WHAT IS PULSE?
Pulse Music Journal is Saskatchewan’s hub for music indulgers. We ‘eat/sleep/breathe’ the music and entertainment industry – plug into our outlet while we highlight new music, recap live performances, interview the biggest names, connect with local legends, and the newest initiatives surrounding our local music scene. We are honoured to be a leading cultural staple in the Saskatchewan music and entertainment scene.
WE SUPPORT SASKATCHEWAN’S ENTERTAINMENT & MUSIC SCENE
Whether it’s reaching out to a newly released project, musician or creating a spotlight for local talent to be heard on any of our stages, as well as opportunities to be heard opening for larger acts on a full-venue stage. We look forward to assist and launch newest concepts that strongly support the local music in this province. The local music scene is super important to us – we are a small province, but we have big dreams. Let’s grow and support each other – putting Saskatchewan on the map for premium music and entertainment experience.
FROM A KID ON THE SCENE TO THE MAN BEHIND THE SCENES
From start to finish, a lot of work goes into putting on an event. If you have been to an event in Saskatchewan in the last ten years, there is a high chance that Vince Geiger had ‘sprinkled’ his work ethic into the event in some capacity. Vince Geiger’s wheelhouse is like no other – from poster design to running Artists from the Airport to the Green Room – he has done it all. His name circulated through Saskatchewan back in 2009, when the small show promoter made a big step into the event world by putting on MazzFest (A Canadian Hardcore Music Festival). MazzFest was a yearly success with concert goer’s from all over Canada making their way to Saskatoon from 2009 to 2016. Now he works closely with the biggest promotion companies (LiveNation, MRG, Blueprint), runs his own promotion company (StepKid Events), puts on events for Black Cat Tavern, runs his own poster/promo distribution, poster design and a whole lot more. From international artists to local legends and the big task to the smallest details – Vince Geiger cares about this event world. You can say Vince has always been the ‘bridge’ for The City of Bridges.
Vince Geiger joins us to catch up and chat about his role in the music community, we learn what his next big step is, how one concert changed his career path, the importance of concerts with age inclusion, the silver linings of the pandemic, and what the future holds for StepKid Events and Vince Geiger.
We also break down stories from his extensive career – we learn his most memorable interaction with an artist, his favourite performance, the most ridiculous request from a tour. Take a trip down memory lane, and learn so much more.
Senses Fail on May 25, 2018 at Louis’ Pub – photo by @snelsey
YOU ARE A KEY MEMBER OF THE MUSIC SCENE: TALENT BUYER, PROMOTER, PROMOTER REP, MUSICIAN, AND MORE.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST FAVOURITE OF ALL OF THE ROLES?
VINCE GEIGER: Nothing beats the rush of being a front person on stage delivering a high energy show and feeding off the crowds that respond well to the performance. It’s been quite some time since I’ve had the privilege, even long before covid. I’ve learned to shift my energy into Promoter repping and Production managing that’s definitely what I’ve been accelerating in recently so I’d say that’s my favourite these days. something about the show day rush and relief you feel after it’s over. I’ve also always had an underline drive for branding. The best thing about the industry is so many new doors can open down the road, I’m excited to see what the future holds.
BIGGEST ASPIRATION FOR YOUR FUTURE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
VINCE GEIGER: Short term, build a brand as well sell out a bunch of killer shows at Black Cat Tavern. Long term possibly build a new festival to rebound MazzFest in a bigger and better way. I would also love to move higher up in production and promoter repping at the theatre and arena level. 2020 has definitely taught me patience and personal value. I’m currently studying lots and trying to prepare for almost any opportunity that may present itself.
WHERE DID YOUR PASSION FOR THE MUSIC INDUSTRY BEGIN?
VINCE GEIGER: A Greeley Estates/Bless The Fall concert at the old Bassment location when I was 14. It was a packed sold out emo show during it’s prime. band members climbing the pipes and speakers, crowd surfing, moshing you name it – it was a blast. I decided then, that I wanted to be in a band and put on shows. I was on the hunt for band mates and did as much research as you could at the time on how promoter world worked. At 15 a friend of mine named Kirstyn invited my band to play our first show which was also her first time promoting. After that event and showing interest in promoting she asked me if I wanted to join her and another friend of ours Steve under the name “royGbiv” to create a supergroup. I remember explaining to my foster mom about setting up a show for the first time and she thought it was crazy and just a phase. We were just kids putting on so many DIY shows of all kinds, so many great memories at that time.
Fun fact: a few years later I actually booked Greeley Estates, the very band that got me into it. Also Steve put on a handful of Andy Shauf events before he was the Andy we all know and love today. It’s amazing to watch some artists growth over time like that.
Fast forward handful of years Dan Smolinski (the Manager from Louis’) helped me get my foot in the door for production with a major promoter. Many changes and developments since then but I’ve been going strong working shows I never thought were reachable for years (thanks to him). I owe a great debt to those people (and many others) for planting those seeds.
“MONEY SUIT, CANE + PIMP CUP”
– VINCE GEIGER
ADVOCATING FOR YOUR EVENTS TO BE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS PUT IN WORK TO ENSURE YOUR STEPKID PROMOTED EVENTS WERE AVAILABLE TO ALL AGES. WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU WANT FOR YOUNGER MUSIC FANS?
VINCE GEIGER: The all ages scene is in a really tough situation as it’s nearly impossible to find smaller appropriate locations and we’re also in an age of “concerned parents” (understandably of course). Lots has change over the years. What I hope for future generation music fans, is that somewhere down the line they don’t just take what an algorithm spoon feeds them what they like and later shove it down their throats until it’s played out over and over again. I hope one day young kids get the opportunity to go a safe and familiar venue. Experiencing an artist live just because.
What hooked me into live shows was the ‘in-person energy’. It’s what kept me going was the friends I made, and the community our scene created. I would be a way different person today if at the time I only listened to what Much Music told me to, and went to my first concert at 19. I may of never given a handful of genres a chance as well, I never would have found my passion which molded into a career. It’s important to have an all ages music scene as it helps create future show goers to the 19+ venues as well.
VINCE IS ONE OF THE MAIN LOCAL PROMOTER REPS FOR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION COMPANIES –
BLUEPRINT, LIVE NATION, MRG, AND MORE.
HE HAS HAD THE LUXURY TO WORK ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE INDUSTRY.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE PERFORMANCE?
VINCE GEIGER: It’s so hard to pick just one. There were so many great events, that I am grateful to have had the privilege to see and help be apart of. If I have to pick I’d say Good Charlotte was definitely a personal favourite as it was one of the few artists I knew all the lyrics too. Joan Jett and Heart are also a performance I will ever forget. I also believe it doesn’t matter what your music taste is or where you’re from. if you go see Every Time I Die live you will become a fan.
photo taken at 21 Pilots on Apr 5th 2016 at Coors Event Centre by Vince Geiger
WHAT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE ARTIST ENCOUNTER
WHEN YOU WERE ABLE TO CHAT WITH THEM IN PERSON? WHY?
VINCE GEIGER: I was an extra hand at Snoop Dogg recently. I actually sat and talked with Afroman a few times that day. What made it so memorable wasn’t just how nice he was but also what he was wearing made it feel like a scene from a movie. He was wearing a full out money suit, cane and pimp cup. I can’t remember what we talked about, but I do remember enjoying the conversation.
*photo taken at Deorro on Nov 4th 2016 at Coors Event Centre by @mylesawayentertainment
WHAT WAS THE MOST RIDICULOUS EVENT, REQUEST, OR SITUATION THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?
VINCE GEIGER: I can’t go into to much detail sadly, but I can share a few short examples. Recently, I had an artist refuse to get into an Escalade because it was silver instead of black. Honestly black SUV’s are a common request, but silver was all we had available in the city for rent. I didn’t stop hearing about the ‘offensive’ silver SUV even after 2 tour dates. When we got the black escalade that they desperately needed, and used for 20min total in each city. I was told by the artists that because all I could get was a silver SUV on the first day, I was solely responsible for ruining the whole tour for them. Even though, the tour manager told me weeks before it was no big deal.
A big one that actually happens a lot is when artists bail on their Meet and Greet events. I have watched artists say they are tired or bored and leave in the middle of photos, with only a few people left in line. That is a hard one. Those are always on the artist management, but the promoter and venue usually take the blame for the experience.
*photo taken at Jauz on Nov 24th 2018 at Coors Event Centre by @stalemate_photography
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THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY SAW THEIR DARKEST DAYS IN 2020.
WHAT WERE THE SILVER LININGS THAT YOU SAW IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC?
VINCE GEIGER: 2020 took more than just music away from me, as I am sure most can relate. It was a very valuable lesson that I learned in multiple areas. We all learned what we took for granted, as many things and connections we have had are not available anymore. Most realized how much we love music and so many people took charge to help make sure our scene can sustain and revive after this. Not a lot of communities have that passion. All of the people sharing online and ordering pick up to help the venues when they can, the SaskVenues Project T-Shirts by SaskMusic, CLMA reporting and helping where they can. SaskMusic always looking out for the venues and artists. Artists creating live stream events.
So I guess the positive thing from it – being forced to separate actually helped us unite on multiple levels. That is just this local scene. On the world wide scale, there is still a lot of questions that will continue to take time to answer clearly.
“BUILDING SHOWS MOVING FORWARD”
– VINCE GEIGER
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN LIVE MUSIC RETURNS?
VINCE GEIGER: I am looking forward to seeing a great deal of familiar faces from all of the teams that it takes to set up an event. Meeting new people of course. I am also looking forward to discovering what all the biggest changes are. How we will be booking and building shows moving forward.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VINCE GEIGER OF STEP KID EVENTS, SEE BELOW
UPCOMING EVENTS
WHAT EVENTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO…
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT’S TO COME…
