The Power of the Nap

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Don’t be lazy; find time to rest

By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor

Formerly published in the Other Press. Oct. 2013

The current state of naps

Siesta: the Spanish word for a rest or nap, normally taking place after lunch in the early afternoon.

The daily ritual travelled across the globe generations ago, and is practiced in most Latin countries, including Philippines, Ecuador, and other tropical and subtropical nations. Often attributed to the warm climate, countries that engage in siestas don’t have standard North American nine to five working hours, because it’s simply too hot.

In Spain, a normal working day starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. with a three-hour siesta period in between. During that time, shops and offices shut down—at least, that was the custom until 2008, when the country found itself in debt. Due to recession and an unstable economy, most Spaniards no longer partake in the routine nap, for fear of lost profit. So, like large families, maiden names, and circumcision, siestas are another dying tradition.

Meanwhile, the North American workaholic mentality is growing strong. Competition is stiff in every aspect of life. Students and employees alike are becoming sleep-deprived due to increasing workload, stress, and anxiety.

The 2013 Sleep in America Polls conducted by the National Sleep Foundation reported that 40 per cent of those polled have less than seven hours of sleep nightly, and those that get eight hours are severely dropping. With 30 per cent saying they have less sleep than needed, and five per cent saying they never have a good night’s sleep, it’s clear sleep-deprivation is becoming problematic, if not an epidemic. It’s not news that being well-rested is important, but how can we stop the habitual bitching and finally get some rest?

The benefits of naps

First and foremost, a quality nap doesn’t make up for an insufficient or poor night of sleep. At its best, napping can spark alertness, improve cognitive thinking, alter mood, and enhance performance.

As monophasic sleepers, humans have one period of wakefulness and one period of sleep during the course of a day, unlike the more than 85 per cent of mammals which are polyphasic sleepers and sleep for short intervals throughout the day.

Although a short nap can’t replace REM sleep, a study by NASA on tired military pilots and astronauts showed that a 40-minute nap can improve performance by 34 per cent and alertness by 100 per cent. Naps that are accompanied by dreams are often a sign of sleep-deprivation and over-exhaustion.

Napping is often associated with laziness, unhealthiness, and a lack of motivation, but this is not the case. Moderate napping will help both the inactive and the ambitious sustain mental and physical stamina. If napping is the only thing you accomplish today, consider it a little vacation, not an admission of defeat.

The art of napping

Sleep inertia is one of the main detriments of midday naps: coming out of a slumber at 5 p.m. feeling groggy and disoriented isn’t uncommon, and many who choose to nap over-indulge, leading to counterproductive results.

In a study conducted by the research journal Sleep, examiners tested different napping durations and concluded that the most beneficial length is 10 to 20 minutes. These catnaps can give a boost of energy and help with cognitive performance. However, studies have shown that an hour-long nap is more beneficial to cognitive memory—such as recalling facts, places, and faces—even though it might cause grogginess at first.

There are three main types of naps: planned naps, emergency naps, and habitual naps; from there they branch off into subcategories, catering to the sleeper’s needs.

Planned naps include power naps, catnaps, and caffeine naps, appealing to students or business professionals who just need a little pick-me-up during the latter part of the day. Also known as preparatory napping, planned naps are taken before the sleeper is even tired. This technique works best for those who know that they’ll be up later than usual. In addition, planned naps can relieve stress, relax and rejuvenate the body, and improve alertness.

Caffeine napping is a peculiar napping strategy that involves drinking coffee before lying down for a 10 to 20 minute nap. This method often requires proper timing to be effective—otherwise nappers will simply be lying in bed with an abnormal heart rate feeling restless.

Although all-nighters are unhealthy, sometimes they are unavoidable. Students who are planning on a long night should try grabbing some shut-eye in the middle of the day. Experts recommend a restorative nap between 90 and 180 minutes, which allows the sleeper’s brain to go through at least one sleep cycle. After cramming for an exam or finalizing a project, consider sandwiching the working hours with restorative naps, so the body and mind can recover.

Emergency naps are as important as they sound. These naps are taken when fatigue is inhibiting a person’s ability to participate in certain activities. Drivers and operators of heavy machinery should always be well-rested. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute indicates that fatigue causes 20 per cent of car crashes, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports an average of 1,550 reported fatalities and 71,000 injuries a year. Although there are no real methods of determining sleepiness as the main cause for accidents—drowsiness tends to be self-reported, unlike a Breathalyzer for driving under the influence—it’s clear that driving while fatigued is an issue. If you’re driving, pull over to the side, rest up, and hit the road at a later time.

Habitual naps are akin to siestas and are greatly beneficial to people of all ages. But there are certain habits nappers shouldn’t take up, and that is the “sleep until you wake” habit. Taking a nap when you are bored is not a healthy practice, even if you do it every day. Doing so may cause a lot of harm to a normal sleeping schedule, zap energy, and diminish mood.

There are no hard rules to napping. Every person’s sleep cycle is a bit different. By anticipating the scenario after waking up, though, each person can design a nap that will yield the most positive outcome.

Combatting the need to nap

According to the National Sleep Foundation, some estimates show that people sleep about 20 per cent less than they did a century ago. But napping isn’t essential; it’s a treat. Getting a standard eight hours is all it takes to fight the endless battle for quality sleep and the war against fatigue.

However, there are many factors hindering our rest in this modern age. In the 2011 Sleep in America Poll, 95 per cent of participants admitted to using some type of electronic device before sleeping. Staring at an artificial light—like computer screens, cellphones, and TVs—between dusk and bedtime suppresses the release of melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone. Although a night light or computer screen might keep the bogeyman away, a dark room with fresh air is optimal for welcoming sleep.

Food with high calcium and protein will promote sleep better than high fat and sugar. Altogether, avoid large meals. A heavy meal will make you lethargic, but it won’t help you to doze off. Whole-grain bread, pastas, nuts, and seeds are the best options.

Napping, like sleep, is all about routine and timing. Tune into your body and identify those moments of tiredness. Incorporate naps no closer than five hours before your regular sleeping schedule. If you choose to nap, embrace it. Positive association with naps will make it easier to fall asleep and reenergize the spirit. Feeling guilty about napping will keep you awake and suck your morale dry. Set an alarm, make post-nap plans, or ask a friend to call or text you. Wake up, stretch, and allow your body and mind to reengage with the senses—smell, listen, hear, and see.

Siestas might be a fading cultural tradition, but napping isn’t going anywhere. As long as there are deadlines and commitments, there will be little certificates of comfort at the end of the grind. A desk, a couch, or a bed—just some place to kick up our heels, recharge, and wake up to our full potential.

Foodies Rejoice: New Mobile App Foodshootr Makes Sharing Meals More Savory

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Three meals a day. Simple, fleeting moments of life. It fills our bellies, builds our relationships and sometimes forces us out of our comfort zone. Food and the way we eat is what makes us human, and Toronto-based iPhone app Foodshootr wants to create a community around our pallet with pictures.

On July 31, Foodshootr launched for iPhone (and will launch soon for Android and BB10) and food lovers are starting to salivate over the simplistic app. Foodshootr mixes the stylistic photos of Instagram with the destination sharing features of Foursquare.

Foodshootr CEO Alexander Perri began as a commercial photographer. He admits that he was one of those people that loved taking pictures of food at restaurants. Using mobile devices at dining tables used to be considered taboo, but now it is an ultimate compliment to a chef and a beautiful way of sharing meals and nurturing food discovery.

“We are trying to take a step back and bring the whole food aspect back to it,” Perri told Techvibes. “You can argue that everybody has Instagram, and would Instagram their food, but it is too cluttered and you will always find a bunch of other photos on there. And it is hard to come across great food when you are trying to find something good to eat.”

Foodshootr is more than just a camera app, it is includes many feature to help foodies connect with great restaurants in their communities and all over the world. It collects feedbacks for restaurants. That allows customers to be in touch with those cooking and serving their meals. The app also includes a built in chat feature that enable users to quickly communicate with other users, whether they want to ask about a meal or rendezvous at a dinner table.

But the app is not only helpful for foodies, but also for those feeding them. After all, nothing helps spread the news about a delicious meal or a wonderful restaurant like a hungry word of mouth.

“We spoke with a lot of restaurant owners and we are making them see the benefits of Foodshootr,” said Perri. “They want their customers to have a good experience at their restaurant. So they are taking pictures and sharing it with their friends and that will help drive traffic for customers.”

Whether you are starving or just in need of a quick snack, Foodshootr is here to help increase your appetite and trigger some ideas.

We are fortunate to be living in a place with so many great dining options, but most people don’t even know it. Lets admit it, finding a good place to eat and a fun venue to hang out is not always a simple task. It can be demoralizing and cause the stomach to churn.

“From our point of view even if we aren’t hungry or we don’t want food it still helps us decide what we want to eat later and gives us ideas for what we want to prepare for ourselves,” said Perri. “But I feel it is constantly making me hungry.”

Startup Stuck in the Weeds? Focus on the Customer and the Employee

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Three successful CEOs gathered on day one of the 2013 Grow Conference to discuss the little significant choices they made to help their company grow. Scott Kveton of Urban Airship, Patrick Lor of Dissolve, and Brian Wong of Kiip all hone in on their customers and employees when it comes down to developing a successful business. Their session was titled “Getting Out of the Weeds to Getting Shit Done.”

“It starts with knowing your market,” said Kveton. “Companies that only focus on developers can only grow so big. And when a new channel is created, specifically for smartphones, you have a fantastic opportunity to engage folks through that.”

Every CEO understands the learning curve of running a company and rising from the failures. Whether it is the inability to motivate workers or engage customers, a boss must learn to blend those to skills together in order to sustain and scale a successful company.

“Some of the failures we had early in our company developing the last few months were that we weren’t using our own site,” said Lor. “We go to the site and there are buttons missing, we don’t see it because we don’t use it. What we found though was that in the last couple of months, talking to customers and opening sessions with Google guys saying, ‘we just want to watch users use our product.’”

Lor also discovered that the best way to get workers to accomplish tasks is by putting the customers first. “I talked to a customer this morning and they said this button should be here,” Lor said, reenacting a conversation with his developers. “The lord has spoken there ought to be a button there.”

A CEO must also understand the difference between a valued customer and a passerby leeching off bargains and benefits.

“There are tons of companies that ask us, ‘oh I really want someone to watch this video so will you give them an incentive every time they watch the video with a free coupon?’” said Wong. “And I go absolutely not, that is not our business. By saying no to that we have traded off in a big way, because it has differentiated us from so many other companies.”

The job of a boss is not only managing the team employed, but also the customers and clients paying for the employment. A serendipitous gesture does wonders for both parties.

“It means a lot for you to reach out to your customers,” said Wong. “That ten minutes when you are waiting at a security line—just shoot off fifty emails.”

“The job of a CEO is not to do everything,” added Kveton, “but to make sure everything gets done.”

Reporters aren’t robots

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor

Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 2013

Mass media has an enormous cultural responsibility. It can influence everything from the food we eat to the politicians we vote for, so it’s critical that all the news presented is informative and accurate.

All that is good, but society has been so focused on the “truth” that journalists have become all tight-lipped when giving their opinions on the topics they cover. Fearful of losing their job, being ridiculed, or getting sued, most reporters and journalists choose the “no comment” method of relaying news in order to appeal to the collective and avoid backlash. But with reporters hiding behind a veil of ingenuousness, it’s the readers and viewers who don’t really get the full story. After all, credibility is an illusion.

Understand this: all media is biased, whether it’s a conglomerate like MSNBC or FoxNews, or an independently run news source like the Other Press. There’s always your story, my story, and the truth—so wouldn’t it be better to know what everyone’s opinion is right from the start? From there we can select who to listen to and who to avoid, who to share ideas with and who to challenge. Understanding is gained from open dialogue, not bottled up suspicion and mistrust.

Criticizing media bias is like criticizing the way we learn from our instructors, our parents, and our friends. You would never condemn any of them for giving their points of view; why shouldn’t the same go for media professionals? The public demands ethical journalism, but individual opinions are just as viable, as long as they’re shared ethically and honestly.

In the annual State of the News Media report done by Pew Research Center, MSNBCwas touted as the most opinionated news network, with 85 per cent of their content being opinions and commentary, versus 15 per cent factual news. Other news media outlets aim for a 50/50-split, and I believe that is a fair balance.

In a world with so many options for news sources, bias is not a negative. In the same ways that we all think and speak differently, news sources should present their differences as well. It would open the playing field for readers and viewers to think critically and build upon their own individual opinions.

News and current events aren’t supposed to be comforting. News is not a television sitcom or a romantic comedy you can cuddle up to. It’s informative, it’ll spark conversations, and only through discussion can we heighten social standards and awareness. Media bias isn’t the problem. The issue is a refusal to see from another’s point of view. That leads to prejudice, stereotyping, and inaccurate assumptions.

I understand the thin line between subjective opinion and propaganda, so don’t get me wrong: what I’m preaching is hard-hitting free speech, not bullshit. As long as an idea is based around facts, there is no problem with voicing harmless thoughts. If you don’t want to hear it then find something else, but in a chaotic world, it would be nice to know what those influencers from television, radio, newspaper, and the Internet are really thinking. In the end, the truth will always surface, regardless of what was reported.

The New Investment Game Changers: All-women VC Panel Takes Stage at GROW 2013

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Formerly published in Techvibes Media.

In front of a standing room only crowd, Kristina Bergman, Principal of Ignition Partners; Vicki Levine, Principal of Lightbank; Stephanie Palmeri, Principal of SoftTech VC and Shivon Zilis, VC at Bloomberg Beta gave their points of view of the ever-changing startup landscape.

There are many funding sources these days with the rise of Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and other crowdfunding. But startups should be more focused on their series A and series B funding and that is why VCs are taking a larger focus in operations, rather than finance.

“We get in there and get our hands dirty,” said Zilis. “And from the time you make that seed investment and from the time you get the first injection of capital, then really building towards those milestones needed in order to get the egg.”

The landscape might have changed, but geographical constraints still play a big part for investors. They take a lot into consideration when they choose to or choose not to invest in a company outside of the home market.

“We don’t want to do a deal in a market that isn’t our home market if we don’t feel we have a strong local investor presence,” said Palmeri. “Becuse we understand the importance at a seed level to have someone that is close by.”

Any first-time founder of a startup knows that it is not easy making those key connections. Even though they might feel those desperate moments to grab hold of any investments possible, the panel informs that if a company does choose the path of a top accelerator, a VC may still be incredibility selective of those from the batch.

A top accelerator is not necessary to get a deal with a VC; developing a good network and making a warm introduction is often just as valuable and sometimes even better.

How Startups Can Prototype and Test Any Product in Just Five Days

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

The room was packed at the fourth annual Grow Conference in Vancouver on August 14. A caffeinated crowd was geared to go, so there was no time to be wasted. Daniel Burka and Jake Knapp, two design partners from Google Ventures, offered a new perspective to developing prototypes or commonly known as bad ideas with fewer repeated errors. Their session was titled “Quit wasting time on ideas that suck.”

Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is repeating one process and expecting different results.”

So how is it possible not to waste time on something we invested so much in? Are we all insane to believe in our shiny ideas?

Not necessarily. Burka and Knapp recognizes that there is a better way to go about developing an idea that is much faster than the old fashioned step by step linear procedure and it only takes five days. And they do this by redefining the word “ship.” The traditional meaning of “ship” means getting it off the production line and into the hands of users. Then beautiful data is collected, but rarely is that the case—because often press releases, new features and other variables end up muddying the data.

Their fast-paced method begins on Monday and strictly ends on Friday. A deadline is key. Each day has a specific job. On Monday they would schedule a target audience to view their prototype on Friday, which means a prototype needs to be ready by Thursday night. So what happens in between?

Day one is all about learning and understanding the users, consumers and the product itself. By boosting the knowledge of what the customer needs and what the product needs to do, the team can then recognize which direction they need to take.

The second day is where the team needs to sketch out every possible solution. But it is not a group brainstorm; rather the team breaks up to work individually. That way by the end of the day there should be a large collection of well thought though ideas.

On the third day the team would narrow the ideas down, but not in the most democratic way, that method tends to lead to more watered down ideas. They don’t choose the ideas, but rather the concepts they feel really must be tested. Then you let the data decide.

The fourth day is all about creating the prototypes. It might sound like a limited amount of time, but first three days help significantly in planning out the building processes.

And finally Friday morning arrives and it is all about testing out the idea. Whether it is good or bad, the data will tell it all. Either way, time was not lost, a lesson was learned and sanity was retained—at least for now.

Top Less

December 27, 2013April 17, 2014 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Calm before the glitter storm.

by Elliot Chan

lettering by Gina Mackay

Formerly published in Discorder Magazine. October, 2013

Exterior: the sound of thunder and a flash of lightning as Vancouver’s night sky presents another complementary performance.

Interior: sound check for Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party’s CD release concert continues at a casual pace.

I sit alone in Venue on a turbulent Thursday night as technicians walk back and forth through the brightly-lit dance club. I dismiss the shattered illusion of show production and patiently wait for my interview with the eccentrically named power-pop band. After attention on each instrument and three practice songs, the seven group members make their way offstage.

When the band’s first EP came out in 2010, they enjoyed a quick rise in popularity and developed an enthusiastic fan base. Three years later, they’re releasing their first full-length.

“It really packs a punch,” says TGLTP’s frontman, Michael Schindler. “People are used to our shows being really intense. Our album represents that in many different ways, but it’s not done by sheer energy; it’s done more meticulously by adding more arrangements and textures.”

“It’s like neon camouflage sexual dysfunction,” chimes drummer and vocalist, Benny Schutze from the other side of the green room. The rest of the band turns to Schutze, chuckle, and request an explanation. “Because the neon camouflages the sexual dysfunction.”
Up a narrow staircase, behind the stage is Venue’s ironically blue green room. I sit nuzzled in the corner between bass player Ian Bevis and Schindler, while the other five members arrange themselves intimately on couches and chairs in the cramped closet-like space. It’s a cozy sanctuary for the night.

“Put him on the guest list, but don’t let him come up here,” the group debates whether to offer VIP wristbands to friends of friends attending the show.

“I’m down for a super-strict wristband rule,” says Tyson. “This needs to be tranquility.”

“We get pumped up,” says Schindler. “But we don’t want 30 people in here partying while we get prepared. Also you want 20 minutes before you play to get in the zone.”

It’s unusual observing a band named Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party proposing rules and allocating privileges. But they’ve learned through past experiences that guests sometimes take advantage of the band’s hospitality. Obnoxious third parties become distractions, precious costume changing spaces become occupied, and most importantly: complimentary beverages vanish. They aren’t uptight; they’re simply professionals.

photo by Yu Su

Though they’ve come to an agreement on the backstage regulations, there are still other ongoing disputes — namely, their band name.

“We shortened it [TGLTP] for all intensive purposes,” says Schindler. “Top Less is just easier for everyone to say… but we will always be Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party.”

The name derived from a Kid Alex song that Schindler thought was called “Topless Gaylove,” but was actually called “Young Love (Topless).” “I just kind of screwed it up.” The band smiles over the ridiculous outcome. “And Tekno Party is just a party with everyone raving it up. Partying with sparkles in your hair.”

“And in your beard,” guitarist Kevin Fairbairn points to the leftover glitter in Schindler’s facial hair. “You need to shower.”

“I showered today!” says Schindler. “It doesn’t come off of me, I don’t understand what it is — I have a weird skin thing.”

“It takes a couple days even if you shower… unless you have a luffa.”

As children of the ‘90s, TGLTP indulged in hip-hop, classic rock, and funk — none of which they replicate today, but still have a large influence in the music they make.

“Some of the guitar writing we do, you can definitely feel some of the classic rock coming through,” said Tyson. “We’re not making phat hip-hop beats, but there is still a hot dance groove. There is still a sexy bass.”

Once a week TGLTP gather in their shared studio space to work on music, but seldom would you see the seven together in a non-music environment. “We’re friends, we hang out, but it’s music — always,” says Bevis. “Some of us DJ together, some of us produce together, and some of us write stuff —”

“I sometimes go over to Benny’s house and hang out when he’s in his bathrobe,” Schindler interrupts, “because that’s the only time he’ll hang out with me.”

The long awaited self-titled album by TGLTP is now available for purchase and download on iTunes, but having time to perform is the real accomplishment. Although their CD release tour was brief, expect them to be on the stage again real soon.

“Even though we were doing a ton of work,” says Schutze, “and people were always asking about [the album], it was like being in a sexless marriage. The live show was like fucking, it’s the culmination and the climax of what we get to do together. But when you are not doing it — that gets to be the feeling.”

With confetti, balloons, and sparkles in the forecast, TGLTP dress accordingly. Golden spandexes, silver jackets, or even onesies — but they’re careful to avoid wool products. The tinsel tempest may capsize ships and bring down mountains, but it won’t apologize to your glitter-clogged shower drain and laundry machine. But it doesn’t matter, because shimmer is the new clean.

Taming the control freak

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

How to be a leader without alienating yourself

By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor

Formerly published in The Other Press. October, 2013

Throw a bunch of humans together and see who turns into an animal first.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a workplace environment, a table of friends, or a packed car on a road trip—there will always be a project manager, a storyteller at the dinner table, and a driver in the car. Although the leadership role is sometimes appointed, most often it’s just imposed upon the individual, and from there they have to control the manic, power-hungry beast inside.

We’ve all been or interacted with a control freak. Sometimes their behaviours are so subtle that we don’t even notice them manipulating us; other times they’re aggressive, confrontational, and abusive.

A famous study by psychology professor Philip Zimbardo showed that when given power, anybody can behave in a cruel and unusual manner. The 1971 Stanford Prison experiment was intended to simulate two weeks in prison. Twenty-four students volunteered to participate, with 12 appointed as guards and 12 as inmates. The experiment was halted after six days, when prisoners began to passively accept abuse and harassment from the guards.

Deny it all you want, but there’s a monster inside of you. Although it might not erupt in the same capacity as the prison guards, it can still roar unintentionally at your peers, colleagues, and friends.

Perfectionists and control freaks may not see themselves as the villains. They might feel like the only one who cares, and that they’re merely trying to get the job done in the most efficient manner. In doing so, they create separation—an alienating aura, a souring reputation.

If you ever find yourself resisting compromise or unable to delegate work, you must step back for a moment and recognize the control freak brewing inside you. Only then can you properly assess the situation and your relationship with the group, and have the demon exorcised.

To eradicate the “my way or the highway” attitude, you must be willing to listen. Stay silent for a moment and hear what others have to say. The voice inside your head will try to jump in, but don’t let it. Allow the others to finish and then give your point of view. This way, it becomes a discussion and not a lecture. Control freaks feel these types of interactions slow the working process, but in fact it builds a relationship. By understanding how others think and work, you as a leader can then begin to employ them in the most effective areas.

Don’t interfere with others’ working processes unless they ask for help. The objective might be getting from point-A to point-B, but the journey isn’t up to you. Allow others to work at their own pace, even if they’re slowing the process down. A good leader will communicate and address displeasure, but a good leader will not do the work for them.

The best way to kill the control freak inside is to wing it: whatever you are doing, just wing it and see what happens. Spontaneity is control freak cyanide and a quality leader’s magic potion. Those who can handle improvising and thinking on their feet will be revered by their peers in a way that commanding and demanding leaders can’t be.

Fringe Bar

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

The Watering Hole for Vancouver’s Wild Festival

by Elliot Chan

Formerly published in Discorder Magazine. Sept. 3, 2013

An actor, a musician, and a dancer walk into the Fringe Bar — the rest is unpredictable.

Before you judge this article based solely on my poorly crafted joke, know that the Vancouver Fringe Festival is all about experimenting. And when it comes to conducting experiments and exploring the chemistry of “us,” there is no better place than the social laboratory a.k.a. the Bar.

The Fringe Bar is the watering hole for the festival’s wildlife before, in-between, and during shows. The St. Ambroise Fringe Bar has fostered some of the city’s most creative live performances over the years, and still nobody knows what to expect this time around. Dramatic routines, balloon animal gymnastics, or banjo-playing burlesque dancers; it’s always a mystery bag of entertainment.

“It constantly re-invents itself every year,” says David Jordan, Executive Director of the Vancouver Fringe Festival. “We can’t get stale because of the way we program the festival. When you’re drawing artists out of a hat, you’ll never get stuck in a rut.”

The festival’s evolutionary tree has branches sprouting in every direction, with one attractive limb being the Fringe Bar. It accommodates performers, spectators, and anyone else seeking a thirst-quencher and an experience.

“Fringe Festival in Canada is very artist-centric and there are a lot of touring artists,” said Jordan. “So we needed to give these people some place to hang out — and beer was a natural fit.”

The Fringe Bar humbly began at Planet Bingo and the Legion on Mount Pleasant. In 2007, the Fringe community moved outside and incorporated live music to the social heartbeat. Dan Mangan performed that year and since then the Fringe Bar became a permanent fixture. It got spectators moving and offered an experience that extended beyond the theatre seats.

“It’s amazing playing for theatre people, because they like to get theatrical,” said Tristan Orchard, a local DJ and musician. “They’re pretty much my favourite audience to play for, because everyone is performing and they have that post-performance good vibes.”

photo by Lachlan McAdam

In 2009, Railspur Alley became the festival’s central hub. Outdoor stages and bright lights fashioned onto the tree canopies created a starlit atmosphere down the promenade. Festival goers, performers, and passersby alike can enjoy the high calibre artists, while getting a little pick-me-up at one of Granville Island’s outdoor patios.

Outdoor patios? In September? Is that another joke?

Weather-pending is something Vancouverites hear often, but anything goes during the festival. The outdoor components for the Fringe Bar were incorporated in 2010, after witnessing other successful beer gardens at Fringe Festivals across the country.

“I was always a little wary,” said Jordan. “It’s September. Can we get people to be hanging outdoors? It’s going to rain. But it’s awesome.”

Curse the rain all you want, but one of Jordan’s favourite Fringe memories happened during a rainstorm. It was 1 a.m., a cabaret show just ended, and a torrential shower had the city drenched. Undaunted, Jordan accompanied by his Fringe confidants, in true West Coast spirit, dove into the bar with a splash.

“There was a huge puddle, 12-feet long,” said Jordan, “and a foot deep at some places. I looked at it and was like ‘We are going to be dancing in that puddle for sure.’ And within 20 minutes, everyone was in that puddle. It was a great time. There was a kind of spontaneous exuberance to that.”

“It was a monsoon,” said Orchard, who remembered performing during the storm. “It was just a great experience where people decided to forget about the rain, dance in puddles, and slide across tables. Everyone was completely soaked. It was just a beautiful moment where everyone lost themselves and it was just a wonderful time.”

Promoting impulsiveness and spontaneity is all part of the Entertainment Coordinator’s job. Taking the helm at this year’s Fringe Festival is Corbin Murdoch, who knows that first-class preparation is foremost when it comes to quality improvisation.

“We anticipate spontaneity and we anticipate a diverse crowd each and every night,” said Murdoch. “On the back end, we need to be as organized as possible so that we can be quick on our feet.”

From September 5 to 15, the St. Ambroise Fringe Bar at Argo Café and the green space nearby will be the Fringe epicenter. New additions to this year’s festival include food carts (La Taqueria, Reel Mac and Cheese, Urban Wood Fired Pizza), square dancing, and the Fringe Talk Show hosted by comedian, Riel Hahn, which features candid conversations with Fringe artists.

So what do you think? Maybe you can help me workshop my opening joke: An actor, a musician, and a dancer walk into the Fringe Bar—(insert your own experience here).

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The St. Ambroise Fringe Bar is open every day of the Fringe Festival, which runs from September 5 until September 15. The bar’s hours are 7p.m. until late at 1363 Railspur Alley on Granville Island.

The sky is fall-ing

December 27, 2013 / Elliot Chan / Leave a comment

Braving the end of another year

By Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor

Formerly published in the Other Press. Sept. 2013

Long days, bikini-clad girls, and patio chairs—it’s going to be a while before we see any of those things again. As the change in season becomes more apparent, people are becoming more irritable. The constant rain, the midday darkness, and the approaching end of another year bring a melancholy feeling that is usually accompanied by an unexpected head cold. Summer is gone, but the transition to winter isn’t all mournful and gloomy. Autumn has charming qualities that are worth falling for.

The smell of autumn air, when it’s not yet too cold and still reminiscent of a bygone summer, can refresh the body. Staring off into the distance and seeing the city dappled with red, orange, and yellow, I can’t help but breathe in the sweetness—even though for a moment I want to complain about the chill and the rain. And it’s my right as a Vancouverite to complain, but I won’t, because that won’t change the weather. What I can do instead is dress for the occasion, and autumn happens to be a very fashionable season. Delightful combinations including scarves, toques, and sweaters might not be the same as showing off my beach body, but hey, argyle looks good on me too.

Sure, I wish the freedom of summer would last forever, but deep down inside I know I need the sophistication of autumn to teach me how to grow and become a responsible human being. Classroom lectures and day jobs begin to fill up the time spent basking in the sun, and it’s okay because it’s progress. And then just when you think you’re on a roll and you’re working too hard—Halloween comes out of nowhere and rewards you. Well, lies, it doesn’t come out of nowhere, you’ll have been preparing for it a month beforehand, but your PG-13 costume will be so worth it.

Whether I’m slipping into my Ugg slippers and making some hot chocolate for a long night indoors, or I’m putting on my cardigan to hunt for the perfect pumpkin at the store, autumn fills me with whimsy. As mature as I am, the season still causes me to conjure up some childlike imagination—the kind that says make-believe isn’t completely absurd.

The finest entertainment comes during this time of year, too. No, I’m not just talking about Thanksgiving, family dinners, or other cheesy stuff like that. I’m saying that autumn means movie theatres are removing the disappointing blockbuster flicks and introducing quality ones which will vie for a spotlight during award season. It’s also the best time of year for sport fanatics: hockey, American football, and basketball seasons return, while baseball, Canadian football, and soccer head into playoffs.

Sure, I miss the carefree sunny days of summer, but who has time to mope over our fading tans when we have so much autumn to look forward to?