Honestly when I organized a GT I got so much complaint about entitled people and providers not having exactly what they wanted that it killed my motivation. But yes, April organized a few in the last few years. Have you been ?
No. I am not in April's good graces i think. Just an argument on Twitter, nothing major, but enough that she would never think of inviting me. Of course i don't want to speak for her, but considering she had blocked me, pretty safe to assume. You also have me blocked. I do recognize i may have been a bit too direct in the past on there, and i don't want to derail my own thread, but lets just say it was not "just me".
I do miss the industry parties of the past which you mentioned. I can even remember you performing security services at one of them, catching a lurker who was spying on a party at the Hotel Lord Berri, and telling him to get lost while delivering a swift kick to his ass. Your heroism and faithfulness to your duties hasn't been forgotten by the masses.
However, they are just fond memories at this time, much like the hotels they were held in, HDLM and Lord Berri, which have since gotten the wrecking ball. I think you need the right sort of person with the right energy and personality. You need someone with genuine charisma. Asking someone to do that now, for nothing in return, is just not likely to happen with the right person. Which is why I believe that whatever money Iggy made on the parties, he deserved every penny of it.
Haha actually i never got physical with anyone at the parties as "security". I do recall this incident and i just talked to the guy. Once i did, he moved on. I couldn't stop him from "lurking" from a few feet farther or across the street, as its public ... but he was getting too close to the Berri's terasse. The bar was closed to the public or other clients so i think this was fair to ask him to not be on the property. I can understand him being attracked by the women, and them (as well as clients) being incomfortable with a "civilian" lurking tough. I just did what seem apropriate on the spot. Overall everyone was very respectful at these events. I know behind the scene there was trouble, but at the events itself i never had any issue. My "job" was mostly just to watch no civilians would get inside and of course if one of the woman had issues with an attendees, she could come up to me and i would have speak to him, but it never happened.
I didn't know the Berri got axed? Dang. I slept a few times there and received guesses as well. But it was more expensive than my usual places so once i found a cheaper place that i could use as backup i didn't anymore. Actually googling it, it seem that it simply changed name to be Marriot Fairfield Inn. But i just looked fast.
And i do agree there was a lot of work put into these so i do think its only fair the man/men behind get some money out of it for the work they put it. I don't know all the drama that happened, i just been told some by other guys, but it seem that it was more than just financials. Personally i always have been on good terms with Iggy and i did joined some "outside events" with him a few times, but i wasn't in his "super close circle" either.
I missed some GTs because i did feel they were happening maybe a bit too often (like once every 2 months at some point) and i didn't even have the time to see 2-3 new providers i added to my list before the next one. But i do think it would had been cool to have 1 every year or maybe 1 every 6 months. I miss Iggy himself too. I heard reasons why he disapeared and i understand.
Personally i will always say it, the Unicorn party at the house (witch Iggy and Mtl GFE co-organized) was the best party of them all. Even without some ladies working that night it would had been. I mean it totally felt like a party out of American Pie. Loud music was present on top floor but we also could set down in the stairs or on the other floor and talk quietly. The "all in entrance fee" was also the best formula imo (exept maybe a BYOB setting like GG2). I mean we did gave tips to the barmaids but it was a lot easier to simply go grab a beer or 2 and not have to bother with payments everytime. I just had a bunch of 2$ in my pockets and gave one when i got to pick beers.
Guess list was also probably the best of them all. Unicorn ladies were there, Mtl GFE had some, lots of indies and even other agency girls dropped by a little bit. I remember how star struck i was by Erika Delarose. So happy i got to meet her not long after. She is retired now.
If such party was to be organised again, i think renting a house would likely be the best way to do it, but i don't know if it could be done financially and of course there is always the neighbors/police issue. And if you rent something outside of the city, then its complicated for guess to go. But im sure Montreal have some venues where you can rent the place and have your own event. If its a BYOB set up, i don't think its illegal... But of course it mean less profit for organizers. Does a higher entry fee would be ok for guest if they bring their own alcohol? All details that would need to be considered.
But the bigger puzzle part is of course the ladies that would attend. Getting agency on board wouldn't be easy. Actually i see no reason for most of them to do, as they are always fully booked (or close), I supose some ladies would enjoy it for the kick of it itself, but financially its obviously a lot better to just work that night ...
