Sometimes, third place can be a pretty good spot to land.
Especially if it means winning $50,000 in the Performance Project, a prestigious professional development program sponsored by 100.5 FM The Peak.
The top prize in the contest is $105,000, followed by $75,000 for second place.
"We were gunning hard for first, but it's hard to complain when you get a $50,000 cheque," said Matthew Rose of The Matinée.
Rose, along with fellow Coquitlam grads Matt Layzell, Pete Lemon, Geoff Petrie and brothers Mike and Dave Young and Port Coquitlam's Garrett Kato, will be putting the money to good use.
The Matinée was already planning to record a full-length record next year so the prize money will put a huge dent in those costs, Rose said. It will also help with travel costs for a week-long music-writing trip to the Gulf Islands, some shows in Toronto and plans to hit Austin, Texas for South by Southwest, an annual music and film conference.
But the hefty cheque wasn't the only highlight of making it to the end of the grueling Peak Performance Project. The Matinée, along with fellow finalists Current Swell, which took first prize, and The Boom Booms, got to perform at the legendary Commodore Ballroom on Nov. 17.
"Without a doubt, it was like a dream come true for all of us," Rose said.
"We've seen so many of our favourite bands there, we all have. And it was sold out with people who were there to see us - we weren't playing there as the opening slot, thrown on before the headliner.
"The support in the crowd was awesome, it was definitely an amazing experience."
And after the group woke up from a night of giddy celebrations they turned around to prepare for their performances at the BC Country Music Awards at the Red Robinson Show Theatre on the weekend.
The Matinée was nominated for several awards, including Group/Duo of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Roots/Canadiana Band of the Year and Website of the Year.
They performed at the industry awards Saturday and went back on stage for the main awards show Sunday.
"Unfortunately we didn't win any of the awards," Rose said. "It hasn't been a good week for winning for us, but it was awesome."
Being nominated in categories along with well established bands that are more firmly "country" than The Matinée was an honour in itself, Rose said.
"Next year is our year," he joked, adding the band will soon be releasing some big news related to their upcoming record.
In the meantime, fans can catch The Matinée in a free show as part of the Grey Cup celebrations.
They'll be playing Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Playnow.com stage.
Visit www.thematineemusic.com for more information.
