Date: 6/28/2005

First off... JayT, Congrats on all your success you've had over the last 10+ yrs in the industry. Respect for putting together some of the hottest parties that Toronto and the GTA have ever seen.

Let's rewind for a min...Explain to the people that it didn’t just happen overnight

1. Do you still remember the night of your first big jam? ... the one that set it all off

In 1994, my friend Arif's Parents had went out of town for a week. He had a great house in Mississauga. I came up with the Idea of having a small intimate House Party. We moved out all the valuable stuff, and set the house up as a nightclub. Upstairs were the bedrooms, which we rented out for $50 for people to fool around, the main level of the house was the House and Techno Level and The Basement was where we played all the Urban Music. We printed up about 250 flyers and handed them out to everyone in Mississauga, local High School's, Malls etc. The night of the Party over 700+ people showed up and this is when I knew I was on to something. The party was called Rumours Part 1, this was the first night I ever picked up the mic. We set up a bar in the closet in the basement and served beer and alcohol. Total profit for the night was over $2000 cash with Cover Charges @ the Door.

This is the night I was born into promotions. July-1994 @ the Age of 19.

2. It wasn't always Jay T & Company, what was your crew called back in the day? Any shout-outs to your ol'school crew that used to be rollin' with Jay T?

Back in 1994 my first crew was called The Bald Headed Assassin's. Our crew comprised of Myself, Arif Patel, Andrew Di Michelle, Peter Giardino, Dimitri Giancoulous, Dj Joe T, Dj Gadet, and The Sexy Lady Assassins, my Go Go Dancing Team. A very big shout out has to go to Rocco from La Rouge Nightclub, back in the day, he owned a nightclub in Mississauga called Conspiracy. This was the first ever nightclub where I threw a nightclub style party.

3. Did you know that there was a potential to create a career in promotions?

Promotions for me is not a career. Its a hobby. I have done well for myself, but the business is way to up and down to make this a steady career. I am more for the party and the people, than the money. I am heavy in real estate and over sea's investing to make my living.

4. Did you think at that point in time you had what it took to be "Toronto's Premiere Nightclub Promoter"?

This business is hard work, all people see is the drinking, the party, the women etc. So much work goes on behind the scene's to make a weekly party a success, back in the day, all we had to do was hand out flyers. Now we have to hand out flyers, do calls, e-mail blasts, e-vites, the business had changed so much from when I started. Respect in this business is not given, its earned over time and hard work. I paid my dues, and went through the trenches to get where I am now. So if people want to call me Toronto's Premiere Nightclub Promoter, they can. I am just a guy, who loves what he does, and I always put the people before myself. For me its about the party and making the people happy. I not bigger or better than anyone.


5. List a couple big names that you've chilled-out with so we know what type of status you’re on?

I am not a celebrity hound. But over the years I have partied with Kevin Costner, Raquel Welch, Julian Lennon, Brian Austin Green, Luke Perry, Patrick Swayze, Corey Feldman, Ice Cube, Magic Johnson, Arsenio Hall, Wycelf Jean, plus so many more.

6. Can you give us 3 words to describe JayT ...

Confident
Unique
Dedicated

7. Times change and things evolve, what are a couple of the major differences in the way people party today as to 1994?

There are way to many nightclubs now, Toronto is over over saturated. The quality is gone down from back in the day. Loyalty to certain nightclubs is not there as much. Back in the day, the word VIP , meant something. Everyone paid. A VIP means a very important person. Now the word VIP, means e-mail your name or call an infoline to get on a guestlist. This is why the level in our city has gone downhill. The word VIP means nothing anymore in Toronto. When you pay, you stay. You have respect for the party, the people and the establishment. This new generation needs to learn!!!!

8. There are so many new clubs opening up every year but a lot don’t last and end up being "Formerly known as...", what advice would you give to these managers and owners to keep the people coming back? (Besides hire Jay T lol)

I charge a flat rate for my service, because I work hard and in time I deliver a party. It does not happen over night. But as a nightclub manager or owner, before you open a nightclub, make sure you have some form of experience, otherwise your gonna be taken for a nice bumpy hard ride. Do not open a club, open the doors and expect people just to show up, those days are long over. Being a nightclub owner in this city right now is tough, all the new laws, the crackdown from the police, the escalating violence, they have stress. Its not easy.

9. You've also partied in hot spots all over the world, what separates Toronto from the rest of the world?

Toronto is a great city, but not a clubbing hotspot over the word. Places like Ibiza, England, Italy, Greece are true hot spots, because of there freedoms. Toronto is turning into a jail. No smoking, drinking only until 2am, cops everywhere, only 2 months of good weather. If we had the weather of Miami, the drinking law of Europe, remove all cars from the downtown core on the weekends and have people walking in the streets, oh Toronto would be so different. We have great clubs, but way to many.

10. JayT man... you got a unique look (wild hair,piercings and tattooed body) and one of a kind voice, you must get recognized most places you go, do you kind of feel like a celebrity to Toronto or you just the same ol' Jay T from back in the day?

People regognize me from 11 years in the scene. . Celebrity (lol), if you call it that. I am just an unique individual who walks to his own drumbeat. Everyone has something to say about me. When your different, people like to talk. I am passionate about who I am and what I do. The nightclub industry is not a job for me, its a LIFESTYLE. Some people will never understand that. I love tattoo's, my body is covered with tat's that all have meaning to me and my piercing are another form of my expression. 

Incase ya'll don't know the man, or have never seen him before here he is ladies and gents, the man that has been rocking toronto nightclubs since '94!!

11. I gotta ask...Have the ladies been nice to you over the years?

Everyone knows, its no secret in Toronto. I Love women. I adore women. If it was not for a women, I would not be on this earth today.

"If you cannot respect your mother, how can you respect another women". JayT 1998

12. Are you satisfied with all your success so far?

So Far So Good, I am very selective where I work and what I do. All my moves now are for the best of myself and my company. I have a great crew, I work for great people and I have the best dj in the city working beside me. Sam Fazio is Toronto's Hidden Gem. I have worked with many people in my life, but this guy is by far the best I have ever worked with.

13. It is rumoured that you would like to one day open up your own club, how about you tell us a little about that and if its happening anytime soon.

I have had many offers to buy into nightclubs and run nightclubs. For me its about timing and the best possible decision for me and my future. I will be 30 next year, and this is when I will go to the next level in my entertainment lifestyle. I am looking into moving down south, to the Carribean and opening a nightclub on the beach. This is a very strong possiblity for me right now, we will see where this all goes.

Aight thanks JayT, keep doin' what you do best, rockin tdot's finest clubs!

Interview done by: shawnd

For info on JayT's weekly and upcoming events please visit him @ www.JayT.tv or send him a private message here on BeforeLastCall.com !