Admin Note to MOTC Readers

Yesterday, February 4, 2010, an email went out with a long list of events and deals, many of which had expired. I want to apologize for both the length and the expired events.

MOTC was hacked a while ago, but this went undetected until very recently. We should have suspected something when the email updates stopped going out, but the hacking was not easily detected.

The site has since moved to a more secure server and is being monitored more closely. When the site was fixed, the updating emails resumed, but the first one, the one that went out last night, was – apparently – full of all the posts that had been put of over the last couple of months.

Thank you for being an MOTC visitor and reader.

Marijke

Montreal on the Cheap Contest – January 2010

Ok Montrealers and those who are coming to Montreal for a visit – here’s something for you.

MOTC can’t do all the bargain hunting on its own and we need input from people who know Montreal inside out or those who just happened upon a great deal.

So, if you want to help us out here, you could win a 20.00 gift card from Chapters/Indigo (or Amazon if you prefer).

What we’re looking for:

Inexpensive ways to have fun in Montreal. Or free. They can be for children, families or adults only, but the information and topics have to be suitable for a site that anyone can visit.

Have a browse through the site to see what types of events have been posted already to get a good idea of what we promote.

Examples: Free activities, inexpensive movies, discounted events, well-priced restaurants.

Inexpensive doesn’t have to mean dirt cheap if it’s a significant discount. For example, if a show generally sells tickets for 75 dollars but is discounting some for a particular group of people to 40 dollars – that’s a significant savings.

We’ll post your ideas as they come up and at the end of the month, a random draw (by randomizer.org) will determine who wins the gift certificate.

You may enter as many times as you wish, but please don’t repeat your ideas. Also, “a walk in the park down the street” won’t really qualify unless there are details of what people can do at that particular park.

Ready?

Let’s get started and have some fun! You can leave your comments here or email us at Marijke/Montreal On The Cheap.

MOTC in the Montreal Gazette

Montreal on the Cheap has received a very nice write up in the Montreal Gazette this weekend. It’s on page 2 of the Extra section, by Al Kratina. Or you can check it out online: Website unearths city’s bargains.

A Tank of Gas…

We’re starting a new feature here at Montreal on the Cheap called, A Tank of Gas…

This section will feature fun, inexpensive things Montrealers can do on one tank of gas. It could be an event in Ottawa, Ontario, the Eastern Townships or the Laurentians – or maybe just off the island in places like Ormstown or Beloeil.

If you have any suggestions for the new feature, please feel free to send them in. Everyone will be credited unless requested otherwise.

So, watch out for things to do with a tank of gas – or less.

~~~~

Image: StockXchange.com

Fundraiser for Fraud Victims, July 31, 2009

Many of the people who were allegedly swindled by Earl Jones are finding themselves in dire straights. As a result, a fundraiser is being held, hosted by Last Call with Sol Productions.

What: A fundraiser including musicians, auctions, and raffles

When: Friday, July 31, 2009, starting at 8 P.M., but latercomers welcome

Where: Dollar Cinema, 6900 Decarie Boulvard, Montreal

Cost: 10.00, but donations are also welcome.

All proceeds will go to Syd Stevens of Sun Youth to help provide food, medication and essential goods.

Sketch (not skit!) Comedy – The Imponderables

Beer, maple syrup, police in red tunics, legalized medicinal marijuana and cold fronts – all are part of Canada’s contributions to the world. But this upstairs neighbour to the United States is proving to be like a crazy relative hidden in the attic. We’ve provided the entertainment world with talents such as Caroline Rhea, Martin Short, John Candy, and so many more. And, like good neighbours, we just keep sharing our bounty. Meet the latest offering, The Imponderables: Dave Brennan (the talkative one), Jon Smith (the quiet one), Eric Toth (the second most talkative one) and Tony Lombardo (the misunderstood one). Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, the four are quickly becoming known all over North America.

The Imponderables are no stranger to Montreal’s English comedy scene. Like many comedic groups, the Imponderables – or the Imps – began performing in Fringe Festivals and small clubs and they continue to return to Montreal to share their brand of humour. This year, not only are The Imponderables performing at various venues, they’re the headlining sketch group for Jim Gaffigan’s Videotron Gala on Saturday, July 25, along with Adam Hill, Debra DiGiovanni, Jim Breuer, and Jon Dore.

Blame the Internet

As seen with Susan Boyle, overnight success is possible now with the Internet, something that earlier performers couldn’t ever dream of. Nothing can make or break a person or group faster than the Internet. Through YouTube, Twitter, and all the other social media, it doesn’t take long for the news of great entertainment to reach far and wide. In the case of The Imponderables, the Internet is a Good Thing.

Dave and Eric pointed out that the Internet is actually a wonderful medium for comedy, particularly sketch comedy. The medium fits the attention span of the majority of people who are surfing. Studies have been done that show web surfers only skim writing on the web, picking out the most interesting bits before clicking on to another page. When they click on videos, they don’t want them to run on and on. They want quick, available, good entertainment and then they want to go on to the next thing. Sketch comedy fits that bill.

Not Improv!

Sketch comedy is becoming more popular and seems to have taken off again with the popularity of the comedy improv show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” which ran from 1998 to 2006. But make no mistake – sketch comedy isn’t improv. It’s well planned, thought out, tried and true comedy, with a pinch of ad libbing to taste.

It’s also not static. Although the group works together to write the script and perfect it, the bit is rarely performed exactly the same way twice. One show, the sketch may be 6 and a half minutes long, the next show 7 or 8. It all depends on if one of the guys wants to throw something extra in or not.

And the ideas? They can be found in the most ordinary of places and turned into the next funniest routine. Eric is still working on making a toaster into something funny. Who knows, maybe they can make it work.

Sketch, Not Skit

Want to drive the guys crazy? Ask them to do a skit for you – or suggest they add something to one of their skits.

How They Got Together

Dave, Jon (without an “h” and if he doesn’t respond, it’s likely he heard you say the “h”), Eric and Tony have known each other for a long time. Dave and Jon went to the same high school and were tapped to emcee their high school talent show. It likely comes as no surprise to hear that they hadn’t planned anything until just hours before the show, but in that short span of time, they developed a quick and funny routine that turned out to be very successful.

How They Stay Together

You don’t have to be with the guys for long before you see the easy camaraderie between them. Their banter flows as they interrupt each other, correct each other and crack up at each other’s expense. They said that the lack of infighting surprises some comedy team veterans, but they work together well and develop their sketches as a team.

If they keep on going they way they have been, it won’t be surprising to see them make their goal of a television show of their own.

The Shows and Videos

The Imponderables are flexible and can tailor their show to a G-rated audience or an R-rated one. Who knows? Maybe we can get them into the Nasty Show next year. Those tickets always sell very well.

Their videos are well planned and appeal to the general public, as well. Matt Hoos is the man behind the scenes that helps make the guys look as good as they do. Matt is no slouch in his department either. His biography shows that he directed HGTV’s “My Parent’s House,” and the pilot episode of “Living On-Line” for CanWest Global, as well as many short films and other TV projects.

All joking aside though, the guys do take their good fortune to heart. Not satisfied with just entertaining, they have taken steps to give back to the community by doing charitable work. Their most fun event to date was the Couchathon in 2008 – it even caught the eye of the Los Angeles Times.

How do you raise money for the children’s charities? You take four comedians, make them sit on a couch for as many hours as they can without falling asleep. You also place a swear jar and fart jar nearby for extra coinage. The guys modestly claimed raising over $5,000, but a look at the Couchathon site shows that as of July 10, 2009, they had raised over $10,000.

If you get a chance, check out The Imponderables. They’re performing tonight at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival, the Mainline Theatre at 11:30 PM (3997 St. Laurent, Montreal) and again tomorrow, Saturday, at 10 P.M. at the Gala (Theatre St. Denis, 1594 St. Denis, Montreal) and again at 11:30 at the Mainline Theatre.
If you miss them, be sure to watch for their return. They’re well worth the wait.

Yellow Door Choir Fundraiser for Literacy

The Yellow Door Choir is lending its powerful voice to raising money for literacy in Canada. Lest you think it’s not a problem, as a nurse – I see it often. People who can’t read instructions or prescriptions, people who are too ashamed to ask for help.

Although Montreal on the Cheap focuses on inexpensive ways to enjoy the city, I think we also need to share our fortune with those who may need some help. So, please help raise awareness and funds to help remove the barrier of literacy, which affects so many:

What: The Magic of Words / La magie des mots, concert by the Yellow Door Choir

Proceeds from the choir’s performances on May 29 and 30 will go to the Canwest Raise-a-Reader campaign.

When:  May 29 and 30, 2009,  8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.)

Where: 5035 de Maisonneuve West, Westmount (2 blocks east of Vendôme Métro station)

Cost:  $20; students $15 (student ID required)

Tickets: Advance sales at www.yellowdoorchoir.com or by calling 514-738-9052; at the door on
concert nights

Words DO matter

~~~~~

Free CTV Montreal Tour – and help save local television

You may not be aware of it, but local television is in jeopardy. With all the cutbacks and businesses going under, local news and programming is taking a big hit. Just this past year, Montreal lost its only local television sports show and other shows have been slipping away.

On Saturday, May 23, 2009, starting at 9 a.m., you can visit Montreal’s local CTV studios, meet personalities and those who work behind the scenes. I’m a bit biased because I have a friend who works there and I don’t want him to be scrambling for work – so let’s keep local TV local.

Visit CTV Montreal Open House for more information on how you can reserve a spot. It’s a great way to learn about the TV station and many kids will likely enjoy this as well.

~~~~

And the winners are…. MOTC launch contest

The draw for the contest prizes has been made. I have to say, I was pretty surprised that I only had *9* entries. Six were in the original post about the contest and 3 in the one announcing the extension.

Oh well, better odds for them, right?

To get the winners of the contest, the 9 qualifying entries were numbered in order of their posting. I then went to Randomizer.org and told the system that I wanted a series of 3 numbers, chosen from 1 to 9, inclusive.

The winners of the contest are:

Refinished window/mirror: Donna Demick

Movie tickets: Hayley Smirnow

Book: Sebastien Rousseau

I’ll be sending emails to you but if you don’t receive anything within a few days, please feel free to email me.

Congratulations!

~~~~~

Tags: montreal

Watch the junk folder if you sign up for email updates

Hi folks,

If you’re one of my email subscribers, please be aware that some junk filters are marking Montreal on the Cheap posts as junk. This is likely because of the word "Cheap" in the email address, the subject line, and the content.

A friend of mine told me that both Outlook and Gmail had dumped the updates into the junk folder. I don’t know about other programs, but it’s likely that some others do the same thing. So, you can list the email address as a safe sender or, in the case of Gmail, mark it as "not spam," and that should solve the problem.

Thanks for being an email subscriber!

Marijke

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