Yes, please send me some details too:
michelle@therockfactory.net

[ http://www.therockfactory.net ]

hey. sounds like fun times.
contact:
maidenevents@hotmail.com
definately keen. Cheers

[ http://maidenevents.tripod.com ]

Home of the Triffids (RIP) though Blink so there must be something in the water there.

Oh, that's right, they don't have water there. Place'll be a desert in a decade.

I could combine surfing with music so it could be a goer. But, you are right - independently wealthy only please apply here...

// Thats kinda the point. Perth gets overlooked

cher bro. Look, I'm the first person to try and make it that towns don't get overlooked on tours. shit, it will be my epitaph. But seriously, for a band from NZ's first visit to OZ, it doens't make any practical sense to visit Perth.

//I think you will find you can get flights for $400 return now to Perth with Air NZ. (I just checked)

nope. You're reading it wrong. Their SPECIAL (ie, tough to get, may get shitty flights) is $359+$60taxes EACH way. This is approx $840 return.

//It's not that much more expensive than flying directly to Melbourne etc.

ummm....Melbourne/Sydney are around $119+$60 taxes. so $360 return. A saving of $480 per person... so a saving of around $2000 per band. ( a fuck load of money for a independent band)

// As for being "stuck" in one city, not exactly true either, there are plenty of other venues outside of the metro area, Bunbury, Margaret River

Yeah. But getting serious here. Is it better for a kiwi band to fly to OZ and spend 4 days playing Perth, Bunbury, Margaret river and Wazza wazza... or to save $2000 and spend four days playing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

I fully commend you trying to get NZ acts to come over and play in Perth... if you can guarantee that kiwi bands will cover their airfares, then thats fantastic, but trying to cover $3500 of airfares (not including ANY actual gig costs like promo, sound engineer, pa, backline) is a big ask... I don't know if you've fully thought this through. Sorry to be a bitch... but I'd hate to see some kiwi bands lose a fuck load of money.

// hey blink stop being NZ Music RoboCop bands are made up of adults you know!

haha. There are some dumb fucks in kiwi bands bro. Don't think differently for a second.

bro don't think I'm in any way having a crack at your achievements or opinion as such. Just that I'm sure somewhere there is a point where being sceptical towards a project becomes trying to speak for all NZ bands and their circumstances. For instance what if one or more members works for Air NZ. Mmmm cheapness. Look, I agree with you about the relative worth of playing East coast but fuck it, rock n roll. haha

//There are some dumb fucks in kiwi bands bro. Don't think differently for a second

I know, I used to be too. That is, I used to be a guy lacking common sense in a band, rather than a guy lacking common sense with no band :)

it will also be free to joe (l) public as well from venues, but I'll (hopefully, if all goes well) be sending copies for free (in NZ) to any bands that register for it.

There is already a free book available from Creative NZ called "the touring manual: a guide to performing the performing arts in New Zealand". It is a very laviciouly bound volume that weighs in at 221 pages. It does tend to focus a bit on the more large scale things, like touring a play or a band the size of Fur Patrol, but it is still packed with usefull stuff.
There is also "places to play" available free from the NZMIC that is a not quite comprehensive directory of venues (as it was up to the venues to supply the information, some didn't)

blink that's rad! And I didn't think you were that bad, I was just looking for someplace to stir.

How far along the road are you with this project? Because if you wanted to possibly reduce your workload and possibly increase the informational quality through sheer numbers (not that I doubt your inter-city knowledge), why not do it in a contribution format - a wiki perhaps? That would be rad.

the name actually stems from a forum started on these here boards by good ol' nato. I had already begun research on a book along similar lines... and i asked him if i could commandeer his name for use. You can be sure that i will use and abuse the nzm massive when the time comes.

// Caths bit's at the back, and I'm just splitting hairs.

yeah..haha, my bad. I got a pre-release version where here comments were at the front... but you're correct, in the final version, hers is at the end, which is silly, cause its the best thing about the book.

And if we still want to buy one?
Look Blink, I want to give you money in exchange for the mag, fucking deal with it!

yeah..but seriously. do those two guides have practical information for an independent band to tour the country? I've read both cover to cover (and that was quite an effort with the creativenz one) trust me, when i say that what i am working on will kick total ass.

The NZMIC guide is handy when booking venues, but it is simply that.. a venue directory.

The book I am working on covers everything you actually need to know when you tour... where is the best/cheapest accomodation, The cheapest places to eat close to venues, the best sound engineers, where to drop off fliers, the car rental places that do hell deals, the low down on venues... not how many watts their PA is, but who goes to the venue and what is it is like to put on a show there, what time are soundchecks normally... what time do people usually arrive for shows, what time start, what time to finish, how many bands to book, the kind of music you play vs the venue and its location... what to budget for, who pays guarantees, who doesn't... tricks and tips to making extra money and getting around cheaper, how to find venues, where to park, what is the best way to advertise in each city, how to get people along to your show, who are the support bands and what genre are they.. who will review your show, cheap PA hire, how to tour and break even/make money.. etc..etc...

This is all done on a city by city basis. The first edition focusing on 8-10 citys... if people dig the guide, then i might do future editions with more citys.

You're such a hero Blink. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

good talking over the email lazer.

sounds like a fine idea. be keen to see it happen... its a big goal.. but craazyier shit has happened