If sparks fly tonight, I have to confess I have no idea where they may originate from.
Looking over the agenda of tonight’s Renfrew Town Council meeting, the content suggests a pro forma meeting where nothing terribly contentious seems to be on tap.
But one can never be certain, right? Complacency is not something that I’d recommend, since it was only two weeks ago where I was fighting off sleep only to have a hockey fight break out. Not that we approached anything you might see in the parliaments of places like Taiwan or Turkey or elsewhere where the gloves hit the ice and otherwise dignified parliamentarians clamber over furniture to get at their rivals, but still, you just never know if someone in the room has a motion hidden in their back pocket that they may brandish as a way to get some juice into the YouTube livestream broadcast.
My YouTube spotter informed me that there were over 300 people watching at one point last meeting, which is more people than simultaneously listen to Renfrew’s only radio station, something advertisers should take note of.
When we get to the point where we can sell ads on a municipal YouTube livestream, then we’ve really accomplished something of substance. Additional scrutiny of those viewing metrics show that additional people watched the video after-the-fact, which is really something, and hopefully not an indictment of what’s on television on a Tuesday night.
Also, there was once a time, not long ago, where I’d be the only guy in the gallery, where I could stretch out, get comfortable, and prop myself into position where my head doesn’t sag when I fall asleep wth my eyes open, which is kinda creepy, but a skill acquired after attending more meetings than I care to remember listening to hot air and gas being expelled by people who like to talk but really say nothing. And by the way, I’m not suggesting that this is the case here in Renfrew with our Council meetings.
But now, when I walk in, and once maybe had the choice of seats and viewing angles, I’m met with opposition in the form of people who are willing to come out on a Tuesday evening and glare at their locally elected officials. Their choice of seats for themselves will dictate where I sit, making the choice for me, but robbing me of the luxury of being the only person there.
And I’m damned-well not ready to show up purposely early for a council meeting just to get preferred seating. Like, we’re just not there yet. But the trend is disturbing. Will there ever come a day when I get out of my car only to see an Apple Store type lineup like they get on the days they’re releasing a new version of the same phone? If so, that will be the day I need to have a serious sit-down with myself to examine life priorities.
So what’s changed?
I noticed that, because of folks taking my chairs, the back of my head is more visible on the YouTube broadcast, which isn’t all that bad because, well, I’ve got some great hair. But still, my hair isn’t enough on its own to explain the increase in viewership. It does, however, possibly entitle me to a name plate like the others in the room, given that I’m a constant at these meetings and am currently nursing an Iron Man streak of perfect attendance over the course of the past four months.
I have an Apple Watch, which means I get messages and all sorts of things delivered to my wrist, including the time. It’s to the point where somebody watching the YouTube feed chastised me for always looking at my watch, which they could see on the broadcast.
“You got someplace you gotta be? Quit looking at your watch! If you can’t handle the length of the meeting, don’t go.”
Or “stop being such a prima donna! Stop looking at your watch like you’ve got someplace to go. Nobody’s that important!”
And this one, from a person in North Bay.
“Since when did you get a watch?”
It’s pretty bad when the freaking spectators are being criticized by the viewing audience. It’s also pretty interesting that somebody in North Bay would be taking time out of their life to watch a Renfrew municipal council meeting.
I’ll be acutely watching the numbers for tonight, because there’s no way 300 plus people are going to be tuning in for another run of the bulls. But there was no reason for them to turn up for the last one either. Nevertheless, I’m a big numbers analyst so deriving meaning of any sort is a cool kind of thing, even if the “meaning” I come up with isn’t anywhere close to being accurate.
In the interests of scientific validity, I plan on taking a seat to the other side of the gallery, out of camera range and somewhere aft of Councillor Andrew Dick, which will put me directly in the line of fire should anyone on the other side consider launching a projectile attack on the councillor. Bobbing and weaving and head fakes ought to be enough to keep me awake, and if not, perhaps projectiles missing the councillor may do the trick.
You never really know with this group. Given my past coverage, those projectiles could be meant for me all along.
NEWSMAGRENFREW 