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Hello Folks, Loads to tell for you folks out there in drumming land, particularly if you have a penchant for frame drumming. Even if you don’t you might want to pick it up to take advantage of some great workshops coming up. Also, take a good look at the djembe and dance workshops with the amazing M’Bemba Bangoura, coming up in just under two weeks. There is also an update below on “The Village”. Thanks so much for everyone’s continued support and interest! Read on and hope to see you soon! Leo
1. Major Update on "The Village" 2. Drum and Dance workshops with M'Bemba Bangoura 4. Frame Drum/Vocal concert and workshops with Glen Velez and Lori Cotler 5. Frame Drum workshops with Deborah Tate Breault 6. Renfrew hand drumming workshop with Leo Brooks 7. Concerts and Summer Day Camp with Baobab Tree 8. Winter Drum Circle with Jeremy Tool 9. Drum Circle at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
The Village Drum and Dance Studio and Boutique, (officially known as Le Village Studio et Boutique de Tam-Tam et Danse), is still the number one focus of my work. I have, however, come to the realization that I was a bit in fairy tale land during the last 6 months when it comes to how long a business like this takes to actually get off the ground. All this to say that I am still on course, albeit with a slightly more realistic vision for the future. We plan to open shop in August 2009, with classes starting in September. It is quite possible that we will be looking for another location other than the building located at 180 St. Joseph Blvd. in Hull, but it will still be on the Quebec side of the river. I have given the business plans a major overhaul to reflect this new start date and have unified and re-examined all potential costs and income for a more balanced projection for the first few years. These business plans will be posted soon at www.thevillage.ca. I am very pleased to announce that we reached a major target of $20 000 in preferred share investments to help buy a suitable building for the business. These funds, along with my own personal investment, should be enough to qualify us for financing with a program through the Canadian Small Business Financing Act. All the necessary paperwork has been submitted to the bank and we will know within the week if the financing is approved. I am also pleased to announce that I was accepted for a financing program through the Canadian Youth Business Foundation for the start up of “The Village”. These funds will be matched by the Business Development bank of Canada and should provide me with all the start-up capital I need. I really feel like I am just a few steps away from making this dream a reality. Thanks again to all who have given their support. We still need donors for chairs and would gladly speak to anyone still interested in buying shares in corporation which will own and manage the building which houses “The Village”. Feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or concerns at leo@treefrogpercussion.ca Drumming and Dance workshops with the Amazing M'Bemba Bangoura Hi all! Great news! M'Bemba is returning to Ottawa for a second annual workshop weekend. Last year was a great success and we will be building on that momentum. All lovers of Djembe music should attend this workshop. Definitely not to be missed! Registration for the workshops has begun, don't wait to register! DJEMBE.CA presents M'Bemba Bangoura tour 2009 Montréal:17 au 19 avril 2009 /April 17th-19th 2009: http://www.djembe.ca/afo/?page_id=65 Saturday April 25th Sunday april 26th Price: 35$ per workshop
Payments to Concert with M'Bemba Bangoura and Cobra Du Mandingue On top of the workshops we will have concert, a big premiere for Cobra du Mandingue, with an all local company. More than 10 artists, dancers and percussionnists. We are creating a powerful show and M'Bemba will join us! Not to be missed on Tuesday April 21st at 8:30 at the Mercury Lounge in Ottawa. Tickets on sale at the door or through pre-registration for the workshops. Note from Leo - This show wil surely sell out. Get your tickets NOW! Just $15! Frame Drum/Vocal concerts and workshops with Glen Velez and Lori Cotler CONCERT - two shows at the Dunrobin Sonic Gym (http://dunrobinsonicgym.googlepages.com/home) Tickets $30 - DON"T MISS THIS SHOW Breathing Rhythms - Unexpected Overtures in Sound Four-Time Grammy Award Winning Master Percussionist Glen Velez: Frame Drums, Shakers, Overtone Singing Celebrated Rhythm Vocal Wizard Lori Cotler: Rhythm Voice, Melodic Voice Two world class soloists blend music traditions from six continents into personal revelations, " Takadimi Taka Takita ... Cotler sings and claps with her hands .. the syllables go as fast from her lips as " Mr. Velez's music is unimaginable without his own technical mastery ... he uses that mastery to focus listeners' concentration, like his own, on the wonders of sound and rhythm." - The New York Times Frame Drum and Vocal Workshop Saturday, June 6th, 2009 at the Dunrobin Sonic Gym (http://dunrobinsonicgym.googlepages.com/home) http://dunrobinsonicgym.googlepages.com/loricotler&glenvelezworkshop Frame Drum Workshops with Deborah Tate Breault The United Church of Canada is offering frame drumming workshops in Ottawa in June. They will be led by Deborah Tate Breault, one of the original New York City 'Mob of Angels' in conjunction with the Worship Matters Symposium at Dominion Chalmers United Church. Anyone who wishes can register separately for the drumming portions only. Included for $50 are a concert, an informal drumming session, and one workshop. The dates are Friday June 19 Saturday June 20 2:00 pm drum workshop (beginners) Bring your own Lotus frame drum (with jingles). A limited number of drums will be available for sale or to borrow. Renfrew Hand Drumming Workshops with Leo Brooks Leo is once again heading out to the Heart of the Ottawa Valley to mix and mingle with the drumming community there. Experience Drumming! Saturday, April 25, 2009Novice: 9 a.m. – noon Cost: $30.00 each session or $50.00 for the day. Trinity St. Andrew’s United Church To register Contact: Debi Virtue @ 613-432-0908 or email debivirtue@sympatico.ca Concerts and Summer Day Camp programs with Baobab Tree For more information on any of these events, as well as upcoming classes and workshops, please visit www.baobabtree.org Fri. May 8, 8:30pm Sat. June 6, 8:00pm RHYTHM TREK Winter Drum Circle with Jeremy Tool Time and Place Date: Description For more information email Jeremy at rythymndrums@storm.ca and visit his website at www.rhythmndrums.ca Note from Leo: This circle is a very inviting and friendly place for families, friends, and drummers of all abilities. Please support community drumming, and the healing power of the drum. Drum Circle at Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health This drum circle is open to all those who want to 'find their voice'. No previous drumming experience needed. This circle is facilitated by Marlene Souliere. •There are drums/available for use, or bring your own. WEDNESDAYS 6:30 TO 8:00 PM For more information, or to volunteer for this program, please contact Patrick Thunderchild, Cultural Coordinator (613) 748-0675 ext 307, or email pthunderchild@wabano.com
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Hello Friends, I am writing you feeling very optimistic about the project I have been working on for the last 3 months nearly non-stop called "The Village - Drum and Dance Studio and Boutique". Just to make the project clear to everyone, I am starting up two separate yet linked businesses. The first is “The Village”, a store and school dedicated to hand drumming and traditional dance. This will be a sole proprietorship under my direction. The second is a property management company which is being formed to buy a building in which “The Village” will be housed. (Located at 180 Rue St. Joseph in Hull) The two companies are separate for a number of reasons, most notably that we need shareholder investment to generate the funds to buy the building, and if “The Village” were to fail the building could still be rented to generate income for those shareholders. I still need investors to make The Village a reality. If you are interested in investing, or know someone who is, please click below. Even those who have a small amount to invest ($120) can help in a really significant way. Provided everything falls into place for the financing of the project, we will be offering classes on location at 180 Rue St. Joseph in Hull starting the week of January 19. Classes will run in 7 week sessions, and cost $105 for adults and $87.5 for Youth (under 18) per session. There will be a $20 annual membership fee (which is waived for life if you have invested in the business). Please click below for a proposed schedule of classes and keep in touch if you are interested in joining us. Happy holiday to one and all. Please read on to find out how you can get involved. Leo Invest in Shares in "The Village" - Great Returns!
Buy a Chair at "The Village" Invest in Shares in "The Village" - Great Returns “The Village” as a business will be financed with our savings and financing through the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (www.cybf.ca). While my application is still pending, I am very confident that I will receive the financing needed in the form of grants and low interest loans. It is a really great program. However, the building management corporation (referred to simply as “1234567 Inc.” until the incorporation papers are completed later this week), needs financing in the form of preferred shares bought. Shares will be $100 each, and we can have a maximum of 50 shareholders including myself. I am hoping for investments of 15 to 20 shares per investor, but would welcome investors who can buy more and investors who can buy less. Shares must be invested for 5 years, and dividends will be paid out in December of each year under the following schedule: First Year – Return of 7.5% of initial investment Every year thereafter shareholders will receive 10% of their initial investment back, but the company may buy out some or all of the shareholders’ shares. In other words, an investment of $5000 will yield $2100 in profits over 5 years. That is a pretty good deal. The feasibility of these numbers is illustrated in the business and financial plans I have completed for the two businesses, which can be found and downloaded in PDF form at the following Website: The business plan for “The Village” is very detailed and describes most every aspect of the vision, operations, and strategies for the business. The business plan for “1234567 Inc.” is much simpler, claiming the Village as simply one of the tenants in the building. It must be noted however, that success at “The Village” almost invariably amounts to success for the building, so a review of both plans is probably the best way to get the whole picture. Shares will officially be for sale within the week. I am waiting for the incorporation process to be completed and to open a bank account for the business. Any information anyone would like is open to them, just let me know. I will let you know how the actual transfer of funds will take place as soon as possible. The biggest concern remaining for investors is the question of what happens to their investment should these businesses fail. Simply put, there is no guarantee on an investment like this. But as we have just learned with the world economy, there is really no guarantee on anything. But this is an investment in real estate which is one of the safest bets around. Additionally, “The Village” will be guaranteed against the building, so in the event of failure of the property management company, the assets of “The Village” can be seized, and at start-up it will have more than $60,000 in liquid and long term assets. Of course, the building can be sold to recuperate costs as well. Every effort and legal recourse will be made to return investors’ cash if the worst was to befall us. You have my absolute word on that. All I can say is that you have to trust that I have put every ounce of extra energy into this for the last 3 months, and I will continue to do so. I am ready to sacrifice everything I have accumulated in my 8 years of being self employed to see it happen. It has been more work than I ever imagined, and it will continue to be this way. But it has been a long time since I have felt this energized and focused. And happy – I really feel like this dream is just a few steps away from becoming reality. I want to have classes start by the third week of January, 2009. There is a lot to do in a short amount of time. I know this is a busy time for everyone, but with your help, we can make it happen. Thanks for everything. Hope you can make some time to read these plans and get back to me soon. Feel free to call or write with any comments or questions. Much love and peace to all, Leo Brooks Proposed Classes at "The Village" - Starting Jan. 19 2009 While it is a sure thing that Leo Brooks will be teaching at "The Village", a number of other local instructors, including Catherine Veilleux, Mohamed Diarra, and Louis M'Bani have also expressed a serious interest in moving their classes here. Below is a proposed schedule of classes. Keep in mind that "The Village" will be closed Sundays, and that this schedule is tentative. Minimum class registration is 6 and maximum 15.
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Leo playing djembe for his Step-dad's 70th Birthday |
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This (roughly) bi-monthly newsletter announces drumming related events, such as classes, workshops, and concerts, in and around Ottawa.
Talking Drums is designed to keep members of Ottawa's drumming community involved in drumming related activities. It is sent as events arise, usually only once every two months.
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In my opinion, one of the most important elements to an enjoyable drumming experience is having the right kind of seating. This is also one of the major start up expenses for us. I have found a Canadian manufacturer of stacking steel framed chairs that has a good product for us. It is pictured here. Anyone who buys one for The Village will have their name placed on a plaque on the back of the chair, stating “Donated By…”, and (best of all) a lifetime membership at The Village. This membership means that they will pay no registration fees for courses and will be entitled to discounts on select merchandise and special events.