JORDAN LUCK
“There is a grand sense of community, of occasion, at Music In Parks events. Families, friends and the widest range of ages attend. You can anticipate a selection of the audience knowing and singing along with the songs and a selection of the audience not.
“However, five or seven dancers soon become 35. It isn’t long before folk have lost their seats and their picnic hamper. We have never lost any children. They are usually up the front, taking selfies. You do get to have your photo taken a lot at Music In Parks — but there is never any guarantee your gig will be a success. It is one of the perils of being in a group, in a band.
“However, having adept musicians, a modicum of memorable melodies, and a soundman or soundlady from Nga¯ ruawa¯ hia will be useful. Your sonic engineers need not be necessarily from Nga¯ ruawa¯ hia although it is beneficial.
“We often have loads of people who may be talking and doing other things when they watch. They are usually unable to hear what they are talking about, misunderstand everything, wander aimlessly in the audience and seem generally incapable of doing anything when they watch.”