There are other aspects we have to take into account when booking acts for R&V. From size of touring parties, to criminal records, as well as extravagant rider requirements. One act we looked at wanted to bring 25 people all requiring everything from separate dressing rooms, big screen TV's, to private 6-star hotel suites, to five star luxury vehicles driving them around. It is just not feasible or affordable sometimes in little 'old Gissy.
Date clashes and family commitments are other challenges we have to deal with. Given we are so close to Xmas many artists would rather take the time off to spend with family to rest after a busy year touring.
Some acts wouldn't be even able to land the production in airport in Gisborne. U2 or Muse for example requires multiple jumbo jets that house their staging, lighting, hundreds of crew etc. It would take around 50 trucks to do the 7 hour drive to Gisborne. This is just not feasible (currently...)
There is the also the issue of establishing a tour to ensure a NZ date.
It is inevitable that we need to work with other touring territories to bring acts down under. As inviting as a on off festival performance in NZ is, artists are probably not going to get in a plane for 12-24 hours to play one show.
When I first started R&V I had this vision that we would bring bands down to Gisborne give them a beach house and they could hang out like everyone else. I had this romantic vision of R&V being a holiday for one and all, bands, friends, locals, all unified by the spirit of celebrating new years. We would party during the night and by day hang at the beach enjoying the of Gisborne.
But R&V is not a holiday for bands. It is like going to work. Just instead of sitting at an office, they hop from airport to hotel, talk to media and get up on stage for an hour playing an instrument. That is what they do for a crust.
And to get paid this crust is also inevitable that bands need as many gigs as they can get their hands on. Although they look like the sit around and drink all day, this is the opposite - they live for playing live. Not only do they love to play, it is their job. They need to play to pay the bills and keep the record label happy. And live is paying the bills these days as record sales go down the gurgler.
This is exemplified by the time when I asked Cold War Kids if they would come to NZ play R&V then have a holiday. ie laze at the beach, drink wine etc?
To my surprise the lead singer answered by asking if I had a spider was on my shoulder. I said no. He said 'good because we are not here to fuck spiders'.
I took that as a no.
What I was meaning is would you come down to R&V if I pulled the holiday card and put on a big vacation for you all?
What he was meaning was no they wouldn't. They want to play as many shows as they can.
It is their job.
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