EVENTS FOR JUNE 2014

Dear Lovelies, so summer is finally here. Seriously. With a vengeance. I actually had my air-conditioner on the other week. But my problems with humidity aside, I am moist pleased to present to you the upcoming events for JUNE 2014.

Please note that we are taking a BREAK for JULY and AUGUST 2014. But we will be BACK in September with more quirky, intimate and odd events.

♥♥♥ EVENTS THIS MONTH! ♥♥♥

MONTREAL STRIP SPELLING BEE – The 'FRINGE' EDITION – June 4, 2014

RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/251295188393012/

MONTREAL FAUX PROM at the Fringe Festival– June 6, 2014

RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/291035447724295/

TORONTO QUEER SLOWDANCE – PRIDE EDITION – June 20, 2014

RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/811480778864737/

If you know of folks who like these weird events and who might want to subscribe to this newsletter, please send them this link: http://eepurl.com/QHnpb

♥ A SNEAK PEEK @ UPCOMING EVENTS!

Actually, we are taking a break for the months of July & August.

But rest-assured, we will be back in September!

Thank you SO MUCH for coming out and supporting quirky events this past year!

♥ OUR MISSION STATEMENT ♥

CHAT PERDU PRODUCTIONS creates stimulating, quirky, and all-natural events in Montreal & Toronto. We like to put on events that are participatory and lovely. Rather than ironic cool, we are after cat-belly warm. We like it when the people who "attend" are also the people who "perform". We see events as little experiments. We don't know what will happen & we do them to find out. The ultimate goal of everything is for folks to forge new friendships & to make life a little less lonely & manifestly more lovely. LESS LONELY! MORE LOVELY! Take a chance on a Chat Perdu event!

LINKS TO OTHER WEIRDO PRODUCTS I HAVE CREATED!

You Are a Cat!

A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Style Book from the POV of a cat:

http://www.conundrumpress.com/new-titles/you-are-a-cat/

You Are a Cat in the Zombie Apocalypse!

A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Style Book from the POV of a cat in the Zombie Apocalypse:

http://www.conundrumpress.com/new-titles/you-are-a-cat-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/

The E-Z-Purr: The Virtual Cat!

Over an hour of cats purring.

On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-virtual-cat!/id509240768

On CdBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/theezpurr

The E-Z-Purr is a CD that is exactly what it says it is: over an hour of cats purring. People have asked me if the purring is on a loop, if it's only a 2 minute purr looped for an hour. Adamantly NO. A few years ago I cat-sit my friend Dawn's cat for a week and every day I would go over for a few hours and read and he would come over to my lap and I would stroke him and record him, putting the microphone very close to his voice-box. I actually have hours and hours of raw purr recording and I edited it down to find the most effusive and vibrant purrs to put on the album. People have used it while getting a massage. People have used it to relax them and put them to sleep. People have played it to alternately calm or freak their own cats. Played loudly, it sounds like an idling motorcycle, or like a ten foot tall cat is sleeping in the room with you.

---------- CONTACT ME IF YOU LIKE ----------

Sherwin Sullivan Tjia

email: inconsolablecat@hotmail.com

Events Blog: http://janesheisaclerk.blogspot.ca/

EVENTS FOR MAY 2014!

Dear Lovelies,

So I just looked out the window and the tree that was bare just a week ago is now budding. People are on the street flirting. At night I hear the cats fucking. Something is happening to the world, and I'm excited to be part of it!

For those of you who don't know, I have an EMAIL list now! It's very lovely because it allows me to send each and every person who wants to keep apprised of future quirky events a personal playlist of upcoming events. You can sign up right here if you are so inclined: http://eepurl.com/QHnpb

So without further ado, here are the...

♥ EVENTS FOR MAY!

TORONTO STRIP SPELLING BEE – The 'Matrix' EDITION – May 2, 2014

Kindly RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/652041148183388/

TORONTO QUEER SLOWDANCE – Pajama Party EDITION – May 10, 2014

Kindly RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/682948021765945

♥ A SNEAK PEEK @ UPCOMING EVENTS!

Save the Date! Events are subject to change, but realistically, in all likelihood, won't.

♥ MONTREAL STRIP SPELLING BEE @ The Fringe Festival – June 4, 2014

♥ MONTREAL FAKE PROM @ The Fringe Festival – June 6, 2014

♥ TORONTO PRIDE QUEER SLOWDANCE @ The Gladstone Ballroom – June 20, 2014

♥ TORONTO STRIP SPELLING BEE – July 4, 2014

♥ TORONTO QUEER SLOWDANCE – July 5, 2014

LINKS TO OTHER WEIRDO PRODUCTS I HAVE CREATED!

You Are a Cat!

A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Style Book from the POV of a cat:

http://www.conundrumpress.com/new-titles/you-are-a-cat/

You Are a Cat in the Zombie Apocalypse!

A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Style Book from the POV of a cat in the Zombie Apocalypse:

http://www.conundrumpress.com/new-titles/you-are-a-cat-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/

The E-Z-Purr: The Virtual Cat!

So about three years ago I recorded this cat purring and then I made a CD of it and put it on iTunes and every 6 months I make about fifty bucks! It's very amazing and magical and absolutely ludicrous, which, I have discovered, is my style.

On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-virtual-cat!/id509240768

On CdBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/theezpurr

Events For March & April 2014

So normally I invite folks to my events over Facebook.
It's proven remarkably robust.
But recently, Facebook labelled me a spammer, and now I'm
actually unable to invite folks to anything.
Which is deeply unsettling.

Which is why I am moving back to an emailing list solution.
Seriously.

If you like quirky events, please join here!

http://eepurl.com/QHnpb

HERE ARE THE QUIRKY EVENTS FOR MARCH - APRIL 2014:

★★★ MONTREAL STRIP SPELLING BEE - Dark Knight Edition! ★★★
https://www.facebook.com/events/1512302732329876

♥♥♥ MONTREAL QUEER SLOWDANCE! Fling yourself into Spring! ♥♥♥
https://www.facebook.com/events/1382566705352635/

♥♥♥ Toronto QUEER SLOWDANCE - PROM Edition! ♥♥♥
https://www.facebook.com/events/701530073232327

***

It's funny. I never planned to be an event planner.
My whole life I thought I would draw comic books.
And then I went to university and thought I would paint portraits.
And then I got out of university and became a medical illustrator.
And then I wrote a bunch of weird books.
And then somewhere along the line I started putting on events.

The events started as a lark. A bit of a joke.

One night at a event my friend dragged me to, I just got sick
of all the flailing and the music that was relentlessly loud.
I remembered my first slow dance from grade 7.
How nice it was. You held someone and even though you
were rotating, it was like the world was rotating around you.
The two of you, embracing, created your own world.
That memory tugged at me, and like succumbing to a gravitational
pull, I thought to myself, we should do that instead.

I looked over the dancefloor that night. The pounding beat.
Folks standing by themselves, throwing their arms in the air.
Me feeling so alienated from it. I thought to myself,
I want to slow dance again. What's more, I want people to do it
all night long. I laughed to myself. Instead of all these fast songs,
let's just play slow ballads! That would be hilarious.

Would people do it? Why would people do it?
Why would they willingly put themselves in that kind of position
ever again? Where they had to ask someone to dance?

The first person I ever asked to dance said no.
She was a good friend of mine. In grade 4 we used to walk
home together because we lived near the same place.
So when they announced that the next song was the last dance
and that it would be a slow song I went up to her, scared
out of my mind and asked her to dance and she went, "Uh. No."
And I walked away. But then I went back. And I went,
"C'mon. It's the last dance of the night."
And she sighed.

I knew who she wanted to ask her.
She'd been very clear throughout grade 6 about the huge
crush she had on this blond boy in the class.
For the life of me I can't remember his name now.
But anyway, she sighed, said, "All right," and
came out on the dancefloor with me and we danced
to Tiffany's "Could've Been."

She really didn't want to dance with me.
And in truth, I am not sure she was who I would have chosen
were circumstances not what they were.
But I think she was pleased to be asked.

And that's when I realized how lovely it was to slowdance
with someone. What a gift it is that humans can do this.
What a tragedy that folks do it only at weddings and in grade 7.

So why would people willingly put themselves in a position
where they had to risk rejection and ask folks to dance again?
Because it's wonderful.
It's a way of relating that is perfectly in-between
acquaintance and intimate.

So standing by the dancefloor, watching all these solitary dancers,
and remembering my own early experiments with intimacy I thought,
What the hell. Let's try it.

OUR EVENTS FOR THE REST OF 2013

OUR EVENTS FOR THE REST OF 2013

Dear lovelies! So as we fast approach the end of the year, we have a smattering and a pitterpattering of interesting and amusing events for you. Thank you for listening, and thank you for coming out and taking a chance on weird events!


Montreal LAUNCH OF YOU ARE A CAT IN THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! - Nov.21:
https://www.facebook.com/events/380159835448133/


Montreal STRIP SPELLING BEE - Nov. 22:
https://www.facebook.com/events/729039700457991/

Montreal DRUNKEN XMAS ALBUM RECORDING SINGALONG - Dec. 2:
https://www.facebook.com/events/595494147154254/

Toronto QUEER SLOWDANCE - Dec. 7:
https://www.facebook.com/events/536788319748664/

Toronto LAUNCH OF YOU ARE A CAT IN THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! - Dec. 8:
(details forthcoming)

OCTOBER 2013 EVENTS!

Dear Lovelies!

So October and early November has quite a number of weird and wonderful events!
One notable exception is my first art show in a decade, so if you happen to be in Montreal, the Opening is Oct. 2, but the show is up all month. Here are the rest of the events! Thank you for taking a chance on events that try to make the world a little less lonely, and more lovely.


OCT. 2 - THE MOVED & THE SHOOK: 100 Drawings by Sherwin Tjia
https://www.facebook.com/events/166311013571419/

OCT. 5 - TORONTO QUEER SLOWDANCE - '80s EDITION
https://www.facebook.com/events/698428363519991

OCT. 24 - MONTREAL STRIP SPELLING BEE - Halloween Edition!  

The game is played a lot like strip poker, but it's a spelling bee. Ten contestants compete in front of a live audience of hooters, hollerers and hecklers who want to see some smart and sexy skin!
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013
The Wiggle Room
3874 St. Laurent (across from Schwartz')
Sign-up at 8:30 PM sharp!

Bee from 9:00 to midnight
$12 at the door
(Contestants do not pay cover and get a free drink!)
Please RSVP at the Facebook event page! https://www.facebook.com/events/216599261840917/

OCT. 25 - MONTREAL QUEER SLOWDANCE - Halloween Edition!

With a lending library of designated dancers for all you wallflowers, and a dancecard-booklet to set up dances in advance (should you choose to), Queer Slowdance has all slow songs, all night long! It's high school with a happy ending. Come and experience why slow is beautiful, and why love is not ironic. You don't have to be queer to attend, but you must have an open mind, an open heart, and open arms!

Friday, Oct. 25, 2013
The Wiggle Room
3874 St. Laurent (across from Schwartz')
Doors at 9:30 PM
Dance from 10 PM to 3 AM
$12 at the door includes your dancecard!
Please RSVP at the Facebook event page! https://www.facebook.com/events/433771126729428

NOV. 1 - TORONTO STRIP SPELLING BEE - HALLOWEEN EDITION!

Friday, Nov. 1, 2013
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander Street
(1 blk east of Yonge)
Toronto, Ontario
Sign-up at 10:30 PM sharp!
Bee starts at 11 PM
$10 at the door
FREE if you compete! (AND we buy you a drink!)
19+
Please note that we must cap our number of strip-spellers at 10 to ensure an expedient and entertaining evening.
Please RSVP at the Facebook event page! https://www.facebook.com/events/173237846201244

NOV. 2 - TORONTO QUEER SLOWDANCE - HALLOWEEN EDITION!

Dovercourt house
805 Dovercourt Rd. (1 block North of Bloor, 3 blks. west of Ossington)
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013
Doors at 9:30, Dance from 10 PM - 3 AM.
$10 admission includes your Dancecard-booklet!
Regretfully, the Dovercourt House is not wheelchair-accessible.
19+
Please RSVP at the Facebook event page! https://www.facebook.com/events/166446816887719

SEPTEMBER 2013 EVENTS!

Dear Lovelies,

Here are the events for September 2013! Sorry we have been away from this blog for a while. We took a brief break. For a while we were without a venue in Montreal and only doing events in Toronto. And then we took a break from events over some of the summer to do other things! But now the days are slightly cooler and we have a new venue in Montreal and we are renewed and revitalized for this coming fall! Thank you so much for taking a chance on weird events!

PORN KARAOKE in MONTREAL is September 5:
https://www.facebook.com/events/712772638749652

TORONTO STRIP SPELLING BEE is September 6:
https://www.facebook.com/events/383894051736722

TORONTO QUEER SLOWDANCE is September 7:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1375056452724581/

MONTREAL STRIP SPELLING BEE is September 20:
https://www.facebook.com/events/521258167940151

MONTREAL SLOWDANCE is September 27
https://www.facebook.com/events/616694231708493

FALL 2012 EVENTS!

Dear Lovelies,

This fall we are taking a bit of a breather. Not because we don't love you, but because circumstances conspired. Thus, we only have a few things to take us to 2013. But such things you won't find anywhere else. Thanks for coming to our weird events!

STRIP SPELLING BEE in TORONTO (NOV. 2, 2012):
http://www.facebook.com/events/439018019467066

QUEER SLOWDANCE in TORONTO (NOV. 3, 2012):
http://www.facebook.com/events/394497813948699/

NEW YEAR'S EVE SLOWDANCE in MONTREAL (DEC. 31, 2012)
Alas, due to circumstances beyond our control, our annual New Years Eve Slowdance is not happening this year. Very sorry! We hope that you have found another opportunity to be in someone's arms this spin around the sun.