You May Also Like - Episode 12

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(1364) )}

You may also like a show about the things you may also like things like the story of people today. You get to meet Brenton Donnelly. He tours the world working with rock stars and performers. At every show. He interacts with a lot of people, and all those people have stories that need to be told. And what better way to do that than break down the story into three sections? What do you do? What did you do? And what will you do? Do did, will? And so how did it all become a show? Brent Donnelly tells his story of do, did, will.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(45950) )}

The story of people, for me, is fascinating, and it's really a byproduct of just my own personal journey. My journey has taken so many turns that I'm just fascinated with how people get to where they get to. I've always been a believer that when you go after your dreams or you go after your goals, often you'll get to that spot and things change. You're like, okay, well, here now what? Or, it's the top of the level that you tried to get to and the bottom of the next. And I kind of get fascinated with people's journey to find these places that they want to get to. And so that's where I kind of just thought that this would be a better fit for me podcast wise, because I talk and meet so many people that I just want to start diving into everyone's journey in every aspect of everything. And it's just such a fascinating thing, podcasting world, especially when you listen to the ones where they are big journey discussions. A lot of us are all the same. We all come from simple means, or we come from a farm in Manitoba, or we come from a small town in Ontario. And we've all went to our first concert, or our first this or first that, and have been inspired to do something based on our experiences in life. And I want to kind of have a common ground in this show that people would listen to and go, well, that's me, that's me. I did that, I did that. I didn't do that. But that's cool that they did that, and just really try to have all of our journeys be the same. We're kind of the same.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(143760) )}

Do you see a pattern between something beginning and something ending for people? I've always thought seven years was kind of cozy. You get a seven year itch and then you move on. To quote Semisonic, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(158548) )}

It's a great line, ironically, that you're talking about this, because I was listening to The Jeff O'Neill Show this morning, and they were talking a little bit about people's jobs and how people some people just stick forever, but usually by the time they actually settle on a job, they've gone through five or six different things. My dad told me years ago when I was a kid, that you're going to be retrained, like, ten times in your life. And I believe that that was so back in the day, there was only a handful of jobs that we were told we could do, right? No one told you you could travel for work. And there wasn't really this buffet of jobs that exist now. So I think people are more antsy than ever, and especially coming out of COVID and coming out of these things where we prioritize how we want to spend our time. I think that people are just going, yeah, I'm not spending any more time at this thing than I have to. And it's creating this influx of people changing work on a daily or weekly basis, because some of these kids have 100 grand in the bank, just free twitch from high school. There's no urgency there.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(222104) )}

I look at someone like Jeff O'Neill, who has been doing that job for well over 25 years. I'm guessing that he's retrained himself over and over again for these different incarnations of the work that he does. And for disclosure, he is on Sea Fox in Vancouver and does the morning show.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(239308) )}

I don't think it's possible that you, regardless of what profession that you pick, that you're not retrained in some capacity. The ebbs and flows, everything just moves with the line from moneyball, adapt or die. Right. You just got to keep going and adapting to whatever it is. If you work at GM, great. At some point, they're bringing some new technology in to make your job easier. AI is coming in now. Everyone's going to have to adapt to that, whether they want to or not. There's all these things that are going to just you have to keep moving forward on farming. There's new technology in farming. One of the oldest professions in the world is farming. Well, there's new technology that's helping them do their job better, so it just never ends.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(282194) )}

So someone like Jeff, who is doing that job in Vancouver, same place, goes to the same office every day and does the show. You're different because you tour the world.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(295470) )}

Yeah, well, I tour the world, but I did have the office job, and then I got antsy and I couldn't do it. But I tour the world. Yes. I run shows. Yes. The premise of them is relatively the same, because systems have been put in place around the world that I can go in to show do a show in Vancouver or do a show in Barcelona, Spain, one of your favorites. And the idea is, in essence, the same. It's the same. You still got to bring a truck in, you still got to sell tickets, you still have to market it. Lights go in the air, sound goes in the air, the band goes on stage, and they leave. It's the same in every place. It's no different. It's really my version of general motors. Every single time I do a show, you're going to have some things. Some cars are designed a little different, some concerts will fit differently in different shows, but the premise is there and it's kind of the same. So, yeah, it's very interesting how the jobs are different but similar.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(350670) )}

The show is called do did Will. Sounds like a three step process.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(356290) )}

People that do, people that did and people that will and they can go in any order. You would, I guess, start with the people that will, which would be your young kids looking at a dream, and then the people that do who are currently doing it, and then the people that did something in the past that might move on. So I liked how it flowed. Do did will better than will did do or whatever. I just like the the way that that that happened. But people generally fit into one or all three of those categories. And it's funny because it can take these different incarnations because people that are doing might not be doing that forever and they might want to will they will do something different in the future. Or people that will do something that it's kind of a connection. It kind of gets them to the do or they did something and now they want to do something different. So all three of them just kind of intertwine. And I'm finding as I'm talking to these guests, that we bounce between the categories based on their journey and they lead it there. They're like, okay, I want to go back to Will for a second, or they go the other way and say, well, I did do this, but I really want to do that. And it's been a lot of fun to kind of watch the guest take it where they want to take it.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(428360) )}

Why did you want to do a podcast? You could have easily done a blog. You could have easily written books with chapters in it.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(433932) )}

Lazy.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(435530) )}

But podcasting is hard.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(437612) )}

Podcasting is extremely hard. But it's more natural for me to talk to people than it is to sit down and do 3000 words. I'll write a bit for crier and do the occasional thing, which is fine, I quite enjoy writing, but I found that the best way for me to be the most productive. I'm surrounded by people, bring a microphone and talk to them and that is like an easier scenario for me to still scratch that itch of creativity, but also feel like I'm being productive versus if I was put into like, well, I'm not really a writer. I've had to send my stuff, I sent my stuff to Abby or some of my other friends in journalism and go, did I write that properly or did I, did I do that? And they'll come back with notes. So podcasting just seemed like the most natural fit for me.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(488830) )}

When you look at sobriety and you mentioned this on an earlier episode of the former incarnation of the podcast, which is Brenton on tour. You mentioned that you're sober. Tell me about the do did will of that interesting.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(504628) )}

Okay, so I did drink a lot and I wanted to do my job better or do my job to the best of my ability, so that will allow me to do that if I did that the best I could. But it wasn't even drinking a lot. From the standpoint of putting myself into any kind of category, I was in it. It's a couple of drinks a night after the show. Oh, you got a couple of days coming up off and I'm in Ireland. It's like and my friends at Jameson have invited me and all the band and team out. It's like there's a good chance that's going to be a four hour, five hour day, and it's going to go where it's going to go. Mostly, though, the life of this world doesn't lend itself to being unproductive. When you're younger, you obviously have whatever. You'll just party all day with your friends and you'll get up and you'll figure it out and you'll do. But in this thing, if I missed the lobby call to take me to the show, or if I missed what we call chalk, which is being at the venue at 06:00 A.m to make sure that the rigging is being marked properly so we can properly hang the show. I'm not a rigor. I'm not a production manager, but I am there in that process of like, hey, Brent, we actually have discovered that this is happening. It has to chalk a little different or it has to be hung just a little bit differently, which is going to open up these sides or it's going to close these sides and we're going to have to relocate these people. That happens at six in the morning and seven in the morning. So as the responsibility level for this job was coming and the bigger tours were happening and I'm doing stadiums and I'm doing all these things, those mistakes can cost thousands of dollars. And you really only get a chance to make that mistake once because then there's a lot more people involved in the back end of that. That go. Why did we leave $10,000 in tickets on the table? Well, when we were hanging the show, Brent wasn't there and we couldn't make a decision, so we just went ahead and did it. And that section is empty. Now. I don't want to go that extreme, but it can be that simple. And I just found myself saying, as this level is coming, this is the only job I've ever wanted to do my whole life. I just need to see if I can do this job without having some drinks afterwards to mellow out. And it's four and a half years now, so it's working.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(652850) )}

I just learned that when concert promoters call a radio station to say that they have another thousand tickets available. That's the reason why, because it was chalked. Well, the listeners used to think it was all made up.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(665400) )}

I mean, I'll give you a little bit of the world I always encourage people always check on show day because artists, especially in Lincoln, Nebraska, in New York and La. And Toronto and Miami, there's a really good chance that the artist, an established artist, has 100 friends in town, so they're not going to relinquish their tickets. Do they have 100 friends in Kansas City, Missouri or Lincoln, Nebraska? Five finger Death Punch might, but not a Latin artist or pop artist. They may not have 100 friends in Lincoln, Nebraska. So there's a really good chance that the artist is going to open up 25 to 30 of their seats and give them back for on sale. Or you're going to have production stuff that opens up in the morning where it's like, well, actually we've discovered that we can actually open up a handful of seats. That's just day to day stuff. And that's just me giving you as the buyer advice and just saying on show day, try to snag some tickets because generally on show day, you're going to get an opportunity to buy some.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(734570) )}

You may also, like supports Podcasting 2.0, so feel free to send us a boost if you are listening on a newer podcast app. If you don't have one, you can see a full list of them@newpodcastapps.com.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(734570) )}

When you're out on the road, is that the best recruiting for the people who are going to come on your show? They'll share a story with you and then you'll think, wow, that story resonated with me. I'm going to bring them on the show.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(759730) )}

How? It kind of worked with me. Duty. Bill has taken a different thing than Brenton on tour because Brenton on tour was a little bit more music and travel and coffee based, like searching for coffee, but also talking to musicians that I meet, trying not to cross that line and be respectful and not use my position to corner artists and say, hey, I got a show. I rarely did that. It was really through Friends and a few things where people were reaching out on Dude did Will. I'm actually going another way. I've created a guest deck. I've created info about the show, kind of more traditional marketing. And I've done cold emails for people. And I would say of the 15 guests I've had, I would say five of them. I have no idea who they are and had just randomly reached out to see if they'd be interested in coming on. And they did. And that's because I just think that the show offers a bit of a different approach for me and it actually takes some of the pressure off of trying to remain in that music box. I do meet a shit ton of people on tour, but it's more profession based. I know what the people do in my profession for the most part. So not that I don't want to talk to them anymore, but I want to learn about the person that has this art gallery in France that moved there from Oklahoma, and it also has a coffee shop, and it's, like, used for some big thing that's happening in Paris. That's also some of the people that I kind of meet or restaurant tours or people, and I'm like, well, let's talk about you. Let's talk about that journey. Because I want to take people and put them outside of their box. It's great. Live where you want to live, work at General Motors, do whatever you need to do to provide for your family and all the rest of it. But maybe listening to the show, you'll be like, I never thought I could even do something like that. That person from Oklahoma is the thriving pizza shop in the middle of Paris. How the hell did that happen? That's kind of the approach I'm taking to guests now.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(885210) )}

The death of Taylor Hawkins. And I know you had a relationship at some point with the Foo Fighters. Maybe you toured with them, maybe you tore down, maybe you did some time with them. And then he passes. Tell me a little bit about that when you hear that news, somebody in passing that you've worked with who's gone.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(905172) )}

On I touched on this on an episode about him specifically. I think it was on Brenton on tour, actually. I don't think I had gone to DA DA Bill yet, but when something like that happens, people make it about themselves. So I'm very conscious of, like, you get the pictures, like, oh, this is me and this person 32 years ago, and you haven't talked to them since, but now it makes it about you. So for me, I had to be very careful about telling that story. But I did have a moment with him, specifically in Germany in a hotel lobby, and we bonded over the rock band Heart. I was wearing a Heart shirt. He named me Heart Shirt Guy, invited me out to the Vancouver show and to make sure I mentioned that Heart Shirt Guy was there because it was easier to remember than my name. I get a little bit of an in because I'm in the concert world, and we can talk a little bit about that. And we have some things in common. We had a couple of mutual friends. So there was just a moment that I had where he put me in a box for 45 minutes. Removing that from the equation, anything like that, is tragic regardless, any early passing in a situation like that, and first and foremost, it was just like, what? And then it really just hits you that our generation as a music fan have lost. I don't want to say Lenin or I don't want to say anybody in that kind of realm because I don't like comparing people. But our generation of music fans and rock stars are limited. So to lose a massive rock star like that is just a hit to us as music fans, first and foremost. And it was just tragic. I found myself in Columbia a couple of weeks ago and actually was at the hotel where he passed, unbeknownst to me, because I kind of had put it out of my brain. But I was getting coffee around the corner at one of my favorite coffee shops and realized that I was in the lobby of the hotel where he passed. And that was a little heavy because, you know, that that's kind of where everyone was waiting for him to come down to go to the gig. So it was tough, man. He was one of my favorite drummers. I think he's a super talented dude. So it was just a tragic scenario. And I think the tribute shows proved how loved he was and tried to name me another artist that could pass a drummer, of all things that could pass, that could unite the world. Like, that is very tough.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(1047414) )}

You travel to a lot of places, and you mentioned recently, just to me on Twitter that you like Lisbon. Why do you like Lisbon?

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(1054886) )}

Oh, my God, the people there are just incredible. Well, number one, it's one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I saw your post about them not allowing cars driving through the main part, which is great because it's such a historic part. The people are incredible. I don't think people have it on their list because they think, I got to go to Paris. I've got to go to Spain, even. I've got to go to Rome and New York. But people don't think about Portugal per se. Your average person from, like, the middle of Saskatchewan is probably not thinking about Portugal. They're probably thinking about Paris, and they're probably thinking about some of these other things. So when I actually got to Lisbon for the first time, I was like, oh, my God, this place is incredible. And the people are amazing. And it's just an hour away from Nazareth, which is like, where the biggest waves in the world are. And I'm like, it's such an incredible part of the world, and people are so nice there. I went to this little cafe. I was doing laundry around the corner, and I went to this little cafe, and I'm sitting at the it's like a 50 style diner ish, but it was this incredible food, and this gentleman's sitting beside me, and he's like, oh, what are you in town for, full Portuguese? And I told him and said I was doing my laundry. And he's like, oh, you should have brought your laundry here. My wife would have done it for you in the back. And then they brought me out all this food and welcomed me and it's just such a I'm sure there's places like that all over the world, but for me, Lisbon, for me, is just one of the most beautiful places with the most beautiful people. They're just incredible. Love it, love it, love it.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(1146832) )}

Judy Will is not the only podcast you have. You have another one.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(1150528) )}

I co host one called the Live from Machete Comics with my good pal Chris Machete. It was called Kids on the Escalator before, but Chris is getting extremely busy with art commissions and comic book world, and he's got his own comic book called Skeletron Out that's sold out already, which has been amazing. He's on the second print now. So I was just kind of in my brain, we were kind of talking about it, and it's like it's just a time to brand it out more Machete based because I'm going to be traveling a lot. I can't always be available, but he can flip the switch and go live anytime he wants, and it's still helping his brand. And so I get a chance to co host with him when I'm home and when I'm around and we talk about a lot of things. We cover pop culture and comics and movies and film. It's a blast. But it's a really good tool for him and a really good launching pad for commissions and stuff because he's full time as comic book artist and it's been awesome. It's a lot of fun.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(1207588) )}

Continued success with Dude did will. We love the story of people and, well, we have you on your person and we're doing kind of the same thing here. So we like your show.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(1215256) )}

I mean, it's been a journey because I wasn't sure how I was going to structure the show or how I was going to flow through it, because the premise of dude did well, lived in Brenson on tour. I still kind of asked the same questions, and I still asked a lot of the same things to get the same kind of answers. But it's definitely allowed me to branch out. I've just had some amazing people on the show that have had that timely, like Jody Vance a couple of weeks ago. That was incredible. And she's going to really be on the ground floor of changing online hate in Canada and hopefully abroad. And just the timing of her winning that lawsuit and getting contacted by the Attorney General to come in and sit down and help change the laws that happened on the same day that we did the show, where she actually broke the news on the show. And it was just that story wouldn't have existed on Brenton on tour. It allowed me to kind of branch out and have these stories, getting a chance to talk to Army Chris and talk about Afghanistan and being over there. I wouldn't have those chats. And I love listening to your show and you've focused on the world of media and radio, and it's great because you can dive in. And I've learned a shit ton from listening to your shows, and then I listened to Dean and his topical thing and just watching everybody carve out their way. And even though I thought Brent onto was focused for where I was at, I realized, even now, through due di Will, that this is where it needed to go for me. So I appreciate the support. So thank you for that. It's great. It was a lot of fun.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(1309956) )}

Thanks a lot for being on the show. Appreciate it.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(1312964) )}

Thanks for having me, man. And I love your love for Spain. I love it, as well. It's great. You seem to be there a lot, so it's great. Yeah.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(1320052) )}

Well, Portugal.

{( speakerName('A') )} {( convertTime(1320778) )}

I got to try that next.

{( speakerName('B') )} {( convertTime(1323490) )}

My thanks to Brenton for joining me on the show. Do did will. The story of People podcast can be heard on all the usual podcast apps. If you'd like to partner with Brenton, reach out to him. I've left the links in the show notes. This episode was produced by Evan Sirminsky and Aidan Glassy and built for your ears by everyone at the Sound Off media company.