Australia News: Mental Health, One Love, Request Artist

Australian road crew welfare association CrewCare enlisted the University Sunshine Coast (USC) to undertake research specific to the welfare of past and present technical and backstage personnel in the Australian live music and entertainment scenes.

In a first for the country, USC will over March and April hold focus groups and consultation sessions, as well as an online survey for the biz. The scientific data uncovered will provide the evidence for workplace improvements, funding, advocacy and fundraising opportunities.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the Bring People Dancing Foundation has this summer begun organizing for music fans with mental issues to attend concerts and festivals. It was set up last year by singer songwriter Mitch James and his manager, Mitch Lowe, after the suspected suicide of mutual friend who had found solace in live music during his darkest moments.

An informal analysis by New Zealand promoter Pato Alvarez’s company Pato Entertainment suggests that its reggae and dancehall festival One Love has injected NZ$8 million (US$5.1 million) into the local Tauranga economy. 

That figure is based on 20,000 attending the Jan. 25-26 event at Wharepai Domain for an international bill headlined by Sean Paul and Shaggy. 

It’s based on the estimate that each patron spent between NZ$300 ($193.90) to NZ$400 ($258.50) on accommodation, taxis, food and retail. 2020 marked the festival’s fourth sell-out. 

This year the festival made its Australian debut at Broadwater Parkland Feb. 1 in partnership with MJR Presents, and also reached its capacity.

A DJ playing to the wrong audience and an event coordinator stuck with the wrong music is a nightmare for both. Veteran club DJ John Course spent 12 months and A$50,000 ($33,460) to set up Request Artists, a platform which books DJs for corporate events, special occasions, and sporting and cultural events. 

It allows buyers to search through venues, nightclubs, festivals and music styles.

Course, also a co-owner of EDM label Vicious Recordings, partnered in the venture with John Curtin – head of marketing for Stereosonic and Festival X and introducer of Uber Eats in Australia – and Piero Giovannini, a DJ and supplier of lighting and AV equipment to 30 venues in Victoria.

Course told Pollstar, “Coming at it as both a long time club DJ and an organiser of events, we’re trying to close the gap between client and talent and thus create a better experience by matching the right DJ’s to the right events in the private event area… without them having to compromise what they play.”

He added, “A little event for 200 people can be just as much fun as a club gig, and musically awesome.” It is focusing on the Australian market but has had a request for a New Year’s Eve party in Los Angeles and a wedding bash in Bali, Indonesia.