Wow. How is it already half-way through August?!
I feel like just yesterday I was packing up  my kit for the ol’ annual cross-Canada tour and now, here I am, having landed back in the land of Kensington Market just last night and already getting prepped and ready to finish off the season with my own hometown festival, TORONTO BUSKERFEST!!

I am exceedingly excited to be home. Touring has been so wonderful, but there really is something to be said about sleeping in one’s own bed. I never thought I would ever get to this place: merely a couple of years before, I was happy to tour all year round. What have I become, people?!

Photo of Kate Mior by Paul Charette, All Rights Reserved 2011

It’s been a great tour, though: the weather in St. John, NB totally held out, Ottawa’s 20th anniversary Buskerfest welcomed me with open arms, and it was an honour and a privilege to be included in the line-up for St. Catharine’s Inaugural Buskerfest. In honour of that, I’ve selected a submission from that particular festival as the “Photo of the Weekend”! Special cheers go out to Paul Charette for his AWESOME shots of Coppelia. Narrowing it down to just one image was a challenge! But, here it is. And, of course, my deepest congratulations to the city of St. Catharine’s for such a great first year of their festival. I had a wonderful time and am amazed at how generous, kind, and enthusiastic the crowds were. Well done, St. Catharine’s, well done!

Speaking of Coppelia… this act becomes more and more exciting for me every day! I finally cut together a youtube video that shows off just a bit of what I can do! In the past, I’ve been reluctant to put out video of my *real* work because of intellectual property issues… I’ve slapped up videos shot of me at cabarets or other things that I didn’t feel would affect me, but, I have always shied away from showing off the stuff I am most proud of… well, while I was away on tour, my prop builder (who built my most excellent wind-up key) discovered a copycat of his design that has originated half-way around the world (he had posted a video documenting our build way back in January/February)! While I am not surprised, I’m still amazed at the power of the internet and how much harder it is to remain cutting edge and creative. But, it’s a good thing, for it keeps artists like me (and my prop builder!) on their toes and raises the bar for everyone! So there ya go. I’ve opened the flood-gates. But hey, at least *I* opened them on my own volition. And I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and learn and develop this act as awesomely as I can–after all, ‘awesome’ the only way I know how to things!

A short and sweet post for this week. I’ve been inspired to try new locations in Toronto to do shows – it’s been great trying out new acts in new places! Nothing is more fun than trying something new to change things up a bit. It also helps combat complacency. This weekend, however, marks my return to Harbourfront in Toronto and I’m super stoked about working my favourite pitch in the city again!

Photo of Kate Mior by Dave Mather, all rights reserved.

Nothing much to report for now except a photo for my weekly feature! This one comes all the way from Dave Mather, sent to me from the Dundas Buskerfest, which, yes, passed two weeks ago (already!!) but, the photo is so darn lovely, I wanted to post it.

You folks are so darn talented!

Summer has begun. And it looks like the weather is starting to get with the program, too! Awesome!

I had a *wonderful* time at the Dundas International Buskerfest this year. It’s always a pleasure to do shows close to home! I’ve spent so much time entertaining people all over the world over the last year or so that I have missed the very people who’s support has gotten me there in the first place.

My weekly update is a bit late, ’tis true. I’m very sorry for that. It’s been a whirlwind of work since the festival and I have totally hit the ground running. I had been dragging my heels with regards to busking prior to the weekend that has just passed, but, all it takes is one great festival to get one started! However, this morning, I’m having a lovely espresso on my awesome balcony patio, enjoying the beautiful morning before I pack my gear to head out to work, so, I figured it was time for an update!

This week I was fortunate enough to have the pleasure of hosing my dear friend James Jordan for a few days after we performed together in Dundas. One of my favourite parts of my job is connecting with old friends on the road. James and I met in China back in 2008, while performing at a clown festival in Nanjing. Aside from having an impressive moustache, James is an expert magician, MC and hat juggler. He taught me my very first hat juggling tricks, in fact! We had a great time hanging out, talking shop and busking together.

Speaking of busking, the season is now in full swing! This year, I’m making a concerted effort to take Coppelia out and show her around Toronto. Last night, I hit Queen W., the old pitch of my dear friend and roommate, Alexander Winfield, (made deservedly-famous by BoingBoing.net). I had a GREAT time working on new material in such a friendly environment. I’ve always avoided working Queen street due to several factors, but, I think I fell in love with it last night. While I am not abandoning my beloved Yonge and Dundas pitch, you should definitely keep an eye out for me on the hip strip this year!

Speaking of busking and speaking of media…. it’s that time again: photo of the weekend!! Now, I was silently stalking Flickr.com and found some amazing photos..however, they were not sent directly to me, so I am unable to put them up since I don’t have expressed permission from the photographers. That said, however, a wonderful local photographer by the name of Pierre Dubeau who I have always seen around Y&D Square sent me a crazy cool shot he took the day I was actually shooting a commercial and *not* busking. Technically, it doesn’t fall under the rules and guidelines for Photo of the Weekend….but this is my website, so, I MAKE THE RULES!! AHAHAHAH!!!

Way to go, Pierre, for making the front page of katemior.com!

So there you have it.  Dundas Buskerfest was awesome! Queen st. W is awesome! The season is upon us! AWESOME!!

This year, however, it’s with a whimper. Sadly, the weather has not been compliant and I’m sitting in my studio with my feet up on my sewing machine, some coffee by my side, good ‘tunes on the playlist and finishing up construction on my sister’s wedding dress instead. Oh well!

Since the summer is waning and drawing to a close, this week’s “Picture of the Week” feature will likely be the last one of the season! I know, I know–don’t cry. I had a TOUGH time making a decision this week because of how many amazing photos came flooding into my inbox. One gentleman actually sent me forty different photos! FORTY!!

Angelina, by Kaiyan Paguyo. All Rights Reserved 2010.

However, a decision had to be made, and I ended up choosing this gorgeously coloured photos by Kaiyan Paguyo. Congrats Kaiyan! And thanks everyone else who submitted photos, I gotta say, the quality in shots I’ve received this year has gotten dramatically better than in years past. Are you all taking evening photography courses or something?!

Speaking of photography, I’m sketching out a GREAT “buskerfest etiquette” post for next week. While I was performing at Toronto Buskerfest, I wrote a series of tweets on my twitter account about what a good audience does at a buskerfest. The folks in the Social Media street team for Buskerfest loved my posts so much they re-tweeted them around! Thanks so much guys. So, please keep a look out for next week’s feature, an etiquette lesson!

Alright, guys, I’m getting back to my morning…er…afternoon coffee, and hunkering down to finish off this dress. Not as glamorous as life on the road and waking up in gutters, but, the payoff will be most excellent.

If you’re local to the Toronto-area, look for me at the Junction Arts Festival, and the Taste of the Kingsway next weekend! If you’re at Ryerson University, I will be doing shows as part of your Frosh Week street festival on Tuesday!

Thank you so, so much to all the awesome and amazing fans in H-town! I met so many wonderful new people, worked with some amazing performers, and reconnected with old friends. I can’t thank that awesome costal town enough for it’s generous hospitality and unabated enthusiasm for buskers. Holy crap, I’ve been spoiled!

Marie Antoinette, Photo by: David Dumont, 2010.

Next up, is the photo of the Weekend from the final weekend of the festival, August 14-15th. This one was tough because I found a few AMAZING shots that weren’t technically emailed to me for the “Photo of the Weekend” feature, which means I am not going to post them, but, I did get some killer awesome submissions, so here is the best shot I found, which, coincidentally happens to be of my other character, Angelina!

Angelina in Halifax, Photo by Adam Cox, 2010.

Alright folks, and now for the upkeep stuff: the season is winding down, but it is set to go out with a bang: this upcoming weekend, it is Scotiabank Toronto Buskerfest! I was booked up last year and unable to perform, and since I had to bow out of the Ferrara Buskerfest in Italy this year, I squeaked into this year unexpectedly. If you are living in Toronto, please come down to the historic St. Lawrence Market from August 26-29th, to bear witness to some amazing street shows!

I will be performing two brand-new installations as well as bringing out some old favourites, including Marie Antoinette Eats Cake! Check my twitter feed for the guerilla show one day during the festival! It’s short and sweet and full of icing!
Talk to you soon, folks!