FruCon 01/08 Meeting Minutes

Attendees: Angie Armstrong, Marie-Claude Danis, Katherine Maheux, Michelle Wallis, Heather Rolf, Fiona Gardiner, Jian Ghomeshi

Questions for Jian

Fruvous Merch Table
Jian informed us that Fruvous, Inc. is planning on setting up a merchandise table to sell Fruvous Rarities and things from the Fruvous Archives. More details to follow

Band Participation
Jian stated that FRUVOUS WILL BE PERFORMING 3 OR 4 ACOUSTIC SONGS AT THE CONVENTION!!!! More info to follow

• Definitely will need to look into better PA system. Jian suggested talking to Dave Tobey about connections (Tobey later suggested talking to Cal about what type of system to set up). Heather will have Greg talk to someone at Steve's music about getting the equipment cheap, and then possibly setting up an exchange for ad space in the program.

Approvals

• Jian thought the Logo for the Con is fine
• Liked all of Susan Messner's pictures from the Video shoot for use in the puzzles
• According to Jian ,the Sunday Benefit concert is definitely off, but the Thursday night show is a go. Believes Lee's wants to sell out Fri and Sat first
• Bowling on Sunday (Frumiles Card). "That's a good idea... we'll see" meaning they hadn't intended on redeeming the 30 stamps that Sunday. Now that the benefit is off, it's a possibility

Q&A
Jian was extremely excited about another Q&A and had suggestions for people we might try to invite. We have tentatively made room for it in the preliminary schedule (coming up). Suggestions:

• Danny Levin (Wood, YWGTTM)
• Don Dixon (Thornhill)
• Bernie Finkelstein (Pres, True North Records; Runs VideoFax for Much Music)
• Steve Martin (Fruvous' Press Agent from New York), or their New York Publicist
• Anne Saunders (Coordinator of FalconRidge Folk Festival) or Chris ? (Ottawa Folk Festival)
• Dan Bern
• Personalities from Fruvous Friendly Radio Stations (Joey Guisto or Chris Andrews from WBER; Micaela Majoun from WXPN; Rita Houston from WFUV)

Publicity
Jian was asked how much media hype would be favorable surrounding the con this year. His suggestion:

• (particularly if we get Bernie Finkelstein, who would draw a LOT of media) to focus on the Q&A.
• Go through True North for publicity. They might better be able to control "appropriate" press coverage or focus, and contact the "right" people for that coverage

Business Advertising

• Jian suggested avoiding corporate companies (Starbucks, etc)
• Record Shops
• Indie Shops (Steve's ?)
• Pizza Pizza (borderline, but Canadian Based)

Task List

• Zard: contact Jude re: publicity/press coverage, Fruvous Archives Merch table, Raffle Items
• MC/Heather: PA system info and set up

Updated Task List

An announcement re brunch will be added to the registration form
A list of activities for underage attendees will be provided, but nothing officially organized by convention planners (liability issues)

Suggested Events Schedule