For over four decades, Sheldon Kagan’s name has been synonymous with Montreal’s entertainment and events planning scene. From his beginnings as a DJ at the tender age of 13, the industrious impresario has been involved in many types of successful projects throughout the years, including concerts, singles bashes, weddings, and bridal exhibitions.

Profile of a Producer
Sheldon Kagan
By Luigi Perrotta
 

Young Sheldon Kagan Stands atop Montreal’s Musical Production Scene in the early 1970s.

Producing a concert is a challenging task that requires meticulous planning, keen negotiating skills, and the courage to proceed with the venture despite the potential for financial loss. A daunting undertaking even for seasoned promoters, fresh-faced Sheldon Kagan began to successfully negotiate deals with high-profile New York talent agents while in his teens.

In 1971, Kagan produced his first major concert, booking musical luminaries Dizzy Gillespie and Gene Krupa at Place des Arts. An unprecedented feat for someone his age, he was the youngest producer to stage a show at the prestigious Montreal landmark.

While still in his early twenties, the burgeoning impresario produced a string of concerts that catapulted him to the top of Montreal’s musical production scene. His shows featured the biggest names in jazz Big Band and pop music, including legends The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Miles Davis, Herbie Mann, Ravi Shankar and Billy Preston.

Previously an anonymous figure to these musical icons, young Kagan lured them to the city by combining industrious research with his keen negotiating abilities. “What I did was learn everything I could about these artists through books and by talking to people in the know. Then I started making contact with the U.S. agencies that represented these performers and made them offers that made financial sense.”

Although confident of his capabilities, Kagan suspected that his youth might be regarded as a barrier to securing gigs, so he negotiated contracts by phone and cleverly deflected all requests for personal meetings - that is until one persistent agent summoned him to the Big Apple. “The next thing I knew I was on a first class flight heading for Kennedy Airport, where a stretch limo was waiting to transport me to the luxurious Waldorf Astoria hotel, where he had booked a room for me. So here I was, this kid from Montreal, walking into the plush New York offices of a major talent agent who represented giants like Buddy Rich and Duke Ellington. When he came out to greet me, I was sure he wanted to say, Hey son, how come your father couldn’t make it. After the meeting, he admitted that he was actually thinking that very thought. We continued to have a solid relationship for many years.”

In 1972, Kagan was faced with a potential nightmare when Buddy Rich suddenly cancelled the day before a sold-out Place des Arts double-bill that included Woody Herman. “The show was on a Sunday, and I got a call from Buddy’s agency in New York on Saturday afternoon telling me that he had slipped a disc while rehearsing for the Johnny Carson Show, and could not perform.

With no time to advise ticket holders via the media or to book a replacement of Rich’s stature through an agency, Kagan faced the prospect of reimbursing 3,000 fans. “I immediately put my assistant on a flight to New York to scour the clubs for a replacement. Luckily, he found George Benson at a Manhattan spot called the Village Vanguard. I got him on the phone and he agreed to perform. Within hours, the guitarist/vocalist was on a plane heading for Montreal for an impromptu concert the next day.”

When Kagan announced the line-up change as people were filing into their seats, less than half chose to seek a refund, allowing him to salvage the show and still turn a profit.
Kagan recalls that Benson performed for a mere $1,500. Today, the accomplished R&B/jazz performer commands $150,000 a night.” People still talk about that show and I still have the original contract,” says Kagan.

Born to Entertain

Kagan first made his mark as an entertainment specialist at 13 when he left school and became a DJ. His clients were so impressed with his professionalism and his ability to animate a crowd, word quickly spread, prompting him to expand his business by hiring other DJs and eventually musicians.

“I realized at a very early age that I was destined to be in entertainment. As a kid, I used to listen to the radio and memorized the four telephone numbers that one station used for giveaway contests. I often predicted which number would be used, enabling me to call instantly to win the latest album or a trip to see the Beatles.”

Kagan Plays Cupid

Later on, Kagan decided to venture into the domain of matchmaking, organizing hugely successful singles bashes at major downtown hotels. Kagan’s resourcefulness allowed him to avert a potential crisis when he booked a New Year’s Eve mixer at the Windsor Hotel during the historical December 31, 1975 hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Soviet Red Army Team.

Attendees were clamoring for the opportunity to view the game while they were mingling. “I set up giant television screens in the Windsor Hotel and on Peel Street. The hotel lobby and the street were jammed with people watching the game. It was quite a scene, he fondly recalls.” Tickets to his singles parties sold like hot cakes. The world will never know how many lasting romances were forged because of Kagan.

The Birth of Sheldon Kagan International

During the remainder of the 70s and into the 80s and 90s, Kagan expanded his event-planning and entertainment services business.

Currently, Sheldon Kagan International is a thriving entertainment firm that provides musicians, DJs, theme décor, and event planning for corporate functions and parties. Kagan and his team manage dozens of top-notch performers and coordinate hundreds of events a year, from conventions to weddings to bar mitzvahs.

Le Salon de la Mariée

Sheldon Kagan International also organizes Le Salon de la Mariée, a bridal exhibition held annually at Montreal’s Palais des congrès. The exhibition connects brides and grooms with exhibitors who showcase their wedding, honeymoon, travel and home décor wares.
Conceived by Kagan in 1980, Le Salon attracted 400 visitors and less than 50 exhibitors in its first year. It gained considerable momentum thereafter when exhibitors realized its tremendous potential. It is now the longest-running bridal exhibition in Quebec and the most recent show attracted over 200 exhibitors and upwards of 15,000 visitors. This year, for the first time, a graduation theme was added, attracting graduating students also looking for dresses, tuxedos, hotels, limousines, florists, hair and make up experts, etc. The 29th edition of Le Salon de la Mariée will be held on February 2 and 3, 2008 at Montreal’s Palais des congrès and will feature a holiday gift and travel section.

The next Salon des Baby Boomers Plus will take place on April 12, 13, 2008 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

All in the Family

The Kagans work together as a family: Sheldon is grooming his son Barry to carry the torch. They work side-by-side as disc jockeys in Canada and organize parties at various resorts in Jamaica. Barry also coordinates the exhibitors at Le Salon de la Mariée and models in the fashion shows. Sheldon’s daughter, Marlene, does double duty assisting in the production of the salon’s fashion shows and participates as a model. Linda, Sheldon’s wife, when not on the tennis court, has a pivotal role in the overall operation of the company.

It’s all about Passion

As a community-minded person, Kagan also donates his company’s services to several charities. Over the years, his company has been supplying free entertainment for the Missing Children’s Network, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, the S.P.C.A., the Montreal Children’s Hospital and others.

“After 40 years in the entertainment business, I still go out and work as a DJ and emcee, not because I have to, but because... I love it!