Global Gathering 2012

Late last month I was invited up to Global Gathering in the UK.  Given it is one of the signature dance events in the world, it was a great chance to check a number of potential R&V acts in one place.

Global Gathering, UK

Held over a disused WW2 airfield in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the 2 day festival is spread over 7 stages. Big dance brands like UKF, Bassculture, Toolroom Records and God’s Kitchen host mammoth productions under gigantic marquee tents. A middle class crowd from around the Midlands who were there for one reason. Let’s ‘av it loud and propa yeah?

Taking the lead from the memorable Justice LIVE show, the duo were perched high above a stack of space broken cassette tapes, complete with live vocalist appearing in cat suit from various parts of the stage. Bass thundered from the bins as the lighting show dance overhead, in sync with the melody. Performing edited versions of their repertoire, my favourite was a two-step version of their smash hit Promises. Probably the closest thing to Daft Punk right now and on a more relevant bass heavy dance tip. Can’t wait to see them at R&V Soundcheck in October.

Netsky LIVE was also there showcasing his brand new show, on the back of new album ‘2’. MC Script plays host without too much overpowering yippity yip. Switching between MPC, laptop and even vocoder, Boris bounces around between like a man possessed, obviously enthralled in the creativity of a live performance of his sound. The new drummer is a true player, slapping the electronic drum kits to create the signature liquid sound Hospital signings are known for. The tent was filled to the brim, surely a sign that this act is becoming a main stage act in the very near future. See him at R&V X!

Above and Beyond often top lists for the most popular and highest paid dance acts, performing to thousands of people across the world and fronting DJ mags so was interested to see their show. Performing in front of a giant curtain of LED they banged out a slightly less cheesy form of hard trance, complete with euphoric messages .  Highlight was the perfectly timed Porter Robinson’s Language. A tune of the summer for me for sure!

Porter Robinson's epic - Language

Caught Nic Fanculli on the way out play a deep remix of Strings of Life. Although it was a chilly English summer’s evening I couldn’t help but dream of being exported to a warm Ibizian terrace. More on this to come! Jamie Jones was on next but it was time to boost. 

Had been a long day in the wellies so we back to the local BnB The Three Way – interesting name - and caught up with Graphix from Hospital Records stable. He is eager to get down under to R&V he was put in place by his agent, who encouraged him to wade through the mountain of demos and get their album out before hitting the road down under! Expect big things from this talent duo!

Fred V and Graphix - watch this space!

The weekend was capped off by a visit to my great Aunty Hazell and Uncle Ron. Sunday Roast Chicken with boiled spuds, mushy peas and gravy. Custard, ice Cream and blueberries for desert. A perfect end for a memorable bass-filled festival weekend. Ooh right Guvn’nor!

Las Vegas 2012 - Yolo!

YOLO. You only live once right? So if you were offered a seat on the annual Grabaseat flight to Las Vegas one week out what would you do? After rescheduling some meetings, loading up the credit card and packing my pink tuxedo jacket I was on my way (first time in business class nonetheless) with 300 other kiwi's to the world's entertainment capital for some serious R&D.

I had been to Vegas before for 2 wild nights and felt I had only just scratched the surface, having not quite got my head around Sin City.

After spending another 4 nights there this week I can honestly say I am still scratching at the surface and still can't get my head around Sin City. I don't know if you can ever understand/comprehand the madness and energy of the place!

After a rowdy plane flight reminiscent of a 1st XV rugby trip complete with dress ups, karaoke singalongs and drinking games we arrived direct to a balmy 40 degree Sunday morning. It wasn't long until we had Bloody Mary's in hand at the Tropicana pool and began preparing our game plan for the week ahead. Next thing we were in a cab on the way to a sleazy Rat Pack cabaret show, before tapa's at the glamourous Cosmopolitan Hotel - one of the Strip's latest additions.

With jet lag keeping us up we found ourselves in a front row VIP booth at new Bellagio club the Bank - a Sunday night hotspot for the rowdy weekend crowd with Monday morning flights back to reality. A playlist of SHM, Calvin Harris, Avicii and Skrillex swept the club a sure sign EDM has over taken hip hop as popular club music of choice. NFL players grinded scantily dressed PYT's and ordered bottles of Dom Perigon as confetti and smoke blasted from the rafters. Welcome to Vegas - 2012 edition.

Las Vegas has a reputation for being cheesy and tacky, but it also is just as much classy and extravagant, being home to the world's best bars, shows and restaurants.  A friend also on the trip was doing food reviews so it was to the reknown bistro Sage at the impressive Aria complex for dinner. Greeted by the irrepressible 50 year old gay waiter Bond we were treated to sweet veal cheeks, double cut New York strip steak and chilli oysters, all splashed down with rose champagne and fresh mohitos. 

I was super excited to go to Circ De Soile's Beatles show Love at the Mirage. Given they are an all-time musical inspiration this had been on my bucket list for sometime and the Sir George Martin produced show did not disappoint. Although lacking in story line the theatrics made up for it, with bungy jumping midgets with Liverpudlian bowl-cuts, tumbling aerobatics peformers and a rollerblading Fab-Four cascading in unison over two half-pipes. Truly world class entertainment with no room for a single mistake.

The trip was not all fine dining, shows and nightclubs. A morning was spent at The Big Dig, recently voted #1 tourist attraction in town. Created by an expat kiwi this concept gives ordinary folk the chance to drive heavy machinery at an off-site location. I spent the morning driving a bulldozer perfecting my sculpting and excavating skills on the sunburnt Nevada dirt, on the look out for bones of gangstars from years gone by.

The Grabaseat pool party was classic kiwi knees up. 300 + pool + cocktails say no more.. The security guard with a sly smile thought it was a one of the best if not unruliest crowd the hotel had seen. A couple of kiwi Thunder Down Under stripper boys turned up to judged a bikini contest. Kiwi DJ's General Lee and Tim Phin played the latest mashups as people partied amongst the beach balls, cabana's and hot desert un sun.

The highlight of the trip turned out to be a dining experience at Joel Rubichon's restaurant a 3-Michelin Star'd restaurant at the MGM Grand. Considered America's (if not the worlds) best restaurant, we sat excitedly at Celine Dion's regular table alongside other considerably more well-heeled diners. The bread cart was enough to blow me away with to 20 specialty breads on offer, all served with freshly churned Parisian butter and spicy Alacante olive oil. A smorgasboard of tasting plates followed, from coconut-toasted quail egg with caviar, lightly roasted foie gras and lobster ravioli. Chocolate souffle served with vanilla bean sorbet for desert. The European-trained Sommelier explained every drop of our match made wine selection produced from the hills of Tuscany to the vines of Napa Valley. A once in a lifetime dining experience I will never forget.

The trip was rounded off with more pool and roulette time with interesting table talk lead to meeting an American film producer, who entertained a number of the kiwi crowd in his penthouse suite, sponsoring a drinks trolley on his room tab as we watched the sun rise over the strip. #onlyinVegas

As our Thursday night flight beckoned the Vegas shiny facade was starting to crack and it was well time to get out of dodge. Given we were there weeknights we didn't get to experience the summer weekend madness, along with attending top night clubs XS or Marquee. A chopper ride to the Grand Canyon also remains allusive but I am happy to save that for the stag do/honeymoon/wedding anniversary trip. 

As I took my final sip of my last pina colada the pool bar got busier with the next party crowd rolling, I started planning my return, hopefully sooner rather than later!

Hamish 

10 years of R&V - where has it all gone?

10 years of R&V - where has it all gone? Back in June 2003, 50c In da Club was number one hit, Reuben Thorn was the All Black capitan and the term 'Flight of the Concords' was a reference to the Air France Concord taking its last ever flight that month.

On a surprisingly mild Dunedin day after a legendary game of social footy (Mudshark's v Matadors) - Tom Gibson and I went down to our local Gardies for a beer and began brain storming about plans for a new years eve concert in Gisborne. A fortnight later we were on a plane to pitch our little idea to Dean Witters - the owner of Waiohika Estate. Who would have thought I would still be here today 10 years on?

We actually missed our flight to Gisborne that month. My band had been playing the night before at the Captain Cook Hotel, and Tom was suspiciously missing in action when we came to pick him up at 6am. Our driver (and future Marketing Manager) KB drove at a slow rate on the icy roads and we arrived considerably late for our red-eye to Wellington. Andrew generously rebooked our flight for later that morning and we made it to Gisborne (albeit slightly hungover) to present our vision to Dean Witters. He loved our idea, so a company was formed, bands were booked and festival was born.

That initial festival went down as a memorable occasion for those who attended. But if weather gods had their way we wouldn't have got off the ground at all. It bucketed down for days before and it was impossible to try and set up the venue. The day before new years eve I remember Gibbo stomping around in the mud and rain trying to move pellets of beer, getting absolutely drenched. The rain was coming down so hard that we had to hide under the stage to take cover.

We trudged wearily back to Waiohika and sat around Dean Witter's kitchen table. 'We can't hold an event in this weather, we are going to have to pull the pin' he said. Tom and I looked at each other in dismay. We had car loads of friends arrived from all around the country, bunkering down waiting for the rain to stop. Months of preparation and planning had gone into this one day. It would have been a financial disaster if we had cancelled, along with ultimate humiliation after selling our vision for months.

\After much discussion and fine-tuning checking the weather report, we held our ground and eventually Dean agreed to roll with the weather. We arose the next day to an absolute blue-bird screamer of a day. Action began immediately. The local Lion's club were in shoveling dry bark over steaming puddles. Mum was beginning to put flower ups around the venue to pretty it up. My sister cleaned the BBQ and waited for the artists to arrive. Beer fridges were plugged in, sound gear was being unloaded and checked - we were all systems go.

Around 1800 people arrived that afternoon and the small crowd partied in the hot blue bird sun. It was two degrees of separation as people caught up from around NZ. School mates, Uni mates, family, friends, locals - all enjoying a unique musical experience called Rhythm and Vines. We knew we were on to something special and we still do, a reason why a dedicated team of event professionals have poured their blood sweat and tears into our little party over the last 10 years to get it to where it is today.

Now with 30,000 people, 3 days, 85 acts, 8,000 on site campers, 10 full time staff and 2000 site workers - to think missed flights and bad weather could have put a stop to all of this happening at all! 

Thanks for continuing to support our little concert, looking forward to celebrating it's 10 year birthday with you all

Owner Manager Program - IceHouse

With the financial support of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, I have been attending the Owner Management Program with the IceHouse. I spoke at the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce this week on my expereience.

The Icehouse is a Business Growth Center that was founded 10 years ago by David Irving, the retired CEO of Heinz Watties.  The Auckland-based entity is working in conjunction with the Auckland University Business School to grow the NZ economy - by running a series of business courses, mentoring programs and overseeing venture capital investment, all with the vision of establishing 3000 export-ready companies by 2020. 

Their Owner Management Program is specifically is aimed towards those business executives who, as the name suggests, own and manage their own business.  Irving and his team realised there is currently lots of support for start up ventures, incubators and the like, and also lots of education opportunities for high level corporates such as MBA's.

However it is the owner operators that requires need the most support, many running businesses that were founded around the kitchen table, or in our case the student flat! There is little in the way of for these 'Mum and Dad' companies - entrepreneur-run businesses that are the life blood of the NZ economy. Many of these Owner/Operators are working long hours, managing substantial businesses with little formal training or guidance, problem solving and hustling their way to growth, or in many cases stagnating under the pressures of commercial realities.

Given I came out of University with a law and art degree and went straight into the events/festival business, I hadn’t had any specific business training.  Our idea to turn a little backyard party into a world class music experience was a baptism by fire, a crash course in running a business in which at times we have had to hang on for dear life.  Given the company is more settled now with steady cashflow, a growing hungry team and a number of opportunities for growth, it felt right to up skill in some form while growing the motivation for my place in the business and where we are going in the long term. So at the advice of a friend I had an hour interview with the application team and was accepted.

The OMP course is held over 3 days a month, in a conference retreat about 40 mins north of Auckland. The idea is to remove from your business and focus working 'on' your business rather than 'in' it.  The criteria of the course is having substantial shareholding in a business with a turnover of over $2million dollars, directing staff under your control.  Attendees are encouraged to share issues and ideas between each other, honesty and confidentiality is paramount.  Many have similar issues - unruly staff, trouble in establishing a work/life balance, testing relationships with business partners.  Tools are shared from business plans to management systems, work habits and.  In the evenings copious amounts of wine is consumed and conversation flows, they say the best work is done over the bar!

There is a varied group of 26 in our intake, of which I am the youngest at 30 years to an attendee over 60 yrs.  There is a fashion designer, an organic ice cream manufacturer and an aluminium door manufacturer.  One runs a trucking transport company in the central north island with a turnover of $50 million.  An international meat trader, second generation CEO of a computer company, a creative director of a skin care company. A mix of industries from retail, manufacturing and trade services. Many in family businesses started by their old man, others recently purchased and trying to turn it around. In all they are a dynamic and ambitious group who have all taken the step to further their management skills with the goal of growing their business.

Through out the 5 blocks we have various speakers come in and speak on a number of relevant topics. From dealing with banks, planning, governance to marketing, brand development and technology issues.  We have experts speak on employment relations, leadership and health/wellbeing.  I really enjoyed an ex-ad man who came and spoke about the importance of creativity and ideas.  We had other owner operators come in and speak to the group about their experience since graduating the OMP. One runs a successful New World operation in Keri Keri and Mt Albert.  Another runs a successful bakery operation that exports pie's around the world, baked each day in Silverdale.

We have also been building a business plan to be applied to each individual company. Much of the first half course is about current 'state of play' - history and where you have come from, how you work, along with assessing the team and tools you currently have in your possession.  The second half looks at the opportunities for growth, and building a business plan with a vision towards a preferred plan for growth, and what steps need to be taken to achieve these goals. This is then shared with a mentor and small team who assists with setting the determined process in order.

As I come the completion of the course, I have found a renewed passion for growing my business, along with my place in it. I have developed confidence in new areas of management, along with insights into relevant topics, such as time management and health/well being.  I have a good understanding of my strengths, my working habits and how I relate to others. I have a network of likeminded business owners with vast experience I can now call on.  And I have also a substantial reading list I am slowly working through a number of business books from Jim Collin's 'Good to Great' to biographies of Steve Jobs and Michael Hill. Should keep me busy this year!

So I really recommend getting in touch with the Icehouse if you want to further your skills and grow your business.  It will help you achieve what you want in both business and personal life.  And if nothing else meet like minded entrepreneurs who are endeavoring to make this country a better place!

NZ's Dominion Day - 26th September

I'm so sick of all the squabbling on Waitangi Day over the formation of the country that I'm starting another national holiday - Dominion Day - on 26th of September. This will be the anniversary of the true founding of our country the day when on 26th September 1907 New Zealand was granted dominion status within the British Empire. During this year New Zealand chose not to take part in the Australian Federation and assumed complete self-government as the Dominion of New Zealand on 26 September 1907, Dominion Day, by proclamation of King Edward VII. Lord Plunket declaring Dominion Day I'd like to see this day become like any other national holiday around the world where you hang out with friends and family and celebrate the fantastic things about the country you live in, without all the history and race relations baggage we debate over every 6th Feb. The Tri Nations/Rugby Championship runs later into the year so there might be an All Black game on. There will still be snow on the mountains to go for a ski/board. Or might be able to nip to a Pacific Is for some sun after a long winter. Unfortunately it won't be mid summer but it will be spring and a celebration of and all that comes with this season - clear crisp days, frost, new life - lambs, daffodils, planting your garden, cleaning the house and BBQ in prep for the warm weather ahead. Most of all it will be a celebration of the simple fact being a New Zealander, embracing our independence and standing on our own two feet. We should still celebrate Waitangi Day as a day that bought together two peoples in the founding of a country. But we need our own day to celebrate this union, and independence as a nation. So get involved, and spread the word - if there is enough interest we might even get the day off!