Guest Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 July 11, 2019 2:21 pm Updated: July 11, 2019 3:49 pm Musicians on airport baggage carousels greet Calgary Stampede visitors By Gil Tucker Reporter Global News News: Musicians on airport baggage carousels greet Calgary Stampede visitors: 'An awesome idea!'x https://globalnews.ca/video/5486015/musicians-on-airport-baggage-carousels-greet-calgary-stampede-visitors-an-awesome-idea/ WATCH: Taking in the Calgary Stampede for the first time is quite an experience. And this year, visitors are getting a new taste of the fun as soon as they set foot in the city. Gil Tucker has the story. Fresh off their flights, passengers arriving at the Calgary International Airport are in for a Stampede surprise this year: live music while they wait for their luggage at the baggage carousels. Local musicians perched on a platform above the carousels are playing for the crowds. “Fantastic! I really like it,” said Ontario passenger Betty Willemsen. “Normally, when you come off an airplane, you’re tired and you think, ‘Oh, I have to pick up the suitcase,’ and now it’s like, ‘Wow!'” It’s a new addition to the wide range of welcoming activities the airport provides during the Calgary Stampede. “One of my least favourite things to do in an airport is wait for my bags,” said Michael Hayward, the airport authority’s vice president of marketing and guest experience. “People are waiting until the song is over and then they collect their bags and they’re hanging out for a few minutes. When do you ever see that?” Veteran Calgary musician Christina Colyn is enjoying the unusual opportunity to welcome passengers. READ MORE: Calgary high school band helps ‘de-stress’ festive flyers at YYC airport “Especially after a long flight, they look a bit tired,” Colyn said. “So I usually try to choose music than can kind of pick them up a little bit.” Playing atop the baggage carousel is an offshoot of a year-round program that places musicians throughout the airport. “With so many people travelling through, we get a chance to meet new people from all over the place,” Colyn said. “So as a musician, it’s great.” READ MORE: Cat’s out of the bag: Calgary airport adds feline friends to pet therapy program And carousel live performances will soon extend beyond a few days in July. “We do this for Stampede,” Hayward said. “But now this is so much fun, we’re starting to do this all year round.” For many of the passengers, it’s a nice way to kick off their visit to Calgary. “It’s really an awesome idea!” Ontario passenger Rob Goodwill said. “It just builds on that dream of coming to the Stampede.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.O. Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 Great idea. I’ve stood waiting at those carousels for a long time on several occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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