When I moved to Toronto last year to attend university, I thought I’d be taking a step back from music. Little did I know that I was walking into a world of music, friendship, and creativity.
As I arrived with my parents during the first week of September, I didn’t know anyone. Over my first month at Vic, I looked for ways to get involved in the community. I spent hours on my computer, looking at clubs and trying to decide which ones I wanted to join. At first, Vic Records seemed like it was very exclusive and full of incredibly talented individuals—the latter of which is true. I was worried that I would have no place being part of a music club; I mean, I couldn’t even remember how to play any instruments (I do now).
My first Vic Records event was one of the most nerve-wracking moments of my life. During Orientation Week, Vic Records collaborated with the Orientation team to run a “Vic’s Got Talent” Open Mic Night. I wanted to perform, but I had nothing prepared, so I decided against signing up. My decision held fast until one of my friends, who was behind the scenes running the event, messaged me and forced me to perform before the end of the night. So, backed into a corner, I chose to sing an original song that I had written the previous summer and had never performed in front of anyone—let alone 150 strangers. Putting myself out there and performing that night showed me how much I needed to keep music in my life, and it also marked the beginning of my involvement with Vic Records.
Being elected as President of Vic Records has taught me a lot. Over the course of the past year, I went from being brand new to this club and university to being placed into a leadership position. Now, my fellow First-Year Representatives from last year and I have been put in charge of a club that we have never run in-person.
This is a new experience for many of us, but it’s definitely a good one. We have the opportunity to shape this club into something new, something bigger, and something better. Our hope is to bring the community we found through Vic Records during our first year to a brand new set of faces. That is why this year, we are expanding. We will be holding more events such as monthly Open Mic Nights, Music Panels, and hopefully, many in-person events (pending pandemic restrictions).
We can’t wait to see you all at our events this year. We are super excited to be back, so come out and showcase your incredible talent. We’d be thrilled to meet you!
Make sure to follow our Instagram @vicrecords and sign up on the general member form linked in our bio so that you don’t miss out on upcoming events.
