- This event has passed.
Share Post
CANADA DAY HIP FEST!:
A Sunset Labs Fundraiser & Livestream
ft HIP CHECK!
Hello Sunset Labs community!
WE MISS YOU! (do you miss us too?) What a strange time we find ourselves… to need connection and movement and community more than ever and to have exactly that, pulled away, for awhile. I hope you have everything you need… and are finding the growth & blessings within the confusion and circumstance.
WHY A FUNDRAISER?
Right now, there’s so many people and purposes that need our support. We don’t have to look far right now to find people, causes and organizations who really need some extra care, attention, resources and support. So… asking for your help in this moment feels imperfect, and that said, I am writing to ask for your help.
This unusual moment has been really impactful on Sunset Labs. With plenty of 2020 bookings in the calendar, I went ‘all in’ on a renovation December-January… and made a number of huge changes at the venue. An end-to-end paint job… upgrades to lighting, sound, seating, power, airflow… new floors, new ceilings, a new mini-stage… so much. It’s easily the most dramatic overhaul in the venue’s history, and since COVID landed just after we re-opened… very few people have seen it. But it’s great, you’ll love it. I love it.
Economically, Sunset Labs has long been effectively a breakeven scenario. There’s very little money in arts, kids birthdays, film screenings, non-profit programs, dance culture, and small workshops (yes there’s money in alcohol, but I’m not interested in being licensed). I’ve never really designed or intended Sunset Labs to make a bunch of money… just to make a lot of difference for our guests and community. A fun, safe, creative, lifting community space that advances people and projects that matter. And – I feel really good about what we’ve been up to, in these last few years in particular.
So, now to THIS moment. On the heels of a big renovation (one in which all the contractors went quite over budget, I might add)… myself & Sunset were already low on resources and suddenly COVID hit. All the spring/summer bookings were cancelled and we’ve been offering future credits and returning deposits. We’ve now been months without income and as far as I and other venue owners can tell… there’s no aid in place for venues provincially or federally, and no end in sight to serious constraints on our operations. We need to create some resources now.
WHY THIS HIP FEST THING?
And then a few days ago, like a hip angel arriving from out of nowhere… my friend Jonathan says… “You guys must really be struggling right now… can my band HIP CHECK host a fundraiser for Sunset Labs?” What?! Why YES, why YES you can. :)))
SO… we’re throwing a short-notice Canada Day Tragically Hip patio party! A small party onsite… a HUGE party online… the goals are to have a SERIOUSLY great time, to find a couple different ways for us to BE together, to BEGIN to wake Sunset up from it’s slumber, AND to raise some funds to help Sunset be around a bit longer.
I am excited to announce that there will be limited (25) IN PERSON tickets available (that will surely go quick) to come down and take in the band and dance the evening away in community.
THE BIG PARTY IS ONLINE!
We’ll also be offering a livestream of this event via so everyone who wishes to join us can do so.
WHY A LIVESTREAM?
The coolest thing about offering a livestream for this event is that you and your friends can attend from ANYWHERE in the world with an internet connection!
Through our easy online webinar system, you can engage with other viewers. You certainly CAN choose to just sit back and watch & listen, if you like – your active participation isn’t an expectation, but it IS an opportunity.
I am deeply aware that many members of the Sunset Labs community have also experienced significant financial impact, so if you wish to attend the livestream but lack the funds to contribute at this time, please don’t let that get in your way.
You can also contribute by sharing this event with your wider community by sending invitations to this event, sharing to your personal Facebook Pages etc.
COVID CARE
NOTE: We’ll be following all of the appropriate social distancing and Covid-19 safety measures for everyone attending in person.
To keep everyone safe, we’re asking that in person ticket holders do the following:
1. Anyone holding an in person ticket who shows any symptoms of illness in the days leading up to the event release their ticket so that as many who wish to attend in person can do so.
2. Anyone who shows sign of illness on the day of the event not attend in person.
We invite anyone who needs to release their in person ticket to join us via the livestream!
ABOUT HIP CHECK!:
Hip Check is a Tragically Hip cover band made up of five dads who love to play music and love the Tragically Hip. In honour and memory of Gord Downie, Hip Check is committed to keeping the sounds of Gord Downie and The Hip alive. The band can be seen rocking house parties, backyard gatherings and other venues around the CRD. Ever since that last Hip show in Victoria in 2016 we’ve been expanding our setlist and entertaining Hip fans and lovers of all ages.
https://www.facebook.com/Hip-Check-Band-474155586330596
BAND MEMBERS:
Jonathan Schlackl – Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Dave Elash – Lead/Rhythm/Acoustic Guitar & Vocals
Brad Bardua – Lead/Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards & Vocals
Sean Franklin – Bass & Vocals
Dave Gardner – Drums & Percussion
TWO WAYS TO JOIN US!
1) JOIN THE VIRTUAL PARTY!
The online party won’t be just another zoom call. We’re pullin out all the stops and this will be a beautiful, high-definition, multi-camera, interactive broadcast. Get your biggest screen & soud system setup and be ready to dance the night away in the living room! The VIRTUAL PARTY registration is here:
2) LIVE AT SUNSET LABS!
In Victoria and want to join us in person? We figure there’s room for 25 people at Sunset Labs! Our limited IN-PERSON party registrations (sliding scale for what you can afford to gift: $25, $50 or $75), are HERE:
(Please see the Covid Care section above for In Person Ticket information)
WANTING TO DONATE?
A few people have reached out expressing they can’t tune in to this particular event but they’d like to contribute some dollars to the sustainability & evolution of Sunset Labs. What we’re creating to facilitate this is more like a coupon – we’re generating an internal currency we’re calling LAB$ (“Labs”) – which is effectively just a gift certificate… which can later be redeemed towards venue rentals and tickets to internally produced events. If you want to purchase some LAB$ to help the venue grow, please send an etransfer or paypal to labs@sunsetlabs.ca ♥