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Some clarification about Viva and Paradigm...
I think since there have been a few questions posted about the status of Viva, I would take this opportunity to announce something to you TAs.
Almost exactly a year ago, I was given the opportunity to play at Viva Nightclub as a trial to become a resident DJ. My first night was unimaginably better than I ever expected. Viva is truly a world-class club and I was so privileged to be a part of their line-up. After a couple of nights playing there, the club owner said that he was looking for new promoters for the club to organize and run their special events. As a DJ and producer with little experience as a promoter, I advised I was not the person for the job, but that I would present this to some others. Unfortunately, the more I tried to turn him down, the more I felt this job falling harder into my unprepared lap. Reluctantly, with enough pressure, I accepted.
I had a small team to work with that many of you are very familiar with, and the three of us ventured off into the unknown world of large scale event promotion! Over the next few months we learned so much about the club industry and how the great big machine operated. We discovered how the fuel powered the pistons and how the pistons moved the many MANY different gears, which ultimately lead to the wheels moving us all forward at high speeds. It really was a great roller coaster.
Paradigm saw the attendance grow from 600 people to over 1000 people at our events as we booked the BEST world class talent from around the world. I now had the opportunity to work with and PLAY with artists like MIKE, Matt Darey, Airwave, Cosmic Gate, Cor Finjeman, Mark Norman, and so on. The list of incredible artists goes on and on as we promoted one event per month! Considering a year before that we were struggling to find many large gigs, I was certainly honored to be opening up for the heroes of my trade in front of several hundred people.
The last few months saw the attendance drop again to where it was this time last year. Whether this was due to the season, other events in Toronto, or a general feeling of being unmotivated by the rewards, we knew that our abilities could certainly be used more effectively elsewhere. With other opportunities beginning to present themselves from other corners of the industry, new wheels began to turn and new goals formed in the back of our minds.
So, as each road has bends and turns, it’s now time to venture off in a new direction. After my last performance I talked to the manager/owner and we discussed Viva’s decision to take the club in a different direction to accommodate a different crowd. Whether this means that they’ll switch to house, stay with trance, or simply find a new promotions team with new found energy and spirit for the club, we all agreed that our time there had come to an end as their promotions team. Though Viva was an incredible experience for me as a DJ, I believe my journey is just beginning in a new direction and I think we were relieved to be able to take a break from this game for a little while. I’m confident that we left on extremely great terms and that we had an open invitation that WHEN Paradigm wants to throw another event at Viva, I could simply pick up the phone and call (rest assured, I will take him up on this offer). I feel it was extremely important to keep this connection alive. All parties helped one another as business associates and can look back at the last year as an amazing experience.
So I wanted to give a big thanks to all the TAs that made our Viva nights so successful. Our community seemed to grow tighter with every passing event. You guys all made our efforts worth it! Thank you thank you thank you!
To the members of the team that helped on late, cold, wet nights… missing out on great events simply to hand out a few flyers… I owe you so much. You guys helped in more ways than you can imagine! If you’re up for another ride, you will all be a part of our next adventure which (I’m sure) is right around the corner.
Aaron…. Man… nothing on here will justify the work you’ve poured into Viva. You are the most passionate person I know about the music and you’re the #1 reason these nights were successful! Everyone should shake this man’s hand for the late nights, the grey hairs, and the efforts he put into Viva. You are the unsung hero!
I’m sorry I couldn’t have brought more up and comers into Viva to share in the experience I had! For those of you that were able to play at this amazing club, I’m so glad you could be apart. For the rest of you… your time will come! We’ll have many other nights in many other clubs!
For me, deep inside, I feel something big brewing. It’s time to focus on the true passion that drives me so I can accomplish the goals I’ve set out for 2006. By 2007, you’ll see a new breed of Tygon… 
Thank you all for your support!!! The concept of Paradigm shines through in all the people I've come to know!!! I'm a better person because of these experiences 
CHEERS!
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