Even Steven

I always joke that Dave is “Even Steven”. Like Jerry Seinfeld, things just always work out for him. Something may bring him down, but then there is always something else right there bringing him back up. Even Steven. I am certain he could throw money off the patio and it would show back up at our front door. Or even more likely, nothing happens to bring him down and something still happens to make his world even better (meeting me is just but one example of his astounding luck!). An example of this Even Steven phenomena, or incredible karma, follows.

First, a bit of background…For those of you who may not know this (although how you wouldn’t is beyond me since I’m always bragging about it), Dave has been designing the t-shirts and other merchandise the band Hedley since they started a few years ago (along with many other up and coming bands). If you don’t know who Hedley is, don’t worry…on my first date with Dave he was telling me that he did these t-shirts and at the time had been going on tour with the band as the Merchandise Manager. Me, being completely oblivious to the music scene, gave all the polite “very cools” and “that’s really excitings”, admitting I had no idea who Hedley was and in my head assuming he was travelling around with some small band playing clubs and bars. The day after this date, I was flipping channels and stopped at Much Music, where there was a one hour “In the Spotlight” show on the band. Okay, did I feel like a heel or what? These guys weren’t playing in bars and clubs; they were playing in bloody stadiums! And apparently they were pretty damn popular. But I digress, as this is not actually about me!

The band’s “merch”, as they call it, designed by Dave always sold very well. The band got bigger and bigger and the merch sold like crazy. So…needless to say, Dave continued to design all the merch for the band. Everyone was happy. Other bands started coming to him, although Hedley was by the far the biggest. The band continued to rise in success. It was a lovely arrangement. Until…Hedley got too big.

So, over the summer the band has been making a new album, not requiring any new designs. Knowing they would start touring in the fall, once the album was released, Dave had been waiting to get album cover artwork, etc. so he could start designing new stuff for the tour. When we heard that the fall tour had turned into Hedley opening for Bon Jovi, we were pretty excited. Great for Hedley. Cool for Dave. How cool would it be to have your shirts on sale alongside the merch of Bon Jovi?!!! As time passed and no word about what they needed was coming, Dave was getting anxious. Then the email: Sorry, the band has a new contract and the record label will now be in charge of everything, including merchandise. Basically, “ya, you’ve been here from the beginning, but we don’t need you anymore.” This was pretty devastating for Dave, although he knows the music industry and knew this was likely to happen at some point. Still, it hurt, both personally and professionally. A few days after the email, the band manager, Dave’s direct contact when it came to work for the band, called Dave to explain what Dave already knew…that with the band getting bigger, and with the record label owning a share of the company that produces the t-shirts, the new contract between the band and the label included all aspects of merchandise, and the record label would use its own design team. It was a positive call, reinforcing that they still thought Dave’s designs rocked but were at place where they had to give control of that to the record label.

How does this make Dave Even Steven? Well, the manager put Dave in touch with the record label designer guy, Dave sent over some samples of his work, the guy loved it and suggested they talk further about working together. SO…Even Steven. Dave loses his gig with Hedley, but gains interest from Nettwerk Records’ design team and may very well end up working with them for other artists. Very exciting. However as Dave’s life goes, there’s always more…when it rains it pours with good things for him.

SO… a few days later Dave gets a call from Tommy (Hedley’s bass player and a friend). Tommy and two partners are starting a clothing line. Separate from Hedley, an actual clothing line – Revolution Army - that they hope will be in stores next fall. So who does he want as the lead designer? Ya, you know it. Dave. HUGE excitement, as Dave’s dream is to work on a clothing line and this may be THE opportunity for him. Dave is beyond thrilled, although always with his cautious optimism. I have no caution whatsoever and now imagine myself travelling around the world with Dave while he attends trade shows, and fashion shows, scoping out the hottest new styles, seeking out materials, and generally doing whatever it is that clothing designers do. I imagine watching celebrities on TV talking about the new fashions they are wearing designed by Dave. And I am certain I will be checking out his designs in the stores on Robson Street, smiling to myself as people walk by wearing them. Ahh, yes….this is me, the big dreamer and more importantly the big believer. Dave may be Even Steven, charmed, lucky, or most likely just full of really good karma, but ultimately he is incredibly talented and it is that which brings him his success.

For now, he will design an incredibly cool logo for Revolution Army. Tommy will use his celebrity to promote it while he’s on tour. After that, well, I really have no idea how it works. However, I do believe it will work and I shall expect you all to be fully outfitted in Revolution Army clothing when it makes it debut.