One of the more buzzed about events at Canadian Music Week continues to be the Chum FM Fan Fest held at the Masonic Temple, the home of MTV Canada. Last year, it was really the place to be as the very hot Katy Perry was performing. This year, it was Daughtry and Hedley headlining.

Before the party started, Chum FM was recognized earlier in the day at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards Reception in multiple categories.

Long-time morning man Roger Ashby was recognized for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Roger, Darren & Marilyn were awarded best on-air talent team of the year (in a major market.) As well, Chum FM was recognized as Station of the Year (Adult Contemporary) and lastly, Program Director of the Year, David Corey.

So by night time the Chum crew was ready to party.

The Fan Fest is always a fun event to cover. Not always so great from a photographers perspective, as we can only shoot the performances from a VIP balcony. But the good news, when Chum/CTV puts on a party – they do it up right and the roaming appetizers and open bar certainly would not be considered a hindrance to shooting. I tried to use my unique shooting position – above, stage left to capture things a little differently then if you were in the usual pit position. If anything, it allowed me to capture some fan interaction with the performers.

And if anything, the Chum FM Fan Fest is all about that.

Each artist played about a three song set with Daughtry and Hedley playing longer.

Faber Drive.
Girlicious. Almost didn’t make this performance.
Jacob from Hedley signs autograph mid-performance.
Karl Wolf.
DJ Dopey entertains between sets in VIP lounge.
Stereos.
Daughtry.
Faber Drive.
The Fans on the floor.
Joey McIntyre.
Faber Drive.

Tarantino was in a great signing mood and taking pictures with any fans who asked. By a wide margin, it seemed Tarantino was asked to autograph photos and memorabilia from Reservoir Dogs more then any of his other films.

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Cruise landed by private jet in Toronto and first stopped for a chat with George Stroumboulopoulos on CBC’s The Hour. Immediately following that interview – Cruise was whisked by an entourage of three black SUV’s to the Queen street studios of Toronto’s MuchMusic.

The remarkable thing about the MuchMusic appearance was how few fans made the trek to Queen St. There was really only a few handfuls of people waiting outside the street-front studio where Cruise was appearing. Sure it was cold out – but that never stopped fans before. Quite a difference of maybe ten years ago when a live appearance of Cruise on Queen St. would attract hundreds, maybe even thousands of fans.

But I guess thats the MuchMusic tv/web audience today – you pretty much need to be these guys to attract thousands of screaming fans to Queen St.

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