THE STORY OF THE MOTN
THE DAY I GOT THE KEYS
april 15th (2021)
ON APRIL 15TH, I TOOK POSSESSION OF A FORMER VINTAGE STORE IN THE DOWN TOWN EAST SIDE. I GOT TO WORK RIGHT AWAYA ON A HAIR STRING BUDGET AND NO RENOVATION EXPERIENCE, DETERMINED TO TURN THE EMPTY SPACE INTO A CULTURAL HUB OF VANCOUVER.
The first look motn 0.0
june 5th (2021)
ON JUNE 5TH 2021, THE MOTN OPENS ITS DOORS WITH THE INTENTION OF BEING A MULTIPURPOSE ARTS SPACE THAT REMAINS AFFORDABLE TO ARTISTS AT ANY LEVEL IN THEIR CAREER, FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON PHOTO/VIDEO PRODUCTION.
HOW TO SAY “MOTN”
WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS I DECIDE TO EXPAND THE OPERATIONS TO EVENT RENTALS AND THE MOTN QUICKLY BECOMES ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY SOUGHT OUT CREATIVE SPACES, GENERATING OVER 90 FIVE STAR REVIEWS FROM CUSTOMERS AND EVENT GOERS. THE MOTN IS THE PREMIERE UNDERGROUND HOT SPOT.
THE MOTN GETS A WINDOW!
THE MOTN 0.5
TATTOO SIDE OPENS
IN AUGUST OF 2021 THE SECOND SIDE OF THE SPACE I HAD LEASED WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AND I WOULD PARTNER WITH MY LONG TIME BEST FRIEND AND TATTOO ARTIST JAKE LAPIERRE TO EXPAND OUR OPERATIONS AND BUILD A STUDIO. AFTER EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS, WE WOULD OPEN UP OPERATIONS ON THE PRIVATE TATTOO STUDIO IN MID SEPTEMBER, HOUSING SOME OF VANCOUVERS MOST ACCOMPLISHED TATTOO ARTIST OVER THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
THE MOTN WEBSITE
before yearly makeover
april (2022)
IN NOVEMBER THE MOTN WOULD THOW ITS FIRST EVER COMEDY SHOW AND WE WOULD GO ON TO SHOCK THE SCENE. BRINGING IN SOLD OUT CROWDS, YOUTHFUL AUDIENCES, PROFESSIONAL COMEDIANS AND UNIQUE VENUE SPACE, THE MOTN QUICKLY WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE UP AND COMING COMEDY CLUB THE CITY DESPERATELY NEEDED.
IN JANUARY OF 2022 THE MOTN WOULD OPEN ITS DOORS TO ICON HIP HOP AND START A CULTURAL MOVEMENT WITH OUR WEEKLY FREE, COMMUNITY DRIVEN CYPHERS. FOR MANY THIS WOULD BE THEIR FIRST TIME PERFORMING IN FRONT OF A CROWD, AND FOR MANY, THEY NEVER STOPPED AFTER THAT.
IN AND EFFORT TO ALWAYS KEEP UPDATING AND STAY FRESH, THE MOTN WOULD GEAR UP FOR A FULL REPAINT AND REDESIGN, SHARING WORK FROM INCREDIBLE GRAFFITI ARTISTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THE MOTN 1.0
june 5th (2022)
THE MOTN ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY IS A SMASH HIT SOLD OUT SHOW, USHERING IN A FOURTH WEEK OF CONSECUTIVE BACK TO BACK SOLD OUT SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. THE SHOW IS COMPRISED OF EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING WITH A COMEDY SHOW, CYPHER PERFORMANCES, CONCERT, TATTOOS, PHOTOS AND PEOPLE MEETING AND BECOMING FRIENDS.THE REDESIGN BRINGS A FRESH VIBE TO THE SPACE AND ITS NEW APPEARANCE BRINGS ATTENTION FROM BIGGER STARS AND THE MEDIA.
THE MOTN IN JFL
2022
THE MOTN IS FEATURED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL 2022, HOSTING ‘THE BUCKET SHOW’ WHERE COMEDIANS HAVE TO DO MATERIAL BASED ON AUDIENCE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE BUCKET. FOR A CLUB WITH LESS THAN A YEAR OF DOING COMEDY TO HOST A SHOW FOR JFL IS A GREAT HONOR.
THE MOTN BURNS DOWN
AUGUST (2022)
IN LATE AUGUST THE CLUB WOULD BURN DOWN DUE TO A FIRE IN A NEIGHBORING BUILDING, RESULTING IN THE DESTRUCTION OF EVERYTHING WE HAD WORKED TOWARDS. BOTH MYSELF AND THE COMMUNITY TAKE THIS AS A GREAT LOSS.
the motn 2.0
1826 triumph st
AFTER A WILDLY SUPPORTIVE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN STARTED BY A FRIEND OF THE CLUB, THE MOTN WAS ABLE TO REBUILD AND BECOME EVEN BIGGER THAN EVER FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
THE END OF THE MOTN
JULY 21 2024IN THE SUMMER OF 2024 THE MOTN CLOSED ITS DOORS AFTER A LENGTHY BATTLE WITH RISING RENT COSTS IN VANCOUVER. WHILE ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T GET TO GO THE DISTANCE, OUR STORY WAS ONE OF TRIUMPH AND HOPEFULLY THE MARK THE MOTN MADE ON THE VANCOUVER COMEDY SCENE WILL BE FELT FOR YEARS TO COME.
global News
THE CLUB CONTINUES TO THRIVE, BETTER THAN EVER, FOCUSED ON BEING THE PREMIERE COMEDY CLUB FOR LOCAL AND TOURING COMEDIANS ALIKE. HOPING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THE FUNNY BUSINESS FOR YEARS TO COME.
The MOTN Feature in the Discorder Magazine
Written by Zephyr Frebold
TIM WILLIAMS: HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
BOBBY WARRENER: READY TO DIE TOO
- LIVE AT THE MOTN
TRIUMPH BLOCK PARTY
BY SAM PILSON (@DOLLHEADFAMUS)
MINI MOTN
by michael soganic (@ginormousminiatures)
Photo by Ellen Sigurdson
