Castlegar resident Yanive Feiner will be taking a guitar jam session to new lengths at the beginning of July when he attempts to break the Guinness World Record for "longest marathon playing guitar."
Feiner, who owns Supercat Studios, began researching possible world record attempts to help raise funds for the Nelson Animal Hospital and Second Chance Animal Shelter.
“My dog got sick and I took him to the Nelson Animal Hospital,” he said. “I was so impressed with the doctors and staff there.”
The current record for longest marathon playing guitar is held by Guillermo Terraza of Argentina, set last year at 100 hours.
“He said he’s never going for it again,” Feiner said. “He’s done it three times (re-setting the record each time it was broken by someone else).”
Feiner decided this would be the record he would attempt to break, and emailed Guinness to see if he could be approved to give it a try.
He was, but the attempt comes with a lengthy list of rules and regulations.
During the entire attempt, Feiner must play recognizable tunes and the play must be continuous (pauses can’t last any longer than 30 seconds between songs). No other instruments can be used. Each song has to be at least two minutes long and no song can be repeated within four hours. No improvisation is allowed.
Feiner can take a five-minute break for every hour of play, and is able to bank the breaks if he wants to.
“That’s going to be my strategy,” he said. “What I want to do is play eight hours and have 40 minutes (off).”
The attempt must be filmed and be recorded in a log book with two witnesses watching at all times.
“I need at least 30 volunteers,” he said.
Pledges will be accepted for each hour of play and he’ll take song requests as well.
Although the official date hasn’t been set, Feiner is hoping for the first week of July. He has potential locations in mind, but a precise spot hasn’t been nailed down yet.
However, he’s already started preparing.
“I’m going to start depriving myself of sleep,” he said. “I already play for eight to 12 hours a day but it’s broken up nicely.”
His plan is to come up with a four-hour set and repeat it over and over until the record is broken. He doesn’t have a specific number of hours in mind, as long as he makes it past 100.
People can drop off pledges at the Second Chance Animal Shelter or Feiner’s PayPal account at supercatstudios@gmail.com.
Donations will be accepted at the event as well.
Feiner said the attempt is also a way to bring positive attention to the Kootenays.
“We’ll put Castlegar on the map.”