Introducing Our New Chair of the Board - Dean Stairs

ECMA is pleased to introduce our new Chair of the Board, Dean Stairs. We recently spoke to Dean about his background, his role on the board, his favourite East Coast Music Week memories, and more! Find out more below:

Can you talk about your background generally, and specifically in the Newfoundland Music Industry?

I’ve played live music since early 1980 and I started recording in 1981. In 1983, I was accepted to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee to study Music Business with an emphasis in Recording. It was only after I arrived in Nashville that I was made aware of the difference between in state and out of state tuition. That ended my academic pursuits pretty quickly!

I spent the rest of the 80’s playing in clubs and working in the studio as a session player as well as an engineer. I detoured a bit in the early 90’s when I joined the Canadian Forces. The detour was pretty soon back on track as my training was in the technical side of audio transmission and recording. I began to work again as a Live Sound Engineer while I was posted in Germany. The last few years that I spent in the Forces were in San Diego working with the US Navy as lead for a Research and Development Cell specializing in audio analysis and transmission via the Internet.

I was posted by the Canadian Forces to Gander, NL in 1993 and started looking for a place to buy almost immediately upon arrival. I wanted someplace big enough for my family as well as a recording studio. In 1995, we purchased the building that is now The Citadel House. We have been living in NL and working in the Music Industry of NL full time since 2001. In that time we have been part of several MusicNL and ECMA nominated productions and a few MusicNL Award winning projects. For the past five years Citadel House has been operating a small live venue. The building is the original Salvation Army building and has fantastic acoustics. With the balcony overlooking our living room, we can have about 65 people at a show. It's a nice intimate place with a friendly and music loving audience.

I often explain to folks that working in the music industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is like prospecting for gold and the nuggets are just lying on the ground everywhere. The level and quantity of talent on the East Coast in general is very high. I consider myself very fortunate to be working in this industry in this part of the world.

Can you talk about some of the work you've already done as an ECMA Board Member?

In my opinion the most significant work has been in two areas. In the area of governance, we were able to recommend a change to Board structure that allowed for representatives from each regional industry association to be appointed to the Board of Directors. This strengthened our partnership with local stakeholders and enabled the conversation between regions at a level that was not possible up to that point in time. The second area was in shepherding the change to a fully juried award process as opposed to a partial jury or partial member vote. The Board of Directors, after consultation with the membership, decided to make that change in order to increase the value of the award by making the process as open, transparent and equitable as possible. This is the final year of that transition and I fully expect it to be successful and well received.

How would you describe your new role as Chair of the Board?

I would describe my role as Chair of the Board to be one of enabling. I think the Board of Directors has a tremendous amount of experience and expertise. I prefer that everyone be able to add the benefit of their experience to the discussion. Ultimately, when the work has to be done I want everyone to pull in the same direction, with the full knowledge of why that's the best direction to pull. I also think that ECMA is fortunate to have an exceptional team in the office.

ECMA has undergone significant changes in the past couple of years, including bringing in Andy McLean as Director, launching a new website, and more. What are your thoughts on the direction in which the organization is heading, and how would you like to see the organization grow in the future?

ECMA has an incredibly rich history and a unique brand. Like most organizations in the music industry, the past ten years have been difficult. Andy McLean has brought a renewed vision and a proven operating method to the day to day operations, which will put the ECMA on solid ground financially and structurally. Within the Atlantic Region, I would like to see the organization expand its footprint to be more inclusive to the Rock, Pop, and Electronic areas of the music industry. There is also substantial room for growth in strengthening our relationship with the “behind the curtain” sectors of the music industry, such as management, agencies, venues, festivals, etc. Outside the Atlantic region, the ECMA is uniquely placed to advocate on a national and even international level on behalf of the artist and the music industry. I would like to see ECMA take a leadership role at that level.

What are some of your favourite past East Coast Music Week experiences?

I love the “Flo Case”. If you’re not familiar with it, watch for this at the next ECMW. Somewhere in the Conference hotel, you will find Flo Sampson at a piano, surrounded by musicians all jamming along. It's an ideal example of the collaborative strength that is the ECMA’s. Talented people get together and start creating something new in a collaborative, inclusive jam session. It happens every year and I love to walk by and listen to it.

Watching Ron Hynes receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, in particular because it was presented by Amelia Curran, was a compelling moment. The genuine respect and concern for Ron from Amelia was very moving and indicative of the ongoing respect for not just the talent but also the person that embodies the talent. Ron’s acceptance speech was very heartfelt and came at a time when nobody was sure, including Ron, whether Ron was going to be able to continue in the industry. Thankfully, he has been able to continue writing and performing. In fact, I look forward to hearing his new album which is due out soon.

So many great performances; I’ll highlight just a few. Matt Anderson singing "The Devil's Bride" at the Roots showcase in Cape Breton. He just about tore down the room; it was an incredible performance. Matt brings his A-game every time and that night was no exception. Paper Lions at the Export Showcase in Charlottetown. So tight and such great performers. Motorleague closing out the Gala with a “Face on Fire” performance in Charlottetown. Ben Caplan running around with a megaphone to open the second half of the Gala in Moncton.

You cannot describe the ECMA’s without using the words "creative," "outstanding," "unique" and "substantial". We are part of a fabulous tradition and I look forward to being a part of the next step.