I'm a public figure. I understand that and I'm thankful for it. What I don't understand is why people contact me to suggest that my nickname "Tim Tam" bothers them. Every now and then when I'm hosting Tonic I identify myself as "Tim Tam" and I'll get emails suggesting that I shouldn't use my nickname. So I wanted to write a short post here at www.timtam.net (!) to provide some context.

When I was a young child... grade one to be precise, I attended my first days of school and almost immediately started to be referred to as "Chink" by one particular school mate. As cruel as that may sound there was nothing I could do about this unfortunate circumstance. It was 1970 in a small town in Alberta. There were no anti-bullying programs even considered at that time. I was on a ride I just couldn't get off of. I sucked it up daily.

In grade five the class I was in had three boys named Tim. As an exercise to keep us "Tims" straight the teacher decided to try distinguishing us by our last initials. As luck would have it all three of us Tims had rhyming last initials... "B", "V" and "T". My teacher said, "Okay, let's go with 'Tim B', 'Tim V' and 'Tim Tam'" and the name stuck. I finally had a nickname that was kind. I embraced it.

I've been known as Tim Tam since 1975. My favorite and most beloved people all call me Tim Tam. So if it slips out during a radio show every now and then please forgive me. I know that my voice is broadcasting into your homes, cars and lives but my intention is to offer my friendship, not to offend.

I've been spending some time with my favorite friends and it's always such a pleasure to be around them. What always strikes me about my pals is how "weird" they are. They don't follow the norms... instead they gallop through life as complete originals and have the fantastic ability to never worry about what anyone else's thinks of them. They are originals, not copies.

Is it brave to be who you truly are? Yes.

Australian palliative nurse Bronnie Ware has spent many hours with people in their final days. She's written a book about the top five wishes of the dying. There were many wishes you might expect: 

• I wish I'd spent more time with my friends
• I wish I hadn't worked so hard
• I wish I had the courage to express my feelings
• I wish I had let myself be happier

But the #1 regret of the dying was:

• I wish I'd had the courage to live my life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. 

Anyone who has spent time visiting this website or any of my friends who I've known throughout my life know that I insist on being "Tim Tam". I'm adamant about it. The risks of not being "me" far outweigh the risks of being what others think I should be. I challenge those who push back. I'm not afraid to stand up for what I believe in... for me. I'm an original not a copy. I'm a different.

You're a different too so be exactly who you are... no regrets. Need some rough directions on how to do that? Here are three suggestions for living a life you'll never regret in your dying days:

1. Always have adventures you're working on. My adventures are travel, experiences, food, experiments, thinking up ideas that will add to the greater good of my community, new friends and learning from my dog. Your adventures will be different so fill your boots.
2. Lead by being positive. Never let negativity take the lead EVER. Everyone is faced with negative people and situations in their life. It's my intention to NEVER allow negative people or experiences control any of my situations. Always challenge negativity by asking the simple question, "Why does it have to be like this?" and challenge every negative to become positive right there on the spot.
3. There is no "perfect" so don't expect perfection. Stop worrying about what others are going to think of you. People care less about what you're wearing, who designed your jacket or how expensive your car is. If you want to wear two different shoes everyday to work because it makes you feel good, then go for it. There again if you want to drive that expensive sports car because it makes you feel good then go for it. Do things that make you as happy as you need to be for you... but never for anyone else. 

Muster up the courage to be exactly who you are, not a copy. It will be the bravest thing you'll ever do and when you're at the end of your spectacular life you'll have no regrets.

Here's to you. You ride me each time we see each other about not updating my blog on a regular basis so this is a short entry to say, "thank you".

You have reminded me that without updates my blog becomes stale. I need your constant reminders to keep my website up to date because without updates this site becomes the very thing that drives me nuts on a daily basis when I visit musicians websites for information only to be met with... the same information that has been there for months and sometimes even... years (gasp)! Updates are an essential strategy for building an online presence. Thank you.

Your reminders, Ken, have pushed me to write this entry where I can share the very exciting news that I am taking on a new role at CBC Radio 2 and on CBCmusic.ca/jazz. Starting on Monday, April 2 I will become the full-time host of Tonic on CBC Radio 2 where I will host each night from Monday - Saturday night from 8-10 PM and Sunday night from 10-11 PM on CBC Radio 1. 

This, Ken, is a role that I take on with relish. I am fortunate enough to have a job where I get to listen to jazz and tell stories about it. This is one of the best jobs in the world and I couldn't be more thankful. Thank you for reminding me that I should tell this story.

So in closing, Ken, please keep egging me on. Your methods are thoughtful and non-abrasive. I really do get a kick out of you egging me on... and remember... revenge is a dish best served cold.

Here's to you (and the extra set of eyes you need for looking behind you... because I could be there... when you least expect it). 

The video below is for you :-)

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue. The best selling jazz album in history (and a great make out album). Photo by Tim Tamashiro at Urban Outfitters, Calgary, Dec. 2, 2011

The greatest thing happened to me this afternoon when I entered a little store that you may have heard of called Urban Outfitters. In this sheik, hip paradise for young urban fashion buyers... I found jazz.

Yes, I found jazz! Amongst the sea of young adolescent and stylish young people wearing toques and tights I found vinyl LPs of A Love Supreme from John Coltrane and Kind of Blue from Miles Davis. A little tiny gleam of hope sparked in my heart that jazz may be finding a new audience.

Urban Outfitters is a shop for the outer edge of cool. Sure it has plenty of plaid for sale and clothing that would never fit or even be appropriate for a guy like me. But in addition to clothing that would look good on my teenage children Urban Outfitters also has a vast array of quirky books, writing supplies, creative supplies, cameras (film cameras no less), strange party accoutrements and mustache kits. It really is a cool place… especially because they also carry to the most iconic jazz recordings in history… on vinyl! How cool is that? Very cool in my opinion.

So for those of you who are new to jazz, like those young people who are shopping at Urban Outfitters, I just wanted to say that this store has jazz right. If you're wanting to get into jazz then a great place to start would be with those 2 iconic recordings from Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Even if you don't have an actual turntable or what we used to call a record player, use some of your iTunes money you get for Christmas this year and by those 2 albums to get you started down the incredibly fascinating world of jazz.

You'll be cooler than the rest of the kids… because you know who "Miles" and "Trane" are. In fact, you might even be cooler for the rest your life just because you own these albums. Jazz is cooler than you think.

Thinking about this fact has brought me to come up with a simple check system that can help the 69% understand jazz better.

There are 3 kinds of jazz:

1. Thinky jazz

This jazz may be challenging to listen to. It may be incredibly clever and difficult to play as well. It has all the hallmarks of ingenuity, dexterity, complexity and virtuosity but may not appeal to an audience outside of jazz musicians or jazz omnivores. In a concert setting, Thinky jazz will required the audience to listen and limit  conversation so that the musicians on stage or on the recording can showcase their extraordinary abilities.

2. Drinky jazz

Drinky jazz is fun/toetapping jazz. It has a celebratory tone to it. Drinky jazz is music that you might associate to nightclubs, martinis, laughter and conversation. It's fun to have this kind of music as part of a party or a night out on the town. This kind of jazz may be the type of experience most dabblers would look for when seeking out a jazz experience.

3. Slinky jazz

Slinky jazz is subdued/quiet jazz. This is the kind of jazzy you may listen to as a part of a quiet dinner party, romantic evening or with candlelight and champagne. Slinky jazz is music that might be associated with background music.

This handy checklist may help the audience understand what kind of jazz they might expect in any live jazz situation.

 The goal of this checklist is to help different audiences understand more about jazz. Jazz musicians and jazz omnivores may be primarily interested in Thinky jazz while the remaining 69% of the jazz audience might be more inclined to take in Drinky jazz and/or Slinky jazz. This is only a theory but I'm certainly willing to bet that the jazz audience is going to better understand what their in store for if this checklist is put into practice.  Go ahead and make up some checklists of your own with these 3 categories and post them at your next gig. The audience will act accordingly.

Above all, the jazz audience needs to grow. Jazz musicians and supporters of jazz need to understand that audience development is the number one priority for the survival of jazz. Without growing the jazz audience it will become increasingly difficult to celebrate or resuscitate this incredible music. There is a lot of joy in the jazz. We just have to embrace the fact that we have to help the rest of the world love it as much as we do.

It should be noted however that jazz artists and jazz omnivores should be wary about criticizing the 69% dabblers. Being critical of a large percentage of the jazz audience may be deterring growth in the jazz audience.  Jazz has the answer to its own predicament... in other words, jazz can solve its own problems.  But how?

Simple. Have it both ways.

Maybe Duke Ellington said it best when he said, “Jazz is music, swing is business.”  The great thing about jazz musicians is that they can do it all. They can play extraordinary and challenging jazz that they enjoy immensely yet they are also extremely well-equipped to perform on a regular basis for the 69% dabblers… if there egos could just get out of their way.

Now... let's see if this checklist idea works. Check out the video below after the checklist:

This tiny little jazz club only has room for 50 people. It sounds small, but has a big reputation. Trip advisor describes it as “Manhattan's most distinguished jazz venue with an addition very uncommon to jazz clubs–great food.”

I like the idea of such an intimate place where you can see the customers eyes. Nothing is better in my opinion than a delicious dinner, fun friends, great wine and an evening of fun jazz. And from what looks like, Smoke jazz and supper club is a place where all that is readily available.

2. Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle, Washington

Look at how beautiful this place is!!

Jazz Alley is a beautiful restaurant jazz club/drinking establishment where legendary jazz artists such as Chick Corea play at. This is a supper club with incredible sightlines, great food, superb sound and a reputation second to none.

I personally love that this club is in Seattle where Quincy Jones and Ray Charles got their start so many years ago. This jazz venue is probably one of the most beautiful performance spaces/eating establishments in the world. In fact, the Seattle Times calls Jazz Alley: “a world-class jazz club where music and food, musicians and audience garnered equal respect.” It's always great to see that the audience is included as part of the reason why a jazz club has earned respect.

3. Body and Soul, Tokyo, Japan

There is a funny little jazz club in Tokyo called Body and Soul. It's been open since 1974 and it looks like a place that is community jazz club that has mostly Japanese jazzers but it looks like they sing in English. It's considered a large jazz club with capacity for around 50 to 75 patrons. I guess in Japan that's big!

Now I've never been to Japan, so don't really know what to expect. I am taking some Japanese lessons out of respect in case I do go to Japan someday (which I will) but all my best jokes are in English… and I wonder how they will translate?

I would say that the Blue Note jazz club in Tokyo would be another place that I would like to play at but let's be realistic… I ain't Blue Note material!

4. Le Baiser Sale, Paris, France

A friend I met in the summer told me up about this place in Paris. He said it's the place to go if you want to go experienced jazz in a relaxed setting in Paris. Sounds good to me! Upon further research I learned that this venue is open all sorts of jazz including world, fusion, experimental and even evenings of jazz standards.

This place looks like somewhere Toulouse-Lautrec would have come out at in Paris. There's neon, wooden chairs and that orangey kind of light that makes everything look warm. Pictures of snazzy/jazzy performers hang on the walls and there's a feeling of history combined with fun. And you know how I am one that comes to combining fun with jazz… the more the better.

5. Pizza Express jazz club, London, England

The 5th place that I would like to play at is a place that might not sound like a jazz venue. It might sound like a local pizza joint… because it is. Pizza Express is a restaurant chain that puts its money where its talent is. On its website, it says: “Pizza Express is been championing a live music on the high street for 40 years with some of the most important live music venues in the country…”

Jamie Cullum got his start ten years ago playing at Pizza Express locations throughout London when he would get paid 50 pounds and a free pizza. Now Jamie is an international jazz superstar, has a record deal and hangs out with Clint Eastwood of all people on a regular basis (Clint is a big jazz fan if you don't didn't already and his son Kyle often plays with Jamie).

Pizza express jazz club in London, England… save a spot for yours truly in the years to come! I'll be there someday soon and how do I know that will happen? Because the difference between a wish and reality is doing the work to achieve it!

But in order for my dad to even consider touching an iPad he had to make a small shift that took him from "I can't use a computer" to "I can use a computer". When you think about it, all he did was get rid of one “t” and that was a beautiful shift for him because now he enjoys his news, games and snooping on the internet every day. It helps him pass the time which is his biggest challenge but the shift from "can't" to "can" was up to him.

My Beautiful Shift

My Beautiful Shift came one day in high school. From that day on, life felt like 20,000 volts of freedom, responsibility, expression and possibilities were passing right through me. It was exhilarating. Each day was met with an endless current of joy and anticipation because there was no possible way I could make a mistake or find defeat. Every moment was just as electric as the next. I was free to do anything. I could be anything. I made the choice to shift.

Choice. The Beautiful Shift is so incredibly simple anyone could do it. The results from the shift were unlike anything you could imagine. It was like getting super powers. It took me from "vicTim" to simply being "Tim". It made me who I am today.

I'm a different. I still feel like everyday has endless potential. It still feels like I can do anything or be anything but now I understand what "anything" means for me. I won't be a CEO of a powerful oil company because it's not who I am. I won't be an entrepreneur or an accountant. I'll never be a millionaire because of an invention I created. I won't even be an international jazz singer because I know that would mean time, energy and commitments away from my family and they are just way too important to me. They are my "why".

So I still get to feel that 20,000 volts of electricity surging through me everyday because I'm a different who is a radio host / jazz singer / ukulele playin' / fingerstache wearin' / lover of lunch / speaker / dog lovin' / dad and husband. Will I change the world? You bet I will.

So, with that in mind, what is The Beautiful Shift and how can you experience it yourself?

Here's your answer:

The Beautiful Shift is the choice you make from "Nobody likes me" to "Nobody's like me". Just move the “s”. It’s that easy but it's a huge shift.

Maybe that’s why the letter “S” is on Superman’s chest?

So here’s to you. You’re going to change the world because when you make The Beautiful Shift you’ll be in great company. For those of you who do experience The Beautiful Shift... this video is for you.

There’s no doubt about it. You’re weird!

That person sitting next to you is weird too. Your spouse... weird. Your kids... weird. If you don’t have kids yet just know that they are going to be really weird. They are going to smell weird sometimes too.

Don’t worry about being weird because everybody is weird. Think about it: weird is really who you are. We all have our own little weirdnesses. I have a fingerstache. I have a friend who licks his dinner plate. My wife likes to hold my feet with her feet when we are in bed. Everybody is weird but doesn’t that make us who we are?

Think about your family and friends. How about your co-workers? They are all really weird when you think about it... but because you’re around them all the time they seem normal don’t they?

You’re weird. He’s weird. She’s weird. That guy on the street you passed on the way to the office is weird (the bum and the banker) and all your neighbors are weird too. So why do we automatically think that weird is bad?

Here’s the thing: the world tells us to fit in. Don’t stand out from the crowd... be part of the crowd. If you don’t draw attention to yourself then you won’t be put in a position to lead. Yes, it’s the REALLY WEIRD ONES that lead so in other words your boss is weirder than you are. Go ahead... tell your boss that they are weird.

Now that you’re back (and you’ve explained yourself to save your job) let’s get back to the question “why is weird such a bad thing?”  

Being weird is part of who everyone is. Chances are your weirdness helps you pay the bills. Yes... your weirdness helps pay your bills. I’m no accountant but I’m thankful that there are those weirdos out there because they help me do things that I’m not geared to do. Garbage men are weird  (thank you for your weird acceptance to pick up my garbage). Engineers are weird (thank you for knowing how to do weird math things so my family and I don’t collapse on that bridge we are driving on). Politicians are weird too (‘nuff said).

But all your little weirdnesses are part of who you are. We like them! Life would be so boring with out you and your weirdness. Your family loves you because of your weirdnesses... and sometimes they hate you for them too but you are who you are... and your weirdy-ness is nobodies problem but yours.

That’s the best thing about being weird: your “weird” is exclusively YOURS. If other people have a problem with you being weird then it’s THEIR PROBLEM, not yours. How cool is that? Nobody else gets to have a say in your weirdness so if anyone else has issues with you then it’s up to them to fix it for themselves because you get to be you... so get over it. The sooner people figure this out the easier life becomes...  for them.

Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Pierre Trudeau, Wayne Gretzky, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Elvis are weirdos too. They don’t conform... they lead. They make the world interesting. So do you.

Everything and everyone is weird. There is no normal. Sure you have a house and a car and clothes and shoes and you read books and have a cell phone and and and... but those don’t make you normal. They make you special. They make you weird. If you like to eat ice cream off a spoon slowly you’re weird. If you like to tuck love notes into strangers pockets then you’re weird. If you play ringette instead of hockey... you’re weird.

Your world is getting exactly what it needs from you being as weird as you are. Your friends, family and co-workers are getting exactly what they need from you... from YOU. Why would you deny them that? I love seeing my friend lick his plate... I can picture it now and it makes me smile. Sure my wife loves to hold my toes with her toes when we lay in bed... that will be one thing that I will miss most about her if she dies before I do... and if I die before her her feet will stay cold and she will think of me.

So embrace the fact that you are weird. Wear your weirdness like a gold medal. You’re weird and that’s exactly what makes you so special.

Bacon is delicious. It's salty and chewy and num-num. I know it's not good for you but... it's really tasty and we need to have more things in our lives to indulge in.

Bacon is the meat that probably best personifies my own philosophy on life. Life should taste good. You should look forward to it. Treats should be welcome and they don't have to be sweet but they should be satisfying.

Life it should be accessible like bacon. Life should be readily available in a wide variety. Surround your life by a range of things to make it better. Peameal, double smoked, pancetta. I know that it would be impossible to live on bacon and bacon alone but it would be fun to try.

But like all things in life consuming too much bacon would probably turn you off. Think about all those lottery winners who ended up worse off than where they were before they won the lottery. Too much of a good thing could be disastrous. In other words, use bacon for good not for evil... and this is evil:

Take pride in your love of bacon. Two pieces of bacon is never enough. Four pieces is too much. Think zen like and have three pieces of bacon... even numbers are bad luck... odd numbers are good luck.

Love life.

Bacon.

p.s. Wanna get some advance tickets for Baconfest and some swell swag? Visit our RocketHub page and make a donation http://rockethub.com/projects/1601-baconfest-canada

Cowgirls didn't look like this before legendary saloon Cowboys came along.

Cowboys meet Playboy. All you need is one simple idea.

Here in Calgary there's a bar called Cowboys that became a legendary saloon because of one simple idea: beautiful young ladies dressed as cowgirls. It's been described as "Playboy meets cowboy" which isn't far from the truth as you can see from the photo above. You have to admire Paul Vickers, the owner of Cowboys, for coming up with this one simple idea. It's made him millions and it's created a reason to visit Calgary.

Cowboys became a legendary bar during the early 1990's when it opened in Calgary during Stampede week. The formula has been emulated and copied ever since in Calgary. The photo above isn't even from Cowboys... it's from a competitor called The Wildhorse Saloon. They took what worked for Cowboys and made it work for them too.

In early March, Paul Vickers announced that Cowboys and the iconic Calgary Stampede will be partners in what will soon be called Cowboys Casino. It's just one more simple idea that made sense for Cowboys, The Calgary Stampede and the thousands of people who will go to Cowboys Casino for "The best time you can have with your boots on".

One simple idea can do amazing things. Take Jay Sorenson for example. Jay invented a very simple contraption back in 1993 that you probably use several times every week. His simple idea solved a problem for millions of people several times a day and is even featured at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). His PATENTED invention is none other than...

The Java Jacket Cup Sleeve.

One simple idea idea. That's all it takes.

Oh... and the balls to pull it off.

What's your one simple idea?