Robbie Williams prepares to smile

Expect British pop star Robbie Williams to dig out some "old-school entertainer" moves at his Saturday night show at the Opera House, a gig that sold out in about a minute.

 "I've grown up with it -- me dad's a comedian," Williams explained last month when he was here to promote the release of his North American solo debut, The Ego Has Landed.

 "I grew up on holiday camps, I grew up with very old school entertainers -- their profession was to entertain people. Their expression, as they came onto stage, it was 'Always remember to smile.' That was a sign on the door as you went to go up on stage. 'Always remember to smile, 'cause they smile with you.'

 "Now it seems that there's a sign on the door saying, 'Always look at your feet,' because if you look at the crowd, you might get scared and you might scare them too."

 Old habits die hard, it seems. Williams is currently negotiating to get a comedian to open his Saturday night show.

 Incidentally, Williams -- who's already been in Toronto for a few days this week doing more TV and radio promotion -- is a big basketball fan and asked concert promoters to provide him with a basketball signed by the Raptors players.

 Maybe he'll bounce it around on stage.