Jodee Prouse met some interesting people on the weekend: Terri Clark, Michelle Wright, Dean Brody, Paul Brandt, Johnny Reid, George Canyon and Carolyn Dawn Johnson, as well as Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks, and members of Doc Walker.
These musicians were among the celebrities that Prouse rubbed shoulders with prior to Sunday’s Canadian Country Music Awards in Edmonton. Her Sylvan Lake company, Happy Hippo Bath Co., was one of about 15 businesses taking part in a backstage gift lounge.
“You can go to concerts and you might meet one or two (celebrities),” said Prouse. “This was literally 40, 50, 60.”
Gifts handed out at the lounge ranged from cowboy hats and jewelry, to Caribbean trips and even cupcakes. Happy Hippo offered products from its new line of Lollipop Beauty Bar line.
Prouse and her customer service manager Pam Maciborsky were on site Saturday and Sunday, with most of the award nominees, presenters and performers passing through the second day.
“Everybody was just so nice,” said Prouse.
She met actresses Jill Hennessey of Crossing Jordan and Law & Order fame and Brooke Hogan of Brooke Knows Best, and also chatted with Olympic figure skating champions Jamie Salé and David Pelletier.
Salé’s aunt is actually married to Prouse’s uncle.
“At my aunt and uncle’s house, Jamie and David’s picture is sitting right next to mine and my family’s.”
Central Alberta musicians Gord Bamford and Shane Yellowbird also visited the Happy Hippo table. And later, Prouse and Maciborsky found themselves sitting in the third row during the awards ceremony.
“That was one of the best weekends I’ve ever had,” said Prouse. “It was amazing.”
Happy Hippo was invited to the Canadian Country Music Awards gift lounge by organizer Wow!Creations Media of Los Angeles.
“I’ve probably done four or five events with them,” said Prouse, listing the Emmy Awards, the MuchMusic Video Awards and Miss Teen USA as among these.
But in the past, Happy Hippo only provided products and did not send a rep.
“It’s really good PR,” said Prouse of the gift lounges, adding that she plans to participate in more in the future.
Happy Hippo Bath Co. specializes in natural Epsom salt-based products, supplying about 900 Canadian retailers and also selling through Christmas kiosks. Its new Lollipop line is available at Chatters Canada outlets.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com