I had a pretty interesting Sunday. I ended up in a production studio promoting an English teacher from India.

While I was walking home from my performance at English Bay on Canada Day a man stopped me. He asked me if I wanted exposure and to be on T.V. Of course I told him YES and handed him my business card.

He ended up calling me back and asking me to meet him in Surrey on Sunday to talk about an idea he has. Then he told me how he was a professor and that he had friends in the production industry.

Once I arrived at his home, he introduced me to his new English learning CD. On the CD are songs like, “Past, Present, Future”. He played me the song he wants in his next commercial.
- Sunjay cleaned his room. Sunjay is cleaning his room. Sunjay is going to clean his room.

Next thing you know, I am in his car with him and his sons dancing to remixed 50 cent songs. We arrive at the studio and he tells me what to say. “Prof. Avtar S. Virdi is a good English Teacher. Today we are going to work on Past, Present and Future tense. I love it! Ready?” After 2 takes, we are finished. He drives me back to my car and explains to me that this Punjabi station is channel 118 and is nation wide. Then he asks me if I want to do this every Sunday.

I decided I’ll try it again, next time being prepared and having my name on my shirt so that I can become big in the punjabi community.

A few visitors from California were down at English Bay the day I was threatened and given tickets by the police. Nina actually captured part of the encounter on her digital camera and then sent it to me. Thank you so much Nina. Check out the video:

So after this happened I got worried. How can I continue to spread smiles and dance at English Bay with authorities like this? I had to fight back the only way possible, through dance/protest, lol. I quickly organized a Spandy Rally at English Bay and mobilized the troops.

The cops showed up a couple hours into the protest. They were welcomed with a loud Spandy chant. I had never seen these cops before. They asked me for my permit. After grabbing my permit from my bag and handing it to the cops, they read one of the rules on the back which states I must move my show every 60 minutes. I asked if I could move to another part of English Bay and they said, “YES!”.

The team packed up our stuff and moved down the path and continued the show. I am happy with that. Still interesting that I have to move down the bay, but if that is all I have to do, that is perfect. No tickets, no park rangers, no problems.

Thank you so much everyone who came out and to all my supporters. I am going to continue to perform at English Bay now that the cops confirmed it’s ok, as long as I move every 60 minutes.

As for the tickets… I’ll see you in court.

The people have the power,
SpandyAndy

Time: 12:00pm – when ever you would like.
Location: English Bay – Corner of Denman and Davie St.
- 20 meters left of the main entrance (walking towards bathrooms)
Dress code: TIGHT and BRIGHT is welcome
Event Style: Robotic
Mission: Have a great time @ English Bay enjoying the sun while spreading smiles & joy!
Who is coming?: The fans! – Thanks to all fans, I feel the <3
Sun: SPF 70, it should be a nice one!

See you at the bay,
SpandyAndy

Today I drove over to English Bay to perform. I ended up leaving with 3 tickets.

The hotdog vendor is a big fan of SpandyAndy and always supports me. He offers me free drinks when ever I need and lets me park my bike near his stand promising to keep an I on it. I parked my scooter there as usual and headed down to the beach.

Once I got down to the beach I had an amazing show. I had a group of people dancing with me and many coming up to thank me for brightening up there day. Even this cute little girl wanted to come show me her toys.

Near the end of the show a few people ran over and told me my scooter was getting towed. I had some people that were watching the show take care of the boombox and I ran up to the scooter. The tow truck driver told me I can’t park there and the scooter had a parking ticket. That was ok, if I pay the ticket within a couple weeks it was only $50 and I learnt my lesson.

As I finished packing up several people wanted photos with the scooter. They didn’t know I had one. So I stopped and posed for a bunch of people. As I started walking back up to the road a cop was coming down with the rangers. I told him I was leaving and no worries. That wasn’t good enough. I could tell the rangers were on power trips again and asked my friend to snap photos.

The cop started telling me he was giving me a ticket for having my scooter parked on the side walk. I told him it wasn’t even on the side walk till I started walking out and he stopped me. Then he told me it wasn’t aloud down on the beach and I told him, I understand, I just received a ticket for parking it on the sidewalk and I was grabbing my stuff. He didn’t care. He had no reasons or anything and continued to start with the ticket. People started walking over and giving me money right in front of the cops.

I started talking about how the Vancouver Police were such heros writing SpandyAndy a ticket. Then he told me to pipe down or he would charge me with something else. I walk over to him and he tells me that he can be a dick if he wants and charge me with trespassing and have me arrested next time I’m down there.

That is when I confirmed with him I had the right to remain silent and started doing the robot. He decided to write me 2 tickets on top of my first. He gave me a noise violation, noise wasn’t loud when he arrived. And he gave me a “Parking on Sidewalk” which I already had a ticket for, but that was a different sidewalk AND I wasn’t parked on the sidewalk.

All in all they have no reason to write me more tickets. I told them I learnt my lesson and the scooter won’t be back down here. I’m really upset about this. I had people all day thanking me for being there and SO many smiles. Now I’m scared to go out and perform. I’m not even sure what the total $$$ is on these tickets, but I’m sure I’ll find out in the mail.

I was treated like a problem. SpandyAndy isn’t welcome at English Bay. A tourist spot where Vancouver could display its diversity and acceptance of all. I guess that isn’t at all what this city is about…

Colgate is looking for Canada’s Freshest Dancer! We all know that SpandyAndy puts the MINT in entertainment, and that’s FRESH! So I had to enter the competition.

You can see my entry by visiting:
http://colgate.staging.projects.fm/entry/1341010
Please vote!

If you have the time, you can vote once a day.
They just started the competition and there are 30 days left.

Thanks again for your support,
SpandyAndy

Due to funky legalities I had to delete my last post.

I was just informed the Georgia Straight is having a Best of Vancouver 2009 vote on there website. One thing they are asking under the Culture category is for the Best Local Dancer! If you have a moment to vote your 25 bests of Vancouver, please vote!
http://www.straight.com/bov

Thanks!
SpandyAndy

Spandy had a busy day Saturday and Scoody was in on the action.

Dancing at Lululemon in my new Lulu shorts was awesome. Everyone in the store was decked out in neon. SpandyAndy actually fit in! Haha. While I was rocking out in front of the store, someone hit Scoody. I was right there and glided over. It was the guys stag and I think he was a bit tipsy. We ended up compromising at $40 and a picture. It actually worked out pretty well cause the glue only cost me $10.

Check out this video from that day.

SpandyAndy – MJ at Lululemon

(I love the talking in the background haha)

Then I went for a cruise past English Bay with my beats and people started cheering. I turned around and pulled Scoody up onto the sidewalk to take a look. The hotdog vender ran over to me and told me to get performing. Then he offered me a free drink and to watch my ride any time I wanted. A magician just finished his show and a freestyler was performing a little ways away. They all had amplification and blocked the path. I set my boombox down and started the show. I gathered a good crowd. English Bay is the BEST!! In the middle of my performance what Vy calls “Punjabi Michael” shows up. He does an interesting move with my shades.

SpandyAndy Vs. Punjabi Micheal

On my way home, my seat fell off. I am now using bungee cables to hold it on lol.
Stay tight and bright,
SpandyAndy