McSweeney’s List (27 November 2024)
Let's talk about the local art community, shall we? By definition, we at Forget The Box participate in, support, and downright love the arts. Every editor and contributor here is an artist in their vein, part of the very scene they're writing about. And if we're honest with ourselves, we must be able to turn the mirror on ourselves, as a group, and discuss some of the quirks and complications of the community as it stands at the end of 2024.
All communities are rooted in relationships. Real, solid relationships are built on reciprocity. The parties can trust one another; they're honest about what they can give, and what they want (not in return, but also: here's what I need in my life, here's what I can provide in yours. Do needs and abilities align?) Professionally, this is when the quid pro quo is straightforward, with appropriate expectations and compensation.
At the other end of the spectrum are those who take more than they give. In the microcosm this manifests in friends who expect you to be there for him, but aren't equally available to you. In the macrocosm it's the billionaires getting richer while they turn employees into temporary workers with no rights, pissing in water bottles so they don't get fired for taking a break.
Somewhere in between lie all our vague acquaintanceships. The people we talk to but have no expectations of, the people in professional and artistic hierarchies that we only speak to in that context when they need us, or we need them. Most of our art relationships hang out in this limbo.
There's supposed to be some balance in those relationships too: they're social contracts with their own give and take. When those contracts are unfulfilled, it has a trickle down effect. (Make no mistake, Dear Reader, economics doesn't work that way, but shit has, and always will, roll downhill). Isolationist artists tend to bang their heads against the wall, for one, wondering why no one is there for them or their work. The other problem is that these people make commitments, only to flake, leaving people in a lurch.
I've talked about this before, but I‘ve only grown more aware since then. See, even though I'm not a prominent artist, I've been the fly on the wall of the art scene for a while now. I've interviewed people you've heard of, people you haven't, and people you’ll hear of one day soon. As a result, I get to peek my head into spaces outside of my own artistic specialties, and I've noticed a few things about the local arts community, so indulge me.
One important fact, something that the normies don't know, is that the art scene is a patchwork of different scenes. Each of these scenes (music, theatre, visual arts, dance, writing, comedy etc.,) exist in their own hierarchical structure. They have their own unspoken rules and secret handshakes. They can be cliquish, shutting out newcomers, scene outsiders, and maybe entire groups. Musicians make no secret that they prefer exclusively music mics to multi-mics where there are comics, for instance. And that works fine, because comics don't want to follow acoustic ballads and musicians don’t want to follow jokes. The Anglo theatre scene is heavily populated by wealthy white people faking turmoil and emotional intensity. It seems to be a scene for the young and optimistic, so many of them fresh out of school, loaded with buzzwords, naïve to the depth and experiences of the characters they try to play. Their mission is self promotion, and they will lie with smiles, hug and compliment you to stay favorably reviewed. I can't begrudge that, it's the deal. I often hug and compliment them back; that's the contract between art writer and performer. The visual artists…well, I don't know about them. They lurk in the shadows behind the light cast by their works, and from my art history knowledge, that's probably for the best.
While I've been a writer for as long as I've been literate (my pieces were regularly chosen for feature in the school board lit compilation starting in the 80s, thank you very much), writers are a weird breed. Like visual artists, their work is solitary, holed up at desks with the curtains drawn and the coffee on. The best writer I know personally is seen in glimpses, popping into events with wide eyes as if she hasn't been out in days. She does her round of hugs, wrapping everyone in her patchouli haze, and says she hopes she smells ok, hasn't showered. She speaks of deadlines and carries the weight of cutting herself open to spill the words. She leaves early, has work to do, leaving the romanticized impression I've always wanted from my artists. But that is a solo journey, each writer the main character in the story of The Writer. The output doesn't matter; it's a shift in priorities, a lifestyle choice. Even when I do hang out with writers, we don't write together; we aren't having linguistic jam sessions. We talk about concepts or life, or try to forget it all, and then return to our individual work stations, be they sexy studios, or disorganized desks. (Unused desks, in my case. Despite my efforts, I remain a couch writer.)
When I started immersing myself in the local comedy scene, it was only to shine a light on another aspect of the arts and give props to the talented folks doing the damn thing. As the biggest comedy nerd on staff, I was both the logical choice and the one screaming ooh, ooh, me, pick me. And lo, for the first time, I found my artist family. Comedians are smart and weird, baring their vulnerabilities, and making light of their tragedies. On the whole they're quirky and quick witted, a social breed of writers who were never the cool kids. Cool kids are inherently unfunny. From a professional point of view, we noticed something about them right away. They engage in community. They share each others’ promos, not just their own. They're the first and most numerous volunteers for every variety mic in town, so much so that without them, it would be impossible to run regular multi-mics. When we cover them, they share the coverage -- hell, other comics share the coverage -- and they thank us. We aren't in or for the thanks of course, but the shares are vital to the growth of Forget The Box.
The thanks are appreciated though. So many times Andrew and I have found ourselves confused and shaking our heads at the interactions we've had with the art community at large. One that still sticks in my craw was the alleged community organizer we approached to write a piece about community. She said she wasn't in a position to write pro-bono, and at the time we weren't able to offer a stipend. So that piece didn’t happen. No hard feelings. We understand vividly that time is money. Yet within the week she approached Andrew to provide his videography, directorial, and editing skills for a grant funded project she had on the go. Only when asked about the budget did she offer to make him dinner in return for his labor. No, Ma’am, the friend / colleague pricing goes both ways, or not at all.
There's of course the contingent of artists who only turn up on the scene when they want something. Their social streams are flooded with their own faces, every accomplishment presented as a single-handed victory. It's funny though, the way they appear in our inboxes, the way they play nice when they think we can help, and then ghost when there's an opportunity to help others. I include in that group people who are now too busy to respond when we knew them when. Maybe that's small minded of me, maybe it's the natural evolution of things, but I believe depth of character is revealed in such moments. The goal is to raise the tides for all ships, not pretend that we alone walk on water.
Along those lines, but different, is the local organization that holds the dubious distinction of being the only party to sign an actual contract with Forget The Box, and not fulfill their obligations. We can't take it personally though, we aren't the only ones they've let down. At this point they seem more like a con job than an artistic institution, but one with enough clout that complaints are whispered, people commiserating in private spaces while the organization keeps trucking, rolling over anyone in its way.
I can't help but mention here that Andrew loves a good sub-status (that's right, isn't it? a sub Tweet but not on Twitter? I guess that's a sub-X now? whatever). Often when he says what's got his goat, the people he's complaining about like the status! Does that mean they hate their behavior when presented with it, but don't notice they're the ones doing it? What the whole hell?
Indulge me, and let me get out the last of the toxin that’s overcome me. Lately musicians are proving the most complicated group to deal with. They slide into our DMs requesting coverage, and then ghost when we follow up. When we reach out to hire them, they don't reply, and then message weeks later asking about the gig. While comedians are notorious for bailing last minute (they often do multiple sets at different locations in one night, and one mic running late can start a chain reaction of missed commitments), they communicate, they let us know. Musicians cancel because they “forgot”, or “had a rough day”, but don’t bother to say anything until we’ve reached out, and even then, responses could take days, while we’re left wondering.
Okay Friends, now let me put a bow on this and tell you why this bothers me. It bothers me because a great production needs writers, costume designers, actors, composers, musicians, and probably a comic to host the whole thing. We make better art together. We are powerful together, and can advocate for better standards, pay, and spaces for art to happen, together. Artists are the only ones who can salvage and maintain our reputation of being an artist’s city. Other artists are the only ones who implicitly understand the nearly certifiable nature of the need to create; to express, to feel so profoundly that we must translate that feeling in our various mediums so that others might taste the nectar of life. When normies stick together, they create corporations or governments, but the work of artists at their best has far more impact and staying power. But when artists get together and stick together, we create revolutions in the face of Hell.
IT AIN'T JELLY
It’s a Jazz Jam at one of ProjetMILL’s new cultural spaces!
Whether you're a musician eager to join the house band on stage, or a jazz lover looking to enjoy the spontaneous creation of music, this event is for you.
Guest musicians include Samuel Blais on sax, Theo Sunny Abellard on keys,
Louis-Vincent Hamel on drums, Alex LeBlanc on double bass, and Chris Barr on trumpet.
Don't miss out on an evening of soulful sounds and community celebration in the heart of Montreal's industrial heritage!
WHAT: Tin Cans - Jazz Jam
WHERE: The Old Bank, 1900 Wellington St., Montreal, H3K 1W3
WHEN: Thursday November 28th at 8 PM
METRO: Charlevoix (Green)
DETAILS: Facebook
I Love Me Some Balkan Tunes
It's the second installment of the Universal Soundscapes, and this time, we’re excited to feature Le Club Cosmique, a Montreal-based duo blending Balkan rhythms, accordion melodies, and unconventional percussion.
We’ll journey through the heart of Eastern Europe, exploring its rich musical history before diving into live performance. Merve Sancak will be joining in to sing Bosnian Sevdalinka songs for a truly immersive experience.
Don’t miss this unforgettable night of music!
WHAT: Universal Soundscape: Balkan Voives
WHERE: Café Noctis, 4844 Wellington, Montreal, Quebec, H4G 1X4
WHEN: Saturday, November 30 @ 7 PM
METRO: De l’Église (Green)
BOOKS & BOWS!
Starting this weekend and going throughout the holiday season, Phoenix Books will have a local vendor selling gifts on site!
It's a different pop-up each weekend! Vendors will be announced on social media, on the event page and in the newsletter.
There will be lots of great books in store too, so gift yourself and your reader friends!
WHAT: Holiday Pop-Up Weekend at Phoenix Books
WHERE: Phoenix Books, 5924 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC H4A 1X7, Canada
WHEN: Saturday, November 30 @ 12 PM, Every weekend through Christmas
METRO: Vendôme (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
SANTA KLAÜS
Have a mini staycation and experience the German Christmas Market! Enjoy crafts, baked goods, carols, and mulled wine! Come one, come all! Hö hö hö!
WHAT: Weihnachtsmarkt - Christmas Market
WHERE: St. John’s Lutheran Church, 3594 Jeanne Mance St., Montreal, H2X 2K3
WHEN: Saturday, November 30 @ 10 AM - 4 PM & Sunday, December 1, @ 11 AM - 4 PM
METRO: Place-des-Arts (Green)
DETAILS: Facebook
ART FOR ANXIETY
Anxiety can be something we feel in our body, our brain, or notice in our behaviors. It can take up a lot of your time and energy, leading to exhaustion or irritability. But there's good news: it doesn't have to be like this.
Transform Your Relationship with Anxiety: A Creative Arts Therapy Group is designed to help you gain coping skills for anxiety-provoking moments! Better understand your emotional needs, increase self esteem, and create connections with others!
This group is facilitated by Bailey and Jonathan, trained and credentialed therapists with an educational background in creative arts therapy. Both have experienced anxiety themselves and wanted to do this group so people can feel confident in themselves again.
The group is neurodivergent friendly welcoming different sensory needs, predictable structure, and communication through different mediums/rhythms.
The group is queer friendly, Bigotry, harmful language, or any hateful actions will not be tolerated. There will also have a group agreement where everyone gets to add what they need to feel secure.
The group encourages community - while they can't guarantee participants will become friends, they’ll spend time focused on increasing the quantity/quality of the participants' social supports, and feelings of comfort when attending social events.
The group is for adults - we are prioritizing the adult population from age 20 - age 65 as there are more group services accessible for the teen/young adult age group.
This is an 8 week program running from Monday, February 3rd, 2025 to Monday, March 24th, 2025, but early bird pricing ENDS THIS WEEK
The details are available imon the interest form, where you can also sign-up, right here!
SLEAZY SZN
It's time to polish your bells and roll around in tinsel! (Just me? Ok.) The third annual Sleazy Christmas party is on deck, and tickets are on sale now!
Co-produced and co-hosted by the Ever-Sleazy Andrew Jamieson and my Classy-Ass self, this year's celebration is inspired by Bill Murray’s 1988 film Scrooged. It’s a journey through the holidays as three ghosts on the verge of giving up try to reach the heart of Scroogey-Jamieson. They're determined to show him the "true meaning" of the holiday, but he's more convinced than ever that it's all about the Benjamins, baby!
This ain't your grandma's Christmas party... unless your grandma is a total badass with a penchant for dark humor and tits. Prepare for an evening of festive debauchery, featuring an all-star multidisciplinary lineup of Abby Stonehouse, Aloe Azimov, Walter J. Lyng, Tara McGowan-Ross, Jessica Bebenek, IF The Poet, Mina Minou, and more!
AND A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY THE HOLLY JOLLY ASSHOLE, SANTA CLAUS HIMSELF
We'll provide the cynicism, the satire, you bring your sense of humor and a willingness to embrace the dark side of the holidays. Get your tickets now, because this is one Christmas party you won't want to miss... unless you actually enjoy fruitcake and caroling. In which case, you’re not invited.
THIS EVENT IS A FUNDRAISER
Beyond the spectacle and satire, Sleazy Christmas III serves a deeper purpose. This event is proud to support Forget The Box, Montreal's premier arts magazine dedicated to showcasing and celebrating ground-level, underground, and marginalized art. Forget The Box provides a vital platform for artists whose work challenges conventions, provokes thought, and pushes boundaries. As a non-profit organization currently operating without external funding, Forget The Box relies on community support to continue its mission. By attending Sleazy Christmas III, you directly contribute to the sustainability of this essential publication, ensuring that diverse artistic voices continue to be heard.
WHAT: Andrew Jamieson’s Sleazy Christmas III
WHERE: La Poubelle Magnifique, 1189 Crescent St., Montreal, H3G 2B1
WHEN: Thursday, December 12 @ 8 PM
METRO: Lucien-L'Allier (Orange) & Guy-Concordia (Green)
TICKETS: Showpass
FEATURE FRIDAY
Forget The Box Presents: Feature Fridays - Your Spotlight Awaits!
Calling all Montreal artists! Forget The Box is proud to present "Feature Fridays," a new initiative dedicated to showcasing the incredible talent within our diverse artistic communities.
Every Friday, we'll be featuring a curated selection of local music, comedy, spoken word, and visual art. Our curators are active members of their respective communities, passionate about supporting and amplifying the diverse voices of Montreal's vibrant arts scene. This is your chance to shine and share your work with a wider audience.
How to Get Featured:
It's easy! Simply submit your work through the Forget The Box website. Our curators will review submissions and select artists on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit our Feature Friday section to find the submission forms!
Deadlines:
To be featured on a particular Friday, make sure to submit your work by Wednesday of that week. Any submissions received after Wednesday will be considered for the following Friday.
Ready to share your art with Montreal?! Submit your work today!
McSweeney’s List drops every Wednesday with the best events, workshops, and more, each week in Montreal!
