"What is it about the fuze spark that has kept you inspired and driven for 20 incredible years?"

Before the big stages and the national tours, there was simply a shared belief that entertainment could be done better. It wasn't about just filling a time slot; it was about building a home for creativity.

• Dianne Stetz: "It’s the variety. One minute you’re discussing custom costuming for a character and the next you're coordinating with a headliner. It’s the talent, the clients, and the fact that no two days are the same."
• Brian Hansen: "I found a stable environment where I could truly create. Partnering with Jocelyn at e=mc2 events and building a team allowed me to focus on designing shows while the rest of the team handled the logistics. We built a sustainable foundation for creative work."

This foundation wasn’t built overnight. It was forged in the small moments, like when our accounting representative, Katrina, finally met the entertainers in person that she had only previously known through invoices. It’s the realization that the "talent" isn’t just a line item; they are the heart of the fuze family. It is giving people the space to make real human connection, both behind the scenes and during their acts.

"How has the creative direction changed since the early days?"

In the early years, the industry was often a "rinse-and-repeat" cycle of standard rosters. But fuze reached a crossroads where "standard" was no longer enough. The team realized that to stay relevant, they had to stop being brokers and start being creators.

• Brian Hansen: "We shifted from just 'booking talent' to 'molding the company.' Changing the name to fuze was a major milestone—it represented our shift toward being our own creative mold."

The shift was felt most at the Warehouse Event at SER. While it might seem fairly standard now, at the time it was a gamble: blending a live drummer and percussionists with a DJ and a singer. We took a standard working warehouse and converted it into an entertainment space with tunnels lit from reception to the back of the warehouse. It was complete with projections on the walls, entertainment in the loading docks, and even painted actors as hosts. The vibe of this event was contemporary; it wasn't just a party, it was a proof of concept. From that moment on, fuze became synonymous with "Bespoke Artistry."

"Is there a moment when you realized fuze had become something special?"

Growth is often measured in the size of the room and the volume of the applause. For the team, certain nights stand out as the "graduation" from a local agency to a national powerhouse.

• The Blue Rodeo Production: There is a specific memory of standing at the back of the BMO Centre, watching a legendary Canadian band take the stage. There was no outside agency, no middleman—just fuze, managing every detail of a high-stakes production flawlessly.
• The 14-City Oil & Gas Road Show: A logistical puzzle that spanned the country, proving that the "small but mighty" team in Calgary could pull off a national tour with the precision of a Swiss watch.

"What makes the fuze team unique in this industry?"

In an industry known for "the next big thing," fuze has thrived on something rarer: consistency. While other agencies saw turnover, fuze built a core that has remained unchanged for decades.

• Dianne Stetz: "We are a constant for our clients. In repeat events like a corporate kids' Christmas party, I was the constant through every different internal event producer, ensuring we never repeated the same show twice."

The Artist Connection: The hospitality extends backstage. The fuze reputation is built on the fact that the artists are cared for. Whether it’s ensuring they are fed or pushing an entertainer to try a daring new concept they’ve never done before, the team advocates for the art (and the artist) as much as the client.

"What surprising moments happen that the client never sees?"

If the audience sees a seamless performance, we have done our job. But behind that curtain is a world of frantic problem-solving and "whatever it takes" grit.

• The Escalator Standoff: Imagine trying to choreograph a performance on moving escalators at the BMO Centre while security threatens to shut you down. It was a dance of diplomacy and timing that resulted in a show-stopping entrance. Every bit of negotiation and advocacy was worth it to see the entrance piece come to life - a true “wow” moment.
• The Winter Hack: During Illuminasia, the team faced a uniquely Canadian problem: frozen props. The solution? Buying out the local Canadian Tire’s stock of heated blankets to keep fire sticks warm enough to function in the freezing Calgary night. This isn’t just creative problem solving - it’s guaranteeing that the show must (and will) go on, no matter what. As we like to say, we’ve got your front, back, and side stage covered.

"What excites you most about the future?"

Twenty years isn't a finish line; it’s an intermission. As the team looks forward, they aren't looking to slow down. They are looking to build their own original products and embrace new technologies—not to replace the human element, but to amplify it.

• Dianne: "Watching Jaime and Edgar continue to build on what we’ve started." We have built an incredible team of experts and it’s thrilling to plan for succession
• The Vision: The next 20 years belong to a new generation of creators, supported by the same "fuze" that started it all: a passion for the extraordinary and a refusal to do anything "standard."