I've decided since I like promoting other people's arts projects to start up a new semi-regular feature on my blog which I will call Cool People Doing Cool Things. Just to be clear, no one has asked me to do this, these are just things that I find interesting, fun, and basically, cool. These are things that I am going to check out for myself and, since my "readership" has just boomed recently, I feel a certain amount of responsibility to let you know about it too. This is for your own good ;)
So, for my first CPDCT, meet Corin Raymond.
I met Corin last year at the Hamilton Fringe Festival when he absolutely wowed me with his solo storytelling epic, Bookworm. That's when I also found out he was a musician, and a pretty damn good one at that. Weeks ago, Corin found out that The Rogue Studio, where he got his last CD mixed and mastered and all that fancy musician lingo, has always accepted Canadian Tire money at par. Since then, he's been a man on a mission. His goal, to raise all the money needed to produce his next album. The response has been pretty great so far, but on Monday, the dream got bigger. Taken from his Facebook page:
I'm gonna take this thing all the way-- I'm gonna break the record for non-Canadian-Tire-affiliated-Canadian-citizen-gathered stash of CT bills. I'm going to set a record which has never been and will not be repeated in our lifetimes. I'm going to make TWO beautiful albums as a result and I'm going to spread the joy of the experience every which way, all the way, and keep you in smiles all year long. I don't even know what the record is, but I'll tell you this: it's not gonna be able to see me for dust.
His enthusiasm is crazy exciting and I want to do something to help. Now, I've already mailed in the little bit of CT money I found in my wallet (and god damn I wish it was more!), and I want you to do the same. Go to your wallet, your old receipt drawer, your family members' wallets and fish out those little Sandy McTire's you've been saving up. Come on, the $2.45 you've been saving up isn't going to do you much good and you know it, but it could make a world of difference for my friend Corin.
Send your Canadian Tire money here:
Corin Raymond 39 Oxford St., Toronto, ON M5T 1N8
Or just give it to me. I've started a collection at work and I hope to drop it off next week when I attend the live recording of the album on the 24th. You can also RSVP here and attend yourself on January 24 or 25 at the Tranzac.
Follow Corin's progress and read more about his story on his blog here.