Interview with Mel Lathouras on all Things Live Events
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[00:00:00] Corner. Oh, I'm live. Oh, we're live. I might just also just, oh no, we should be able to, we should be able to see people's comments on the side of the screen, so yes, I can see comments. Okay. Alright. Yeah, it should. It should all work. It should all. And um, let's get started. Oh, welcome to the first ever Fearless Singer private podcast.
I've been wanting to do this for eons and. Honestly, what better way to start it off with interviewing you, Sally Portus. My, my, now, honestly, my, I feel like we're soulmates. I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna go there. We're soulmates, we're we're business besties. We met each other only a short while ago, a couple of months ago.
We, we've been in similar business groups and we've [00:01:00] messaged each other, but we, we met each other in real life at the Tash Corbin Heart Center Business Conference in Noosa. And we've just been just inseparable ever since. Yeah. And, uh, Sally, uh, has an incredible background. Well, she's an events coach, so she can coach you in putting in on your own in real life event show.
But Sally also has a phenomenal background in the music industry. And, and this is how we, it's, it's amazing how many similarities, you know, we had Sally, it's, it, we, you know what, I always think that, excuse me, but lovely, lovely kook people. We always seem to find each other. And I, I, I hope that's okay. I am projecting that on too.
Yeah. That's how I identify isn't Malcolm. Isn't that how Malcolm Gladwell's outliers? Isn't that his, the weird ones? The we, the weirdos, um, always converge. Yes. That's it. We always, we, we [00:02:00] find each other and then, you know, and then. Outwardly, when we create our communities and groups, we all seem to, yeah, all of us.
Yeah. We've got a Facebook user saying, good morning, Sally and Mel. I have a funny feeling that that's the beautiful Ellie Donovan. Um, Ellie, just, there is an option there just to, um, if you just give, you've just gotta give Streamy yard permission to show who you are. Um, there's like a little button there if you don't mind pressing that.
And that goes for anyone else who's, um, listening who comes in live this morning. If you just click, um, give stream our permission to show your face. That way we can, we can acknowledge you, um, as to who you are. Um, yeah, that'd be really nice. So the reason why Sally is on is she's here to help us, to empower us to not just sit around and wait for opportunities.
And don't you worry, I've. Been there for many years. That was me about five years ago going, where's my gigs? Because I was so used to being asked to, you know, to play at [00:03:00] certain things and then all of a sudden it stopped. And, and Sally's here to say, well actually there's a real opportunity here to put on your very own show or your own event.
And it may seem quite daunting 'cause it's such a big thing, but actually there's just some very simple steps to take. It's just a matter of taking those steps. Is that right, Sally? Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. Right. Um, I think, uh, we, we tend to kind of, it's almost like employee mode. You know, we wait to apply for jobs or we wait to apply for opportunities.
And, um, as I was digging through my archives last night, looking for, you know, some really cool things that we could give away, um, I found a. Blog that I had written, which is about five pages. So it's not really a blog, it's an essay. But, um, I had, I found this paper that I had written on how to book your own gigs and look, because [00:04:00] it's kind of 15 years old, it's probably not relevant anymore.
There may be some theory in there that's still good, but, um, because it's so old, uh, you know, it doesn't incorporate social media or any of those things in it as well. But I, I simply went and researched a hundred venues to who play live music and it took me about 15 minutes at the time. It may be different now, as I say, because, you know, times have changed and, but, but I do think more and more general is up, up outputting.
Pardon? Oh no, sorry. I just, I'm going on to Facebook to say hello people, can you please say who you are? And then, and then sound like, so I think, um, it's just about being proactive and people are looking for people who are being proactive. So, um, Just deciding that you are the promoter. It's, it's your show, it's your stage.
You decide where you play, when you play, and who you play to and for just go out and do [00:05:00] it. It's, it's, it's not difficult to do. Um, we are gonna share some resources with you at, at the end of this that will help you maybe tick off some checklists and stuff like that. But, um, I, I really, I do it. I put events on.
It's scary. Um, it's nerve wracking. Uh, you know, you worry the whole time that no one's gonna come, but they do. People show up and when they do, it's even more grand. It's even, it's even greater because like, they're there organically. Like someone didn't pay a list or, you know, any of that kind of stuff that actually showed up to see you because they like you.
And that's like mind blowing. It is, it always, it, it always blows my mind. I'm always so grateful who, who comes. And I, and I've got this thing where I just, I think, okay, I'm just gonna do, like, I, I treat the, the promo for a show as like, it's like you, [00:06:00] you're planting the seeds, you know? And I always start, you know, good ahead of time.
And then I also do a lot of in real life interaction. Like I just say, oh hi, by the way, you know, I've got this coming up. 'cause everyone always asks, when's your next show? When's your next show? Let us know. People wanna know what you're doing. Yes. And it's never like real spammy, like, you know, or, or, um, in any way.
Like, you have to come or, or manipulative or anything like that. It's just like, oh, oh by the way, I'd love for you. And then I just, you have those conversations and then I always just kind of like let go. And I just think, well, whoever comes, comes and it'll be beautiful. And even if there was just a handful, I always think if, even if it's just my mom and my brother and you know, my close friends, like that would be beautiful.
You know? And even if it was just Right. Yeah. What, what employee they get as this intimate audience. Absolutely. I ran a workshop, 10 people were booked in for the workshop. [00:07:00] One person showed up and so I could have sat there and gone, oh my God, this is devastating. Only one person turned up. But I didn't. I went, oh my God.
How lucky are you? Yeah, one on one. But then it's just like a beautiful conversation. Like you're just having coffee with somebody, you know? It was so That's lovely. Yeah. Hey, I just wanna, um, remind everybody, if you are watching, please just give Streamy yard permission, um, to show who you are. 'cause we we're getting some comments.
We, we've got Good morning, Sally. Mel. Morning. Hi. Would love to know your names. We just can't see you through our software, so you just need to give, it's just at the top of the post. Just give it, just click yes and then we'll see your beautiful face. Um, that's why I was trying to go in before to find who you were, but I was trying to, I was focusing on what Sally was saying, but, um, it would be really excellent if you could just do that.
Um, yeah, so, and, and especially if you've got a question for Sally, 'cause um, we are hoping that [00:08:00] there, there's gonna be questions. Sally, first things first. How did you get into the business of events? How did that happen for you? Okay. Did you study this? Did you study events? So let me, let me go. I just wanna go back two steps.
Yeah. First of all, thank you for having me on the show. And, um, like I said to you earlier, it's always nerve wracking, but look, you know, I'm gonna stand on my own stage with you. So thank you so much. And yes, we met a couple of months ago and I completely agree with you. It's, you know, sometimes you just meet people and it's the right time, it's the right synergy.
Everything's, you know, you just kind of meet at the same time and you're on the same path. And I, and I totally agree, I feel that's kind of where we are. Um, the second thing I would like to do is acknowledge the traditional owners of the land in which we meet today. Um, wherever you are, uh, past, present, and emerging.
Um, and also acknowledge any traditional, um, people who are with, [00:09:00] with us on our meeting today. So, just wanted to do that as well. Thanks. Um, In answer to your question, uh, study, study, study, study. Well, I was not studious when I, when I was at school, I wasn't studious and, uh, was rather a rebel and I just scraped through year 10 and, um, Prior to just escaping, scraping through year 10, I was expelled from one school and I was expelled from the second school, but was allowed to finish year 10 before I was told that I was not welcome to come back.
For years 11 and 12, um, I was quite rebellious on the youngest of four, three older brothers. Uh, always looking for attention. So that, I'm guessing, is probably where all that stuff came from. I have grown a lot since then though, and I'm a much nicer person and certainly don't waste people's time, energy, or disrespect people anymore.
Um, [00:10:00] but I, you know, I really was a perpetual learner. So, um, I went straight from school into tafe. I went and did administration courses at tafe. Um, I attempted to go back to high school, um, in Brisbane here. Cooper State High School, used to do this nighttime year 11 and 12. I tried to go back to high school.
Uh, that didn't work out. I wasn't ready. Um, and it wasn't until I was, uh, in my forties when, uh, I was in a boardroom put forward an idea that was rejected. Uh, the basis of the rejection was some case study out of some university that someone had and me still being a rebel in my forties. Um, basically in my mind went F you, I'll go and get my own M B A and then my, you know, I'll be able to put my ideas forward and no one can reject it.
So off I trod to do an M B A with no senior, no undergrad, no nothing, [00:11:00] um, and actually managed to get in. So this is where naive it is perfect, right? It's what you don't know. Doesn't matter just. Go forth and put one foot in front of the other and decide what you want and go for it. Because I didn't know, I didn't know anything about university whatsoever.
I didn't know that you needed an undergraduate degree. I didn't know that you needed to have finished senior. Um, my application process was very arduous and long and complicated, and I had to get support letters from stacks of people, had to write essays about why I deserve this spot. And I was, I just thought it was normal.
It wasn't normal and I found out it wasn't normal in my first class when someone asked me what my undergrad was and, and I didn't even know that term. I'd never heard of it. I was like, what's an undergrad? So, um, but I got in, hey, and I went as far as a graduate certificate in management. So I went, you [00:12:00] know, a long way.
I did it for nearly two years. I just scraped through. I just passed. Um, But subsequent to that, and in answer to your question Mel, I was working for a government authority and I had found my way into events retrospectively realizing I had always done events. But this was actually an event's job. I was a sponsorship and events officer, um, for a government authority.
It was my job to promote this particular government product in the marketplace. Um, and there was a really, really big campaign that I worked on and that's when I kind of realized I got some accolades for the way I handled some of those events, um, from fairly senior people. And I kind, it just dawned on me, oh, other people dunno how to do this.
Um, it's just a thing. 'cause I'd never had a career. I'd never chosen a career. I'd been a jack of all trades forever. Um, always proud of having 27 [00:13:00] jobs by the time I was 27. Um, that was my catch cry. So, um, that's really when I kind of went, ooh, maybe this is something like a label I can have, you know, and not feel so, um, stupid's not the right word, but I, I did, I just felt like I was not, I was not a professional.
I wasn't, I didn't have a career. Um, so that's when I delved into it and I went back to uni and I found an amazing master's in creative industries at Q ut in Brisbane. Um, one of our gorgeous people on here at the moment, Ellie, her father, was my very first lecturer in my very first unit. I think this blows my mind.
Brisbane I know is just so small. I know. Mental in. Um, like that was my first. So when I did the business degree, I got fours, four, and a halfs, which is just passing, like that's on the line for anyone who's not in Australian, uh, in Australia. And, um, [00:14:00] doesn't know our system. But, uh, seven is a good mark. Um, a four is a pass, so four and a half is just scraping through.
Um, when Michael gave me my first six, I got a six for his unit. Um, and it was business development, so it was the thing I was doing all the time, and that was so exciting. So then I was addicted, I was totally addicted to good marks, um, and subsequently got a 6.75 G p a, um, out of that. So I did extremely well, but because I loved it and because I really honed in on events and sponsorship is the other thing, um, the two things that I really focused on.
So, um, in answer to your question, I did not study. But eventually I kind of decided, um, it might be something worth looking into. And, um, not to ramble on, but the, the other reason I did the study is because I, I had come out of the music industry. I was trying to keep my hand in it. 'cause [00:15:00] anyone who's in music knows it's a drug.
You really, you can't let it go. Um, you just wanna be around it, working in it all the time. Now, it doesn't matter if it makes you no money, you, you know, you've gotta be in the thick of it. And I was trying to stay in it, but I was trying to make money as well. So I was running workshops for musicians. Um, I was creating project plans, tour plans, record launch plans, recording plans, uh, anything I could do to help, uh, independent bands and musicians, um, you know, live their best life and do what it was that they wanted to do.
Uh, but, but my work wasn't landing. So they loved it. And um, everyone's like, oh, this is amazing. This is amazing. But no one actually did anything with my plans. I'd follow up and go say, how'd you go with that? Did you do the tour? Did you do the launch? Did you do the thing? Oh no, I didn't get to it. And I realized then that I didn't, I wasn't using, um, the right language and the right tools to meet the needs of that [00:16:00] person's, um, mind, I guess, and thought process.
So that's when I kind of went, oh, I probably need to learn how to be an artist. 'cause I'm not an artist, I'm not a performer. Um, it was very corporate speak, it was very project management focused. So, um, that's, that's when I kind of dove into that and went, well, I'm gonna go and find something where I can go and study, hang out with artists.
And that was the beauty of the masters in Creative Industries, is everyone was a performer, a musician, a visual artist, a sculptor, like a writer. It was divine. I loved it, loved it, loved it. And that's, I then I, I thought if I can learn, if I can learn from those lecturers how they teach, I, I can take that information.
And, and that's where Michael was instrumental anyway and up about Michael University. Oh, look, I just think that's really beautiful and it's just, um, yeah, Ellie's very special. So of course she comes from [00:17:00] very special parents. And I just, I love, yeah. I just love that it just takes out one person, you know?
And I just wonder if, what would've happened if you'd met a Michael as a teacher when you were young? Do you know what I mean? It always just takes that one person. Well, I don't think I would've been ready. I don't, no, I don't think I would've been ready. Yeah. No, that's, that's fair. I've, my, my father's a perpetual learner.
Everything my father read, um, everything he admired, I now just consume exponentially. Yeah. Then I looked at it and went, what's that? What is that? I didn't mature until I was at least 35, let me tell you. I was, I was in my mid to late thirties before I went. Oh, there's other people in the world, right? Yeah.
Okay. I, I think we're, again, kindred spirits. Mad. Exactly the same. Um, uh, I just wanted to just tell you who's in, in the room at the moment. So we've got, um, so we've got the amazing, um, Ali and also, so Ali's gonna be putting on her, um, one woman show, [00:18:00] uh, and she's gonna be calling it Blossoming Ella. So she's going to be doing, uh, some blossom dairy in Ella Fitzgerald, but she's also going to tell her story around that.
So that's really exciting. Um, and we've also got the incredible Paula Hackney. So Paula is the front woman of a bank called, um, Melody Graves and the Hoku Redemption. Um, she's also, she's a fabulous jazz singer, so she does a lot of her own, you know, like sort of jazz standards, but she also fronts, um, you know, another band sort of based off that band.
So, um, Paula is also in, um, the corporate world as well. So, uh, it's interesting, you two are kind of similar vibe. You can speak both languages. So she, she can do the whole corporate speak and she's also got, um, a strong project management head as well. Um, but you know, she's, she's always been in the music industry, um, since.
You [00:19:00] know, as, as you know, I think in your twenties, Paula, she's Yeah. Been performing and putting on events, that kind of thing. So I just think, yeah, we've got some kindred spirits in here already listening. Um, yeah, Paula, don't worry about the tech. Yeah. This is, um, this isn't the Fearless Singers members, I think all the, I call things fearless singer something, and it gets a bit confusing as to where the groups are, so I won't have to be a little bit more discerning with, uh, what I call different groups and things.
So this is, this is a private podcast for the Fearless Singers Facebook group, not the membership. Um, um, Ali said, teleporters, you are gorgeous, my folks and their love, and they're so thrilled to hear that we've made connection through Mel and Fearless. And she said, enough about Michael
as children do, stop talking about my parents. Exactly. That's it. That's it. Um, oh, this is so fabulous. I'm so happy this is all [00:20:00] happening. Um, so look, I just, I think that's amazing. I just, I love the fact that from Day Dot Sally, it's always been about, it's been your way. You have, uh, you have a, you've, you've created a unique path for yourself and I feel like you've just really honored who you are.
And I, I can really sense. I think even just That's a nice way of saying it. That's, yeah. No, no. But honestly, I think, you know, if, if I had met you as a young person as like putting my teacher head on as a classroom teacher, I would've thought, oh, come on, love this challenge. You know, I would've, I, I, I, like, I was a kind of the, the saint for the naughty kids.
They, I just, yeah, they loved me and I loved them because they were, I loved them because I saw that they were the rebels, they were the rule breakers. They were going to challenge the status quo. And, and I really, um, you know, I helped them kind of develop that [00:21:00] in, in a much more, I love that positive way that's was gonna help them as well.
You know, I just didn't want more teachers didn't wanna see them burn, burn their bridges. So really help them channel that into creative projects and yeah, that's what, that's the part that I miss about education, but, Yeah, then I wouldn't be able to do this. Um, so anyway, back to you and your incredible skills.
I just wanna, um, highlight to everybody that you are offering a webinar, a free webinar tomorrow. Is that right? Yeah, I am. Yes. Talk, talk us through what, what, what can we expect in, in the webinar? So I've developed, again, out of, out of my own desire to, um, you know, we all have a million ideas in our head and, um, I was kind of throwing stuff at the wall and hoping things stick.
Uh, and eventually that got frustrating and no one could really understand what it was that I was trying to create. So I came up with a little, um, 15 step process for myself to. Essentially [00:22:00] evaluate the feasibility of an event, um, of an idea. And it's a really very, very, very, very, very distilled down version of, um, a much wider program that I have.
But I've since taken that sort of 15 step word document, you know, questionnaire and put it into this really cool graphic, which essentially leads you through the idea generation process, helps you, um, I guess navigate your way through the purpose, the audience, the objectives, the outcome. That's kind of the first step of why am I doing, who am I doing it for?
Um, and that kind of process. Then we start to get into a bit of nitty gritty into, well, what does the program look like? Um, where are we gonna do it? What do we need? What does our audience need? So there's another section that's kind of all about the program and the audience, and then how we're gonna get it out there, how much it might cost.
Um, we brainstorm a few things around risks and issues and any contracts we [00:23:00] might need to have. And it's, it's, it sounds really complex, but it's a, it's a two page document that, um, essentially has one to two lines in each of the boxes and there's 15 boxes. And you can take this information and I promise you, it's like it's, I don't like calling it an elevator pitch 'cause it's, it's corporate speak, but it really is, you will be able to.
When someone says to you, so what are you up to Mel? And you've got this new project going on and someone says, what are you up to Mel? And you can go, well, I really wanted to help people do this. So those people, I've created this thing and this is how it rolls out. The program looks like this, ticket prices about this much, it's gonna be starting in this date.
We're gonna put it on in this location. Um, I'm a little bit worried about these couple of things and I need some help here or some support here. But look, I really think it's gonna be amazing and the outcome people are gonna get is this. Oh, I love that. And it's like, I love that. Yes. And, and you know what?[00:24:00]
I love the fact that also too, it's a show, it's an event, but you are thinking in terms of audience outcome. Yeah. So how am I serving Who is this gonna, who is this gonna benefit? And coming back to as singers, we, we are providing a service. You know, and it's, it's more than just us standing on the stage doing this.
You know, it's like, what are we. Yeah. What is, what is the value connects the dots, right? What's the, what's the connection? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It connects the dots. Um, and I've started kind of relating it. I, I need to probably start doing it for my social media because I keep looking at my social media going, it's not like it's good and it's, I like it.
And, um, you know, it gets a bit of engagement and what have you, but it, it's not connected. I feel like I'm just, uh, you know, Speaking. So I kind of need, I feel like I need to do it like a campaign and, and use it so you can actually use this process for any idea. It's not just for events, but the workshop tomorrow [00:25:00] is, um, very much focused on events.
So, um, it runs for an hour and a half, 10 till, uh, 10 till 1130. And it's an ask me anything after that I will be on for as long as you want. You can, if you are on there live, you can come and talk to me about what it is that you wanna create. Um, and I will answer any question that you have. Um, I will dig into my resources, which are wide and varied and vast and very deep, um, and to help people just get their events launched because I really think if, if this, I wanna go in this direction because if I can, if I can engender more people to create greater audience experiences, we all benefit from that.
And I feel like we're coming, we're coming through a bit of a phase at the moment where there's some, some operators out there that are great marketers and they're not delivering great products. You know, we paid good money for a piece of real [00:26:00] estate. Um, I had a bit of a rant on TikTok a while ago about the urban festival, suburban festival, and the fact that it's not a festival, like a gin festival is not a festival.
So I can't, you can't, you can't charge me to come into a piece of real estate to sell me something. Yeah. That's, that's not a festival. No, there's no music happening. There's, you know, yeah. So, so I did go on a bit of a rant about that kind of thing. So I, it just fuels me even more to, to go home. Come, can, can we just do greater things together and, um, I.
I've done, I, I've never focused on any particular kind of event, which everyone will tell you is not the right thing to do. But, um, I've just got so many, uh, experiences and tools out there that I know it doesn't matter what you're doing, I've done it and I, I can help you do yours as long as you are prepared to focus on the audience.
That is the one thing I'll continue to bring you back on track with. [00:27:00] Uh, does the audience care about this? Oh, absolutely. By the way, I'm sorry, I'm not ignoring you. I'm just getting the link to your webinar to post into Oh, I was gonna do that real quick. Yeah, I'm doing that now. Just keep talking. Okay.
'cause I've got it here if, if you want, but, um, yeah, no, I've got, I've got it now. It's all good. Okay. Sweet. So look, thi this journey started pre covid actually, uh, I started creating, um, event planning workshops, um, in about 2018, um, late 2017, 2018. And it, again, it came outta necessity. I was working in a venue, I was selling a big indoor sports venue and lots of community members would come to hire the venue from us.
And, um, really just missing so many critical elements that would make their event a success. And it, I just spent so much time working with community groups and helping them put their event plans together, because so many of them just, most [00:28:00] people just start in the middle, and that's okay. Like every, everybody does it.
Um, but, but there's, you know, there's 10 things you need to do before you pick where and when you're gonna do it. Mm. Um, and then there's another 10 things after that that you need to focus on too. So it's kind of come from, uh, Trying to help people, um, do it in an, just take the chaos out. It's meant to be fun, right?
Yeah. It's, you need to have a really good time doing this. And I don't pass anyone these days, particularly with community events or um, you know, anyone producing their own staff or if they're on a committee who, who doesn't get to the end of it and go, I'm never doing that again. Mm. It's like having a baby.
They will do it again. 'cause they'll forget how painful their experience was. Right. Um, so many people go, I'm, I'm never doing that again. And that devastates me. 'cause it's meant to be fun. It is glamorous. It is fun. Yeah. Right. [00:29:00] That's it. I, I look, I, I get such a high from putting on shows like I really do, and just seeing the Yeah.
The people's faces in the room, and I love the, yeah. The Fearless Singer showcase that, uh, we've been putting on. And yeah. Uh, last year I ran, um, uh, fem Jazz, which I'll reignite again this year. Um, but yeah, Harvey and I, so Harvey Blues, who I collaborate with, um, we put on a show celebrating Amy Winehouse, and it sold out for two nights.
And again, it was, it was a lot of hard work, and there were times where you're just like, why did I do this? Oh, this is such a lot of money to spend. Um, but the end result was just, it was just so worth it to see. Just the faces of people. They were so happy to be there and yeah, to be su supporting local artists.
Um, but anyway. And that's the driver, right? That's the driver. Oh, honestly, it really comes back to, always [00:30:00] comes back to your audience. Yeah. Yeah. You, you have to love your audience. Yeah. I have a photo that I always go back to. 'cause when I, when I first started touring bands, um, my first tour was killing Heidi.
And they were amazing. They were just the most gorgeous, gorgeous bunch of people. Um, but that was kind of like my first tour by myself. No, you know, no one else kind of helping me. Um, so as you can imagine, I was shit scared. And don't forget, I'm in my forties. Like, I'm not a young person who's got no fear.
I'm, you know, I'm 45 by this stage, so I've got plenty of fear bearing down on me. And, um, we are in, we are in this pub in Ellie Beach, and I think it was maybe show number three on the tour and. Everybody's bumping in and it's just kind of like the same thing over and over again. And I've kind of just lobbed into the tour at this point, and I say to the band, how can you stand this every night?
How can you stand these yabos, these idiots like just yelling at you at the front of the stage [00:31:00] every night and you have to sing the same songs over and over and over again. And that's when they said to me, it's a drug. You can't. You can't not. You wait. You wait and see. And lo and behold, you know, doors open, mic's on mouth sound, and I'm just like, I'm doing this always.
And this is so, this is what I want people to get right. This is why I'm so passionate about getting the process sorted, because I see people at events running around like mad idiots when doors open. They're not, they've not allowed themselves the moment to just watch the faces as they come in. Mm-hmm.
And so my favorite photo I have is, um, good old Shannon Noll. 'cause I toured the idols, good old Shannon Noll on stage. I'm actually standing on the drum rise are behind everyone. So there's band and the faces of the audience in front, and the women's faces in the front row are just like that. I just look at that and go, this is why we're doing it.
[00:32:00] Oh God, this is why we're doing what we're doing. Right. Yeah. They just love it so much. Hey. Oh, Sally, that's beautiful. Sorry, I just interrupted you. I've done that a couple of times. I that's talking over you. It's just this whole, you know, medium as well, getting used to it. Uh. I love that you're so passionate about it.
And it's so funny 'cause this morning I, I saw this post where, you know how they talk about if you find a work that you you really love, you're not gonna ever work a day in your life. Um, this woman, in particular woman was saying, well, actually, but also too, you can't fake passion. No, you can't fake it.
You know? So if you, if you plan this life out, or even if you plan an event that isn't actually your pa an event that you're not passionate about, it's gonna feel a bit sticky and clunky the whole way. But if you plan an event that you are gonna feel really aligned with, And genuinely passionate about, you don't mind going through those, you know, 15 [00:33:00] steps, you know?
No. And, and, and yeah. Being very prescriptive about, you know, what you're doing. And that's why purpose is so, purpose is so important because it does get really hard and it gets expensive. And there are times when you are really scared and you're thinking, am I doing the right thing? Having that purpose front of mind all the time.
A, it's a decision maker. And b, it helps you stay on track. Hmm. You keep looking at it going, yeah, that's right, that's right. That's this, this thing. And it's the same with me, like this online course world. Um, I just wanna be a coach, really. Like I would just love to just talk to people and people come to me, but you know, we're in this environment where we have to have these structured courses, which do my head in because I'm not a scholar.
Um, but that's what the world wants right now. Um, But I, I think you'll just, you'll present them in your way, you know? I mean, you'll, I keep going because like, this has to happen. I, I don't know if you've seen my socials lately, but, [00:34:00] you know, the whole, um, getting on your own stage, this is, that's only just kind of dropped for me.
I guess that that is why, like, I know people that have paid enormous amounts of money to play on someone else's stage. And I, I don't want that for people. You know, you can actually play on your own for very little amounts of money. It doesn't have to cost you a lot. Um, but yeah, there's varying degrees for sure.
So, Sally, would you start with identifying your, your purpose, your, you know, or your passion or the. Is that where you'd normally start? Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Um, starting, starting with your why, why do you, and, and it's not, why are you seeing, why am I in this business? Why am I an artist? You know, none of that meta kind of stuff.
It's why do I wanna put this show on now in this time right now? And you have to keep bringing yourself back to that little specific thing. So in the context of events and, you know, festivals and that kind of thing, I say [00:35:00] to people, um, I'll say to people, why do you wanna do this in the formative of an event?
And they'll say, oh, well my business this, my business that. And I'll go, yeah, but you could run a Facebook ad campaign, you could run a Google ad campaign to drive business. Why do you wanna do it as an event? And eventually they'll dig deeper and deeper and deeper and go, well, because I get better connection when I can talk to person, shoulder to shoulder.
Ah, bingo. Okay. So that's priority number one in real life. Crowded room, shoulder to shoulder, so, Um, starting with the purpose of why you want to get on stage and put your own show on, um, is critical. Everything else will fall out of that, and every decision will come back to that. So every time you need to make a decision, um, if you're not sure whether to make that decision or not, you can look back at your purpose and go, doesn't meet our purpose.
So there's, there's, there's purpose, um, objective outcomes, [00:36:00] audience and values. They're the top five. So there you, they're your five things that you've gotta come back to all the time. So if you're struggling to make a decision or you've got partners in this with you and uh, someone wants to throw in some random idea that.
Is not a great idea. Which happens all the time in creative pursuits, doesn't it? Some, someone brings a blue elephant into the room and it's not Moulin Rouge. Um, and so another, another brand they've go to Moulin Rouge. They saw the elephant, the theater, and said, we need one of those two in our show. Um, you know, you can look back at the purpose, values, objectives, outcome and audience, and go, does it match these?
Mm-hmm. And more often than not, it won't. Um, and if they're insistent, you can then go, okay, cool, but we have to change something here. Mm-hmm. We need to rethink everything that we are doing. Mm-hmm. I see some comments. A question. Yeah. So Paula said uniqueness combined with passion and experience is so much more engaging than a cookie cutter [00:37:00] approach when it comes to presenting Absolutely.
A hundred percent oats. Yeah. And she said that there's so much value in doing things your own way. It's innovation and action. I love that. Yeah. That's brilliant. Yeah. And then, oh, sorry. No, you go. No, no, that's fine. Um, I think being a tool promoter, um, getting to see the various different ways people do things and how, how bands and artists and performers can really just kind of zoning on themselves, um, when it comes to the crunch.
I think that's, that's what I really love about artists and performers, and that is the innovation slash uniqueness zone is all of a sudden you can, you can literally see it, like all of a sudden the walls will come down. It's like, Nope, nobody else is in here now. This is, this is our space. If it's a band or, you know, performance troupe or something.
Um, all decision, [00:38:00] everything, everything, everybody else out. This is just us. And I think we see it, you know, as people go, as you know, the big bands go on stage and they do the, you know, all the hands together and they have their little mantra that they say and before they go on. Um, I think that's doing things in their own way that's like, thank you taken on board.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now it's us. Mm. And I want more people to do that. More and more people to do that. Yeah. Yeah. Just being very, very clear on your values, your unique passion, you know? Yeah. And, and your objectives. And I think after a while you start to also get to know who your audience are, and you have this beautiful relationship with them.
Your audience then also becomes your community. You know, around what you do, and they are, and building the audience you want, right? Yeah, yeah. Building the audience that, that you want to serve. So, so, being true to yourself, knowing what your purpose is. Why, why do I wanna perform? Um, why do I wanna get on stage and perform this [00:39:00] show?
If somebody wants to share, um, any of their passions or any of the reasons that they think that they want to get their own show on the road, I'd love to hear them because I'm way better bouncing back and forth, um, from, you know, from other people's questions. But I think if you've had an experience where, you know, maybe you've been a support act on somebody else's tour, and you find yourself performing to an audience that's not yours, or in an environment that doesn't really fit with how you wanted to play.
Actually, this reminds me of, um, of, of a funny story, of a very high profile, um, solo performer who was a lead singer of a very, very, very big band back in the eighties. Um, we were doing this run of shows and back in the day, Gil Holley's Irish bars was a big thing in Brisbane. And I remember they were great.
They were an awesome supporter of live music. They were an awesome supporter [00:40:00] of live music. So we used to do runs, we'd do full runs in Gil Gilley's pubs, and there was like five of them. Um, and this particular performer just stopped playing one night. Absolutely just stopped playing because we were in, um, there used to be a jazz bar in the city and like an underground jazz bar in the city that was amazing.
And it turned into a Gilley's pub, but it was still a beautiful venue. And I remember being in there and someone on this table over here was chatting away, and so he just put his guitar down. And just like ranted at this table like crazy that they were talking, they, you know, didn't, didn't, um, you know, respect what he was doing, et cetera, et cetera.
Um, the following night we were going to the Brackenridge Tavern, the back room of the Brackenridge Tavern, which is like workers' pub extraordinaire. And I was petrified, I was thinking like, this is beautiful. This is, every people were sitting on the [00:41:00] floor at the, at his feet on the carpet listening to him play.
And I'm thinking, oh my God, he's gonna kill us when we go to the Brackenridge Tavern. And he finds out that it's, you know, this back room of a workers' pub in, in, um, you know, middle class Brisbane. So when, so that person was very upset because they were playing for money, right? Mm-hmm. So they weren't, they weren't playing in environments they wanted to play in.
Um, they were playing for money 'cause they needed. Money and they accepted anything and they, I guess, abdicated those responsibilities to other people. It happened one other time and, and I actually fronted the artist and said, but you knew right? You knew where you were playing. You get the run. You, you see it before you accept it, right?
Yeah. Yeah. Well, well, you know, there's 300 people out there who've just paid good money to come and see you play, so, you know, you need to go play. Yeah. Good on you. [00:42:00] I didn't say it as nice as that, but, um, I think that's a great example of when, uh, artists are, you know, it's not new material that they're trying to get out.
They're, you know, they're obviously working, but I think at some point you have to reconcile yourself with, um, you know, they would've done better to go, or, I'm gonna serve my audience with this right now. And hopefully if I keep doing that, when my new material comes, they'll still be there and they'll keep listening to me, you know?
Mm, mm mm No, that's wonderful. Yeah. Just, yeah, getting clear on why you're doing something and then if it is like, okay, actually I just really need money right now, um, yeah, that's cool. Then thinking, okay, okay, well, yeah, just honor that and, and go with it. And, and don't be annoyed by what's happening in front of you.
Exactly. Um, or go, actually, no, I'm not going to accept that [00:43:00] this is what I want. And then go for that. Yeah. And then you're not messing anyone around or you know, you've just been true to whatever you need at that point. Yeah. Can we just go through, so, um, I'm really excited about your webinar tomorrow, so I'm, I've definitely signed up.
I'm coming. Um, I just wanna also, uh, put out there that you've also got these two amazing resources that you are happy to email. So if did, do you wanna just type in your email, um, in the chat? So if you wanna just email Sally, or you can also find her on, um, Facebook. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, Facebook at Sally Portus actually are, are you typing it in cell?
Everything's, everything's my name. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And if you can also find Sally on Instagram at Sally Portus as well. So at Sally Portus events on, in, on Instagram. Yeah. But if you type in Sally Portus, I, I've tried chatted before. I've just gone Silly putties and you've just come up straight away. Yeah, so if you just dmm, I'm not a [00:44:00] Jamaican politician.
That's the only other Sally Bo's out there, so I know I saw that. I'm she's Jamaican politician. Sally Bodie is o bm. Yeah, that's not me. There we go. Um, Sally's got everything in there. So in the chat email [email protected] au. So yeah, Sally sent through these two flow charts, um, to me to have a look at, and I was like, my maps, oh.
And she said, yeah, my maps, my maps, sorry, my apologies. And she said, will this be a benefit? And I was like, oh my God, this is hugely invaluable. So, um, which just shows you, so there was two, there's the, like, if you ever wanna go on a tour, and so all the things that you need to consider when, you know, you're, you're, you're putting on your tour and also one just for, um, a, a live event or show.
Yeah. Just a single show. Single show. Yeah. Yeah. Single show. So yeah, if you email, get in contact with, um, Sally Direct, she'll, she'll just flick that to you in an email. But please sign up for her webinar, which is [00:45:00] tomorrow. Um, what were the times again? 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM to 1130 Australian time till 1130.
Um, it will be recorded, so if, if you can't make it, feel free to sign up and the recording will be sent out as well. Yeah. Um, I really wanna talk about objectives and outcomes real quick. Yeah. Because we've got no, oh, we've got plenty of time. I just wanted to Yeah, yeah. Just, um, insert that in there. Um, yeah.
'cause we started off with purpose and so the next one is objectives and No. So audience would be next. Okay. So purpose, audience. Audience is the second one. So really being clear about the audience that you wanna serve. Mm-hmm. Um, and so that in this context will come down to the venues that you choose.
To do your shows in, right? Mm-hmm. So making sure that, um, you know, if if the, if the working class over 50 kind of audience is not yours, then don't book the R s l. Mm-hmm. Um, [00:46:00] you know, but if it is like your show at the Jazz Club, which was amazing, like you've only gotta look out into that audience and go, I wanna serve people who are open to new music, who, um, like an intimate environment who will sit and listen to me play.
You know? Or if you're a big heavy rock band and you don't care if people listen to you play, you just want people to dance and go crazy and have a good time, then pick, you know, when you start working through it. Um, knowing. So when you're trying to choose your audience and objectives and outcomes all along the way, knowing who you're serving at the same time, um, makes it really easy to make those decisions.
Right. So your audience, um, The outcome, the outcome is like the, so out outcome and objective are kind of interchangeable, but in my context, outcome is, um, what are we hoping to achieve overall here, right? So if you're putting on a show, um, it, it's sort of [00:47:00] purpose, but it's not that internal purpose. Um, you may want to, um, let people know that you've got a record coming out that would be, um, an outcome, right?
That's the outcome. But the objective might be to get 50 people to sign up to your newsletter list to be advised, like get on a wait list to be sent the link. To purchase your new album when it comes out. So whilst yes, you are there and you are performing, you need to also understand, hang on, I'm supposed to be getting 50 new signups to a waiting list here as well.
How am I gonna do that? Well, I'm gonna get someone to come along and support me. They're gonna run a merch desk for me. They're gonna actually go around and ask people, are you interested? Do you wanna sign up for the wait list for Mel's next album? It's coming out on such and such a date. So having those specific objectives there that you wanna achieve, that meet the outcome, [00:48:00] which meet the purpose and the purposes that you wanna keep performing live and serving your audience.
Hmm. Does that make sense? That makes perfect sense. That's awesome. I'm just sitting here going, I'm gonna be rewatching this and taking, well, the thing is, um, I remember an occasion where I, I was on tour with a female performer and she wasn't selling any merch. Right. And it was back in the day when, you know, A roadie or someone would run the merch desk for someone.
Um, and she wasn't selling any merch. We were like three shows in. And I was like, how'd you go tonight? 'cause I'm a salesperson at at heart, you know, that's what I do. And we were like three shows in and I'm like, how are you going? She's, oh, you know, I sold five CDs last night and I sold five CDs the night before.
And I'm like, okay, well I'm gonna challenge you. Um, when we hit town tomorrow night, I want you to sell 30 CDs before you go on stage. Oh, I can do that. Can never do that. Well just have a go. How can we do that, do you [00:49:00] think? And we just sat down and we brainstormed a bunch of ways that she could actually sell her merch before the show.
Um, And she didn't sell 30, obviously she did about five, but it just kind of got her in the mindset. So then she was talking about it on stage every break. Don't forget, I've got t-shirts over there, I've got CDs over there. You know, when she was at, at the desk selling stuff to people, um, we were even walking around the audience selling it, you know, like just making people, just making people, because that's how you're making money, right?
Yeah. You're selling, that's, that's you're making most of your money outta your match. So, um, having that objective. So for her, so then it was, it was, let's sell 30 CDs every night. We we're on this tour for two weeks. We can sell 30 CDs every night. And so that becomes the goal every night. Did she ever get 30?
Did she ever get hit to her? 30. Okay. No, that's alright. She 25, you know? Yeah, that's awesome. You've gotta, you've gotta [00:50:00] aim for the stars so you can the trees. Yeah. Yeah. We're only talking rooms of a hundred people, so. Yeah. Yeah, that's great. Pretty good. Yeah. Um, but it just, and I guess the thing with, um, performance is the stage performance is already set.
Right? It's, um, not, not to downplay anything, but it's, it's almost rote. Like you've, you've practiced, you've rehearsed so well. Uh, it's, it's a show for you. You get up and you perform. It's all the other stuff around it that you have to put the effort into making yourself do. Mm-hmm. The getting on stage bit for, for most of you, I'm guessing is, I'm gonna say the easy part.
I know it's not easy, don't get me wrong. It's certainly not easy to get on stage, but it's, it's kind of the, um, that's the job, right? Yeah. Yeah. My job is to come here and perform. Um, the, the hard part is to remember, oh, I've gotta sell merch as well and I have to build my newsletter database and I [00:51:00] have to make sure I get a hundred signups for the wait list for my album that's dropping in whenever it's gonna drop.
Mm-hmm. So that's, um, that's probably the top four. And values, um, values is really what's not negotiable. Right. Where are you never gonna play? What are you never gonna do? What are you always gonna do? What are you gonna make sure it's always in place? Um, and that can be, I can talk about this tomorrow, but there's a wide variety of, um, different things that you can put in there, both personal values, your company values, um, you know, your performing values, all of that kind of thing.
Um, down to, you know, how much you pay players in your band. Um, minimum, you know, mean everybody must get paid minimum wage, for example, or everyone must get paid minimum wage plus 20%. Um, all of these things are decision makers. I love that. No, that's fantastic. It's just so great to have a framework, I think.
And [00:52:00] then I love the fact that you can take this same, uh, matrix or structure and then you can use this not just for a show, but you can use it for your music business. I. As well, you know? Yeah. And just being really clear as to, you know, who, who am I? What do I believe? Who am I serving? What are some of those little, uh, structures that I need to have in place?
Like, um, you know, you know, how, how do I have that conversation with the audience around merchandise? When do I have those conversations? And start to get that into your, into your muscle memory. It does become practice. Sally, I've, I've been there where it's been a real struggle to say, you know, what it is that you want, you know, people to do, whether it's, um, to follow you on, on social media.
That used to sound really clumsy when I'd say it, but now it just goes blah, blah, blah. You know? Yeah. And yeah, if I had merch to sell, that's what, uh, you know, that would be my next thing. Well, actually, that will be my, [00:53:00] my next thing is, is merchandise. Yeah. Uh, You're just the second part. Yeah. The second part to it is, um, so there's, you know, page one is, is all the fun design stuff.
All the, everybody loves doing kind of part one, but part two is equally as important, um, and probably more important from a performance point of view. So that's about the costs, um, the ticket prices, the numbers that you need, the breakevens, the um, the risks, the contracts, the insurances, all of the stuff, um, that I feel like, uh, just, oh, yeah, yeah.
We'll get to that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's fine. Just sign it. Like, no, no, no, no. Don't just sign it. Um, so again, it's just a little brainstorm and reminder for those kind of things. Mm. Um, particularly contracts, you know, venue contracts, making sure you get paid. How are you gonna get paid? Who's looking after tickets?
Uh, it's a lot easier today to get paid directly. Just hire the room. [00:54:00] Um, hi. The room and you handle everything. Like, it's so much easier today than it was back then. Um, and even way back then. Um, and I don't think it's the case now. I can't find it legally anywhere and someone online may be able to share with me, but I'm pretty sure you don't need a ticketing agent anymore.
But you used to, you used to have to use, um, someone who was, um, In the ticketing association was a member of the ticketing association. Oh, right. Well we use um, third party. So, um, you told me, you sent me an email. Sorry I didn't respond back to you. That's okay. About the, um, that I can sell tickets through, uh, my website platform.
Yeah, yeah, I can do that. However, we use things like human ticks now and the only reason why, yeah, I can never say, I never say anything properly. It's human ticks. Sorry. No, no, no, but, but you know, I should say, learn how to say things properly. [00:55:00] Um, but we use those because, uh, they're also act as a bit of a sort of a, um, catalog of sorts, you know, for people to find your events.
Um, but yeah, no, we can use that. Or, or, um, Q ticks. Uh, the other one is Eventbrite, but Eventbrite charge through the nose, so I don't use them. I love the, um, human ticks, um, because of the fact that you can have an option for people to donate to a cause that you, um, That you advocate for? Yeah. Um, it's also a social enterprise and, um, a hundred percent of their profits go to, um, children's charities actually.
Not just any charity. Children's charity. Yeah. Yeah. I I love that, that social aspect. And they're an Australian, New Zealand company, which is bonus number two. Yeah. If you're gonna use a ticketing agent, absolutely. Use human. Don't use anything else. No, I, I a hundred percent agree with you. Yeah. And it's so easy.
It's so easy to navigate, you know, the, with the, you know, um, the interfaces just really, really clear and [00:56:00] Yeah. Um, and you can make really complex ticketing options as well. So, um, Like, I've used it for conferencing, for example, and made it super complex and it handles all of that. Handles everything. It's really good.
Yeah. Oh, fantastic. Yeah. So, yeah, no, but that stuff is really important and definitely, uh, insurance is really important. So a lot of performers just go through duck for cover. Yeah. Um, yeah, so that, that can, uh, like, so that gig that I just had at the Brisbane Jazz Club, um, that venue requires you to have, you know, to present your, your certificate of currency and most, most venues as well, if you're just booking the venue to hire it for a show, they require your, um, your certificate as well.
Yeah. And yeah, it's pretty affordable for artists through Duck for cover. Yeah. I know there's more comprehensive ones through different places, but most of us just tend to use that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, at the end of the day, it's a low risk activity. Yeah. Unless you've got [00:57:00] pyrotechnics and, um, you know, speaker stacks and a whole bunch of stuff going on, um, yeah, it's pretty, pretty low risk.
Yeah. Yeah. And I, the only thing I would say is to have all of those things saved in a folder, you know? Yeah. So you can easily just go, boop, if you have to email it to Yes, absolutely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look, um, it's not the most rewarding advice, but there you go. Yeah, no, you can have Yeah. A, a nice little procedure.
Um, I, I have various checklists for events. I don't have one for putting on a show though, but, um, you could turn those mind maps, the, the tour and the single show mind maps. You could turn those into a checklist quite easily. Yeah. Awesome. Sally, before you go, so we we're actually, we've been talking for nearly an hour.
I know. It's amazing. I could just, I could just keep, we could just keep talking. What would be one massive piece of advice you would give [00:58:00] to a singer that's looking to one put on their show? On own show? Or even just like, maybe just start identifying more as, as a single entrepreneur, this is my music business.
What, what, what advice would you, would you give us? Yeah, exactly that. Treat it, treat it like a business. Um, even if it's a side hustle, that's okay. It's like, it's, um, Make sure that you, um, you know, have, I'm sure you go through all of this sort of stuff, making sure that all the domains and socials and all of those names that you've got those, um, but just get out there and start, start playing.
There's lots and lots of different opportunities, um, both directly and through agencies. So, um, one of my clients, Lisa runs Brisbane's music agency. She's amazing. She's the most gorgeous soul. You'll never meet an agent as kind and nice as she is. Um, and you know, she's doing things like, um, [00:59:00] there's so many random places that people are putting on performers now because, you know, everyone wants that interaction again, so, Decide on your kind of, uh, I guess where you are comfortable performing, like what, um, experience level you are at, and if you just wanna get used to getting in front of people, there's really great opportunities to do that.
For example, there's uh, an alien night market at Underwood that has an amazing stage and an incredible giant screen behind it that Lisa is booking and they do soloists on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Um, and again, it's just an environment to keep. Practicing and getting in front of people and booking and, and getting your procedures right.
So if you're kind of at that level, there's even one at a steak burger joint at Sherwood that she books, which is so interesting. Um, but you know, there's Sunday morning cafes and things like that. There's busking opportunities in the Queen Street Mall that you can book through. Brisbane [01:00:00] City Council has a busking program.
Um, so depending on your level of experience, pick the environment that you wanna work in and then just get used to doing it. Like don't, don't wait for other people to ask you. Um, to, to perform at such and such a place. You really do have to be proactive, um, and go out there and grab the opportunities that you want.
And so a piece of advice someone gave me, which I really loved was. I wanted to do festivals at the time, and so she made me basically go through and write out a list of 10 festivals that I wanted to produce, and then a, go to the festival so I could see what it was about B, get a volunteering gig on the festival so I could see what it was like to work behind the scenes.
And then c pitch my services to produce the festival. Hmm. So just kind of going a little bit deeper into going, that's what I want. I wanna do that. And I actually did that before I, um, [01:01:00] decided to go 100% into business. Like I said, I was working for the government authority and I was kind of like, oh, maybe, maybe this is a thing.
Um, I volunteered on Brisbane Festival. I like, I volunteered on about five different major Brisbane events. 'cause I thought if I can do this for free and still love it, I can, I can go hard in business with it. Um, so just, yeah, just get out there and do it. Get out there and do it. I love it. Thank you so much.
And ask me anything like, follow me, feel free to, um, follow me on all the socials. Uh, I'm always answering people's questions. Et cetera. So, and come tomorrow? Yes. Oh, ally just said, this is brilliant. Thank you, Sally. My new business is blossoming Ella. Oh, love it. Yes. Yes. Nice work. Love it. Yeah. I was just gonna, uh, reiterate that please, please make this a continual conversation with Sally.
Yeah. On, on, on the socials. Make sure you email her, [01:02:00] uh, to get those, uh, to, uh, mind maps. So one for the tour, one for the single show. Uh, also please sign up, uh, to her webinars. Uh, we, uh, do you wanna just post that link again? Um, Sally? Yeah. Shelby, yeah. So that's, that's tomorrow. I'm gonna be there with mobiles on.
Um, actually I'm gonna be there, Sally, I'll be driving to Bundaberg, but I'll, I'll, so I'll have you on in my car. Just so you know, look forward to being on in your path. Uh, so yes, ARD, how cool is this? Stream Yard is amazing. I haven yet it really is. It's, it's so, it's so clear. Um, listen, there was so, there was so much in that there was, honestly, you've really.
Um, you've really gone the extra mile delivering valuable content to us. And there's thank you's, a YouTube as well. There's a bunch of YouTubes up there as well. So if you look for red lanyard on YouTube, red and [01:03:00] lanyard, like you hang around your neck. Mm-hmm. Um, on YouTube. I've got a bunch of videos on there talking about a heap of stuff as well.
Probably not specific performance music related, but, um, it's all but it's all, you can always relate it back to Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's the same thing. Um, thank you very much. Oh mate. You're just excellent. So tomorrow you're just gonna go a little bit more nitty gritty into all of those things. Yeah. Yes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. More structured. And then, and then we'll, uh, as part of that, will we get that, that, uh, document that you're talking about? Yes, we do. Yes. I'm so excited about that. Yes. Um, can I just tease a little bit and just tell you what show I'm, I'm dreaming up for the end of the year. I've been dreaming up about this for.
And it's fine. I'm just going. Okay, just mate, just do it. I wanna put on a Dolly Parton tribute. Oh my God. So it's gonna be a celebration of Dolly Parton and it's gonna be towards the end of the year, and most likely gonna be here in West [01:04:00] End. I've just gotta find the appropriate venue. But yeah, that is fantastic.
Yes. So I am just like, okay, just you, you can't, I definitely can't fake passion. I'm super pa you know, that I'm passionate about. I'll, I'll make Dolly. Um, yeah, gorgeous. I look forward to it. Ellie just said, I'll be emailing you soon, Sally, and touching base with you first that way. Thank you tremendously today.
Yeah, thank you. Oh, it's, thanks silly. Yay. It was awesome to have you along. Yay. And I feel like you and Paula probably know each other 'cause Paula was, uh, is in events. Well we dunno each other, but, um, well, we know each other now, but Yeah. So, yeah, I'm pretty sure Paula, um, worked on the Brisbane Festival.
Well, she Oh, nice. Did the, yeah. Comms, um, events for that at some stage. Look at this cat. He knows that something exciting is happening here and he wants see, he wants in. Um, and so shall we also talk about that you are gonna join me next [01:05:00] week? Yes. Yeah. So I'm gonna have a podcast. I'm gonna have a podcast next week, and, um, Mel is gonna join me and we are gonna be talking about helping people actually get on the stage in the first place.
So, um, I know lots and lots of people who, um, spend a lot of time doing things for others, getting on other people's stages. Um, Setting things up for lots of other people and they have lots of aspirations to do it themselves, but they're scared to do so, um, et cetera. So now's gonna come on and we are gonna talk to those people and help them take that first step in owning their own voice, owning their own presentation and singing style.
And, um, yeah, take them back a couple of steps probably from where these viewers are. Yeah. So if you wanna join us, Yeah. Yeah. On social for that one too. That'd be great. I'm really looking forward to that. [01:06:00] Alright. Okay. Thanks everyone. Thank you. Thank you so much for being here. Yeah. We just love you. Um, yeah, Paula said look forward to connecting more with you.
Sally Portus. Yeah, likewise. Yeah. All well, let's of love Sally. Lots of love. Thank you to who joined us today. And if you are rewatching this, please just, um, hashtag replay. So, and, and again, if you have any questions, um, Sally is now in this field of singers group, so if you tag her, she can respond. Not it didn't, I forced you.
I promise I won't sing. I promise I won't sing. I'm just gonna, um, Sally, I'm just gonna end the broadcast, but we'll still be here. Okay. All, everybody, everyone, thanks for joining us.
