ISSUE 4

QUARTERLY 2012

SPECIAL EVENTS

PRODUCT LAUNCHES

INCENTIVES

CONFERENCES

EXHIBITIONS

www.spicenews.com.au
THE 2012 SPICE IT LIST: Inside some of the years most talked about events AUSTRALIAN EVENT AWARDS: Your guide to the best of 2012

DARRYL & HARMONY LOVEGROVE

Australian Event Awards Entertainer of the Year 2012

ON THE COVER

Two-time Australian Event Award nalists The Leading Men

Photo: Linton Photography

Father and daughter duo Darryl & Harmony Lovegrove; awarded 2012 Entertainer of the Year at the Australian Event Awards in September.
Photo: EventPix

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Lots to love about LOVEGROVE ENTERTAINMENT

When working with an event organiser their spring board is understanding the objectives of the event; whether specic themes are to be incorporated and what experience organisers want their attendees to have. Sometimes planners arent sure what they want the entertainment to achieve and given that our shows have the capacity to move people in different ways. Its important to drill down to the basics of why we are there in the rst place, said Darryl. Whether they provide a dynamic opening, an uplifting middle or a poignant end, their ultimate goal is to create a lasting positive memory for event attendees. Obviously we tailor solutions, customise shows and juggle budgets to accommodate the extremes of large corporate events and small notfor-prot charity fundraisers but they each offer an exciting creative challenge. They stress that to get cut-through in the market they have to be constantly innovating while remaining affordable.

Entertainers of the Year

Darryl & Harmony Lovegrove took out one of the most coveted awards at the 2012 Australian Event Awards, winning the Entertainer of the Year title. The judging panel, led by Sandy Holloway and John Allen AM, indicated Lovegrove Entertainment developed a product that met the needs of a diverse (and difcult to please) audience; an act which brought the judges to tears. Remarkably, Harmony is only 12 years old, making her the youngest recipient of an Australian Event Award.

years after co-creating international operatic phenomenon The Three Waiters, entrepreneur and popular keynote speaker, Darryl Lovegrove, has taken a new direction, forming a new company with his wife Andie, Lovegrove Entertainment. Focusing on providing world class, affordable shows to the corporate, charity and private events market, their business operates in a unique way in that while all of their acts can each stand alone, they are often asked to combine them. Its not unusual for a PCO or event planner to incorporate several of our products into the one conference by having Darryl open or close with his business keynote and return later to MC the Gala Dinner where feature entertainment is provided by The Leading Men or Darryl and Harmony, said Andie Lovegrove. And the event concludes with guests dancing the night away to Jersey to Motown. Any number of combinations are possible and offer a lot of scope to add value for the client. With over 20 years experience in theatre, arts marketing and event entertainment Darryl and Andie are passionate advocates for the contribution that live entertainment makes to the success of an event. We like to create goose-bump moments that make a real connection with the audience as theres nothing more powerful than a personal connection. It really comes down to asking what atmosphere we need to create, she added.
A popular choice for event entertainment; savvy organisers are doubling up and including Darryl Lovegrove as their conference MC as well.

Jersey to Motown. Photo: ONeill Photographics

Keeping focused on current trends inspired Darryl to capitalise on the successful hit show Jersey Boys by creating Jersey to Motown, featuring the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons and the great acts of the Motown era. This is undeniably some of the best music ever written and regardless of generation people cant get enough of it, said Darryl. Both Andie and Darryl have been delighted by the ongoing success of their staple act and two-time Australian Event Award nalists The Leading Men which draws upon an elite group of Australias most awarded and talented musical theatre stars. Andie puts it down to the show being able to meet the continual demand for high class, sophisticated entertainment at an affordable price. For the past eight years audiences have commented on The Leading Mens ability to deliver great showstoppers with a generous mix of humour. For larger budgets we bring in a Leading Lady which changes the dynamic of the show in a very positive way. www.lovegroveentertainment.com

A Keynote Speaker With A Twist

Darryl has quickly become one of the most in-demand speakers among conference organizers. His ability to entertainingly tell his compelling story mixed with key take home business messages has struck a chord with conference attendees across a wide business spectrum. Perhaps his most stark point of difference is being able to incorporate operatic arias into his keynote and getting delegates to their feet joining him in the last phrases of Nessun Dorma. Not surprisingly PCOs have taken advantage of his ability to also perform at the conference gala dinner. For more information on the portfolio of options available for events, visit: www.darryllovegrove.com

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