Ron Shaw, 68, started his career as a stand-up comedian, opening for performers including Dean Martin and Liberace.
In the past year, he believes to have stepped foot in the 69 Bathurst building close to 30 times, opening for performers he idolizes, including Cashmere Cat, SBTRKT, and RL Grime.
Largely lost in the media whirlwind known as the Oscars, "Madea's" performance was nothing short of astounding: It was not only the biggest opening in the history of Lionsgate, the studio that releases his films, but was the biggest opening weekend performer since "Twilight" debuted way back in November.
Open mike performers, of course, don't get paid.
Ms. Kreger, who plays guitar, tours frequently — she appeared at the Bay Shore Harbor Festival earlier this month — and has opened for performers like Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur and Taj Mahal.
His band came to be called From Good Homes, with a feel-good sound they affectionately named hick pop, and they opened for performers like Dave Matthews, Hootie and the Blowfish and Widespread Panic.
He was the poet laureate of silence, a melancholy clown with a white face and striped jumper who changed modern theatre and inspired a generation of moonwalking, door-opening street performers.
In 2010, Deirdre Kroener won best female vocalist by Creative Loafing Charlotte and the band has opened for performers such as Cursive, Sick of Sarah, April Smith, Vanity Theft, and Hunter Valentine.
Now, in 2018, oil companies whose stock value fails to keep pace with rising oil prices are seen as weak performers, opening themselves up to activist attacks.
This was the last of three concerts by Mr. Haitink and the orchestra, opening the Great Performers season at Lincoln Center, which also included Mahler's Fourth Symphony and "Das Lied von der Erde" paired with works by Schubert.
