Then it began to grow.

I.R.I.S. began working with more artists, tackling new concerts, and launching new initiatives. With Care working at Echo magazine, she was interviewing notable celebs and fabulous independent artists every week. I.R.I.S. would go on to pitch I On Music to Rogers Television (now in its second season). In addition, I.R.I.S. also launched the I.R.I.S. Entertainment Special Event Dj’ing Service, The Mariah Series (a celebration of women in music in support of Suicide Prevention and Awareness), and the TABU Music Festival (an all-day, outdoor music festival dedicated to raising awareness of society-labelled “taboo” topics such as testicular cancer).

When Echo was forced to finish publishing, Care assembled a team of writers, photographers, editors and advertising reps to help her launch Velvet Rope; a magazine dedicated to promoting the local entertainment communities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and surrounding areas. The magazine teetered in the beginning, and was shelved from a weekly to a monthly early in its run. Likewise, the team pulled back on publishing a weekly online magazine, to make room for more online headlines that can be found daily on the site.

In 2012, I.R.I.S. elected to expand once again, this time in the world of theatre. Pairing up with Shaye Harris, Care and Shaye devised SHAYRE Theatre Productions, with the plan to put little known actors and playwrights centre stage come summer of 2013.

In July of 2012, I.R.I.S. was ecstatic to be selected by the Creative Enterprise Initiative as a recipient of one of their new arts studios located in Uptown Waterloo. The ball was running.  The move into the office space gave I.R.I.S. the idea that perhaps they could also launch an internet radio station dedicated to bands, should the dollars add up in their new ventures (given CJIQ had recently released them from their on-air duties at 88.3 due to re-formating).

With the support of Velvet Rope magazine, and the determination of Care and her team, I.R.I.S. elected to expand VR by publishing their first regional issue: Velvet Rope | Guelph. But with success comes failure, and the team realized quickly that there was simply not enough advertising support to sustain the Guelph issue, and were forced to withdraw to an online magazine after only two issues. It was unfortunate, as Care and the I.R.I.S. team were optimistic that the Guelph edition would entice more advertising dollars, and perhaps even bring a marginal profit to bring down the debt of publishing, expand the magazine to a 32 page from a 24 and maybe start seeing an opportunity to hire a team of employees.

I.R.I.S. Entertainment relies on the strength of advertising to sustain its initiatives, such as the magazine. While the advertising has never quite fully sustained the overhead cost of printing alone (much to the chagrin of the volunteers), Care and her family have consistently stepped in financially to assure that Velvet Rope is in the hands of the fans, bands, and venues every single month.

Now we need your help. Crowdfunding is available at our Indiegogo site, as Care and I.R.I.S. apply for Entrepreneurial Grants. Advertising in the magazine is always a great option to maximize your marketing dollars by being exposed to 7 different cities, in over 500 distribution hubs. Likewise, VR has a high stream of online traffic, should you choose to advertise with us at the website.

We are a volunteer-driven (over 75 volunteers!), community-minded company; even Care is a volunteer (and has been for 6 years). Our purpose is to bring exposure to our bands, fans, venues, small-businesses, artists and more. We currently publish Velvet Rope Magazine in print, Velvet Rope Magazine | Guelph and Aggression Magazine online, produce the TABU Music Festival, The Mariah Series, host I On Music on Rogers TV, own the I.R.I.S. DJ’ing Service, and SHAYRE Theatre Productions. We are still hopeful to launch the internet radio station. I.R.I.S. has worked with hundreds of bands, and has promoted hundreds of concerts in the region, and surrounding areas. Suffice to say, we don’t want to give up now.

If you feel like you can help by spreading the word, purchasing an ad, or even donating a few dollars to the cause, you’ll be helping sustain I.R.I.S. into a positive 2013. We will be able to expand VR while keeping it free for the public. Christen Zuch, local singer/songwriter, is hard at work putting together a benefit concert for us, and we couldn’t be more grateful. If you’d like to help, contact her directly. There is also a Facebook Event to assist us with the Indiegogo campaign.

Thank you for reading this;

I.R.I.S. Entertainment
Facebook.com/irisentertains
Twitter.com/irisentertains

But Todd Donald and I started the Indie Rock Invasion Show in 2008 as a combination of our radio programs “The Rock Show” and the “Indie Invasion”. Friday, August 17th, we say good bye as we interview our last band, The River of Ghosts.

The I.R.I.S. Entertainment Corporation – and it’s subsequent companies/arts initiatives – were all built on our radio show, hosted Friday nights originally 7-9pm, then shortened to 8-9pm in 2010.

We kicked off I.R.I.S. Entertainment with a concert at the hottest new music venue in Waterloo, Maxwell’s Music House. Featuring Todd Donald, The Union of Lanterns, The Urban Monks, CityWide Panic and The Stars Here, the very first I.R.I.S. concert became a preview of the many, many things that were set to come. check these photos by SNAP!

From our roster of our artists, to our residency at Victoria Park’s Boathouse; The TABU Music Festival, to Velvet Rope Magazine, I.R.I.S. forged from a radio show to a full-fledged entertainment company with one goal in mind – to promote independent bands, artists and musicians.

Todd and I landed the cover of the Echo in 2009, and in celebration we held annual birthday parties marking our first show on the air – fittingly on July 4th, Independence Day.

We got some cool press such as: “There are no bigger supporters of independent music than Carrie Humphries and Todd Donald..” Jason Schneider, Nightlife and “Not content to just play the tunes though, Todd and Carrie are also flourishing into serious promoters, putting their money where their mouths are putting on local shows, loaded with excellent unsigned artists. If you’re really intent on keeping your finger to the pulse of local indie rock, their show is not to be missed..” Patrick Finch, The Beat Goes On Newsletter.

We were able to sponsor some amazing events such as GO! Festival, and Think You’re A Sick-Ass Rock Band.

But through all the changes we’ve seen through the last four years, the constant has been that our radio show listeners could flick on and tune in to the Indie Rock Invasion Show every Friday. Interviewing band after band, artists after artist; debuting new singles, new releases, bands with new members, artists on-air for their very first time, the Indie Rock Invasion Show rarely took days off. To write a release to say we’re officially off the air is heartbreaking.

We have faithfully kept up on our myspace blog which features our playlists over the last four years. In the notes, you will find artists who have been with us week after week, contests we ran, and the music we played. Encore Records deserves a huge thank you for kicking off my collection of independent albums.

So as we say good bye, we say hello to a new chapter in I.R.I.S.. We’ve got a plan, and I’m certain it will work. It will simply be an element of time. When we’re ready, we’ll post it up on the site and keep everyone in the know.

Till then, thank you to CJIQ for the incredible four years we held the mic at the Doon Campus station, and for supporting us now with VR, and thank YOU to all of the listeners over the years. Your dedication to tuning in those Friday nights is completely awe-inspiring. Thank you to all of the artists, bands and musicians who have turned up for interviews, performed live, and entrusted myself and Todd with sharing the news of your latest singles, your new CDs, and your live shows you wanted promoted and more. Thank you.

Care (and Toddy) xo

Their EP Release – Niobe’s Tears – was held at The Hive in downtown K-Town, and the I On Music crew was on-hand to catch the hype, the bands, and the blood of at one of the hottest concerts this summer!

Check the official Rogers TV site for showtimes!

Office Assistant
* Car/Daytime Availability an Asset
* Book Keeping an Asset

Creative Operations Assistant 
* Event Planning
* Marketing
* Scheduling/Booking

Listings Editor
* Collection of Listings from various clubs & events in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, London, Stratford and Surrounding Area
* Updating Listings Calendar online and submitting Listings Calendar for Monthly Print Edition

If these interest you, email Care. 

This is about I.R.I.S. Entertainment Corporation and it’s various incentives to promote independent bands, artists and musicians.

Our Indiegogo campaign was designed with one idea in mind – to utilize the funding to create more opportunities within our region for promotion of independent arts.

What does I.R.I.S. offer?

Velvet Rope Magazine
Shayre Theatre Productions (fall, 2012)
Indie Rock Invasion Show – 88.3
I On Music – Rogers 20
The TABU Music Festival
The Mariah Series
Upcoming: O-Phish-Y’all Clothing
Upcoming: The I.R.I.S. Arts Foundation

We are a volunteer-driven arts initiative, with a mission to promote and celebrate independent bands, artists and musicians. We have over 50 volunteers who work around the clock.

If you feel like you can help by donating, please follow the link. Your support is so appreciated.
http://www.indiegogo.com/irisentertainment?a=727383

Catch my interview with the guys when they go live on the stage in a kick-ass country set full of originals and covers!

Cross Country Cowboys on I On Music - only on Rogers TV!

Check the website for full local listings.

In an effort to raise awareness of teen suicide and depression, The Mariah Series has been presenting events across the region since inaugural show at Maxwell’s Music House on March 3rd.

Mariah Simcoe-Dawson was a beautiful, talented, young spirit who suicided when she was 15. Her legacy lives on through the family, friends, and supportive team of Mariah’s Mission and the music of the talented women who perform monthly at The Mariah Series shows.

We’ll be back next season with another cast of female singer/songwriters, but before we go, check out our admission-free, outdoor festival in the Waterloo Public Square, noon-8pm Sunday, July 29.

Hosted by I.R.I.S.’ Chrissy on the Scene
Sound Provided by Vinylite Productions
Proceeds to Mariah’s Mission

Read about the festival in Velvet Rope.

Christen’s voice has been likened to “ethereal”, “angelic”, and in the Echo I called her a voice that could “wet the driest eyes.” 

Don’t miss out tonight – 88.3 CJIQ, Rogers 947 or online at www.cjiqfm.com for Christen Zuch, accompanied by Jeremy Brendan Day.

READ IT!