Guests are loving the YYC Music Program

Guests are “Crazy in Love” with the YYC Music Program.

Did you know our airport is the busiest music venue in Calgary? We have 13 Calgary-based musicians playing here every day (usually between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.). The airport is a unique high-traffic environment where performers can perform for up to 1,500 people in a two-hour set. The music program started in November 2018.

The musicians play in two hour slots and are largely compensated through tips and CD sales. Artists currently play post-Security in Concourse A and the Customer Care group is hoping to expand to Concourse C and E in the near future. Please be sure to check out the end of this article to see how you can get involved!).

“Our airport has given these artists a unique opportunity to further their careers by playing for thousands of passengers while making memorable moments for our guests,” says Jocelyn Alexander, Community Engagement Coordinator, Customer Care.

Passenger feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:

• "Today I had the great pleasure of listening to live music outside of the entry way into Gate A1. The female busker was fantastic and completely changed the energy of having to deal with flight delays."
• "FlyYYC you really upped your game with the live buskers and pre-board pals! Best airport in the world! Well done."
• "Sitting at departures listening to some live music. Great idea! Makes it a calmer environment. Thanks for adding this."

The artists are recruited and scheduled using an online platform called StageHand, where YYC books over 150 slots per month. You can see who’s playing by checking out the events calendar on their website. You can also read about our musicians on our website.

To promote the app and the YYC music program, Stagehand developed a video that shows off our great space for musicians to perform. The video features YYC’s very own Peggy Blacklock and Jocelyn Alexander talking about our music program.

Auditions for Concourse C and E!

We will be asking for interested artists to apply to audition via the stagehand.app. We are looking for a team of five Crew to help us to evaluate the potential musicians in order to narrow down the number we will invite to live audition. The time commitment will depend upon the number of applications received; however, the first call had over 80 artists apply. As part of the selection panel, you will be expected to review all artists’ profiles and vote. We hope to have the selection process complete by April 30.

Should you be interested in this exciting opportunity to grow our music program, please email peggyb@yyc.com by Tuesday, April 23. Should more than five Crew members be interested, we will draw names. Thanks for your interest and let there be music!