Meet a Montrealer… Andy Nulman

Since he’s a guy who has little time for self-important titles, Andy Nulman’s latest professional incarnation – Chief Attention Getter for the self-explanatory Society for the Celebrations of Montréal’s 375th Anniversary – seems to strike just the right light-hearted chord. An indefatigable creative (he might also say “disruptive”) force, the colourful Just For Laughs co-founder is more than just a masterful marketing and big-picture business brain.

In addition to his current work shouting about Montréal from the mountaintop, as it were, he also teaches a fairly unorthodox and in-demand marketing class at Montréal’s McGill University. And this summer he’s putting the “fun” in fundraiser, directing a multimedia musical benefit show for the Segal Centre for Performing Arts. Nulman is the definition of a free thinker, and his boundless curiosity is matched only by his limitless love for the city he calls home. In fact (and this might come as a surprise for some), this citizen of the world is also a wee bit of a Montréal homebody.

What’s your role at 375MTL?

“As the title says, it’s not necessarily a marketing position, it’s Chief Attention Getter. The goal is to start building attention around Montréal two years before it celebrates its 375th anniversary – just a simple job like that!”

What’s the funniest thing about Montréal?

“Because of the fact the summers are so short, people become oblivious to the seasons, and what they’ll try to do is either deny them or extend them. The first double-digit temperature day, like plus-10 Celsius, you’ll see people walking in shorts and driving convertibles. And then you’ll see them again in December, when it’s like nine degrees, and they’re still doing their thing. That always makes me laugh – the season extenders and deniers.”

Where’s your favourite place to socialize?

“I live downtown so my favourite place to socialize is just walking the streets downtown. I don’t go away to the country on the weekend, and I don’t really like going on vacation much. I just love stepping out my front door on Sherbrooke Street and being immediately engulfed by the downtown sights, smells and citizenry. To me it’s one of the great pleasures, being able to put one foot out the door and being smack dab in the middle of downtown. I’m not a clubber, I don’t go out, I’m not a guy who goes to a tonne of restaurants – I just like being in the street itself and seeing what happens.”

What’s your favourite secret place to go in Montréal?

“There are two of them. One is the dog run on Docteur-Penfield Avenue near Simpson. And the other one is a little restaurant, Tequila Taco House, which has the greatest Mexican food in the city.”

Who’s your favourite Montréal Canadien?

“Again, there are two of them. P.K. Subban because he’s not afraid to be a showman, and so many people are afraid to be a showman because they have to pay the price. He’s not afraid to pay the price, so I love that. And my second favourite is Dale Weise because here’s a guy who grinds it on every shift and just works his ass off and he’s so grateful for everything that comes to him. I love watching that guy’s face when he plays because he just has this amazing work ethic, and he has great skills but people don’t realize it.”

What’s the healthiest thing you do?

“Just about everything. The healthiest thing I do is be obsessive over my gym routine.”

What’s the unhealthiest thing you do?

“Probably overindulge in wine and whipped dessert topping, although not at the same time. I really like a half-decent red wine and Cool Whip and whipped cream and anything like that really.”

What’s the one thing that anyone visiting Montréal should absolutely do?

“Stay longer. And perhaps real long. I think this city is a nice place to visit, but you want to live here. I think we need more people to live here, a greater influx of unique people to grow what the city could and should be.”