Music lovers in Timmins get a treat each summer during the much anticipated and free-for-all Summer Concert Series, but people may not realize how much work goes on behind the scenes, even in the winter months.
Peter Lawryniw, owner of DJTAZ, is now the man behind the music at the Summer Concert Series.
In late 2016, the previous sound and backline production company that managed the Summer Concert Series stepped away from the role.
With the popular community event in jeopardy, Tourism Timmins approached Lawryniw requesting his assistance.
“When it was offered to me, I was told if I turned it down that would be the end of the concert series,” says Lawryniw.
The Summer Concert Series is a free concert series organized by Tourism Timmins and held every summer in Hollinger Park on Wednesdays and Bannerman Park every other Thursday. It features local musical talent in a variety of genres.
“Peter’s role is to coordinate the overall production of the Summer Concert Series from helping to shortlist/confirm bands, to providing sound, backline (instruments, monitors, mics), sound checks and techs,” says Manager of Tourism Timmins Guy Lamarche.
Lamarche estimates Lawryniw’s contribution at $20,000, but Lawryniw’s calculations come in at a little over $24,000 for in-kind equipment rentals and services.
Either way, it’s a big cost saving for the City of Timmins, which runs the event every summer free of charge and open to the public.
“Peter donates this to the Summer Concert Series,” says Lamarche. “Because of this generous donation, the series continues to be revenue neutral to the city.”
Various other corporate sponsors donate money to pay the performers or donate in-kind advertising to promote the event.
So what motivates this local businessman to donate over $20,000 worth of his services to the series?
Lawryniw says his motivations for offering these services are two-fold.
“Living in a town with a huge amount of local talent and very little opportunity for them to perform, combined with my lifelong passion for all things musical,” Lawryniw says. “I accepted the offer so Timmins would continue to have this platform for them.”
Lawryniw says his passion for music plays a big part in his success, particularly when interacting with the musicians.
“It is important to have someone in this position with the same kind of drive and passion for music that I have,” says Lawryniw. “You have to be able to accommodate lots of different musicians and whatever needs they have to perform. If you don’t share that passion with them, those relationships can sour quickly.”
Lawryniw doesn’t do it all alone.
"My company donates an entire stage setup every week, as well as the necessary manpower to operate the equipment and setup/teardown,” Lawryniw says. “We also donate the use of our drums, guitar and bass amps and all necessary equipment for a band to perform. This is normally three employees who are all volunteering their time including myself.”
Lawryniw says he had the help of Julie Cyr, Heather Mayer, Justice Gagnon and Ricky Dupuis in 2017.
Dupuis says that even though there were a lot of late nights involved, he enjoyed his time working on the Summer Concert Series in 2017.
“The experience was and is amazing,” says Dupuis. “Being a musician, I understand what it takes to put on a show.”
Dupuis, who has known Lawryniw since high school, also added that Lawryniw has a long-standing commitment to making his community a better place.
“Peter has a great love for music and entertaining, and ever since I met him he always wanted to do things for his community.”
For Lawryniw, his community service boils down to a simple motto: “Everyone has to support the things they are passionate about, or else they probably wouldn’t happen.”
