PHOTO : TOM PANDI PHOTO : TOM PANDI PHOTO : TOM PANDI
TEYANA TAYLOR PERFORMING AT HISTORY
BLEACHERS PERFORMING AT HISTORY
Danforth Music Hall , where they ’ re restricted by what they ’ ve already got there . So , History is totally customizable to the event ,” Gardner explains . “ Our venue operations manager and our director of corporate sales have done a great job of coming up with a few different ways to set up the venue so it can be anybody ’ s event . For example , we can convert our merch area into your sign-in area , so if you were coming to your event , you go to the table to pick up your welcome package . Again , the idea being , it ’ s all customizable for your event or needs . I don ’ t think we ’ ve had anyone reach out yet for movie shoots , but that ’ s also not beyond our ability to do if someone approaches us and wants us to do that .”
That was the vision from the outset , and the task taken on by contractor , Ellis Don , and the designer , Design Agency . Critically , the space is simple and modern enough that nothing there interferes with the incoming client ’ s vision for the setup and aesthetic of their event . “ The room is very flexible . You can have cocktail tables , a full banquet setup , a general admission floor with cocktail tables at the back … We ’ re open to everything ,” he says , adding , emphatically , “ The only thing we aren ’ t is a nightclub .”
That ’ s a critical distinction . One that makes all the difference for History ’ s neighbours . The idea was to contribute to the East End ’ s vibrant cultural scene , without negatively impacting the quality of life in the residential area surrounding the venue . “ That was something where we had to work with the neighbourhood to understand ,” Gardner sums up . “ A lot of people thought it would turn into King St . West , or a venue like Rebel , where a concert finishes , and then another crowd comes .” That ’ s not the case here , he adds . “ Live Nation and History are in the ticketed events business , not the nightclub business .”
In every way , the desire was to make History a welcome addition to the neighbourhood , a desire communicated at a variety of town halls held in consultation with neighbours , Biasutti notes . “ Most tours want to enter the city in the morning and be done by midnight . So , the majority of our shows will be done by 11 p . m . or midnight and then the tour moves on . When asked if there were going to be people coming and going at all hours , we were clear – the concert ends , the place empties out and we ’ re done , we ’ re shut down .”
As for the response so far , he concludes : “ With History opening up and the neighbours seeing how we ’ re running the business , they ’ re seeing that we take being part of the community very seriously .”
ZEDS DEAD PERFORMING AT HISTORY
Kevin Young is a professional musician and freelance writer based in Toronto .
Spring 2022 | 27