First "Band" Tour: BC
Updated: Sep 29
From 3 Aug to 9 Sept 2026, we had the first Sticks and Stone Percussion "Band" Tour.
"Band" in quotation marks, because mostly it was not a full-band experience, though it was in its end destination (Victoria BC, from Edmonton).
I (Stephen) had had an ambition of a band tour for a long time, stating it as my biggest goal of the year. In the end, it wasn't all the things I imagined or maybe hoped it might be, but it was everything I needed it to be. So much growth (personal and group concept) and increase of reach was had (positives). Musically, performance-wise, it was an awesome experience. Short summary of negatives: I lost money. But not so much that you couldn't write it off as a small investment in one's personal (and group) education or a little vacation. Having friends' places to stay at for free along the way certainly made a difference (and I am very grateful for this help. Without this, the end result would have been financially disastrous, the way things worked out in the end). There were so many ideas of what this trip could be. In its simplest though: --> There was the goal of getting to the coast from Edmonton. --> There are 3 major population corridors of Canada. I live in one, the Edmonton-Calgary Corridor. The Windsor-Québec City Corridor is quite a bit further... but the Greater Vancouver Corridor (and I would include Victoria) is not so so far, and a logical destination. Connecting (and playing in) the closest 2 of Canada's 3 major population corridors is a logical goal.
--> Jayden Beaudoin had been a very strong member of the Sticks and Stone Percussion group from some of its earliest gigs in 2017 through 2023. He then moved to Victoria, where now he is probably most grounded as a full-time military musician with the Naden Band (though he keeps busy with so many things!) Being able to reconnect with him (musically and as friends) and have a friend's place to stay with in the end destination was a focal point for bringing the tour idea together. With this blog post, I want to reflect on what actually happened in the end. And maybe have a "reflection on a reflection". Be a bit meta. But first, here's the YouTube video (cell phone, edited) where I show the tour (at first chronologically, but more jumbled in telling later). This is a bit long! I wouldn't expect most people would watch the whole thing (but if you do... then probably there is something of niche value or interest to you).
In the end, this was mostly solo travel. -Bringing the group, instruments etc on the road proved complicated this time (though we have done one-off events band events in Calgary, played at the North Country Fair in Slave Lake prior) -I (Stephen) had taught myself live-looping over the last year and done 7 performances with this, where I worked out the kinks. Using live-looping, I have found I can execute a high enough percentage of the band-concept on my own, solo. I still think the band is cooler, definitely faster and heavier hitting... but... I got really good at solo looping performance, doing it basically every day on the road. -I built the band twice in Victoria with Victoria Musicians.
4 of the 5 Fringe Festival Performances at the Canadian College of Performing Arts were done with Jayden Beaudoin and Jesse Guo (both percussionists with the full-time Naden Band). We also went busking on Government Street (very touristy) twice. In several ways, busking might have been more successful in this trip than having this 123 seat theatre.
-The 2nd version of the group had Jacob Valcheff (principal percussionist of the Victoria Symphony) and Richard Lang (a retired military musician who did play with Naden). This version of the group played just once for a City of Victoria Family Fun programmed event at the Cameron Band Stand in Beacon Hill Park,
Summary of Actual Dates (what actually happened) Mon 3 Aug: Travel to Vernon BC from Edmonton (near Kelowna) 4-8 Aug: busking on the streets of Kelowna 8 Aug: gig at Davison Orchards in Vernon (email sent on the Wed to acquire the Saturday daytime gig, returning to play on the streets of Kelowna in the evening)
Sun 9 Aug: enjoyed a little time walking around Kelowna in the day... then performed for the Vernon Cadet Training Centre in the evening
Mon 10 Aug: Travel to Vancouver (and trading last minute emails about Vancouver busker license)
11 Aug: Waiting a day on appointment for Vancouver busker license... and a bit of tourism (Granville Island), reach out and exploration of potential places to perform
12 Aug: Acquired Vancouver busker license
Wed-Fri 12-14 Aug: Performing on Granville Street, extended pedestrian way from the recently finished FIFA World Cup Sat, Sun 15-16 Aug: Performing at Kitsilano Beach
Mon 17 Aug: Attempt to perform at English Bay. Looper pedal somehow broke.... after bringing everything to the beach, spent 4 hours trying to fix it. Failure. Returned everything back up the hill. The entire day is a failed attempt at performing.
Tues 18 Aug: Ferry to Victoria. Meeting my childhood friend Matthew at his mother's place North of Victoria.
Wed 19 Aug: Bringing loop station in for repair. Renting one from Long and McQuade. Considering Vancouver Island busking options. Acquiring gig with Bastion Square Market. Walking around Victoria being a tourist and thinking. Catching a movie.
Thurs 20 Aug: More of the same, checking out the venue for Fringe Shows and Beacon Hill Park. (Canadian College of Performing Arts) then joining Matthew and his daughter at the Juan de Fuca Trail for a bit of time in nature. Fri 21 Aug: Driving to Parksville Community Park Beach (bad traffic, accidents) considering whether busking there could make sense... it didn't really make sense. Stopping at places along the way for consideration. Scouting out Willows Beach.
Sat, Sun 22, 23 Aug: Busking at Willows Beach (and creating an online ad for the Fringe)
Mon 24 Aug: More wandering around Victoria. Rehearsal with Jacob Valcheff and Richard Lang for Beacon Hill Park show.
Tues 25 Aug: "Tech rehearsal" for Fringe Shows in the theatre. Jayden is not able to make it due to delays from other work. First "real band" rehearsal occurs after the tech rehearsal.
Wed 26 Aug: Beacon Hill Park Performance, 11am (with Jacob and Richard). Afternoon rehearsal with Jayden and Jesse. Fringe preview in the evening.
Thurs 27, Fri 28 Aug: rehearsals for Fringe
Fri 28 Aug 9:30PM Fringe Performance 1 (930pm)
Sat 29 Aug: Catching other Fringe shows, trying some advertising in the lines to other Fringe Shows
Sun 30 Aug: Fringe Performance 2, 7pm
Mon 31 Aug: Thinking about how to do a solo Fringe Show...
Tues 1 Sept: Solo Fringe Show with Live Looping. 6:30pm (where band could not make it in the end)
Wed-Fri. 2-4: Saying hi to others in Victoria. Other advertising efforts.
Wed 2 Sept: performed outside the CCPA solo, in an effort to bring more people in for the last 2 shows...
Thurs 3 Sept: Performed at the Bastion Square Farmers' Market (solo, live looping_)
Fri 4 Sept: 7-9PM Band performing on Government Street (busking). Very good response...
Sat 5 Sept 2-4pm, again on Government Street with great response...
8pm: Fringe Show number 5
Sun 6 Sept: 1:30pm: Fringe Show n6. Decided to take 7pm ferry back to Vancouver.
Mon 7 Sept: Wanted to play at English Bay for Labour Day ("last day of summer"! Also, redemption for previous failure!). It was very cold and gloomy, sprinkles but main rain never came... It seemed to not look like a happy beach vibe.
--> After much deliberation and driving around, decided to try playing in Gastown near the famous Steam Clock.
Tues 8 Sept: Drove to Vernon, retuning to stay with Jason Paas. (stopped by Othello Tunnels along the way)
Wed 9 Sept: Drove from Vernon back to Edmonton!
--- Summary (accounting)
37 days total of trip.
22 days of putting in a lot of hours performing on the marimba, either with live-looping or a band.
~5 days of travel.
-1 complete failure day of looper breakdown.
-5 days with rehearsal for Victoria Bands.
-4 days of downtime/with friends/walking around/being a tourist/considering what other possibilities could be pursued in the areas.
-advertising efforts (including postering) and admin around Victoria side also, around all of these days
Effects/Results
Positives: 1. I gained incredible confidence. I became good at live-looping.
a) I now know I could set up with marimba live-looping solo (which felt newer to me before the trip, having only done 7 performances prior and worked out the kinks) or with a marimba-band... basically anywhere in the world under almost any circumstances and there is an almost certainty that it will make almost everyone happy/people will respond positively.
I learned how I could potentially build my band concept with local musicians (where there is sufficient population/talent) basically anywhere in the world, so I don't necessarily need to bring my band along (cost and logistic consideration) to have a "band tour".
We had a lot of incredible performances which had a lot of reach.
I learned what this kind of band show might look like in a theatre. Moreso, I learned that I could execute shows similar to this solo in a theatre.
Many great connections were made.
Many great video assets were gained from the experiences.
An amazing adventure, experience was had.
I learned how I could hustle up some gigs even while on the road, with short notice.
I learned a minimally viable way of executing a "band tour", with efforts of minimizing cost including finding free accomodation.
I learned how I could sub out/replace my looper (rental) if there might be any future issue. A few other repair learning things along the way too.
Negatives:
I lost money. Basically, the Victoria Fringe shows were about 5x worse than my financial hopes, which I thought were achievable. EG: I thought there could be $5000 of revenue from ticket sales. There was $1100 from tickets. And $1000 from costs for the theatre, the Fringe and advertising. Then, I promised in advance that I could pay band mates $200/show. They missed one, but that is $200x2 people = $400/show x 4 shows... Excluding the costs of travelling across Ab/BC, food, and not having employment income.... you can do the math of how much I lost!
There was a lot of energy burned on advertising and advertising stress.
... I did injure myself with a dumb stunt, where I was careles on that day (12 Aug, Granville Street)... it didn't stop me... but I should have more caution or consideration.
... 4... is it possible that the amount of energy involved in chasing, planning this tour idea could have negatively impacted other parts of my life? Maybe... I think it's important to chase dreams though.
Do it again? I (/we) probably should!
Locally, I feel there are a lot of summer music opportunities... that maybe event organizers don't want to give to the same people twice in a row. They want to give these opportunities to others, be equitable.
So... maybe it might make sense to have alternating years, 1 where I capture local opportunities and the other where I go more on the road to capture opportunities further away, expand reach.
The 2nd time can only be stronger!
Beyond the Tour
On a personal level... I had delved deep into some reflection on relationship topics up to this tour, especially in July, where I had time off from teaching. It is reasonably likely that if I was not in a place where I needed to look inwards deeply and do processing, this tour idea might have been a bit different. Not better, just different (I am grateful for all the experiences I have had)! I have learned that if I keep sending emails, I can keep getting gigs... but... I ran out of emotional energy for this, and had to look inwards. It is possible I might have been able to hustle all the gigs to have a different kind of tour if not for this. Apply for grants? But maybe not, who knows? It all would have been complicated with too many possible paths regardless. Certainly my current confidence as a solo performer, where I can feel very good about selling myself solo with a marimba and looping... it was not its current height when I left Edmonton on 3 August. Anyways! I chose to be a busking street musician for much of this trip, and it turned out to be a very thrilling and satisfying experience (though not as lucrative as I might have hoped).
Around the end of January I had a relationship (of 2 years) end with someone I have cared about deeply. Initially, though I was affected and journaled, wrote responses to emails I received (many of which did not make sense to send in reply), I was probably 1. Very busy with life 2. In denial and 3. Curious about life outside of this relationship. So though I was affected, maybe I felt less-so at first? Time and later triggering events led me to feel greater effect and look deeper in many relationship topics though, searching for answers to things that bothered me. Some of that has also been a journey; starting points of "not knowing what you don't know", before you can get to "knowing don't know", before "knowing what you know". And maybe a path of finding things from a YouTube algorithm and book recommendations. Anyways, I have done a lot of reading, watching of YouTube videos and journaling. Without getting too specific to my situation, there are 2 books that I would like to recommend for basically any human-being, and not specifically for relationships. For types of emotional intelligence that impact all areas of life. The first I finished on the trip, the 2nd shortly before. I see these benefiting me, as I begin to think about application in my interactions with people. And I think they would benefit anyone.
Non-Violent Communication is not just a book. It's a global movement. I would seriously consider having coaching sessions in it in the future.
To overly simplify, it might be alternately called "empathetic communication". Where we might go through a process of 1. Stating observations 2. Then feelings 3. Then needs 4. Then making a request
... and having particular care to avoid communication that blocks compassion (such as judgements).
On a listening level, we are encouraged to listen for feelings and needs. Frequently this involves reflecting what one hears or asking questions.
The concept of The Let Them Theory is not particularly revolutionary. Buddhism and Stoicism have been around for a long time. "Do what you can, don't worry about what you can't". Focus on the things in your control! Mel Robbins does a particularly good job at making this real to a lot of situations with her great story-telling though. Probably the part that hit me the hardest: People only change when they want to. You can't make people change. In fact, on topics of importance in relationships... supposedly according to studies 69% of the time people won't change. Damn, that's depressing.
If you took that stat from relationships and believed it applies to humans generally... especially as a teacher. What would be the point? I can't really believe that people can't change when I hold an education degree... If you didn't believe that humans could change, why should anyone go to school? Or counselling etc?
But, as Robbins points out.... You can influence people.
This bit about what she calls an ABC Loop. This is something I wish I had in my toolkit years ago. Relevant for interaction with anyone I might care about... but also in teaching!
This ties in with how we ask questions in Non-Violent Communication too.
This was the video I was listening to as I was driving home from Sinister 7 in Crowsnest Pass that led me to the Let Them Theory... After hearing it in the car on my drive back, I listened to it slowly the next morning and took deep notes. Then bought the book.
When I took a cross-country ski coaching class years ago, the teacher of the course made a statement that is worth holding on to. "A question is more powerful than an answer". This applies to ideas from these books and many related ideas also.
If we feel that change or growth is necessary...
Mel Robbins would suggest that with the ABC Loop (similarly in non-violent communication application) communicating in ways that give a feeling of judgement will usually not be helpful. While I see myself as an open-minded person, in retrospect, I see that sometimes I have communicated unhelpfully with judgement. In particular, in some areas where I communicated judgement, labelling the deeper feeling, I wish I could have communicated that I was scared, with a supportive same-sidedness. In some areas I felt scared for the well-being of my past partner and by extension, what well-being of us as a couple would look like long-term. I think that part of our relationship problems would have had a chance to be worked on, anyways. with the right mindset, knowing some of the things I know now.
Robbins describes how questions can be so powerful with a concept of motivational questioning, or motivational interviewing. Basically, she describes: -Most people want to do well in most areas of their lives -If there are areas where a person you care about seems to not be doing well, by asking questions (without judgement and a spirit of same-sided collaboration), people might come to greater awareness about how their current state and behaviours might differ from their desired state. A person could then come to a desire to make changes (of course, knowing how to change is another thing still!) Anyways, on reflection, I feel that my past relationship had the potential of being one that could have been lifelong. I don't know if it really could have been or should have been.... But at the least we would have each had to have grown in some ways. At the least (and I do have some other regrets), I feel that I was lacking some of the interpersonal skills and awareness such as these that could have seen that relationship grown further. While avoiding personal details that could be messy on the internet... For me in the circumstances (and on reflection and reinforced by most people on YouTube on the topic), there has been only one really healthy way forward, past this relationship: -Commit to no-contact (my ex also asked for this, so it is also the only respectful choice) and -Commit to filling up my life with goodness and ruthlessly pursuing personal growth, becoming a newer, better version of me. After much reflection... I think very often, perhaps more often than not, these will be the healthiest things at the end of a relationship for many people. ... there is a lot on YouTube with ideas of what a "no-contact rule" should look like, and of course, there are a lot of paths for personal growth. Whether there could ever be the chance of reconnecting with someone or you just have to move on... moving on in this way is the path.
The Hero's Journey and Personal Transformation
What does your hero's journey look like? What is your transformation? There are so many areas in life where we might chase growth or self-improvement. I personality find dramatic changes fascinating, but I think it is also important that we celebrate our smaller wins. Here's a bit from The Let Them Theory that really struck me, Mel Robbins going through a transformation later in life (I think even more impressive). At age 41, she was $800 000 in debt, had 5 kids, was undergoing a career transition, had a depressed spouse....
Mel is kind of famous now and seemingly doing well financially.... -- Health, wealth, relationships (perhaps also children) tend to be the focused areas of human needs that business people recommend if you want to be in a sellable niche, anyways. A literal journey can be an education and transformative
The below book was ok. :) Not mind-blowing.
Summarizing an artist's transformation, an artist's journey (a type of hero journey) in one sentence:
-You come back with a gift for the world.
I think I have come back from my trip to BC. With the gift. That I can be a killer musician solo (at least with live looping) and make people happy everywhere. Maybe this helps other people, for health? Maybe this helps me for wealth? I don't know. At least there is a personal confidence transformation and an artistic transformation. Confidence also that I can do and lead even more difficult things than in the past. Digging deeper into this kind experiential growth... Is also a part of outgrowing a dead relationship and moving on. Are you yearning for a journey? Literal or not? What will your transformation look like?
The Superhero Version of You?
What does the super hero version of you look like?
I walked into an elementary school as a substitute teacher the other day and saw a 6-year-old kid dressed the same way I dressed at that age... here are some photos my mom passed on, after making our Super Hero Percussion show for the Edmonton Fringe Festival in 2024. This is the same Super Hero Show brought to this year's (2026) Victoria Fringe (just, this time in a theatre):
From my current state, I can definitely say the "hero" version of me makes more money, is more fit and fosters stronger relationships than where I currently am. Employing many of the emotional intelligence skills I have read about more effectively too would be a hero thing to do... At the same time... I am literally dressed as the hero to my 6-year-old self, with a cape and blowing people's minds with an exotic instrument. While also teaching, maintaining many positive relationships and keeping healthy. The current me imagines a greater hero state... but is also the hero to an earlier state. So, while we chase the fantasy of being a "Superman" or a "Jesus" (he had some pretty cool powers, turning water into wine, healing the sick... WWJD? ) or whatever the idealized version of ourselves would look like...
I think we can still count our wins along the way. And be patient with ourselves, understanding that growth, change takes time. And consistent effort.
Successfully executing a BC tour and all the growth that comes with that makes it into my gratitude log, however the journey looked in the end.
If you've read this rambling writing to the end, I wish you courage and all the best in your own journeys and growth.
-Stephen Stone
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