Sometimes, how an artist summons the resources to create their art is as enchanting as the art itself…
Crowdfunding campaigns come and go but occasionally, you hear about an extraordinary premise that catches the public’s imagination and their heartfelt support.
Firstly, if you’re Canadian, you probably know about Canadian Tire Money…
It’s the reward currency that most people have tucked away in a drawer after years of Canadian Tire store purchases. (formerly a gas bar, then a hardware store and finally, a major department store)
The thing is, it takes an ungodly long time to acquire enough to actually buy anything with it. (You usually only get 5 cents or 10 cents at a time.)
Well, this summer, a friend mentioned the tale of how a songwriter funded his entire music album with Canadian Tire money sent from people all over Canada!!
It made me giggle with delight and I meant to look into it further…
Was it an urban myth? How exactly did this quirky crowdfunding adventure happen?
Fast forward to September 9: I realize the Fringe Festival is in town after seeing the cover of Vancouver’s arts and entertainment paper. The front page features a bearded man with a look of disbelief on his face.
September 11: I stand in the box office lineup for the festival and a woman recommends “The Great Canadian Tire Money Caper”.
With excitement, I book tickets for it and later that night, I end up sitting right in front of Corin Raymond at another Fringe show! (He was the bearded man on the Georgia Straight cover)
We chat jovially and he agrees to meet me for an interview right after his Saturday performance.
September 12: At his one-man show, Corin describes this extraordinary journey as a “year long avalanche of love”….
You can feel the joy as he delivers the incredible story of how the “Fun percent” joined him in this great caper!
If you have a dream and appreciate those who follow theirs, check out the video above!
The more dreamers we meet and acknowledge, the more real all dreams become.
Plus, you’ll learn how one cosmic choice (crucial to the whole thing) almost didn’t happen… and the teaching that comes from that.
Corin’s experience confirms what dreamers believe and live:
You must leap with faith into your dreams and trust that the Universe will leap with you also.
Whatever love and creativity you invest will eventually give back a thousand-fold of the same energy.
If you can see his Fringe show, you’ll find out how it all started and how it all ended… including the question: Did Canadian Tire ever get involved?
The answer lies in the definition of “caper”… an illegal plot or enterprise.
Or as Corin said: Something that is so much fun (and unsanctioned) that it should be illegal!
For more updates, visit corinraymond.com
You can still send your Canadian Tire Money to Corin as he’ll use it for more music and merry making!
Corin Raymond
1186 Bloor St. W.
Toronto, ON
M6H 1N2
Interesting facts about Canadian Tire money:
~ Canadian Tire ‘money’ was introduced in 1958.
~ Over $1 billion Canadian Tire ‘money’ notes have been in circulation.
~ Through its loyalty programs, Canadian Tire awards more than $100 million dollars to customers every year.
~ The Canadian Tire money is printed on paper similar to real Canadian currency by security printers, British American Banknote Company (BABN) and Canadian Bank Note Company (CBN).
~ Some private businesses accept Canadian Tire money at par because their owners shop there.
~ It is the most successful loyalty program ever created by a corporation.
P.S. If you are in Vancouver this week, you still have a chance to catch Corin’s one-man show!
“Riotously funny, touching… captivating.” ~ Times-Colonist.
“Raymond has impeccable timing, and his performance is at once intimate, open-hearted, and evangelical.” ~ The Georgia Straight.
The Great Canadian Tire Money Caper is at the Vancouver Fringe Festival:
September 17, 2015 at 6:45 pm
September 19, 2015 at 5:40 pm
September 20, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Book tickets online here
