the key to loompaland

everybody loves to hate the little mr/miss know-it-all, especially in movies.

remember the scene in willy wonka and the chocolate factory (1971) where gene wilder's wonka plays the musical lock in order for everyone to enter the chocolate room?

well, if you're an opera fan, you may have gasped when know-it-all mrs. teevee incorrectly identifies the marriage of figaro overture as written by russian composer sergei rachmaninoff and not W.A. mozart.

did you shout at the TV like i did?


Fast forward to 3:45 to see the travesty

mozart-lovers everywhere agree: maybe her son mike shouldn't have been the only one shrunken by the wonkavision TV.

i'm ready for my close-up

rejoice!

the smart pics photo booth has been confirmed for the remainder of the marriage of figaro run. this means you can pose and mug to your heart's content!

take a picture of yourself. take a photo with your date. grab some random peeps in the lobby for one gigantic group shot. (just watch out for those photobombers!)

the best part? (besides the "love it" or "try again" option) you can email it to yourself as a keepsake of your night out, or you can send it to someone to let them know what they're missing out on!

the smart pics photo booth is located right by the east end lobby staircase. or you can just look for the line-up.

UPDATE at 610pm: due to unforeseen problems with the windows programming, the smart pics photo booth will not be running tonight. sorry for any disappointment caused. darn technology! the smart pics photo booth will be back up and operational for the saturday and tuesday performances.

operamania 101: fiiii-ga-rooooo?

my friend wanted to buy a ticket to the marriage of figaro because he wanted to hear that famous song with that famous line "figaro, figaro, figaro, figaro, figaro....fiiii-ga-roooooo!"

he, of course, remembered hearing that song in various cartoons growing up:

bugs bunny's the long-haired hare

merrie melodies' one froggy evening

tom & jerry's the cat above And the mouse below

droopy's droopy opera.

MGM cartoons' magical maestro

i had to stop him in his tracks to tell him that the song he was referring to was largo al factotum, which is actually from gioachino rossini's the barber of seville.

pierre-augustin caron de beaumarchais wrote a trilogy of stories that featured the character figaro: le barbier de séville (the barber of seville), le mariage de figaro (the marriage of figaro) and la mère coupable (the guilty mother).

W.A. mozart, along with librettist lorenzo da ponte, made an opera out of beaumarchais' comedy, the marriage of figaro. rossini and librettist cesare sterbini, on the other hand, made an opera out of the barber of seville.

a common mistake.

slightly confused, he wondered if he heard anything from the marriage of figaro before.

if he had seen shawshank redemption, the answer would be yes. sull'aria che soave zeffiretto from act III of the marriage of figaro was used in the 1994 film, which starred tim robbins and morgan freeman.



tim robbins' character, andy, locks himself in the prison warden's office and inspires his cellmates by playing mozart over the prison's PA system. a little humanity in an inhumane place. this lyrical act of defiance was the iconic moment of the movie.

my figaro-curious friend would also have heard mozart in trading places (1983), the last action hero (1993), the whole ten yards (2004) and wedding crashers (2005). all of these movies include snippets from the overture of the marriage of figaro. sometimes it's quite obvious, like in the entire opening credits of trading places, whereas you can barely hear it in wedding crashers, during the church scene with vince vaughn and owen wilson.


clockwise from top left: the whole ten yards, wedding crashers, the last action hero, trading places

more recently, it was used in last year's hit movie, zombieland. forty-three minutes into zombieland, the marriage of figaro, K.492 overture can be heard as the four main characters decimate an indian trading post. the quartet wreck havoc on headdresses, cowboy hats, tchotchkes, turquoise jewellery, shelving and windows; a result of pent-up frustrations from living so long in a zombified world.



and as mozart's overture comes to a sweet end, you'll hear the main character telling us to "enjoy the little things, even if that means destroying a whole lot of little things."



i think mozart would approve.

analyze this

so just how dizzyingly crazy and absurd is the marriage of figaro?

take a gander at this flow-chart of Act I and II:


act I


act II

all clear now? good.

big up to publisher/editor michael cox for the creation of this flow-chart. cox used the visual understanding environment to create this little gem. to learn more about michael, check out his website, coastline journal.

striking a pose at figaro

the smart pics photo booth on opening night was a smash. can we just say how beautiful everybody looked at figaro? like, "really, really, ridiculously good-looking" beautiful?


press play or go to VO's flickr

but before we got the "glam photos", there was some testing of the photo booth before the doors opened.


smart pic's ray and i doing some test shots


selina making me giggle as she mugs for the camera


my co-worker pressed start then moved out of the frame, leaving me no choice but to stand and smile like an idjit.

but my favourite photo booth pic was of sean and me at the end of the night. could you believe it's our very first picture together at the opera? it's also a birthday picture.

it was a really lovely show

video by bombshelter productions & mike mckinlay

lovely. fantastic. hilarious. just perfect. it's unanimous. everybody, but everybody, loved them some mozart on saturday.

excellent peformance from the minute it started. it was a pleasure.

it was quite entertaining. i think alot of people found the humour quite good.

i love theatre and i love music. so the opera really does bring it all together. it was wonderful.

the costumes are lovely.

great score. great orchestra.

the whole drama in the garden - that's my favourite part. very romantic.

everybody was fantastic. it was a great performance. great opening night.

get your tickets now! only 4 performances left! call 604-683-0222 to speak to our box office.

see you down at the theatre!

figaro blogger night: final thoughts

left to right: gus fosarolli, tris hussey, peter andersen, kelsey dundon (with her friend briony)

a big thank you to all our figaro bloggers who joined us for blogger night at the opera this past saturday! it was indeed a magical night filled with much laughter and music. but don't take our word for it...

yes, figaro is a comedy, a farce really. and yes the singing is glorious. oh so glorious. the whole opera is one of those that you just lose yourself in. a lot of that is thanks to the genius of mozart. - tris hussey

the music has been wonderful to hear and all the principals are wonderful to hear. i wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’ve been laughing and, for lack of a better word, grooving to the music of mozart. - gus fosarolli

but the marriage of figaro is to the opera world what the nutcracker is to the ballet world: it is accessible, popular, and full of melodies anyone would recognize. which is why briony and i are having an absolute blast. - kelsey dundon

i was told the marriage of figaro is a great “first opera” and i for one am glad i was initiated by it. it was very enjoyable from start to finish. the story was well written and well accompanied, but the best entertainment came from the performers themselves. all of the players were very skilled vocally, as expected, but they also seemed right at home doing physical comedy. it was a great combination overall, and the 3+ hour length went by surprisingly quickly. - peter andersen

for more blogger night pics on our flickr, click here.

glorious nonsense

happy 2nd blogoversary to me!

it seemed like it was just yesterday that my blog turned one. my, time flew by faster than i could say 'twas brillig, and the slithy toves, did gyre and gimble in the wabe; all mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe' twenty five times in a row.

glancing back on the past two years of my blog, it is obvious to see what my life revolves around. and i've been pretty happy at the turn of events.

peggy said something to me the other day that we both know to be true. we both believe that things happen for a reason. that past events shaped not only who we are, but also where we are today. what may seem random and singular, all contribute to a greater design.

she said if i had not gone to new york, i would not have the job i love today. and if i did not have the job i have today, it probably would have been a slim to none chance that sean and i would've met. (we don't share the same friends or acquaintances and we're both homebody nerds)

i also know that if i hadn't gone to new york, i may not have become the social media savvy person i am today. being that far away, i had to turn to writing down my adventures and cc'ing them to my closest friends (like a regular news bulletin)

i collected so many memories, learned from so many people and experienced so many things that i never knew of before. and in such a short amount of time. my world had opened up exponentially and i was literally bursting at the seams, trying to figure out how to share it with anyone who may be interested. but more importantly, how do i remember it all?

my time away had such a profound effect on me that when i returned to vancouver, i felt this overwhelming need to organize the thousands of thoughts in my head. and thus this blog was borne.

and how far back in the chain of events of my life was the pivotal point that brought me to this place right now? so many variables. so many choices. a multitude of decisions that could've led me elsewhere.

here i am today, all beamish-like. and i thank my lucky stars. and hope for a continuation of a most frabjous life.

and also the commitment to share it.

thank you everyone for all your love and support. and thank you for reading.

x

banging the drums

brooklyn-based indie band, the drums, remind me of joy division. (without the intensity of ian curtis) have you heard the bass line from their previous song, i want to go surfing?

i'm all over their newest single, due out later in may, called forever and ever.

the move was deliberate as the band wanted to mash 80s post-punk joy division/new order with surf-pop sensibilities. i think the lads did alright.

what a farce!

figaro and susanna are in love and about to wed.

count almaviva has the hots for susanna.

marcelline has the hots for figaro.

cherubino has the hots for the countess.

barbarina has the hots for cherubino.

the count & marcelline conspire to thrwat figaro & susanna's wedding.

the countess, figaro & susanna conspire to have the count's affection return back to the countess.

bartolo ends up marrying marcelline.

add into the mix: love notes, tools to break down doors, jumping out of a window, dancing the fandango, mistaken identities and secret rendez-vous' in the cover of night.

so much happens in la folle journée! (or the marriage of figaro)

watching the figaro dress rehearsal thursday night, i was reminded of none other than watching three's company when i was growing up. the funny thing was that the 3 other people i spoke with that night said the same exact thing. (even the opera ninja!)



but how could this be?

with misunderstandings aplenty, plots being hatched (nudge-nudge-wink-wink), the underdog hoodwinking the topdog, slapstick hijinks and a parade of characters, the marriage of figaro was indeed a pre-cursor to shows like three's company.

pierre-augustin caron de beaumarchais, the author of the marriage of figaro which mozart based his opera on, was a master at writing farce; in particular, taking jabs at the aristocracy. he liked the figaro character so much, beaumarchais weaved him into 3 stories: the barber of seville, the marriage of figaro and the guilty mother.

beaumarchais' characters were vain, irrational and neurotic. they spoke witty repartee while being engaged in highly improbable situations. such comedy of errors moves at a frantic pace, involving innuendo, misunderstandings and physical humour. however ridiculous the plot was, the story always finished with a happy ending. a present wrapped up in a bow.

not unlike some of the half hour comedies you see today.

pierre beaumarchais and john ritter: they may have been 200 years apart, but both men were considered king of comedy gold in their days.

the marriage of figaro: cast interviews

video by bombshelter productions & mike mckinlay

it's working on the harmonic level, the rhythmic level, colours in the orchestra. everything possible that anybody ever thinks about, as a musician, is there. and in such perfection, that you could never get bored with this one. it's the most sensation things that's ever been written. - maestro jonathan darlington

if you never been to the opera, it's a great one to come to because it's funny. you'll recognize alot of the music. it's melodic. it's beautiful. it has a really young vibrant cast. - daniel okulitch

of all of mozart's music, it's probably one of the these most popular. so if you're only going to pick a few operas in your lifetime to go to, make sure that le nozze di figaro is on that list. - nikki einfeld

don't miss out! Call 604.683.0222 to get your tickets!

banner in the sky

look up in the sky. it's a bird. it's a plane. it's the vancouver opera banners!

now that the olympics are over, our golden anniversary banners are back up on the streets.



unmissable if you're walking along robson street or hamilton street, sitting on the steps of the vancouver public library or heading to the queen elizabeth theatre, these banners inject some colour against a backdrop of glass, concrete buildings and sky.

colour is good, now that spring is here.

to check out all our banners, click here.

make me up

checked out IMAT (international make-up artist tradeshow) this past saturday at the renaissance hotel. IMAT takes place in 5 cities: vancouver, sydney, toronto, london and los angeles. and it's an event that thousands of make up artists, vendors, special effects artists and enthusiasts attend.

i am neither of those things.

didn't know what to expect as i was just tagging along with my cousin kim and her friend daisy. i don't wear alot of make up nor buy alot of it, so the ballroom full of make up vendors was kinda wasted on me.

but what did catch my interest was the beauty/fantasy make up competition. eight make up students were given 2 hours to present something in the weirdly wonderful vein of alice in wonderland.



package it up as fantastical and you'll have my attention. the costumes, the accoutrements, the otherworldly make up, the behind-the-scenes backstage glimpses. is it any wonder that i work in the performing arts?



press play or check out my flickr.

it's opera ninja time

photo credit: i am the game

what's that i see? i could've sworn i saw something moving in the shadows. do you hear a rustling sound? hmmm. gone now.

maybe i was just imagining things.

or maybe you weren't.

the opera ninja is back. she's going to bring you all the juicy details from our figaro stage. all the love, passion, jealousy and tomfoolery.

join us tomorrow night for the marriage of figaro dress rehearsal with ninja girl kimli. you can follow along on our twitter: @Operaninja or along the right side-bar of the VO blog.

don't miss out. the action begins at 7pm.

putting your best face forward

when you're at the marriage of figaro this saturday, you may notice a tall rectangular column situated in the lobby. the tall black device with the lightbox and touch screen may have you scratching your head, wondering what on earth it could possibly be? more importantly, why would you want to stand in front of it?

why, to take a picture of course!

vancouver opera has partnered with smart pics to bring some photo booth fun to our opera-goers.



this photo booth will also email your picture to you, and you can then post it to your own facebook, flickr or blog. it's a great memento of being at the opera with your significant other, friend or a first time date. what a perfect way to also let family and friends know where you are and what they're missing out on!

opening night pictures will also be posted to VO's facebook and twitter in real-time, so follow along to check out all the beautiful peeps.

so don't be shy, step up to the booth, show them pearly whites and smile pretty (or mug) for the camera.

what's on your ipod?

photo credit: christoph müller-girod

ever wonder what an internationally renowned maestro likes to listen to? well, for vancouver opera's music director, maestro jonathan darlington, his three favourite composers above all others are: johann sebastian bach, wolfgang amadeus mozart and joseph haydn.


left to right: bach, mozart & haydn

so come check out the maestro, as he conducts his magic on the marriage of figaro, mozart's amusing and beautiful opera about infatuation and forgiveness.

to purchase tickets, call 604.682.0333 or buy online here.

poster of the week

wowzers! our marriage of figaro artwork has landed in the vancouver courier newspaper as poster of the week!

big props to illustrator edel rodriguez and VO's graphic designer annie mack for such a stunning image!

get your mozart on

sure, everyone knows of the child-wonder who was wolfgang amadeus mozart. at age 6, mozart found himself playing for the imperial court in vienna, blowing them all away with his talent. he was at that time already a budding composer who was about to embark on a 3 year performance tour of europe.

mozart would go on to write over 600 compositions throughout his life, including the world famous operas the marriage of figaro, don giovanni, the magic flute, la clemenza di tito and così fan tutte.

but did you also know...

* his baptismal name was johannes chrysostomus wolfgangus theophilus mozart

* he sometimes composed his symphonies while playing billiards

* the city of salzburg, austria still honours mozart today with a museum and an annual music festival dedicated to him.

* he had a photographic memory

* he could play back an entire piece of music after just one listen

* he had a potty mouth, as seen in his surviving letters. he even wrote a musical canon, a party piece just for friends, called leck mich im arsch, translated to kiss my arse. or something MUCH ruder in german

* he measured 5'4"

* in love but rebuffed by soprano aloysia weber, mozart went on to marry her sister, constanze weber

* mozart and constanze had 6 children, but only 2 survived through infancy

* his final commission came in the form of a requiem mass, for which he would be paid 100 ducats. the funeral song turned out to be his swansong.

* the cause of mozart's death is unknown, although there have been speculations that it was trichinosis, mercury poisoning or syphillis.

* although he was a well-known and well-loved composer, he died practically penniless.

blogging the hijinks & hilarity

meet our marriage of figaro bloggers !

come say hi on opening night (saturday, april 24) as our bloggers take on mozart's subversive tale of love, lust, philandering, mistaken identities and servants sticking it to their masters.



clockwise from top left: gus fosarolli, kelsey dundon, tris hussey, and john biehler

shenanigans are bound to happen! follow along on the right sidebar as our bloggers navigate all the twists and turns of the night, onstage and off.

just shoot me

things i learned at the forensics workshop: ballistics a couple of weeks ago:


instructor chris mathieson had to wear white gloves when handling the guns. and no, we were not allowed to touch the guns.

* ballistics is the study of projectiles. our instructor chris had us throwing rubber balls the size of gumdrops across the room and trying to land them in a plastic cup to illustrate trajectory and drag.

* ballistic fingerprinting is the studies of marks left on the bullet after being fired from a gun.

* rifling is what's happening when the grooves inside a gun's barrel helps to spin a bullet out for accuracy and range. this is where the word rifle comes from.

* the rifling in gun manufacturers differ in the shape of grooves, twist and directions

* the grooves on a bullet after it's been fired is called striations. these marks can be matched with the gun it was fired from.

* the marks on a cartridge casing after being fired are called breech markings


the photos on the left matches up breech markings

* no two firearm, even if they are the same make & model, produces the same marks on the bullets and casings



* if you fire a gun into the water, (like they do in hollywood action movies) the bullet would travel as far as eight feet; being slowed down considerably by the water. this led us to talk about that mythbusters episode on bulletproof water:

confirmed: you can protect yourself from a bullet by diving underwater. if the shooter were directly overhead, you would probably be safe from most guns at 8 ft. at a 30 degree angle, you would only have to be 3 ft underwater to be safe.

good to know.

even better to make note of was when chris told us that the ballistics department at the copshop located next door has 5,000 firearms in their storage. along with bullets for those guns. AND that the copshop, and in particular, the ballistics department is the most heavily fortified place in the entire city.

especially good to know if the zombie apocalypse ever comes our way.

for more pics, check out my flickr.

figaro tidbits

when you come to figaro, you will see:


a raised orchestra pit.
the musicians' heads will be seen, just like in mozart's day. the raised pit and smaller orchestra make the sound more present.


a pianoforte.
instead of a harpsichord, a pianoforte will be played. this was the instrument mozart had in mind when he wrote the opera in 1786. the pianoforte will be raised to stage level.


maestro darlington's son.
max darlington will be a supernumerary. see if you can spot him on stage!


an all-canadian cast.
yay to home-grown talent!

red string reminder

i listen to the golden oldies and so, i've heard many versions of you belong to me.

big band version (jo stafford), country version (patsy cline), doo-wop version (the duprees), crooner version (bing crosby), rockabilly (gene vincent), not to mention dentist chair version (rick astley, vonda shepherd) and bob-dylan's-in-a-class-of-his-own version.

but i think i like jason wade of lifehouse's version the best. just a boy and his guitar. stripped of any horns, drum brushes, violins, piano and backup singers, the song's sincerity really shines through. simplicity at its best. similarly, carla bruni's version is pleasing to the ear as well, but jason wade has the voice. and it's really in the way he sings it and how he plucks and strums those notes on the guitar.

perhaps it's also because i think it would be sweet to play or have someone play these notes on the acoustic guitar.

the theme of this song is to remind your lover that wherever they may travel to, whatever exotic sites they see, "you belong to me." such a romantic song that is as touching today as it was in 1952 when it was composed.

for who wouldn't come back to their lover after being sung this song?

a day in the life

i was recently interviewed by marc van bree on his dutch perspective blog. he contacted me because he wanted to share with his readers about what i do at the VO. i was flattered to have even been on his radar (although i had been following his blog for the past little while at work)

and funnily enough, i will be joining marc as he talks about social media at the opera america conference in LA. (my director of marketing pimping me out) i will be presenting VO as a social media case study. should be nerve-wrackingly fun.

anyhoo, on with the interview...

You are social media manager for the Vancouver Opera. Could you briefly describe what your typical day looks like?

The first thing I do when I get in is check our Twitter, Facebook and Blogs to answer any questions or comments we may have received. This also gives me a chance to chat with our opera company peers, find out what’s happening in the industry, and pass along opera news and gossip to our online friends.

I meet with members of the marketing team throughout the day to strategize and communicate news and upcoming promotions and events. For example, we’re currently working on a guerilla marketing blitz around our Canadian premiere of Nixon in China. We’re also planning for the world premiere of our newly commissioned opera, Lillian Alling in October, 2010.

During the rest of the time, I brainstorm ideas for upcoming blog posts; gather information and images, do research and hopefully create fun, interesting and compelling stories.

Could you share some details of your job description? What was the organization looking for when they hired you?

As Social Media Manager, I manage and moderate all our social media tools including our blogs and our Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Youtube accounts. I write content to increase brand awareness and site traffic, drive client engagement and ticket sales, while tracking and reporting data to measure the penetration and impact of our social media efforts. I also identify and develop new and innovative methods of engaging our community by staying current with social media tools and industry trends.

The position of Social Media Manager grew out of my previous position as the Assistant to Managing Director. During that time, VO realized and embraced the importance of engaging our audience online. As I was already active with social media personally and had a strong understanding of its tools, I happily volunteered to manage and build our presence online.

I juggled my Assistant responsibilities while working on social media, but with all the success and support we were having online, it soon became clear that a dedicated Social Media Manager was needed. Luckily, the management at VO is forward-thinking and innovative, and they realized what it took to become leaders in social media in the Vancouver arts scene and the opera world.

From the Vancouver Opera Web site, I gather that you report to the Director of Marketing. Does your function have a mostly marketing function and to what degree do you interact with other departments? And how does the decision-making process work in your position?

I play a key role in the marketing department by communicating and promoting the company’s brand. I report and work closely with the Director of Marketing and Community Programs to develop and implement long term social media strategies.

I interact with the Artistic, Development, Education and Lottery departments constantly, as it’s my job to communicate their current and upcoming activities to our online audience. We’re more than happy to “lift the curtain” and give them a peek at what makes Vancouver Opera tick.

Do you have a dedicated social media budget to work with?

We will have a dedicated social media budget after this fiscal year. Our social media expenses for the past year have included prizes and promotional materials (postcards, posters and signage) for our special events: Operabot screening, Facebook & Twitter Fan Night.

How do you monitor the social media presence of the Vancouver Opera?

I use Google Alerts. Twitter is another great way to find out who’s interested about us.

What kind of outcome does the organization expect (or, perhaps, what are the goals and objectives)?

Our goals for social media are to increase awareness and engagement, drive ticket sales, and earn wider media coverage.

How do you measure your success?

We measure blog traffic: pageviews, unique visitors, comments and links each month. On Twitter, increases in our number of followers are wonderful indicators of interest, but what’s more important are the re-tweets and @ responses. I also look out for other bloggers and media writing about us.

I measure all this against increases in ticket sales and subscription purchases, click-throughs to our main website, donations and attendance.

~ dutch perspective

some friends with benefits love

nixon in china may have been over their heads, but they do like our use of social media. julie szabo, who asked me to speak at a social media presentation in victoria last year, wrote about her thoughts on our blogger night initiative.

coming from such a respected media maven, who also recently published a book on social media called friends with benefits, i am wowed and thankful for her kind words.

now, i just have to convert them to become opera lovers. (cue villainous laugh and twirling of spindly moustache)

I've long admired Vancouver Opera's approach to its Blogger Night program and got the opportunity to experience it first-hand when Darren and I were invited as blogging guests to "Nixon in China", the Vancouver Opera's most ambitious project to date--at least financially.

First, a little background. For the last year, social media manager Ling Chan has been engaging with online influencers, initially a radical approach for a traditional organization with an aging audience. Ling also launched the successful Vancouver Opera blog. Likewise, the Opera's Facebook page (more than 1500 fans) and Twitter efforts (more than 2200 followers) have grown continually, bouyed by the Blogger Night program.

Blogger Nights at the opera offer a way to introduce and engage a new audience with an old art form. Not only do Blogger Nights provide a reason for online influencers to write about the opera--either about their experience or to review the show--the program represent a genuine effort to educate a new generation of potential opera fans.

Educating our little group was what Vancouver Opera did best at "Nixon in China". Prior to the opening night performance, bloggers got a backstage tour of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Darren and I had a previous engagement so we missed the tour, but it sounded like an informative peek behind the curtain. Before the show and during intermissions (yes, two intermissions!), we were encouraged to hang out at the Blogger Night table. A surprising number of guests approached the table and chatted with us opera newbies. Personally, that set-up is a bit public for my liking--print reviewers aren't asked to write their reviews in-situ--but the other bloggers didn't seem to mind and it did provide a chance to chit chat with colleagues.

At Capulet we talk with a lot of not-for-profits about using social media effectively. Vancouver Opera's approach to new influencer outreach really is an example of blogger outreach done right. After seeing a Blogger Night up close we'll continue to tout this model as an effective way to build a new, real-world audience.

~ capulet communications

props from a new pop

opera-goer and VO fan stacey robinsmith reviewed our nixon in china. he also added a few nice words about my work with the company. thanks stacey!

I like what the VO has done. In the fall the VO created a position called Social Media Manager. Ling Chan has quite successfully assumed the responsibilities of that position. I am very impressed with the efforts that the Vancouver Opera has made at reaching out to the community. Some of those efforts involve the Vancouver Opera very effectively reaching out to a new audience demographic through the use of social media.

Vancouver Opera is on Twitter. Vancouver Opera has a Facebook page and their own blog. Vancouver Opera is out in the community engaging people through interactive events...

I am very impressed with the Vancouver Opera’s willingness to redefine themselves in the marketplace, while honouring and respecting the long-standing supporters (the old codgers with gobs of money, to put it crassly). I am particularly with the efforts made by Ms Ling Chan. Well done Vancouver Opera, a tip of the hat to another successful 50 years in Vancouver!

~ stacey robinson

strange adolescent

the most PURR-FECT mash-up i've heard in a long time. (well, it's more of a blend than a mash-up, if i want to be technically correct.)

at the teenage cancer trust concert in london last week, the arctic monkeys performed flourescent adolescent but with a twist. not only was the tempo of the song slowed down, but singer alex turner threw in an interlude and sang patsy cline's strange. (starting at 2:36)

a rad choice that flows so well.

and a completely different spin on the song that came to embody my 2007 UK countryside trip.

the arctic monkeys continues to surprise me. bless.

in event of an emergency, read this

so i was asked to contribute to the emergency procedures and risk management manual for work. this important document was to be distributed to all staff so that they can be properly informed of the steps they will need to take in an emergency situation.

course there were topics already covered that every company should make their employees aware of, such as what to do in a power outage, fire, earthquake and a medical emergency.

but there were 3 'what if' scenarios that are normally left out of such corporate manuals. christopher, selina and i were tasked to detail 3 such incidents for the appendices.

and get a load at what i got to wite about:



APPENDIX I:

Alien Invasion (Event I)
The chances of a full-scale Event I are slim but still possible. It may not be a question of “if” but rather “when.” There are substantial reports worldwide that a small-scale Event I have already taken place and that activities are still being conducted covertly. These claims have been further supported with videotaped evidence and such documentation has been popping up on all media channels with dire frequency.

Potential Issues:
This appendix will address only the steps staff should take in the event of a full-scale Event I, whereby our planetary security is threatened. It does not include any instructions on what to do in the event that humans are turned into automatons or of hostile organisms taking on the shape and semblance of a human. In these cases refer to Appendix Z and/or pandemic and/or hostile intruder policies.

Motivations for an Event I to occur may include: destruction, survival, harvesting, enslavement, breeding and/or assimilation.

As major cities are terrorized and entire regions possibly wiped out, paranoia, mayhem and conflict will ensue, resulting in the rapid breakdown of civil society.

First Signs:
Visible signs of Event I may include but are not limited to:
• Enormous disc-shaped objects appearing over cities of the world
• Shaking of buildings, rattling of windows and knocking down of poorly secured items on bookshelves and in cabinets. The air may vibrate.
• Possible de-activation of electronic devices and power outages

Four-Stage Approach:
As an Event I threat is likely to emerge from air, any route out of the city centre may place escapees directly in the path of potential danger. Until the scope of the Event I threat can be confirmed, retreat from the downtown peninsula is not recommended.

Thus, the emergency procedure for an Event I scenario is comprised of four stages, as outlined below.

Stage 1: Confirmation and Readiness
Notification of Event I will most likely be picked up first on radio, television and social media channels. The Social Media Manager is tasked to confirm for possibility of hoax or rumour.

If Event I is confirmed and taking place:

• Social Media Manager will alert the Receptionist.
• Receptionist will notify all staff via phone system and call for staff to convene immediately in the boardroom.
• Attendance should be taken immediately to ensure that all staff is present

If Event I has begun before assembling in the boardroom is possible:

• Seek cover quickly! Event I will most likely be by surprise. Crawl under desks and solid furniture or hide behind concrete walls. Running outside or being out in the open are not recommended.
• Stay as calm as possible. Panicking will not help the situation and will definitely call attention to yourself.
• Above all - do not engage hostiles. Any attempt to negotiate a peace treaty will most likely be faced with extermination.

Stage 2: Take Cover and Wait It Out
Once the first wave of attack has subsided, staff will quickly assemble in the boardroom, where attendance will be taken and casualties assessed. Remaining staff will then make their way to the music library on the second floor to bunker down inside the Stockade of Last Absolute Resort. (SOLAR) Instructions on how to seal SOLAR is described in Appendix Z.

All military and armed forces will most likely be engaged in combat. Additionally, there will most likely be a breakdown of security and medical services. The likelihood of the appearance of any emergency personnel is slim to none, so self-sufficiency will be important.

Stage 3: Evacuation
When the chaos outside has quieted, staff will then exit the SOLAR refuge. As hostiles will most likely concentrate on subduing large cities, it is imperative that staff make their way out to remote areas or areas of seclusion. Living off the land may be a real possibility.

Stage 4: Prepare for Guerrilla Warfare
Upon leaving the SOLAR safe-room with supplies in tow, staff will open the adjacent storage room on the 2nd floor and additionally outfit themselves with camouflage tents, camping and survival equipment, combat vests and body armour.

Staff should also access the SOLAR kit described in Appendix Z. Please note that items in this kit should be used only by staff trained to use them. Other staff should be assigned items from the Z Kit described in Appendix Z.

It is imperative to save staff members who are technically and mathematically knowledgeable at all cost. These key staff may be able to form an understanding of hostile’s weaponry and/or structural engineering. Understanding and harnessing this technology may allow for counter-attacks.

Unlike the disaster scenarios illustrated in Appendices Z & G, should Event I happen, the anticipated outcome will be catastrophe on a global scale. Although the possibility of being outmatched mentally and technologically is more than real, all efforts must be taken to ensure the survival of the species.

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the emergency manual was emailed as high priority to all staff members. some got a kick out of it and forwarded it to their own strata council. while many others, we didn't hear a peep from. but it is my hope that everyone's read it. otherwise they'd all be a whole lotta sorry, should this really happen. always remember the boys scout motto: be prepared. course, i really doubt they were thinking of alien invasion when they came up with that credo.

why yes, this IS just some of the things i get to do at work. and i get to collaborate with the "cool kids"; all of us sharing the same bent sense of humour. pretty kick ass, i say.

in event of an emergency, read this (part II)

here's the 2nd appendix to VO's emergency response manual, written by selina:



APPENDIX G:

Godzilla Attack (Event G)
Event G remains a highly unlikely scenario, given recent advances in deep-sea surveillance technology. However, due to VO’s proximity to open water, staff and building insurance policies dictate that additional procedures be provided here.

Potential Issues:
Although the size of the Event G threat itself will not allow it to enter the VO offices, we anticipate issues associated with Event G similar to those posed by an earthquake/tsunami scenario. Precautions have already been taken: windows in outer offices have been sealed, and in offices on the north side of the building, windows have been removed entirely. Additional building structures have been erected against these formerly weaker points, providing enforcement that will shield the VO offices from the widespread destruction that will inevitably accompany an Event G scenario.

Reports vary, but it is estimated that damage from Event G will be heaviest from sea level to a height of at least 80 meters. Overhead power lines will likely be the first targets as the Event G threat moves from the water into the city centre: authorities anticipate that telephones and electricity will be compromised early on in an Event G scenario. Cellular phones and 3G / 4G internet will be the most viable methods of communication at this point.

First Signs:
Notification of Event G will most likely come first via informal sources. Following recent incidents (Event Z), the Social Media Manager has been tasked with monitoring potential threats as a normal part of VO’s Risk Management policies.

First signs of Event G will likely include a loss of power, shaking buildings, loud, shrill noises, widespread random destruction and, of course, panic. Needless to say, staff should remain calm.

Two-Stage Approach:
As an Event G threat is likely to emerge from water, any route out of the city centre may place escapees directly in the path of potential danger. Until the path of the Event G threat can be confirmed, retreat from the downtown peninsula is not recommended.

Thus, the emergency procedure for an Event G scenario is comprised of two stages, as outlined below.

Stage 1: Stop, Cover and Hold
o Social Media Manager to monitor appropriate channels, and upon confirmation of Event G scenario, will alert Receptionist.
o Reception to notify staff via phone system with “Event G has been confirmed”.
o All staff to assume earthquake cover: retreat to outer ring offices, away from windows
o MgD to set up communication channels: wireless 3G, laptops.
o Stop, cover and hold until notified to move to Stage 2

Stage 2: Controlled Evacuation
Once the path of the Event G threat has been determined, the authorities will implement a controlled evacuation of the downtown core. Corridors of safe egress will be created and the public will be escorted out following a grid pattern.
o Receptionist to retrieve Earthquake Preparedness Kit
o All staff to exit building in a calm and orderly fashion, as per instructions of military personnel
o Staff that are unable to walk great distances will follow MgD to roof to await alternate evacuation

Staff are reminded to follow instructions of military personnel at all times for their own safety. Comfortable walking shoes and work gloves are highly recommended, as escape routes may include traversing rubble, downed electrical lines and other hazards.

in event of an emergency, read this (part III)

and the 3rd and final appendix to VO's emergency response manual, written by christopher:



APPENDIX Z:

Zombie Apocalypse (Event Z)
In case of Event Z there is likely to be a high degree of confusion and uncertainty due to uniqueness of the event. However, given recent events and VO’s location in an urban area, staff and insurance rules demand additional and modified procedures be provided as guidelines. To a great extent the procedures to follow are modifications of hostile intruder procedures and pandemic procedures noted elsewhere in this document.

Potential Issues:
Given VO’s location in the downtown core, the office building is likely to be within the immediate Event Z zone of activity. Precautions have already been taken: windows in outer offices have been sealed, and in offices on the north side of the building, windows have been removed entirely. Additional building structures have been erected against these formerly weaker points, but ground level access points are many (6) necessitating a retreat to higher and more secure ground on the third floor.

Reports vary, but it is estimated that initial panic will clog most exits out of the downtown core, making evacuation inadvisable. These clogged exit ways, rather than being avenues of escape, are likely to be concentrated areas of “casualties” during Event Z.

This Appendix assumes a minimum of 72 hours isolation w/o outside support or direction by authorities, but does assume working utilities during that period. Procedures beyond 72 hours must be determined by GD or senior staff based situational analysis and best practices.*

First Signs:
Notification of Event Z will most likely come first via informal sources. Following recent incidents, the Social Media Manager has been tasked with monitoring potential threats as a normal part of VO’s Risk Management policies. First signs of Event Z will likely include rumour, confused and contradictory news reports, followed by sirens and, of course, panic.

Even with diligent monitoring, it is likely that little warning will be available, and it is with a warning window of less than 10 minutes that this Appendix is written.

Two-Stage Approach:
Assumes Event Z risk is not present in building and time allows for securing of building in ten (10) minutes or less without undue risk to staff.

Stage One: Stockade
“Stockade” procedures are as follows:
• Receptionist announces nature of threat and “Stockade” via phones
• Marketing Team uses emergency locks on stairwell fire doors, retreats to 3rd floor via Call Center, securing steel Call Center door.
• Devo Team retrieves “Z kit” from 3rd floor storage room
• Call Center Team locks music library door and pull alarm marked SOLAR panels, closes barricade on 1st-2nd floor landing, posts guard
• Box Office Team uses emergency locks on front doors, retreats to 3rd floor via front stairwell.
• Third floor Production Team retrieves cargo nets for skylights, using pre-installed hooks in ceiling.
• Third floor Education Team uses emergency locks on stairwell fire doors, closes barricade on 1st-2nd floor landing, post guard.

Once third floor stockade is secure:
• General Dir. or Managing Dir. take roll call, assess resources.
• Dir. of IT confirm deployment of SOLAR panels, path of retreat
• Marketing Team monitor internet traffic, access security cameras.**
• Info Services Team set up kitchen, draw water reserves.
• Finance Team to set up infirmary in Lotto office
• Education Team to rotate front stairwell guard
• Call Center Team to rotate rear stairwell guard
• Production Team reinforce as possible for three ring defence:
• Devo Team distribute contents of “Z kit”

Once stockade secured and reinforced:
• Stay put, stay safe, stay alert
• Do not draw attention to yourself
• Conserve food, fuel, water
• Sleep in shifts behind locked, windowless office doors.

Stage Two: Retreat to Stockade of Last Absolute Resort (SOLAR)
The music library (an entirely interior room with reinforced walls) on the second floor will act as “stockade of last absolute resort” (SOLAR).

• Access is via floor panel hidden in the SW corner of the IT office.
o Peel back carpeting to find removable hatch, roll steel SOLAR panel out of way per directions printed on panel face. Read carefully as panel is sharp and spring-loaded.
• Use the large bookshelf directly below as a staircase. Avoid jumping.
• Once inside, pull orange release handle to close SOLAR panels. USE EXTREME CAUTION ; panel edge is sharpened and spring-loaded to sever any obstruction.
• Sliding reinforced steel door panel is similarly in place, blocking the normal entrance. If not, pull the SOLAR panel door release beside the door. Again, USE EXTREME CAUTION; door panel edge is sharpened and spring-loaded to sever any obstruction.
• In the center of the library floor, you will find a hatch that opens to the ground floor men’s room, a potential source of water, refuge, or escape assuming the (normally locked) ground floor men’s room door has not been breached.
• In the locked lateral filing cabinet marked “Bach Operas” you will find the “SOLAR Kit”. There are no keys to this lock, but a hatchet, pry bar or other means should quickly breach that. The cabinet is alarmed to our central alarm system in case of normal, unauthorized breach, but is of no consequence in this scenario.
• The “SOLAR Kit” should provide for a robust defence capability not found in the “Z Kit”. Together, these kits may provide adequate protection for a small determined group to either extend their siege or attempt an escape.

Abandonment, Escape, Retreat
Like the “Z Kit” the “SOLAR KIT” contains, in addition to weapons, contents to create a number of “go bags” which may be helpful if escape is required.

Do not leave the premises unless forced to, or unless superior safety is offered by a known, verified, secure location.

A likely first location of refuge is the nearby Canadian Forces Armoury, located three blocks north and one block east of the offices. The situation may dictate otherwise, but as a general rule, such a fortified location with trained personnel may be a wise first stop in case of forced abandonment, escape or retreat.

**Communications Manager has access to a number of public security cameras throughout the city which are noted on her workstation.

the marriage of figaro: the manga

love and lust. coveting and philandering. ah, such is the world of the marriage of figaro.

here's some figaro eye-candy for you on this easter weekend, from the talented duo of fiona meng and roy husada.













to feast your peepers on the supersize version, click here.