Professional
Did you go to clown college?
No but I attended work-shops given by professional clowns. Clowning is much more difficult than most people realize.
How did you get involved with Cirque Eloize and Circus Knie? What was your job/jobs?
How did you get involved with Cirque du Soleil?
Those two questions are related. It actually all started with Cirque du Soleil in 92. I was hired as a musician to be part of a production that was going to be presented by Circus Knie in Switzerland. More precisely, Knie had bought the rights of the first Cirque du Soleil show. But all the cast and production team was Canadian. A most memorable experience.
Cirque Eloize came after a gig with the Canadian Fantasy Circus in Japan. The core of that show consisted of acts from the performers of Cirque Eloize which was still in its infancy then. After the Japan show ended never to heard of again, Eloize was looking for a sound technician who could play live music at the same time. They didn't have money to hire a band so all the music for the show was recorded except for some the links between acts and some moments here and there during the show. This being a circus show flexibility was very important. From a human point of view Eloize is certainly my best experience with circus.
What's it like being the bandleader for O?
It helped me realize that I wasn't the hot headed intolerant young musician that I once was and that with age, my values had shifted and that I didn't need that shit in my life. Things are very very different in the band now than they were in my days so I guess it would be easier now. Sure I was making a little bit more money but I can now certify that going to work stress free is priceless.
Being in Cirque Eloize and Circus Knie has sent you all over the world. What have your learned about different cultures and customs and how do you apply that to your work?
Indeed circuses made me travel. Just to brag a bit, so far I have visited the following countries: Canada (don't laugh. It's a huge country and not so many people can say they have traveled it from coast to coast) USA(18 states though many times the same) Mexico, Cuba, France, Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland, Japan and Taiwan.
So not that many countries but what makes it different than your regular vacations is the amount of time I spent in each of those country which in turn gave me the opportunity to get the feel of each places and meet people you wouldn't meet in the tourist circuit. And if you stay long enough in one place, say a month, and then you start living the life of the locals.
That said, I think tolerance is what I got from those travels. Bear in mind that most of the time we were left by ourselves since to local producers would certainly not take us all by the hand to show us around. This is your hotel, the theater is here, show call is at 6.00 pm. don't be late. Good-bye. Figure the rest out yourself. So I had to learn fast and most of all ADAPT. When in Rome you do as the Romans do. If you understand that you'll have the most memorable trips.
What other interesting jobs have you had?
Pizza man, worked in a golf pro-shop for many summers, learned a lot of English there and I did guided tours in an historic resort in Quebec. I liked it so much that I considered that as a second career if things didn't work out in music.