebec City is gorgeous and people there are really nice as well.
If you plan on doing a lot of travelling, Vancouver, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and southeastern New Brunswick are all fantastically close to the United States and a bunch of different communities and breathtaking natural beauty...both in the wilderness and under dresses (yes there are a lot of beautiful women)
Canada's a great place filled with wonder, a great standard of living, and friendly people. Some places are friendlier than others and the vibe is really different from place to place.
I currently live near Ottawa. It's hot in the summer (easily gets to 35 degrees C in july/august) and cold in the winter (tomorrow it's -20 without the windchill (-35C))
Don't come here FOR the music scene, but get into it when you're here.
As much as I love it here I still adore visiting the United States. I loved driving through Washington State, to Cape Cod, and talking to Americans. It's a great place to live so close to even though I'm always happy to come home.
Try to make sure you can take trips south of the border. You'll have a great time, especially if you can set yourself up within a day's drive to Chicago, New York, or Seattle. There are so many places in between if you decide you don't want to drive so far...and you'll still have a great time.
Here would be my top 5...not just for music...but the top 3 sure are.
1. Toronto
2. Montreal
3. Vancouver/Ottawa
4. Halifax
5. Thunder Bay
If you just want to be able to live well and have a great time in a city...go to Vancouver. Mountains, salt water, natural beauty...awesome place. Also, most of Canada and the United states are Tertiary produce markets...meaning that the quality of fruit and vegetables ranks 3rd place or worse in the continent, while Vancouver is a primary market.
In the warmer months, local produce is easy to find and blows that rule out of the water. We make some of the finest wine, cheese, beer, and whiskey in the world here in Canada
We don't just HAVE poutine, we invented it. Best Poutine West of Ottawa is in Vancouver...belgian fries AND fritz both have it.
Vancouver is the only other truly urban city outside of New York City - meaning that in almost every neighbourhood there's everything within walking distance. Parks, Grocers, Shopping, laundry...everything you need.
But if you want to go somewhere that has world class music somewhere every night in a few genres, the only place to do that is Toronto.
If you want a few nights off a week...Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Halifax are great choices. Quebec City is gorgeous and people there are really nice as well.
If you plan on doing a lot of travelling, Vancouver, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and southeastern New Brunswick are all fantastically close to the United States and a bunch of different communities and breathtaking natural beauty...both in the wilderness and under dresses (yes there are a lot of beautiful women)
Canada's a great place filled with wonder, a great standard of living, and friendly people. Some places are friendlier than others and the vibe is really different from place to place.
I currently live near Ottawa. It's hot in the summer (easily gets to 35 degrees C in july/august) and cold in the winter (tomorrow it's -20 without the windchill (-35C))
Don't come here FOR the music scene, but get into it when you're here.
As much as I love it here I still adore visiting the United States. I loved driving through Washington State, to Cape Cod, and talking to Americans. It's a great place to live so close to even though I'm always happy to come home.
Try to make sure you can take trips south of the border. You'll have a great time, especially if you can set yourself up within a day's drive to Chicago, New York, or Seattle. There are so many places in between if you decide you don't want to drive so far...and you'll still have a great time.
I'm going to throw my hat in the bag and say try Winnipeg, Manitoba. It's where I lived for the first 18 years of my life - from birth until about 5 months ago. I'm currently living in Ontario and hope to move back to Winnipeg soon.
Pros:
Finding a job shouldn't be hard. Lots of pubs. Great music scene. Apartments go for between 400 and 800$ a month. Expect about 600$ if you want somewhere half decent.
You probably won't have a hard time finding a band to play with.
We are also the Slurpee capital of the world...loooots of 7-11s around...good times.
We have a world famous music festival in summer (The Winnipeg Folk Festival)
Poutine is great here.
Many parts of the city are very beautiful.
Cons:
We are also the murder capital of canada so...yeah...Really, though, it isn't that bad. I never feel unsafe walking around at night or anything - it is mostly due to stupid gang stuff. Stay away from them, and you shouldn't have problems.
Also, we get very hot in summer, and very cold in winter. We are talking 50 above to 50 below if we include humidity and wind chill. Which we do.
I have been over lots of Canada, and Winnipegs music scene is top notch.
Pros:
Finding a job shouldn't be hard. Lots of pubs. Great music scene. Apartments go for between 400 and 800$ a month. Expect about 600$ if you want somewhere half decent.
You probably won't have a hard time finding a band to play with.
We are also the Slurpee capital of the world...loooots of 7-11s around...good times.
We have a world famous music festival in summer (The Winnipeg Folk Festival)
Poutine is great here.
Many parts of the city are very beautiful.
Cons:
We are also the murder capital of canada so...yeah...Really, though, it isn't that bad. I never feel unsafe walking around at night or anything - it is mostly due to stupid gang stuff. Stay away from them, and you shouldn't have problems.
Also, we get very hot in summer, and very cold in winter. We are talking 50 above to 50 below if we include humidity and wind chill. Which we do.
I have been over lots of Canada, and Winnipegs music scene is top notch.
You know Moses Mayes?
That's funny - the keyboard player is a family friend of mine...in fact, he was my grade 3 teacher!
That's funny - the keyboard player is a family friend of mine...in fact, he was my grade 3 teacher!
Grade 3 elementary school or piano teacher?
I've seen em around Ontario and in Vancouver. Probably about 8 times. Funny that the old bass player wound up moving to vancouver after I did and I bumped into him working at a music store around when I heard they were coming to town...but only with a new bass player (which i didn't know)
That guy's a powerhouse. I was always impressed by his basslines and his energy. Thought there could be no way I'd like the way the new player in that band. Gladly mistaken. wow.
Funny thing, they played a show in Ottawa and pulled out 'Chameleon' - played it amazingly...but I'd already heard almost 10 other acts use that as a huge crowd pleaser. It really bugged me at the time that I'd seen a great show only to have it watered down by a lame cover (awesome song, huge performance...still the content made me roll my eyes) and went online, commenting that they needed to pull out a heavy hitter if they were gonna do a Herbie Hancock song. I wanted to see a band nail down 'Hang up Your Hang-Ups' and I knew they could do it. Next show they played in Ottawa they broke it out and (to my knowledge) they still play it. I saw them play it in Vancouver.
I heard they opened for Herbie a few times.
Not to be an egotist, but I want to think that it was my 'suggestion' that got them to blow up onstage. They owned the stage. who thought it was a cover? Most people don't even know who Herbie Hancock is, let alone drool over some songs more than others.
That's a band that could easily make a modest living touring the USA to say the least.
I wish they had more of a following.
Of the few bands that I miss from the 'CanJam' scene they were in for awhile, Moses Mayes ranks pretty high.
I've seen em around Ontario and in Vancouver. Probably about 8 times. Funny that the old bass player wound up moving to vancouver after I did and I bumped into him working at a music store around when I heard they were coming to town...but only with a new bass player (which i didn't know)
That guy's a powerhouse. I was always impressed by his basslines and his energy. Thought there could be no way I'd like the way the new player in that band. Gladly mistaken. wow.
Funny thing, they played a show in Ottawa and pulled out 'Chameleon' - played it amazingly...but I'd already heard almost 10 other acts use that as a huge crowd pleaser. It really bugged me at the time that I'd seen a great show only to have it watered down by a lame cover (awesome song, huge performance...still the content made me roll my eyes) and went online, commenting that they needed to pull out a heavy hitter if they were gonna do a Herbie Hancock song. I wanted to see a band nail down 'Hang up Your Hang-Ups' and I knew they could do it. Next show they played in Ottawa they broke it out and (to my knowledge) they still play it. I saw them play it in Vancouver.
I heard they opened for Herbie a few times.
Not to be an egotist, but I want to think that it was my 'suggestion' that got them to blow up onstage. They owned the stage. who thought it was a cover? Most people don't even know who Herbie Hancock is, let alone drool over some songs more than others.
That's a band that could easily make a modest living touring the USA to say the least.
I wish they had more of a following.
Of the few bands that I miss from the 'CanJam' scene they were in for awhile, Moses Mayes ranks pretty high.
hey viss - if you're only here for a year you should be able to get a part time job to afford living no problem. Every city can be expensive to live, but it can also be really affordable.
I would suggest finding a place to live temporarily...say, for a couple of months while you find somewhere else to live longer.
You should be able to find a decent place for $5-700/month in any city. If you want to pay less you'll have to look but it can be done.
$100-150 for a bus pass (per month), but bus tickets are often available
It's not hard to eat well on $10 a day as long as you like to cook.
If you need your own phone, budget for $100 a month and you'll probably have money to spare (maybe not the first month if you use prepaid cellular and are looking for work and a new place to live)
If you want to rent a bass and amp expect to be able to get away with $100 a month for that.
If you can make $400 a week with a part time (or full time) job you'll be set to have a lot of fun.
I would suggest finding a place to live temporarily...say, for a couple of months while you find somewhere else to live longer.
You should be able to find a decent place for $5-700/month in any city. If you want to pay less you'll have to look but it can be done.
$100-150 for a bus pass (per month), but bus tickets are often available
It's not hard to eat well on $10 a day as long as you like to cook.
If you need your own phone, budget for $100 a month and you'll probably have money to spare (maybe not the first month if you use prepaid cellular and are looking for work and a new place to live)
If you want to rent a bass and amp expect to be able to get away with $100 a month for that.
If you can make $400 a week with a part time (or full time) job you'll be set to have a lot of fun.
Elementary.
That's a cool story!
I've never seen them do any Herbie convers, but I'm pretty sure they opened for him last time he was in winnipeg.
