McSweeney’s List (24 May, 2023)
This week’s McSweeney’s (Play)List is about MONEY. Money, money, money. And Dirty Eddy.
You can't get what you don't ask for. Well, you can, but it would be an improbable flukish thing, akin to winning a prize without entering the contest.
It's often easier to go with the flow, take what comes, make do with whatever you have on hand (I believe this is how the casserole was invented). Worse, we ask for vague things, intangible concepts that never solidify, half wishes made with a dismissive, ironic shrug. Those are the ones that come out wonky, the manifestation of which serves to show us what it was we really wanted all along. The be-careful-what-you-wish-fors. The messiest of wishes comes in the form of asking clearly and directly for what we think we want, or think we should want. Those wishes come true all too easily, upending our lives and sending us spinning, ushering us into a fresh perspective in the most tumultuous way.
A fair amount of introspection and consideration should go into the making of wishes, the casting of spells (Editor’s Note: I said no magick, Dawn.), the requests we make of the universe and of other people. We must ask for what we really want, very specifically, clearly, transparently. I think this is the secret to getting what you want.
When we at Forget The Box realized what we could do with a little funding on our side, we made lists instead of requests. We had meetings, did research, asked ourselves the tough questions about what needs were immediate, and what could wait.
Forget The Box has always operated as a not-for-profit. As an ever evolving arts project, we've done amazing things with a non-existent budget, with contributors volunteering their time, their internet connections, the cost of the site itself (shoutout to our Founder Jason C. McLean for taking that one on the chin for over a decade now).
If you've been with us since the old days, you can see how we've grown since what we affectionately refer to as "Takeover Day", or T-Day, which took place on February 14 of this year. That was when Andrew Jamieson stepped in as Creative Director with a fervent vigour and a clear vision.
If that's when you tuned in to Forget The Box, you're not alone: our rebirth has spurred growth, not only in new views, but in new FTB Family joining the fold, as well as new opportunities and partnerships around every corner. (Because we've been turning those corners; we're reaching out, doubling down, and looking for great local art everywhere, so we can spread the word.)
So, what could we possibly need? We need to level up our infrastructure to not only catch up with what we're doing now, but create the space for our next steps.
We firmly believe that bylines matter. Sometimes you'll see an article somewhere on the internet, even locally (I’m biting my tongue so very hard) that's written by "the staff". Our contributors aren't staff, and they all have names. They are artists, students, workers, taking time out of their day to do something they love by supporting the art they love. That's the stuff that makes the world go round, and it's what keeps the art scene afloat despite the crushing realities of day to day life. We want to be able to pay them an honorarium for the work they do, as a thank you, as an acknowledgement of both the time spent and the professional quality we receive. Even a small token of our appreciation would be a giant step for the investment we make in the community we love and continue to foster.
Accessibility matters to us, and that's why you'll see an audio option on some pieces. We wanted our articles to be available to those with limited sight, and we quickly realized that we don't have the equipment to do all that we want to. Plus, it turns out folks like to listen to stuff while doing other stuff, so if we can up our tech game, we can make a bunch of people happy.
We want to further beautify our site with coding and design skills beyond our proverbial pay grade. We want to do all the behind the scenes paperwork stuff to be legit and form a board and all that adult shit. And we're gonna need someone to help with those bits, because we are not a bunch of business minded folks.
We are artists.
Art lovers.
Volunteers.
We believe in sharing talents, and building community. We believe in DIY because we are DIY. We've done all of this with nothing. Now help us do more.
Digital Busking
Remember PBS pledge drives?! They were a staple of my childhood. It took me a couple of trips around the sun before I realized they weren't gonna fire Big Bird due to lack of funds. (Editor’s Note: They were going to stick him on the Challenger, actually.) Still, it stuck with me as a great model for directly supporting the things that matter to you so you never have to see a corporation step in and make puppets drink brand name soda while doing their ABCs. Ya feel?
Oh, also, there's a hilarious video to watch. It’s myself and Creative Director (and Problem Child) Andrew Jamieson. You will laugh till it hurts. (I did.)
Procrastinators: Now Or Never!
In case you haven't noticed, we've partnered up with FringeMTL to spread the word about all the crazy cool local performers taking part. We're reviewing over 30 Fringe shows -- that's more than 1/4 of the festival! Well, we could hardly call it proper Fringe coverage without throwing a lotto into the mix!
Want your show covered? It's not too late to enter (but it is super close to being too late, so hustle up).
WHAT: Forget The Box Fringe Review Lottery
WHERE: Forget The Box
WHEN: May 24th at MIDNIGHT (That’s TONIGHT!)
Pizza Is A Food Group
Comedian Paul Bedi, owner of St. Henri's FF Pizza, is finally mixing his passions for a night of slices and stand-up. It's an open mic in an intimate setting, with fantastic food and flowing drinks. Get your tickets now, these will sell out fast.
WHAT: Fresh and Funny (Stand-Up Comedy)
WHERE: F+F Pizza, 4400 Notre-Dame St. W, Montreal, H4C 1S1
WHEN: Saturday, May 27 @ 830 PM
METRO: St. Henri (Orange)
TICKETS: Eventbrite
Comics Do It Standing Up
GET FXCKED is a stand-up comedy show, where comedians will share stories about how life did them dirty for better or worse. This show will highlight local Montreal comedians and storytellers. GET FXCKED is brought to you by Datemare productions.
If you love The Nasty Show you're going to LOVE GET FXCKED!
Use promo code: FXCK50 for 50% OFF!
WHAT: GET FXCKED
WHERE: Montreal Improv, 3716 Notre-Dame St. W, Montreal, H4C 1P7
WHEN: Saturday, May 27, Doors @ 730 PM Show @ 8 PM
METRO: St. Henri (Orange)
TICKETS: Eventbrite
It's Officially Here!
I learned about Fringe For All when I spoke to Amy Blackmore for our Fringe 101. This is when everyone with a show in the festival gets to pitch their wares to a live audience. As much as we want to see every show, I don't think it's humanly possible to watch them all. Fringe For All is here to help you make your schedule. These are 2 minute live ads done by the people who care the most. Plus, this is Fringe, so there's no telling what to expect! Will people sing songs about their shows? Could happen. Will there be puppets? It's on my bingo card, but it'll be my first time there, so what do I know?! Let's find out together.
WHAT: Fringe For All
WHERE: Club Soda, 1225 St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal, H2X 2S6
WHEN: Monday, May 29, 7PM - 11 PM
METRO: Sherbrooke (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
Music In The Grass
Looking to lounge on a Monday night with music and fresh air? It's the stuff summer's made of. Open Mics at Jeanne Mance Park are back for the summer. Bring a blanket, a friend, a doggy, some snacks, and enjoy the tunes. It's first come first served, sign up starts at 6 PM. I caught Dirty Eddy there last week, and had a great time with friends. Give it a go.
WHAT: Open Mic Monday in Parc Jeanne-Mance
WHERE: Jeanne Mance Park, 4422 Esplanade Ave., Montreal, H2W 2N4
WHEN: Mondays, Sign-Up (First Come First Served) @ 6 PM, Show 630 PM - 10 PM
DETAILS: Facebook
McSweeney’s List drops every Wednesday with the best events to catch each week in Montreal. Don’t forget to SUBMIT YOUR EVENT to be listed!
