We speak with Prue Daly, the General Manager for the New Zealand International Convention Centre. We discuss some of the venue's unique design elements, the venue's importance as an economic driver for Auckland and New Zealand as well as much, much more.

Natalie Frew has travelled all over the world working with pyrotechnics. We talk about fireworks, confetti canons, and all things pyrotechnics.

I speak with Elaine Linnell from the New Zealand Events Association. We chat about how lucky we are to work in events, the role of NZEA in our industry, and organising the NZ Event Awards for event professionals.

https://www.nzea.co/

Leah Crockett is from Tech Crew HQ in Sydney, Australia. Tech Crew HQ is an online platform for students and teachers to learn live event industry standards in technical, theatre, entertainment, and the arts. It is key for students to learn the right skills for their next school production, PLUS, discovering a passion for the live event industry that students can make into a career. Leah is such an inspiration.

https://www.techcrewhq.com/

I speak with Wendy A’Bear from Tuatara Productions in Aotearoa New Zealand. Wendy is the most sought after show caller / show director in Aotearoa.

She has called Football and Rugby matches across multiple codes, she’s called corporate events of national significance, and directed cameras for internationally renowned bands and artists.

Wendy and I talk about the importance of a show caller and why you should consider having one on your live event.

https://www.facebook.com/TuataraProductions/

Our guest Paul van’t hof (aka) Goff, talks about the importance of collaborating with a wide variety of people and how this fuels his creativity.

Goff is the owner of multiple event companies in New Zealand and has also worked as a production manager with some of the country’s most legendary bands.

https://theproduction.co.nz/

https://www.tsh.co.nz/

https://www.tablehub.co.nz/

https://goff.co.nz/

How do you ensure you book the right DJ with the right music for your next event?

In this episode I chat with DJ Grant Marshall who is a professional DJ in New Zealand and has made it his career for over three decades and counting. He currently hosts a radio show on George FM, and has his own clubbing brand called ‘Ripe’ in downtown Auckland. He is a regular performer at many of Auckland’s premier dance events including Our House and Highlife, and has supported international acts such as Mousse T, Roger Sanchez, and Cascade.

Grant and I chat about his approach to DJing and the importance of understanding each audience he plays to at every single event.

You can find Grant Marshall via his website: https://djgrantmarshall.nz/

If you would like to get in contact with me, please email me at: [email protected]

Welcome to The Event Debrief, a podcast that explores the live event industry in Australasia.

With each episode Pauly chats with the best event professionals from New Zealand, Australia, and the world. You’ll hear their story, what inspires them and the latest trends from around the globe.

Every event around the world is supported by a team of amazing people, from event managers, production providers, to entertainers. We can’t forget those who work behind the scenes too, such as caterers, set designers, logistics teams, the list goes on. I want to share their story with you.

So, whether you're a seasoned professional or looking to start your career in the event industry, I hope you can tune in. My hope is that you can take inspiration from these conversations and incorporate it into your next event.

This is, The Event Debrief.