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Miami schmooze by KRISTA Winter Music Conference '99 survival guide: towel, swimsuit, sunglasses, sunblock, business cards, super size bottle of Tylenol, ability to schmooze and look like you really are on the guest list. Once I discovered that, due to general disorganization, I was not going to get a press pass for the meet-and-greet festivities at Miami's Fontainbleu hotel, I had to figure out who I could befriend and convince that I really needed to be poolside. Fortunately for me, almost all of Montreal's club-land elite were in South Beach this past week, and so it didn't take too long to get it all sorted out. The next problem to overcome was figuring out what party to go to and when. Should I go see Daft Punk and Basement Jaxx before or after I check out Derrick Carter or Groovrider, Fabio and DJ Rap? And furthermore, what should I wear? The music conference is just one big long party, that, now that I'm on day six, is fast turning into a few hazy memories of hand shakes and business card exchanges. Montreal was representing like never before. I spotted both the 514 crew and the Stereo kids on several dance-floors, and local labels Bombay and Dune threw together their own event to generate hype for their latest releases. I found Haute Couture's Martin Dumais on a street corner, Fred Everything working the crowds at the pool and Christian Pronovost waxing philosophical about "the scene" with some famous guy I didn't know. Going to the Miami music conference is like being given a taste test of thousands of smatterings of food from world renowned chefs, and right now I'm starting to feel very full. Is there such a thing as too much fun? This Friday, March 19 sees the return of local self-proclaimed scene guru Chris Pronovost to play at Stereo. The infamous owner of Inbeat records has been in London working the distribution tip and hanging out with ex-pat DJ Bettina at her label People. Chris's Stereo appearance this weekend is to celebrate the launch of his own label/movement, Lost Heroes, which will feature special projects involving other artists he respects and wants to collaborate with. The concept behind Lost Heroes is to give new life to forgotten bits of music and people, "because fresh, new and young is very overrated," as Chris puts it. In other words, it's not about holding onto the past, but about putting a bit of that old feeling right back in. A few more notes before I get on the plane. Wednesday, March 31 Ottawa's Trevor Walker will play at Tokyo for Progress with Mateo and myself. Four clams at the door. Friday, March 26 London's super DJ Paul Oakenfold plays at Sona, and San Francisco's super DJ John Howard plays at Stereo. 20 clams each.
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