About

Hi there. My name is Dave Cool. In case you’re wondering, yes, that’s my real name. I once made a film called “What is INDIE? A look into the World of Independent Musicians” which documented the experience of being an indie artist in the music industry. It featured 20 artists and a few leading experts in the music industry, like Derek Sivers (formerly of CD Baby) and Panos Panay (Sonicbids). I paid for the film using my credit cards (don’t ever do that), it screened all over the world, and was picked up by the National Film Board of Canada for distribution. And one day while I was about to go do my laundry, CNN called to interview me. That was kind of crazy.

These days I’m the Community Manager for Bandzoogle (lots of blogging + social media), a great website platform for musicians. It’s a Montreal based company that was founded by musicians, and has been successful and growing for 8 years now. I also manage a band called Irreverend James and the Critical Mass Choir, a secular, rabble-rousing, queer-friendly, feminist, subversive gospel music band.

In 2010 I served as the Director of Member Services for the Canadian Independent Recording Artists’ Association (CIRAA), helping them to launch the Groundbreaker Grant Program. For the better part of a year, I essentially got to give away over $2000 to indie artists from across Canada every month. I’m not gonna lie, it was a good gig.

From 2007-2010, I worked as Program Director for the St-Ambroise Centre and St-Ambroise Terrace. I programmed over 500 events during my time there, and helped give away over $15,000 to indie artists through bursary programs. It was good times.

I also co-wrote a guide for singer-songwriters called “Your Successful CD Release” with my friend and mentor, Peter Spellman, Director of Career Development at the Berklee College of Music. I was a huge fan of Peter’s books for many years, so to write one with him was a huge honour.

Before that, I ran a record label, recorded and produced bands in my parent’s basement, played in various rock/punk/hardcore bands in the Montreal music scene, signed a few record deals, and played hundreds of shows, most before I was legally allowed to be in the venues. But it all started when my Dad trained me like a monkey to play the drums when I was 5 years old because he needed a drummer for his rock n’ roll cover band, and I haven’t stopped loving music since then.

Media Interviews

The following media outlets thought I knew some stuff, so they interviewed me:

CNN, Newsweek, CTV, CKUT, CBC Radio, CISM, CIBL Radio, Indiecan radio

Public Speaking

I’ve also had the honour to speak at the following Music Conferences and Institutions:

Canadian Music Week, Pop Montreal, Folk Alliance, Nemo Music Festival, Dfest, Ontario Council of Folk Festivals, Salon de la Musique Indépendante de Montréal (SMIM), National Film Board of Canada, Trebas Institute, YES Montreal, Concordia University