• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Touring in Canada questions

#2
There are special rules about selling merch, I know. If we had a short run out show in Canadia, we just didn't sell discs at the show. It was a drag, but better than dealing with customs. Also, you may want to look into this:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#3
Good news for you, the regulations that were put in place last year had just been scrapped.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

skwee said:
There are special rules about selling merch, I know. If we had a short run out show in Canadia, we just didn't sell discs at the show. It was a drag, but better than dealing with customs. Also, you may want to look into this:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: scotch
#7
Remember that some laws change from province to province including various liqour laws, speed limits, and provincial sales tax. I'm smack dab in the middle (Saskatchewan) feel free to drop me a line.
 
#8
skwee said:
There are special rules about selling merch, I know. If we had a short run out show in Canadia, we just didn't sell discs at the show. It was a drag, but better than dealing with customs. Also, you may want to look into this:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...
It is good to know the U.S. doesn't have the market cornered when it comes to stupid politicians.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tedious1
#10
russpurdy said:
Remember that some laws change from province to province including various liqour laws, speed limits, and provincial sales tax. I'm smack dab in the middle (Saskatchewan) feel free to drop me a line.
Click to expand...

Sweet. We were talking Montreal, Quebec City, Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Amherst, Halifax and Sydney...and little towns in between if necessary.
 
#11
I live in Canada (Nova Scotia now) and spent many years living in Boston, Montreal, the Martimes and hopping the border for shows/visits. You will need proper passports, and permits if you plan to make any income on the tour. Based on my average experience, and I've done it at least 70 times (yikes), your vehicle (if full of gear and musicians) will be searched upon entry and sniffed by a dog, and you will be questioned, but it's no big deal. Expect a 1-2 hour delay, to be questioned about everywhere you are going and staying. Sometimes they just pass you through, but rarely. You will be probably searched even more when returning to the US of the A. Have a complete list of gear with serial #'s ready upon departure, right down to an itemized number of cables, etc, it helps with your credibility and speeds things up.

Random thoughts: Nova Scotia drinking and driving laws are extremely strict, with the average penalty being a 1 year suspension of your license and big big $ fines, i think it's like $1500. I would recommend whoever is driving to have zero alcohol and not try to guesstimate their blood/alc %. There are smash & grabs here, and Halifax actually has a moderate to high amount of crime outside of the downtown core. The rural areas are generally super safe and friendly. Stay out of Dartmouth if you don't know where you're going, it has some rough spots that come out of nowhere. Same rules for Saint John - stay near the waterfront where I'd assume you will play, just over the hill behind the big hotels is pretty sketchy. Oh, and pickpocketing is still an artform in Montreal, and watch out for that guy on St. Catherine who tries to lure you into the club saying " Cmon man, It's like Disneyland for your hands!".

I'm certainly not trying to scare you off, it's incredibly awesome up here b'y and good music is appreciated and most are very down to earth, but it's the same rules about being safe with your selves and your gear apply while on tour in Quebec and the Maritimes... I hope you enjoy Halifax, it's one of favourite my smaller cities anywhere, a lot like a mini-Boston or Portsmouth NH, and New Glascow is a Nova Scotia town that has a good music scene if you are looking to fill any gaps, it's semi in-between Halifax and NB.
 
#12
Also, seems like a no brainer but obviously Quebec is a French speaking community. Most people I have met there speak English but you may get the odd person that doesn't speak it very well. Brush up on a few common French words if possible and be prepared for Quebec's "dirty French" which is a bit different from France French.
 
#13
You will need to drink a lot of beer, and study up on your hockey stats. The canucks are a dangerous lot, and if they find out you are an American, they will want to know if you are worthy. Carry a lot of back bacon in your coat pockets. Only use real maple syrup. That corn syrup crap will get you jacked up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Slapstyle
#14
How about a few useful tips?

1) Temps will be in celsius, double it and add 30 to get a good ballpark figure in Farenheit.
2) Don't blame the beer, yes it's a tenth of a percentage point or two higher, if that makes you that much more drunk...maybe time to quit.
3) Speeds and distances in kilometers, multiply by .6 to get to miles, don't use the inner ring on the speedometer, it's probably well off.
4) Smokers, bring your coffin nail of choice, bar Camels you won't find actual US brands, and all cigarettes are expensive in Canada ($10+/pk)
 
#15
tedious1 said:
How about a few useful tips?

1) Temps will be in celsius, double it and add 30 to get a good ballpark figure in Farenheit.
2) Don't blame the beer, yes it's a tenth of a percentage point or two higher, if that makes you that much more drunk...maybe time to quit.
3) Speeds and distances in kilometers, multiply by .6 to get to miles, don't use the inner ring on the speedometer, it's probably well off.
4) Smokers, bring your coffin nail of choice, bar Camels you won't find actual US brands, and all cigarettes are expensive in Canada ($10+/pk)
Click to expand...
Add 32.
Farenheit to Celsius conversion is subtract 32 and divide by 1.9

Reverse it for Celsius to farenheit- Multiply by 1.9 and add 32.
 
#16
nukes_da_bass said:
Add 32.
Farenheit to Celsius conversion is subtract 32 and divide by 1.9

Reverse it for Celsius to farenheit- Multiply by 1.9 and add 32.
Click to expand...

Actually it is: degreesC * 9/5 + 32 = degrees F
Going the other way it is: (degreesF -32) * 5/9
1.9 is as much a ballpark figure as doubling, and doubling (or halving) is easy math to do in your head.

Similarly the actual conversion from km to miles is .62137, but .6 is easier, and good enough for the girls I know, and the ones my drummer sleeps with...
 
#18
Merch can be a pain to get into Canada if you don't do the advance paperwork. I've worked as a house tech in a well established Vancouver roadhouse and seen a lot of bands leave their merch in the US...it's fairly common. I've also seen a lot of disappointed fans leave without the CDs and T-shirts they were expecting to buy. Unless disappointing the people who chose to spend their time and money coming to see you is part of your marketing strategy have something they can take away from the show.
 
#19
I don't know about returning to the States but returning to Canada with an instrument can be a real pain in the butt. If you have receipts, bring them as proof, not just that you bought the instruments in the U.S. (assuming you did) but also that you paid the necessary taxes. At the very least, register your gear with customs before leaving the U.S. As for Montreal, I've never heard of pick-pocketing being a significant problem here and I've lived here my whole life. I have, however, heard of several instances where gear has been stolen from cars or vans - especially in the Plateau area where you likely will be playing. Don't leave valuables in cars; while Montreal is a pretty safe city there are plenty of thieves around. You probably won't need to worry about French in Montreal (unless you are in the east end it is easy to get by speaking English. Québec city has a much higher ratio of French to English speakers than does Montreal but it is also a tourist city so you should have no problem. Where you could have more of an issue is in smaller towns in certain areas (the Eastern Townships, however, are home to lots of anglophones). One other thing about Montreal: pay close attention to the parking signs and restrictions - they can be confusing even for locals (lots of resident-only parking zones, for example). Oh, and no right turns on red lights on the island of Montreal (off island you are fine).
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back