Our finest hour Part 2.

In 2015 times were certainly dire for the business and the lowest they had been.  If anything we had a fighting spirit, a passionate trio and a job to do. Kieran would run the business, plan the event management and deal with creditors, I would sell the dream and book the bands, and Kyle would do the mar/comms and sponsorship. We began the season by moving in a little pub on Ponsonby Road.  Rain poured down on the roof but the cheap beer flowed - our bar tab covering our rent. My partners stepped back and headed away off shore to watch a potential train smash from afar. Kieran had a number of creditor meetings to keep the wolves at bay. It didn’t help that my partners were posting photos of being in Bali and the like and we received some grumpy emails while we had our head down in the wet Auckland winter.

First step was PR and communicate our path forward. We went out with messaging in May that there would be substantial changes to the festival. This included no BW, moving the stages, inclusion of a super top, more hip hop and bass music, setting up beer gardens, inclusion of comedy. The ‘10 things you need to know about R&V’ was confident, positive and honest.   After all it was the only thing that would keep the festival alive and sustainable.  We received lots of backlash. R&V has changed bro! Yes we have. For the better. Bring back BW! No way. The brand and concept were dead let alone the challenges of licensing it. But parents and authorities were happy. Change was in the air and it was exciting to drive.  We began to use the #ANewDawn as the festival took on a fresh start.

While we prepared our pre sale we were continuing to look at investment partners to help with our sizeable debt. Snowball Effect and Pledge Me were two crowd funding platforms we investigated. But it was going to be difficult to air our dirty laundry and make our figures public. It wasn't pretty. An investor really needed to understand the industry to see how there was going to be a future and on paper it was a scary investment. Talking to money men it was difficult and it became clear the only way out would with an industry player who understood our game.

While being a sole active director and carrying a sizeable debt on my shoulders, I had legal advice to advise me on my position.  They said I would have potential serious liability issue with repaying loans rather than creditors. If it didn’t work we would be in the serious shit.

One major issue was getting around the new Health and Safety Laws. On the back of Pike River Disaster a company director would be criminally liable for any misdemeanours happening on their land. Even Peter Jackson had stepped back from his responsibilities at Weta to escape potential liability within his team.  Also landowners could be responsible for anything happening so the Mangatu landowners who we leased the land off for camping and car parking would be in the firing line. It was just another burden we would have to wear.  We looked at create ways to get around this – purchase the land off the maori landowners. Reshape the festival around the house. Move the festival down to the beach?

We were also getting heat from Police for our limited BYO policy.  We need to have some form of BYO we had already sold under those pretences. It was the campers had always known. They were still tarring us with the same brush as BW and said we would be criminally liable for operating a place of resort – an archaic law around letting people freely gather and loiter while drinking. Dean Witters our caretaker said he agreed with the police and was placating the police during casual catch ups. But any threat to our model was like throw the baby out with the bath water. We need a slow process to get rid of BYO– removing it all together was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

As I began booking the bands we soon had competition on our doorstep. Mclaren Falls festival began to surface – run by Paxton Talbot a former festival Director for us.  He knew the tour schedules would be best for NZ a week after new years as not to compete with Aussie festivals. He outbid us for a headliner like Disclosure, over $250k and sizeable production. Other dance acts like Alison Wonderland and P Money were also snapped up.  Meanwhile Tauranga council were also investing in a new years festival at Bay Park to be called Bay Dreams.  It would be on the 2^nd January but threaten to come into our space too.

Finally cash flow was beginning to be a problem.  The ticketing agency we were using could only pay us. It was already risky business – spending ticket money that customers to bank roll you event. I flew to Sydney to set up a bank account with Westpac. Once I got there our potential partner chickened out due to potential liability requirements. I returned with non trading account. And no cashflow. I was able to return a few weeks later and get the account opened to ‘redirect’ the money.

As it got closer to the event. Mac Miller our headliner pulled out a few days before Xmas. I was upset but after all the bad luck we had it wasn’t surprised. He was just too tired after a hectic touring schedule. Cry me a river mate you reneged on a commitment! As we began fishing around for a replacement act. Carl Cox, Dizee Rascal.  As all the agency shut for Xmas it was all too little too late.  In the end if saved us $100k and we were able to rejigg the schedule. Mystery Guest too had never eventuated!

As the event began I got a call from Radio NZ who were running a story on the cheap alcohol on site being cheaper than water. I reminded them we were basing our event on european model of beers gardens and a 10am $3 beer was better than pre loading on a bottle of vodka off site.  I was in Napier for our Road to Rhythm event. Was a chance to onselling our headliner Pendulum meant we gave to Bay Dream and helped them get off the ground. l The first of the limited BYO kicked in as the beer garden’s filled up on the 28^th. A new era had begun! I made the drive up to Gisborne after the Pendulum show with the CDJ's ready to be set up on the Cellar Stage for the next days opening.

The next day was hot and warm. The amphitheatre had a brilliant haze to it during Zeds Dead. The drum and bass worked well although we forgot the graphics of your. Our local contractor pulled the production together for a good fee, even if Angus and Julia did cost us a fair bit for their production. The Cellar stage positioning didn’t work well but made for a cool laneway party. The dance tent didn’t have much atmosphere with sides up and limited lighting. It rained on new year eve which made for quite a subdued vibe leading into gates open - perfect for Dave Dobbyn who cam on after.  Scribe also played after he had failed to return his contract and demanded cash on the night.

If anything the new concept worked and set us up for a future!

World Nomad - Travel Writing

Every year, World Nomads send talented storytellers on money-can't-buy learning experiences around the world.

World Nomads offer Travel Scholarships in photography, writing, film making and because food and language are such an essential part of the travel experience, these as well.

Winners get the opportunity to learn from industry professionals, experts that have honed their craft over many years and have a passion to give back to aspiring storytellers.

Scholarships provide the perfect platform to turn a passion into a profession. Here are a couple of short stories that I entered in the competition.

Jerusalem - The City on the edge of eternity

Today was one of the more memorable and confronting days of my life. I always knew my visit to Jerusalem would be special. It is hard to try and summarise my whole trip to Israel at this time but I will in good time. But being in this Holy City today 22^nd September was one I will not forget.

Arising from a long bus trip and equally memorable day in the Golan Heights and Syrian Border, I got about 5 hours sleep before was up at the Mount Zion Hotel for a traditional middle eastern breakfast. Moving what out onto the balcony with my room mate we were confronted by a black crow perched on the rail looking out on to the dust.  Game of Thrones vibes were taking over the . The King has returned I text to my girlfriend back in NZ. I was set for a memorable and moving day one that would have a profound effect on me even as I sit here writing.

After a short speech from the Sacred Music Festival organisers, who were trying to unite a divided city through music, we were back on the bus and ushered to the old City gates but 5 minutes away. The hot sun beat down on the group who shared gratitude session by singing ‘ Lean on Me’ before entering the majestic white walled city.  Almost limestone-like we entered this great  center of religion and trade.  Guns and Moses t-shirts breaking the tense and reserved atmosphere with some classic tourist humour.

We made our way to the church of the Holy Speculture through narrow alley ways before Idan the guide gave us a short history on the monument before us. It felt almost pieced together.  An ever-changing temple which to on the of most famous occurrences in history - one which would go on to have a profound effect on mankind.

We learnt that Jesus had been crucified, laid to rest and the entombed in this bustling shrine and the platform from which he was remembered has since given birth to the remembrance. I was to share with the group and others who had come to pay homage.

My own religious up bringing flashed before my eyes - Sunday School, Anglican easters and Jesus awakening. I grabbed a nervous photo in front of the spot where he was crucified. Do I smile or respect I though as I let out an awkward smirk. Soon we were ushered down the stairs to the painting over looking the rose-coloured rock as pilgrims rubbed their hankies and towels over this final resting place. On to the tomb which was under construction – a long line snaked its way around the shrine as we poked our heads out in the dark cave where JC had once lay to rest.  I was last to leave but not before reaching down to lay my hand on the pinkish slab of remembrance.  I felt something – like hitting a brick wall of faith – a moment I will never forget. The sweet smell of incense and oil greeted my nostrils as I lay my hand on the solid block – frozen, unable to move. My faith and everything it stood for flashed before my eyes. This was where a savior was sacrificed, laid to rest before going on to inspire a generation after generation. For a the perspective on a greater god / being / power it was hard to avoid the significance of the moment as I finally dragged my hand away. It wasn’t a bolt, more a thud against the wet granite that made me stop and think about my journey – up to here and beyond.

Walking back through the narrow alley ways towards the Jewish Quarter, we were soon overlooking the Wailing Wall and the Dome of the Rock.  Yet to appreciate the significance we were next interrupted by a barmitzvah which broke the mood, a countdown and a number of balloons released in the air complete with the number 5 – Hamish!

Yad Visham - A Place and a Name

I had been warned the Holocaust museum would be deeply confronting. It was a site high on the hill in the baking sun as our South African guide explained the tree planted in honour of those who had aided the Jews escape from persecution.   Including the renown Schindler - whose tree had split into two distinct trunks. No photos allowed as we entered the long triangle / pyramid structure into the depths of some of the worst crimes humanity has ever see.

The main outtakes of this dynamic 2 hour tour was just how humanity had allowed this to happen. I learnt of the power struggles of Hitler and the Nazi through rousing speeches until an orchestrated campaign to marginalize then persecute the Jews with the single aim of eradicating them from their perceived living space.   The premonition Hitler spoke of to wipe Jews from Europe as revenge for a WWI demise and his convincing leadership used to empower and inspire his people to the most foul atrocities mankind has witnessed.

Further along we were greeted by the horrors of the ghettos of Eastern Europe and how many were dragged from families jobs and careers to be humiliated, left starving cold displaced and treated like animals. Further advancement of the Final Solution as Germany conquered Europe, roping in Latvians and Eastern Bloc countries to commit heinous crimes. Rape, murder by gun squad was especially hard to stomach, the Polish / Hungarian dirt covered in blood and still moving as many were left buried half alive. Every Jew with a story, a family a life left in tatters from the quest of the Third Reich. The woman and children driven from their homes, forced into labour before being bundled into trains and trucked by the horror of Auschwitz. Arriving cold hungry to begin a path created by savage board of Himmler and cohorts. Let to the showers with no knowledge of their brutal fate, gassed for 12 mins suffocate before being removed for cremation. This all taking place but months away from an Allied victory. The bodies were left to be tended to by remaining soldiers and local by standers.

As I arrived at the Hall of Names a vast catalogue of 6 million stories lines and culture with an abrupt end, it dawned on me the loss of a generation. The jews in our group especially must have been moved by this opportunity lost of one’s whole people. The funnel upwards towards the blue sky reflected in a deep cavern of memories, signifying the pit of human suffering evil and hatred.  These people’s stories memories and existence must remain.  We must never forget the perils they faced, the fact we allowed this to happen while the world stood by and watched.

As I arrived in the bright blue September air with a majestic view over Jerusalem we were told that of all the beauties in the world 9 were in Jerusalem, the remaining one. I was grateful for the opportunity removed from this cruel world but also deeply moved to never let this happen again. To stand up and be counted. To share my views, perspective and history. To lead. To make a difference. To be the man I am destined to be.