Acton man plays role in web swap

Acton man plays role in web swap

LISA TALLYN Staff Writer Brendan McClellan's trade of a recording contract for a cube van was just one in a series of swaps that helped a Montreal man trade his way up from a red paper clip to a house. McClellan, 20, of Acton was one of several people who played a role in Kyle MacDonald's successful quest on his website (oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com) to get a house. Nearly one year and 14 trades later, MacDonald officially accepted a two-storey farmhouse in Kipling, Saskatchewan Wednesday. McClellan was intrigued when he discovered MacDonald's website and really wanted to be part of it. When he saw the cube van come up for trade, he thought it was his opportunity, because his band-- Club Treehouse-- needed a much bigger vehicle than his bandmate's Jetta to haul around their equipment. "I looked around my apartment and noticed I didn't really have anything of value to trade," said McClellan. "That's when my ingenuity kicked in." Instead of trading what he had, McClellan, who recently studied recording engineering at Metalworks Institute in Mississauga, decided to trade his skills instead. So he put together a recording contract package, with him doing most of the work, that included studio time and recording, producing and mixing an album at Metalworks. He also offered to pitch the CD to record company executives, and in February forwarded his offer to MacDonald. "I had no idea he would take it seriously." But a week later he found out his offer had been accepted, and a few weeks after that, MacDonald delivered the 1995 Ford E350 van to McClellan. He figures the van is worth about $4,000. Many people were interested in the recording contract, and McClellan thought producing the record would be a good way to launch his career. and later this month she will finish recording at Metalworks. They hope to have a single released by mid-August. MacDonald's story has received international media attention-- with Hollywood also rumoured to be interested in making a movie-- and McClellan is thrilled to have played a role. "It's so amazing. When I first made my offer I didn't realize how many people knew about this story." McClellan said U.S. and Canadian media are expected at the Mississauga recording studio when Gnant is to record later this month and he wants to drive the van there but it needs two new tires, and a safety certificate before he can put it on the road again. He's hoping people in the community can help him out. "I received the van through the barter system. I would like to get as much accomplished with the use of the barter system. It's been working so well for me so far," he said. He said Georgetown Sign Works has provided signage for the van at no cost in exchange for an ad on the van. McClellan would like to offer that same deal to others interested in helping him. Anyone interested is asked to call him at 416-821-4628 or e-mail him at bmcclellan@sympatico.ca or www.myspace.com/brendrum. His band hopes to drive the van to the massive house-warming party MacDonald is hosting at his new home in Saskatchewan Labour Day weekend. Club Treehouse will play at the party. (Lisa Tallyn can be reached at ltallyn@independentfreepress.com)