A range of emotions upon realizing I have been in a basement for 5 years now!

Sometime next week I am going to post a long threatened list of things not to do in running a business. Consider it a gift for anyone else that wants to run a business one day. For the moment I need to give thanks though.

And there are probably too many people to thank – so if I forget you – please accept my apologie now. In 5 years I made a ton of mistakes, but I also had just as much if not more help from too many people to count – here’s hoping I did not miss you you:

First off – the bands. If no bands used the space there would be no space. Simple as that. You have tolerated a lot over the years and I can not share how much it means to see people that used the space the first year I opened continue to make use of the space [frequently or not, doesn't matter].  It is always great to see new faces that have no idea I have been here for this long either wonder how they never knew [well I didn't advertise so...we could start there - that's the one mistake to be shared today]. I have made many friends with musicians from said bands and it is great to be able to walk through Halifax and see familiar faces everywhere I go. Get Wrecked, Bloodbath, Rockstorm, Journalist Wolf, No Flyers Please will get specific mention simply for playing a fundraiser for the space one year. Thank’s to Get Wrecked for organizing – still blows my mind.

Thanks also to all the artists who have used the space for art shows over the years. Each show shocked me at both the talent in this city and the interest/crowds we were able to get out every time.  Tip of the hat to Stoo Metz and the whole UAG Collective for their role in handling the majority of shows here in the past year or so.

To all bands and musicians that have passed through the space: You have made me happier than I have ever been, being able to work for myself, surrounded by music. I owe all of you the deepest graitiude and thanks for making everything else I have done or been part of since opening the Rock Garden even possible. Thank you all so so much.

And a hat’s off to the owners of all the other spaces in town: Mike  & Matt at Canvasland, Mingus at C.O.D. and Rob & Terry at Soundmarket. We must be all “special”.

Shawn Cunningham, Nicole Smith and the rest of the staff at CEED made this all possible early on. If you have ever considered opening a business you owe it to yourself to go speak with someone at CEED. They are passionate about helping people achieve the dream of opening a business and they make that passion contagious. I would have nothing if not for CEED and their assistance to date.

Before there was an actual jam space I had to get the space. It has been an interesting experience having a church as your landlord but I owe many thanks to the Lawens with whom I initially dealt with in negotiating the lease for the opportunity as well as the reminder of the St. Antonios Church council for their support. Particularly I must thank Ramzi El-Tawil for dealing with me over the past two years in a manner that fair and supportive doesn’t even begin to describe.

Then came month’s of renovations. Fun times. My future father-in-law was a life saver. Showed me how to frame a wall. Don’t know what the plan would have been if you hadn’t been around James [mind you that was also terrifying as I had never spent time alone with him and well, it worked out all fine in the end but whoa nerves....]. I should also thank James and the rest of Johanna’s family for understanding my all too frequent abseneces from – well pretty much every occassion with a few exceptions. Their undertsnading and support has meant a great deal.

Building the space was a great weird experience. Strangers started showing up eventually to help. People put in long hours and never used the space. Randoms showed up helped for an hour and were never seen again. I drank a LOT of Schooner. Jeremy Stewart another life saver. Put more time in than anyone, asked for nothing, took even less. Chris McNutt I still owe a debt to. Liam, Andrew and anyone else  that ever came by to help thank you for making it happen – because it wouldn’t have otherwise.

Getting gear was the next hurdle and over the years the staff at Musicstop/Long & McQuade have helped clear a few more from time to time. I have to say all the guys who have passed through rentals over the years have been a huge help on adaily basis to the operation of the space and probably have earned fav status for it [maybe tied with Dave and Tim for their patiance in understanding my issues with drummers!!]. Kevin and Amanda and the rest of the finance department – too good to me.
As manager, Mr. Parker has also been too kind – addressing problems for me in any way that would benefit me and dealing with it on his end however was required. I owe you all a good party here some night.

My bankers are amazing people. Inova Credit Union [referred there by CEED!]. Business owners would do themselves a benefit to speak with staff there and explor etheir business needs and see if they can be of assistance. CIBC wouldn’t give me $500 in overdraft 6months to a year into business. Went to Inova, they took care of me in fine style. Gerry Latta probably saved the space on more than one occasion. Then probably got tired of doing so and passed me off! Wayne Thorpe has been amazing since then. The rest of the staff I deal with Eva, Angie and Nick – all great people, super patient with me and always pleasant. I can’t see me ever banking elsewhere.

There are so many music people that have given me their time over the years I am definitely scared of missing someone here – so I will cheat a bit: anyone who has ever worked at Music Nova Scotia – thank you. I hope you always see the value in what you do in helping musicians make music. Waye Mason, Heather Frantsi – two people that have been very kind to me. Young upstarts like Josh Hogan – hate ‘em. [How does he do it!?]. Matt Charlton, Andrew Watt, Andrew Gillis, SWC! vs. SWAC, Chr!s Sm!th, Crowley, Adam+Chelle – so many great people I have come to know because of this space. I KNOW I am missing people here so I am sorry but I must continue [thankfully I can edit this later! ].

A slight detour but tied to the Rock Garden too: The Rock Garden has given me many other fortunate opportunities. I have served on the Halifax Pop Explosion board.  Started a record label with my wife. Thanks to all the bands who have been part of that: Myles Deck and the Fuzz, Glory Glory Man United, Dreamsploitation and Bloodsport. I was able to be part of the opening an an amazing space called the Hub. Tracy, Jo and Sera gave me more credit than I deserved but I thank them all the same for the opportunity to meet and work with them – it was experience I am proud to have shared with you.

From that I have met a whole new assortment of people that excite me in their own efforts to do their own thing. This includes Chris Weisenburger, now my lawyer, who quit a firm position to start his own practice out of the Hub.  A wonderful person. Another wonderful person tied to the Hub via Jo is her partner Ezra. Like the new stairs at the space? Thank him. But he did plenty more to help beyond that – and does it in a manner where he makes it seem like it is no big deal at all. It so is. Thank you all.

Last year saw the space take on two partners: Joy Suttle and Ryan Cooper. The changes I want to make to the space would be impossible without them. Ryan = lifesaver. I thank them both for seeing the value in my vision for the space.

While no one will [hopefully] ever have to match the hours I have been underground in this basement – I have been fortunate to have a group of guys I can call on at times – like my wedding – when I cannot afford to shut down but obviously cannot be here. Gavin MacLean, Fabian Bennett, Issac Hansen and Adrian Bruhm  are likely the reason I have maintained some semblance of sanity.  It would have been impossible to do this without you.

I think that pretty much leaves my family. There are two people on my side that I owe the most thanks to: my sister Velma and brother-in-law George.  Really don’t like to think what my entire life would have turned out like had the two of you not been there – let alone the Rock Garden. Your support, encouragement and financial help when needed has gone above and beyond. I cannot express how lucky I was to end up with both of you in my life.

I’d thank my lil’bro but he’s in Ontario and well didn’t really do much. Guess he’ll just have to move here and help out somehow in the next 5 years….   Thankfully I know he is there for me anytime I do need him and cherish him for it.

So that’s pretty much it I’d say. Oh wait……………

Johanna Gerrits. My wife. My Joi. She’s suffered dearly for loving me. That’s no joke. I subscribe to Inc. magazine and they started a column from the perspective of an entrepreneur’s wife. I initially considered removing it – Joi reads the mag too -as I didn’t need her to realize what she had become part of – like she didn’t already know. Instead I found myself seeing even more so how hard it must be on her to have to deal with the stress, uncertainty, long hours of work – and ths equally long hours alone without your so called partner. She could leave me today and tomorrow if I became a millionaire [or three years later] she’d never have to worry again about money. Someday Joi I promise you’ll see it was all worth it – no matter what – xo
You are the very definition of a best friend and that will never change.

I’m living a life my high school self dreamed of. I hope you can appreciate what that means to someone – and especially a music lover to be surrounded by music every day – and know how truly grateful I am for the role YOU ALL played in making it possible.

Love & thanks,
Rob