A local business continues to make huge waves in the Canadian entertainment industry
Penticton’s Invictus Entertainment Group had its achievements recognized by winning three awards at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Halifax on Sept. 13.
Invictus won the titles for Management Company of the Year and Booking Agency of the Year, and president Jim Cressman and vice president Rob Cyrynowski were awarded with the Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year.
“It’s really a testament to the success of our clients,” Cressman said. “I have a brilliant, focused, passionate team, and it’s great to be able to share this with them and remind them that their employer isn’t the only one who thinks they do a tremendous job – the rest of the industry is aware of it too.”
Cressman said in the 39-year history of the CCMAs, it was unprecedented to have one company win the same three categories in a single year.
“So setting that bar of achievement, which at this point has historical significance felt great,” he said. “If you’re driven by passion, work with integrity and deliver for your clients – accolades become a byproduct of that cumulative effort.”
Despite the collective desire to win among all nominees, there are never any hard feelings at the CCMAs.
“These people are our friends, and even our competitors – but I use that word cautiously, because we work in a business that’s so small, and things change so often that your competitor today can very well be your collaborator tomorrow.”
Although his clients and commitments span the country, Cressman said that having Invictus based in Penticton allows him to maintain his sanity.
“The entertainment business operates on a frantic frequency much of the time, and Penticton is nicely juxtaposed to that. If you enjoy your geographic location and you’re happy with the pale that you call home, it gives you piece of mind to allow you to perform better in your job.”
Cressman has been in the entertainment industry for 15 years, though he launched Invictus just three years ago after buying out the last of his business partners, and now employs eight full-time staff in addition to many partners and contractors. He said the word ‘invictus’ was rooted from Latin word for unconquerable.
“I’m not under any illusions that I’m unconquerable – I’ve had my ass kicked many of time in the boardroom and on the street. But what is invincible is the artistic spirit. As long as we’re always facilitating artist and helping them fulfil their dreams, then we get the opportunity to manifest our own.”
Looking ahead, Cressman hopes to align Invictus with a content partner to connect them with more access to A-level talent, “to bring the biggest names in the business – whether it be in country, rock, pop or any other format – to secondary and tertiary markets across Canada and the United States.”
He added that Invictus continues to focus on artist development, and cited the scheduling of Brett Kissel as the opening act for an arena tour with Brad Paisley (Kissel was awarded Interactive Artist or Group Of The Year at this year’s CCMAs).
“We’re going to facilitate our Canadian domestic artists by getting them into situations and opportunities with some of these intentional superstars, both in Canada and abroad.”