EVENTS SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT - SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2023

[Hamilton Blues Society NZ]

Hamilton Blues Society Festivals 2023 

 

 
HBS Pirongia Blues Festival - Date 
 
This has always been a very successful event attracting 280-330 patrons on the day, with a midday 'til midnight blues music theme (12 bands). The costs associated with Pirongia are negligible and most of the revenue generated comes from ticket sales.  Volunteer helpers are required for door duties, stage management, and monitoring sound levels at the boundary. Core duties such as set-up and pack-down are the responsibility of the Events Sub-committee members and sound engineer. At $25 entry (on average) the event has the potential to generate around $7,000 plus on the day.  Normally, the event is planned to miss the Hamilton Garden Arts Festival yet remain in the hot/fine weather zone, around mid-February each year. 
 
Bands are paid a proportion of the ticket sales. 

 

Estimated income        $7,000 

 

Expenses: $250

 

Band payments     $3,500 

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The Cambridge Autumn Festival - 22 March to 2 April 
 
Running from the 22 March 'til 2 April, this Festival has invited HBS NZ to provide four bands to perform in Empire Street (in front of Cambridge Sushi) as part of the street festival experience between 10am and 2pm. Other than HBS NZ backline gear (drums and amps), HBS NZ must provide PA and sound engineer. 
 
As agreed, $2,000 will be paid to HBS NZ for this event on Sunday 26 March. 
 
 
Estimated income        $2,000 

 

Expenses: 

 

Band payments     $1,000 

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Frankton Thunder 

 

Frankton Thunder is a charity event (part of the 'Toys for Charity' run) followed by a steampunk themed street event in Frankton Village, Hamilton. 
 
One of two stages is used for three to four HBS bands to perform from a stage in Commerce Street, situated just south of the Hamilton Workingmen's Club gates (near the record shop). Since this is a charity event the bands will not be paid, the event for HBS is purely to spread the 'blues' word across a public forum. 
 
Stage, sound engineer and PA are all provided.  All HBS provides is the backline gear. 
 
And if possible, a couple of volunteers to hand out promotional material. 

 

Estimated income        $nil 

 

Expenses: $nil

 

Band payments     $nil 

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HBS Easter Bluestock Blues Festival 

 

After many years of no fixed abode, it looked as though Bluestock may have had a permanent home at Okoroire for 2023.  A 'coming home festival' with the possibility to grow into a big international festival.  

 

Two-day format with bands from midday until midnight each day, stage, sound and lighting all provided by Scott Sound, at the Okoroire Spa Hotel over Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 April (Easter).  The South Waikato District Council were right behind us, Andrew Witters (Rhythm & Vines past organiser), and Okoroire management were fully behind the venture. 
 
Constraints: 
For the two day event grants were applied for from several sources, WEL Energy, Lion Foundation, and others yet to respond.  Unfortunately the first two grants were well short of where we hoped we may be.  
 
Although the SWDC supported what we HBS proposed/planned, supported changes to the liquor licensing for the Sunday, the remaining time for consent (40 days) means that other planning will be too tight for us to proceed at Okoroire this year. 
 
At the moment the Events Sub-committee is exploring an alternative site where licensing is not an issue (drinking Saturday and Sunday) is covered by their existing license. This is still ongoing and active at the moment. 

Dean McGaveston
HBS Chair
Mobile: 021 057 3212