Everything you need to know about a concert should be here. If it’s not, say so and we’ll make sure it’s added.
Ticket sales
You can buy tickets yourself and re-sell them, gift them, auction them, but don’t let them go empty. We want bums in seats not just ticket revenue. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, donate. Tickets can be only be bought online, and they don’t sell themselves. If each of us pitches in and sells 5 tickets, we’ll be sold out. Please help promote the band!
TCB Members’ Concert Dress Standards
Revised November 2023
Our dress standards are designed to help everyone look professional and maintain focus on the music, while also making sure outfits are tasteful while leaving some reasonable room for individual taste/expression.
Members of the band may choose any combination of clothing items based on the guidance below. Here is the guidance:
General Dress Code:
Clothing Color: Black, except for a white shirt if you’re wearing a suit or tuxedo. Make sure your black clothing is not faded.
No Distractions: Avoid clothes with fancy decorations, ornate beading/sequins, or distracting (high contrast coloured) jewelry.
Footwear: Black, closed-toe dress shoes. No sneakers.
Formal
- No clothing with tearing or damage.
- No denim, sweats, or casual clothing. The standard clothing should be formal, professional, classy.
- Try to choose something that will allow comfortable playing, so your concert experience is physically pleasant.
For Suits or Tuxedos:
- Black jacket
- Black pants
- Black bow tie
- White shirt
For Other Outfit Combinations:
All Black
Tops:
- Sleeves – no bare shoulders
- no strapless, or spaghetti straps
- Top must be continuous with bottoms
- No excessive low cut fronts
Bottoms:
- Black from waist to toe, no exposed skin
- If shorter than ankle-length, use black tights, nylons or socks
- No mini-skirts or high slits
Accommodations and Seeking Guidance:
We trust that our members will use good judgment and make needs-based choices while referring back to the general standards.
If you have a personal or health accommodation you would like to disclose, or are unsure about whether your outfit complies with these guidelines or have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a board member or a conductor for clarification, well before the concert date. We’re here to help you look your best while maintaining our commitment to professionalism and music quality.
Concert Time
Concert downbeat is at 7:30pm. There will be one 15-minute intermission. The concert is expected to end at 9:30pm
Location
John Bassett Theatre (in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
255 Front Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 2W6
There is no separate entrance for backstage. Security will allow you into the backstage area. Follow signage to the theatre lobby. The backstage area can be reached from the corridors beside the hall.
Transit
Take the TTC to St. Andrew subway station and walk down to front street, or to Union and take the skywalk to the Convention Centre (we are in the North building!). It will be very cold today so consider Union/skywalk.
Parking
No dedicated parking is provided for us. Consider parking at Simcoe Place, or one of the nearby underground or surface lots.
Call Time (when you have to show up)
For John Bassett Theatre Concerts:
3:00pm – Setup crew (TCB volunteers) arrives to prepare to unload the truck. Trucks can drive into the loading dock for JBT and unload directly into the elevator that leads to backstage.
3:00pm – TCB main access to JBT begins.
4:15pm-ish – Show up and get ready to play. See Location above for backstage access.
4:30pm – Rehearsal downbeat on stage
5:45pm-ish – Dinner in the ‘hood. There are lots of great restaurants and bars walking distance from JBT. The food court by the underground will be closed. No food is allowed in the studio. You can change into performance clothes in the change rooms at JBT after dinner.
6:00pm – 7:00pm – Stage access closed – security on dinner break.
6:00pm – Front of house volunteers arrive to set up
6:30pm – JBT lobby doors open (bar opens)
7:00pm – Auditorium doors open
7:15pm – Be backstage dressed and ready to perform
7:25pm – On stage
7:30pm – Downbeat
9:30pm – Rejoice in your awesomeness after a flawless performance
9:40pm – Load equipment onto truck
9:45pm – Post-concert fellowship. We have booked a room at The Pint which is next door.
Stage Plot
Same as band for the last couple of practices. Depending on sound we may make changes during rehearsal. View plot.
Your Music
Don’t forget to bring your music, charge your iPad, etc!
Music Folders
Bring your black TCB Music Folder. If you don’t have a TCB music folder, please bring a black folder from home. If you ordered a folder it will be at JBT for pick-up. New folders can be ordered by updating “requires folder” in the app. If you are using a device like and iPad, please ensure that it does not stand out.
Music Stands
TCB will provide stands.
After Party
We usually have an after party after the concert. Check out the call time listing above for exact details (so we don’t duplicate the info in multiple places).
Volunteers
A volunteer sign-up sheet has been emailed. Please sign up or contact the band if you have questions.
Refunds
We do not offer refunds for unused tickets, regardless of whether or not there are people on the wait list.
Valuables
For John Bassett Theatre
The backstage area will be locked, and is only accessible by members who have signed in, but as with everywhere, there are no guarantees. It’s best to keep your valuables at home.
Other Location Details for Reference
These details apply for other concerts – not the upcoming concert. You can ignore these for now.
Location
Glenn Gould Studio (in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre)
250 Front Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 3G5
Performers enter from the John St. Entrance.
Transit
Take TTC to St. Andrew subway station and walk across metro square, then cross Wellington. The Broadcasting Centre is located on the Path, so you can get there entirely underground normally, but the entrance to the Broadcasting Centre is often closed, so you may have to exit into Simcoe Place and walk around to the other side of the Broadcasting Centre outside.
Parking
Glenn Gould Studio
You and your adoring fans can park at Simcoe Place (next door to the Glenn Gould Studio) for $15. https://impark.com/toronto/simcoe-place-parking-garage/
Call Time (when you have to show up)
For Glenn Gould Studio Concerts:
3:15pm – Setup crew (TCB volunteers) arrives to prepare to unload the truck. Do not attempt to enter the studio.
4:00pm – TCB main access to Glenn Gould Studio begins.
4:15pm-ish – Show up and get ready to play. Go to the John St. entrance of the Broadcasting Centre. Your name will be on a list for backstage access. The rest of the entrances to the studio will be locked.
4:30pm – Rehearsal downbeat on stage
5:30pm – 6:30pm – Glenn Gould Studio staff on dinner break
5:45pm-ish – Dinner in the ‘hood. There are lots of great restaurants and bars walking distance from Glenn Gould Studio. The food court by the underground will be closed. No food is allowed in the studio. You can change into performance clothes in the change rooms at Glenn Gould Studio after dinner.
6:00pm – Front of house volunteers arrive to set up
6:30pm – Lobby area opens, including bar
7:00pm – Auditorium doors open
7:15pm – Be backstage dressed and ready to perform
7:25pm – On stage
7:30pm – Downbeat
9:30pm – Rejoice in your awesomeness after a flawless performance
9:40pm – Load equipment onto truck
9:45pm – Post-concert fellowship. We have booked a room at The Pint which is across the street from GGS.
Stage Plot
TBC. Be ready to accept changes when you arrive.
Your Music
Don’t forget to bring your music, charge your iPad, etc!
Music Folders
Bring your black TCB Music Folder. If you don’t have a TCB music folder, please bring a black folder from home. New folders can be ordered by emailing [email protected], but they are currently backordered 6 months. If you are using a device like and iPad, please ensure that it does not stand out.
Music Stands
Stands will be provided. You do not need to bring your own. (Glenn Gould Studio provides its own, and the band arranges for stands for other concert venues).
After Party
We usually have an after party after the concert. Check out the call time listing above for exact details (so we don’t duplicate the info in multiple places).
Volunteers
A volunteer sign-up sheet has been emailed. Please sign up or contact the band if you have questions.
Refunds
We do not offer refunds for unused tickets, regardless of whether or not there are people on the wait list.
Valuables
For Glenn Gould Studio
The backstage area will be locked, and is only accessible by members who have signed in. It’s best to keep your valuables at home.
Location
Palais Royale Ballroom
1601 Lake Shore Boulevard West
Toronto, ON M6K 3C1
Enter through the front door. Equipment loads up the ramp on the west side of the building.
Transit
Take TTC Queen (501) streetcar to Queensway at Roncesvalles or the King (504) car to Queen at Roncesvalles. Take the footbridge to cross the rail corridor, the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Blvd. W. The south side of the bridge is at Palais Royale.
Parking
Palais Royale
You and your adoring fans can park for free in the Palais Royale parking lot in between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Lake Shore Blvd. W. across the street from the venue. If space is limited, park at the Budapest Park Green P just west of Palais Royale on the south side of Lake Shore Blvd. W.
Dinner Options
Palais Royale
Several people have asked where to eat as Palais Royale is seemingly isolated on the south side of the QEW and the train tracks. There is a pedestrian bridge to the south end of the Roncesvalles area outside the front doors to the Palais Royale. Jonathan has helped by compiling a list of local restaurants that are a maximum walking distance of about a 10 minutes.
Call Time (when you have to show up)
Valuables at the Concert
For Glenn Gould Studio
We will be able to lock the rooms at the studio when we’re not there, but it’s best to leave your valuables at home. Except your instrument. Bring your instrument.
Your Music
Don’t forget to bring your music, charge your iPad, etc!
Call Time
For Palais Royale:
Full details coming soon.
3:45pm – Show up and get ready to play.
4:00pm – Rehearsal downbeat on stage
7:15pm – Be backstage dressed and ready to perform
7:25pm – On stage
7:30pm – Downbeat
10:30pm – Rejoice in your awesomeness after a flawless performance
10:40pm – Post-concert fellowship – the bar at Palais Royale will remain open for us for a couple of hours. Some munchies will be provided but a full kitchen is not available.
For Daniels Spectrum (March 2020):
3:00 – 4:00pm – access to the hall to unload percussion equipment and stands
4:00 – 5:00pm – Dress Rehearsal
5:00 – 7:00pm – Dinner
7:00 – 7:15pm – backstage ready to perform
7:25pm – on stage
7:30pm – downbeat
9:30pm – rejoice in your awesomeness after a flawless performance
9:40pm – Load equipment onto truck
9:45pm – Post-concert Fellowship: We are going to gather at House on Parliament after the concert (houseonparliament.com). This is an 11 minute walk from Daniels Spectrum and is located at 454 Parliament Street. We do not have an official reservation, but the management is aware that we are coming, and will do their best to fit us all in! The band will be ordering some appetizers to share and kitchen is open late (1am) for those who want to order more.
For Metropolitan United Church (February 2019 joint concert with EYB):
1:00 – 2:00pm – set up crew help get everything ready
2:00 – 2:45pm – TCB Rehearsal
2:45 – 4:15pm – TCB+EYB Rehearsal
4:15 – 5:00pm – EYB Rehearsal
5:00 – 7:15pm – dinner in the hood
7:15pm – backstage ready to perform
7:25pm – on stage
7:30pm – downbeat
9:30pm – rejoice in your awesomeness after a flawless performance
9:40pm – Load equipment onto truck
9:45pm – McVeigh’s Pub across the street
For Islington United Church Concerts (February 2016, March 2018):
3:30pm – setup crew (TCB volunteers) arrives
3:50pm-ish – show up and get ready to play
4:05pm – dress rehearsal downbeat on stage
5:35pm-ish – dinner in the ‘hood. There are lots of great restaurants and bars walking distance from the church.
7:15pm – backstage ready to perform
7:25pm – on stage
7:30pm – downbeat
9:30pm – rejoice in your awesomeness after a flawless performance
9:40pm – Load equipment onto truck
9:45pm – St. James’s Gate for some post-concert fellowship.
For Humber Valley United Church Concerts (March 2017):
3:40pm – setup crew (TCB volunteers) arrives
4:00pm-ish – show up and get ready to play. Go to the Hearth Room, which is ours for the night.
4:15pm – dress rehearsal downbeat on stage
5:30pm-ish – dinner. We can eat brown bag or ordered in food in the Hearth Room, but leave no trace when we’re done at the end of the night. It’s a very short drive to Islington Village, the Kingsway, Humbertown, Kings Mill, and a variety of other places too.
7:15pm – backstage ready to perform. We don’t know if there are change rooms, but we can probably locate washrooms if people don’t want to show up or dress all gussied up.
7:25pm – on stage
7:30pm – downbeat
9:30pm – rejoice in your awesomeness after a flawless performance
9:40pm – Load equipment onto truck
9:45pm – St. James’s Gate for some post-concert fellowship.
Valuables at the Concert
For Islington United Church
We cannot lock the rooms, but someone from the band will be in the building at all times. It’s best to keep your valuables at home, but bring your instrument.
For Humber Valley United Church
We cannot lock the rooms, but someone from the band will be in the building at all times. It’s best to keep your valuables at home, but bring your instrument.
For Palais Royale
There is a lockable room at Palais Royale that we can use for our valuables, like cases, purses, coats, etc. Please don’t bring bars of gold to the Palais Royale though, it’s still a public place and things do wander off even when properly locked away.
Parking
Daniels Spectrum
Paid parking is available in Daniels Spectrum.
Metropolitan United Church
Parking is NOT GOOD at Metropolitan United Church. On-street parking
Islington United church
Short version: there’s practically no parking and you’re going to be walking. The church has a few spots, but these need to be reserved for elderly patrons and the equipment truck, so please refrain from using those. The plaza across Burnhamthorpe has inexpensive ($1/hr) paid parking for a bunch of spots. Beyond that you’re looking at finding legal on-street parking. Please do not park in spots allocated to other businesses. We do not want to upset the businesses in our neighbourhood, many of whom are supporting us or sponsoring us.
Volunteer parking attendants will be onsite to assist guests of the concert.
Humber Valley United Church
There is a large parking lot for the church, as well as on the side streets in the area. Parking is not expected to be a problem.