Mississauga hosts Canada's first Dance, Music and Comedy Exposition

Written by Marissa Decina Friday, 12 August 2011 18:12

A&E

You may have attended a music concert, a dance festival, or a comedy show; but chances are you've never attended an event that combines all three art forms in one giant exposition. That's because the Dance, Music, and Comedy (DMC) Expo, hosted by Creative Ideals Entertainment, will be the first of its kind in Canada to bring together dancers, musicians, comedians, producers, talent agents, and arts vendors under one roof.

"There are a lot of shows that focus on dance or comedy or music, and there are a lot of trade shows throughout North America," says Creative Ideals' executive producer, Brian Francis, "but there aren't any other shows that will bring these three different types of entertainment - plus a consumer/trade show - together in one event."

Coming to Mississauga's International Centre, Saturday September 10, the DMC Expo will feature artists in various fields and award cash prizes to the best performer in each category. In addition to the competition, the Expo will also allow entrepreneurs from all walks of the entertainment industry to form business partnerships, collaborate, and show off their merchandise and services at the numerous trades booths set to fill the floor.

"The Expo will not only bring an opportunity for people to perform and gain more exposure, but it will also bring the entertainment community together from a business standpoint, allow them to connect with other media industry professionals so they can further their career," says Francis.

A stand-up comedian and now owner of his own entertainment company, Francis says he came up with the idea to hold the Expo as a way to support fellow artists struggling to find exposure in the entertainment industry.

"I find that there's a lot of talent in the country - we're saturated with a lot of musicians, dancers, comedians and actors," he says. "But unlike the US, it just doesn't feel like we have enough platforms for all these talented people. I know firsthand from being a performer myself that there's just not enough happening out there for artists to get their feet wet."

Francis says, in addition to providing opportunities to artists, he also wished to hold the Expo so he could simply share his passion for music and entertainment with the community at large.

"I wanted to create something that was dear to my heart, something that I love," he says. "I wanted to create something that was not only going to be profitable but - most importantly - something fun and entertaining that will bring together a group of people who are very passionate about the same thing."

Francis says those who attend the event can look forward to a day filled with ongoing live performances, the most exciting portion of the show likely to be the music category, which will feature a host of young talent from Toronto, Mississauga and the surrounding area.

"There will be something for everybody. All these artists bring something different to the table," he says. "Some have an R&B sound; some have a more vocal, jazzy type of sound - just a really good mix of talent."

In addition to the artists competing, expo goers can also look forward to a performance from Juno award winner and Grammy nominated R&B recording artist, Glenn Lewis, who will headline the event.

Through sponsorship and promotion, Francis hopes to get at least 800 people out to the Expo on the 10th. But at the end of the day, he says it's not about the numbers but the experience of those in attendance.

"I want the performers to feel, when they leave, like they've gotten an experience that they've never gotten before, something they've always wanted and never previously had the opportunity to get," he says. "Hopefully they'll feel like this was something that helped them get to the next level, whether it was inspiring them to record their first album or shoot their first music video."

As for the public, Francis says he hopes that people just come out and enjoy themselves.

"I just want people to feel like they were very entertained," he says. "I want to make them feel like they walked away with a lot more than they bargained for."

Tickets for the DMC Expo are available on the event's website, http://www.dmcexpo.ca/dmc-entertainment.asp, and doors open to the public at 3:30 pm Saturday September 10.