library Shows!

From Conductor to Kids’ Entertainer

“We were delighted to have Mr. Eric perform at our local library. He engaged wonderfully with the audience and had everyone moving and singing along to his lively tunes!  Although geared for young children, he quickly had the tweens at ease and ready to join in the fun. We will gladly welcome him back if the opportunity arises!”

  • Reta Marchan, Librarian, Elrose Public Library, Elrose, Saskatchewan

Eric’s library concerts enrich and entertain students of all ages, teaching students skills including:

  • ​Rhythm

  • ​Rhyming

  • ​Performing

  • ​Singing

  • ​Improved Vocabulary

  • ​Writing

  • ​Movement

  • ​Ice Cream Eating

  • ​Banana Phone Communications

Mr. Eric's Musical Adventures provide learning for young students couched in silly fun and nonsense. Through highly engaging songs and interactive audience participation, Mr. Eric sneakily teaches rhythm, rhyming, song writing, singing, movement, and pitch, with a big boost of vocabulary to boot.

Sure, it’s educational but much more importantly, it’s a lot of fun!

PRICING

Individual library concerts are often done in conjunction with other library branches in a single region.

30-minute INTERACTIVE CONCERT
$320/library

Travels from Toronto (travel costs may apply)

Contact Julie Barnes for more information: juliebarnescs@gmail.com or Eric Paetkau at eric@ericpaetkau.com.

FAQs

  • Yes, he does! He brings his guitar, speaker, microphone, and contagious energy. It’s all very no fuss, no muss for you. All you need to provide is a chair and an audience (and Mr. Eric can sit on the floor if there’s no chair).

  • The shows are 30 minutes with a 15-20 minute post-concert meet and greet/photo time. Mr. Eric also arrives around 30 minutes beforehand to set up and make sure everything’s ready to go.

  • Depending on how far out of Toronto a show is, travel costs could include gas mileage, airfare, car rentals, and hotels. However, there is often cost sharing among regions as well as sponsorships available that make hosting a show easily feasible, no matter where you are in Canada.

  • Not at all! The more, the merrier. We have to abide by a library’s capacity limits, of course, but for Mr. Eric, no number is too big or too small.

  • Mr. Eric has performed in all sorts of sized spaces, and many one-room libraries. He doesn’t mind at all but if you feel your space is too small, there’s always the possibility of an outdoor show or using a local community centre or church.

  • Mr. Eric’s music and fun are well suited for ages 3-8, but he’s had teenagers up and dancing, parents and grandparents doing action songs, and even some pets joining in on the fun!

Sure, he’s been a professional orchestra conductor for many years (Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra 2015-2022, founder of the Juno-nominated group of 27 orchestra, etc.) but Eric Paetkau can’t get enough of the pure joy and laughter that comes with performing school concerts for kids . Combining his interactive, original songs and goofy stories, Eric’s live shows and song writing residencies are a hoot. He’s also got a weekly online TV show for kids, writes children's books, and uses a banana phone.

Eric‘s silly alter ego, Mr. Eric, is just a big kid who loves sharing music and stories. His infectious energy gets people singing, dancing, and yearning for ice cream.

Who is Mr. Eric?

“I am absolutely thrilled to share my heartfelt testimonial for the extraordinary Mr. Eric. His captivating performances were nothing short of pure magic, igniting joy and wonder in the hearts of young audiences. With boundless energy, he effortlessly transported us into a world filled with laughter, melody, and imagination. His melodic voice and impeccable stage presence were truly mesmerizing, captivating the attention of both children and adults alike. Every song and dance number brought smiles to our faces and created lasting memories. I wholeheartedly recommend this remarkable performer to anyone seeking an enchanting and unforgettable experience for their little ones.”

-Sir Slush (Taylor Shephard)
Programming Coordinator, Snowkings' Winter Festival, Yellowknife, NWT