‘You’ve Got a Friend’ by Greg & The Optimists
Project Background
The hospitality, conference, meetings and business events industry is all about face-to-face connection. Since Friday, March 13, 2020 – this global industry has been decimated. Hotels across the country and around the globe, empty. Convention Centres, empty. Audio Visual booths, empty. Keynote speakers, musicians, décor professionals, banquet and service team, all out of work. Meeting planners, frantically moving conferences from 2020 into the unknown future. Thousands upon thousands of employees let go…temporarily and now as the weeks have gone on, permanently.
Quick Statistics About The Business Events Industry
Click here for the Meetings Mean Business Stats
In Canada / Globally
- $33 Billion generated through direct spending / $1 Trillion generated through direct spending
- 229,000 direct jobs / 10 million direct jobs
- $19.3 billion direct GDP generated / $621 Billion Direct GDP
- Canada’s business events ranked 6 out of 50 countries in global impact
Despite all of this devastation, a glimmer of light continues to burn amongst a small group of optimistic industry professionals from Ottawa. It started with a flicker of an idea and is now ready to burn brighter. As a group we created, The Friendship Project.
We have recorded a song. A special song originally recorded by Carole King. With written permission from the Carole King Institute, we are sharing this special message with our friends as a group called ‘Greg & The Optimists’. Our industry is still in a very uncertain place however the connection we hold for each other is strong.
Each voice and sound on our track has been created by members of The Friendship Project.
Thank you to the amazingly talented people who said YES to this project and shared their heart as we navigate this very difficult time. We WILL meet again. Until then, just remember in all seasons, wherever you are, ‘You’ve Got A Friend’.
The Friendship Project has partnered with The Boys and Girls Club of Canada. To make direct donations to the children, families and communities nationally, click HERE. Thank you in advance for your kindness.
Credits:
Permission was granted from the Carole King Institute to use Carole King’s song – “You’ve Got A Friend”
Female Vocals (In Order of Appearance)
Jeanna Andre-Murdie, W.E. Travel
Nancy Bradshaw, Tourism Saskatoon
Martha Tobin, Staples Promotional Products Canada
Lesley Musker, Cdn. Assoc.of Defense and Security Industries
Brenda Howes, The Howes Group
Anne Vaillancourt, Friendship Project Collaborator
Disa Cameron, FMAV, aka DRAMAADD1CT (Rap Solo)
Male Vocals
Greg Plazek, Marriott Hotels of Canada; keyboard; vocals
Brent Beatty, FMAV
Shaun Clare, Friendship Project Collaborator
Musicians
Jennifer Beatty, Tourism Calgary, tambourine
Chris Ferris, Encore, bass guitar
Guido Guzzo, Encore; Bed track producer, keyboard
Greg Plazek, Marriott Hotels of Canada, keyboard
Producers
A special thank you to these guys…
Shaun Clare, Friendship Project Collaborator
Kieran Howes, Friendship Project Collaborator
Guido Guzzo, Encore
