by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Paul Mathieu

Age: 45

Occupation: Karaoke MC

Bio: This boisterous Gay Village resident had been singing professionally for decades, performing in musicals and working the prestigious North American hotel circuit, before he stumbled into the gig of karaoke MC/bar manager at Club Date on Ste-Catherine E. just a little over 10 years ago. Not only a singer but a tap dancer who could've made the late, great Sammy Davis Jr. green with envy, Paul's Club Date krew regularly kicks ass at karaoke competitions around the city, with Paul's rendition of "New York, New York" said to be nothing less than inspiring. "I love it [work] every night, I'm always happy when I'm on the stage. It's like another world for me."

Why he chose to stop singing professionally: "Huh, I never stopped singing professionally. I've been singing at Club Date for the last 10 years. And last year I made a big show at the National Theatre with eight musicians and guests and it was full."

His musical specialty: "Everything. Broadway show tunes, French tunes, Quebec tunes, every kind of song."

Does he find his work at Club Date to be as professionally satisfying as his previous career as a travelling song and dance man? "Oh yeah, it's very satisfying. I can sing all the songs that I want!"

Something all aspiring karaoke hosts should be aware of: That "it's not easy to be the MC. It is very important that you know every song. And you have to help people to sing, not laugh at them. A lot of MCs are just laughing at people when they sing bad. But what you have to do is help them to sing better, counsel them. Like, if a song is very high for a person's voice, you can make it a key lower, things like that, you know? Because for me, everybody who steps on the stage is like a big star."

Is Club Date a good place to get "discovered"? Apparently. "It's kind of like an institute, a school. You know the new Star Académie? Well, three of my girls, my customers, are in the finals and they always say in interviews that they got their start at Club Date. And lots of stars come here too. Dan Bigras comes, and Daniel Boucher and all the winners from Star Académie were here a couple of weeks ago. A lot of people who started at Club Date are big stars now. Club Date is like a trampoline to show business."

What he generally does on his days off: "I go to my bar to sing."

Childhood ambition: To become an entertainer.

Current ambition: To own a farm on the outskirts of the city.

Last book read: "I don't read."

Is that because he never learned how? No.

Musical preferences: Joe Dassin, Serge Lama, Broadway show tunes.

His three favourite films of all time: La Cage aux Folles 1, 2 and 3.

Words of wisdom: "If you never try then you will never know if you can do it."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca