The first time that I stepped inside BondSt, I genuinely fell in love with the venue. It reminded me of a place I have called home for so long, and of the feeling it provokes within its walls. A place where the client is able to experience various spaces in one evening, each one with its own blueprint to afford a thriving breathing entity. That said, Nick, thank you for agreeing to our interview. Let’s get started!
RMMW: Your path from a BA in political science and government to owning a venue has had a lot of twists and turns. How did that transition happen?
ND: I was very lucky to go to the US, specifically the University of Delaware which has this amazing political science programme. I was interested in politics and studying law; ironically became a DJ! I believe at that age, it is tough to know exactly what it is that you want to do. I was interested in a major that was versatile enough which offered me various options to mature, to allow me, to find my passion in music industry. This prompted the opening of my production company on campus; from there, I gained the experience as a DJ/Performer. I was lucky enough to work in the States and to build a name for myself and develop my skills. I took this experience back home where I started working and found representation in Toronto. SHOUT-OUT TO BELLOSOUND!
RMMW: WOW! That is definitely a multitude of not only locations but also job experience that has brought you to where you are now. I appreciate how you honour your origin. This now makes me curious; regardless of the job, we all, at times, have an inner critic. How do you contend with yours?
ND: We all have our doubts and insecurities; I have been able to find confidence in being a hard worker. I feel that you must pay your dues and surround yourself with people who are smarter and better than you to be able to grow and do what you want. Things do not happen overnight, you have to work hard and believe in yourself, and be persistent. You have to be tough, and hard work is tough. I feel that is the best way to be successful, get noticed and achieve your goals.
Hard work is only the first step, I feel like you also need a moral compass that will guide you in tough times to make the right decisions. I would like to prove that nice guys do not always finish last; especially in business. When I thought I was not smart or talented enough, I would just try to be a good person and work hard; and, let Karma do its thing.
RMMW: That is quite valid, as an owner and the boss, you are responsible for an entire staff and leading by example is one of the best things that can be done. I highly recommend you name your inner critic. I named mine Tabitha, and I tell her to be quiet a lot of the time. I researched the various employment posts you’ve had, from professional athlete to project manager to contractor, then venue owner. My research led to a quote which shared that you are “a versatile athlete across several leagues”, which highlights adaptability. Do you find that you use the durable skill of adaptability a lot as a venue owner? If yes, what are some examples?
ND: Yes, you have to adapt especially in this industry, it is constantly evolving. BondSt is an inclusive space, where we want to provide services and experiences that cater to all demographics in our diverse city. You don’t quite know what people want until you try, and we’ve dealt with a lot of trial and error to make sure that our clients are served to the best of our ability. Adaptability is a team effort, placing talented people around you and encouraging them to bring ideas to the table is a great example of how we operate at BondSt, and how we would like to achieve success. The way that we interact with each other is important, I want everyone who works at BondSt to feel like they matter and their voice will be heard. That way we create a culture where everyone has each others backs and are able to adapt easily in good times and bad.
RMMW: To be completely honest with you, a lot of that resonates with me. My preferred state is everything at once, all the time. I don’t get how to be good at just one thing. Being able to work through things regardless of it being your specialty, adaptability is one of the most insanely amazing skillsets because the fires keep coming and you have to put them out as best as you can. Running a venue is a non-stop job that at times requires 24/7 attention. How do you decompress at the end of the day from that level of pressure?
ND: I don’t!
RMMW: Oh my God! Nick, that is horrible!
ND: My wife and daughters keep me grounded, and give me strength! I’m doing this for them and want them to be proud of their dad one day. And that is all I care about. I know it’s not healthy to not decompress and make time for myself; but I know what I signed up for and I feel blessed to have this opportunity. Thank God, I have a great team to do it with; and an amazing community to do it for.
RMMW: It really is quite remarkable how having someone on our side when the days are long and unforgiving can genuinely help keep one’s head straight. This industry is incredibly unforgiving, unkind, and self-indulgent. At the end of the day, having someone who is in your corner is all that matters. Now that we have established your previous work history, is there a tool or skill you have now that you would have found helpful when you first opened BondSt? If yes, what is it?
ND: A skill that I have now that I did not have at the beginning? Hmm.
RMMW: Yes.
ND: To be able to trust the process, this has been such a humbling experience; I feel like at the beginning I needed to show strength by not showing my weaknesses. At times, I didn’t know what I was doing and felt like I could not express that. Everyone needs support, you will fall down, and it is ok if someone else picks you up. By being more vulnerable, I have learned to delegate and allow others to at times take the reigns which is something that would have been harder for me in the beginning. It is tough to trust people in business, and I understand, people can screw you over.
RMMW: Oh, they can screw you over BIGTIME!
ND: But if you do not give people a chance you will not know the feeling of being in the trenches with someone and experiencing the comradery that comes with it.
RMMW: I think that humility and lack of responsibility truly elude many individuals on this planet. Accountability is essential to survive as a leader; you need to be able to not be above anyone, especially when mistakes are made, there is no room for ego… The first thing we learned about last September was that the music industry is an ecosystem, with many interconnected sections that come together for the greater good. Much like the music industry, BondSt has its own ecosystem. Can you please elaborate on all the components that create the specific infrastructure?
ND: We put a lot of work into creating the building as it is today, to offer a room for any artist, especially a place like twotwotwo, where you can incubate local talent and eventually graduate to the main stage. That was very much part of the plan. The ecosystem is about understanding our industry and what we should focus on with regard to what the space offers.
When people book a show, they’re planning an entire experience. Having the restaurant to service that demand was also part of the plan. Every room in here was structured in a way that maximises each space and the opportunity within the space. Not closing the hallway off means that when we have a closed-off show, there’s another bar to offer. The Cafe, in that smaller space, serves a purpose too. An entertainment center normally wouldn’t think about having a coffee shop, but we can offer coffee to artists, not just food, when they’re booking.
Just knowing that the doors of Bondst are open, someone can come in for the first time under an open-door policy, enjoy a coffee, and potentially ask for a tour of the place. Making people understand that the building has multiple venues, that complement each other, helps makes sure there’s a certain capacity, with a customizable space where people can cater to their vision and make it special for whatever event they want to host here.
RMMW: In this day and age, it is so important to make the most of what an organisation can offer, especially a venue, as you said in the previous question, having those sections work separately and symbiotically offers a narrative for a one-stop shop. Now, why was it important to create a multifunctional space within BondSt?
ND: It was important because I honestly wanted to bring something, through my experience, to my hometown that the city needed, and hopefully something the city could be proud of. Creating jobs and doing things differently was important to us. As we know, Oshawa has a high turnover rate with buildings being built and then coming down. Creating something different was going to be a catalyst for sustainability.
There’s the classic saying about insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
RMMW: Yes, just looked it up, it was Einstein: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
ND: We wanted to try something different and new, something people would want to be a part of and work at. Hopefully, that would mean the difference in giving something a real chance to succeed.
RMMW: Conceptual out-of-the-box thinking is something that holds steadfast to a philosophy that marinates in wanting to honour the history of disparaged thoughts of a location, and harnessing the capacity to be the antecedent to allow it to thrive. That was something that you also did with the preexisting structure during the renovations. Tell me a little bit about the physical structure of the building, and what specific changes were made when renovations began in 2020? What preexisting elements did you decide to keep and why?
ND: We wanted to, pay homage to what this building was, as the previous CAW Hall. We met with one of the past presidents, who shared the importance that the terrazzo flooring had played when it was first laid, and decided to not only keep that aspect of the preexisting infrastructure but also the beautiful red brick façade, the stage, and the overall character of the building.
We focused on keeping the bones of the place that meant so much to people, and not renovating it in a way that felt foreign. The goal was never to take the character away from the building, but to bring the building back to life. HVAC, electrical, and plumbing were all upgraded, bringing the amenities up to code.
We not only wanted to pay homage to the building being the old Laser Quest and Dungeon; but, also to its origins as a union hall for the GM Autoworkers Union, Local 222, and naming it BondSt. Beyond that we wanted to showcase local artists which was made possible by Mikki Simeunovich a local photographer, featuring images of local artists in Oshawa that were taken during the tough times of COVID now hung up proudly on our walls.
ND: Steven Frank also provided us with posters that show and pay tribute to all of the clubs that existed in Oshawa back in the day. Which reinforces the rich history of Oshawa with an acknowledgement for us to continue the scene that started all those years ago.
Hopefully this serves the purpose to show people Oshawa’s proud history and provides and a talking point to be more positive about Oshawa. I hate when people talk negatively about our community, my family has been here for three generations, and I want to follow in that tradition. My grandfather came over as an immigrant and chose Oshawa to raise his family, and do business. All this would not be possible without him, now I am fortunate to work with my mom Antonella, and bother Stefan and try to continue to contribute to the community like my grandfather would have wanted in downtown Oshawa.
RMMW: Ok, that narrative seriously reminds me of all the old 80s & 90s films about being from the wrong side of the tracks. I would find that equally frustrating because it doesn’t matter where you are from, the character of a human and how they align themselves should speak louder than any geographical location! Now, I know personally, from booking venues, that there are times when you get that unusual booking. That said, what was the most unusual booking you’ve had since you opened?
ND: BA Johnson.
RMMW: Why?
ND: Because he was, in all the best ways, crazy! This man was so raw in his art that he was interacting with the crowd, and ended up performing on a car outside, went behind the bar, and was very different in a very good way. It was an interesting moment. Shout out to Pork Belly, he was the one who booked it.
RMMW: I love that story, that must have been a fun experience yet logistical nightmare! We live in a very difficult time for original live music and the survival of venues. What do you think is the main skillset one needs to have when booking and running a venue, especially concerning last-minute cancellations or potential complaints?
ND: People want to be entertained and enjoy live music and the vibrations of being out in a public space. Not only crafting a versatile space, but also understanding where the industry is going, being creative, and setting trends, is easier said than done. At the end of the day what we really want to deliver is great service; our staff is what we are most proud about and what we are complemented on the most, especially our team leader Heather.
RMMW: (I’d like to interrupt this interview to add a sidenote; I agree with Nick, the staff and BondSt are incredible, we were so well received during Oshawa Music Week! Shout out to Heather, for having that conversation with me at the end of a long day in front of the twotwotwo entrance. It was most appreciated! Now back to my interview with Nick.)
ND: How do music venues survive? By being versatile, understanding where the music industry is heading, being resourceful, and putting great people behind you. Not micromanaging, but allowing your employees to grow and bring their best to work. It would create a chaotic space if people were not kept in check, in terms of ideas and involvement. The businesses that do the best are those that have great teams.
RMMW: Funny that you should mention that. I was having a conversation with one of my best friends a few weeks ago, about how we should all want to work with people who are better than us, who push us in all the best possible ways, for us to reach our potential, not just as individuals but as industry professionals. A lot of time, money, frustration, mirth, and joy went into creating BondSt. At the end of the day, what do you want it to be known for?
ND: Great service, cool place to work and to be, an inclusive, and safe place. The ultimate goal for BondSt is an experience of art, music, and celebrations at all times. The end goal is creating a generational business for downtown Oshawa, automatically ingrained in the entity and providing the points I made earlier. A place for generations to come. Those are the businesses that interest me the most, the ones that stand the test of time, because they define the community.
Not only for us, but for intergenerational exposure. It might be a pretty brazen thing to say, but I want to build something for everyone to enjoy for years. And on a smaller note, I want people to be proud to work here, with a business and workplace culture that people are excited about.
Number one passion: people being excited to come to work and sharing it with their friends and family. It is interesting to see businesses that spend money on these things, like cool companies that invest in employee perks. Regardless of what product you are selling, you are going to be successful if the vibe is right. When people go into a restaurant and see the bartender’s face, that positive energy is infectious.
RMMW: You are so right, positive energy is beyond infectious, smiles always induce laughter and more smiles. I have seen it time and time again. Now, for my penultimate question, is there anything we did not cover in this interview that you would like to mention before my final question?
ND: I do not think we did not cover anything. I think we covered everything. Thank you for doing this. It has been a pleasure talking to you. Love what you’re doing, and I want to learn more.
RMMW: You are so very welcome, and thank you for that. One of my favourite things about doing interviews is not only understanding the professional aspects of business but also understanding one’s humanity and purpose. I honestly appreciate your candour and speaking with me today. Now, for my staple interview question, if you had a superpower, what would it be?
ND: Photographic memory. Because I feel like I meet so many people by the nature of this business, I feel bad when I don’t remember their names. I wish I had that skill because I appreciate everyone who comes in here. I want to learn about them and get to know them. With a photographic memory, you only live once to remember these moments. Being able to read a book and not having to read it a second time. And the social element of wanting to remember everyone’s names through memories. And not being a dick! I hate not remembering situations, and I want to be able to remember by honouring the people that I meet and understanding them. It is an important skill in this industry and this business, and I am trying to be better at that.
RMMW: A photographic memory would indeed be cool and an asset to mitigate potentially awkward moments of forgetting one’s name.
For more information about BondSt and what the ecosystem has to offer, please check out https://www.bondst.ca/. The staff is friendly and kind, and it has something for everyone.
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