NEWS RELEASE
from Total Entertainment Ltd
30 June 2004
KIWI CO. WINS GOLD IN ATHENS
Wellington-based events and entertainment company, Total Entertainment, has landed a contract to provide the
entertainment at Sports Illustrated 'Gold Medal' events at the Athens Olympics.
The contract will see the iconic Beat Girls perform for gold medallists and other celebrities at a series of events
being planned for during the Athens Olympics.
Total Entertainment's Billy Watkins said his company had been in discussions with organisers for several months and they
had recently resigned themselves to missing out on selection.
"We thought the opportunity had been lost and then out of the blue got a call confirming the deal was live," said Billy
Watkins.
Total Entertainment will take four Beat Girls to Athens (one spare to cover for any mishaps and provide babysitting
services for Billy and Andrea's 16 month old daughter!).
The company provided entertainment for similar Sports Illustrated events at the Sydney Olympics.
"While Sydney was great, it's a bit like working in your backyard. Athens is a tremendous opportunity for us to take the
Beat Girls to Europe and play in front of the elite of Europe and the United States.
"We have built a company specialising in event entertainment in both New Zealand and Australia, but the exposure we get
in Athens will be our biggest opportunity yet to take the company - and the Beat Girls - global," said Billy
Watkins.
"My belief is that there is no reason why we couldn't have Beat Girls operating in all parts of the world, utilising
local talent and based on a concept developed by a Wellington musician and businessman.
The Beat Girls have been an act for seven years. The 'band' is actually better described as a 'brand.' There are seven
'Beat Girls' in NZ and five in Australia.
Billy Watkins handles the Australian side of the business, with both partners handling aspects of the NZ business.
Billy's partner, and one of the original Beat Girls, Andrea Sanders is responsible for training, choreography and
costume design.
The company has organised a huge number and type of events, from product launches, to shows and festivals.
Some of Total Entertainment's successes include:
· The BMW Marlborough Wine & Food Festival in 2003 & 2004
· Organising entertainment at the Palliser Estate vineyard during the Martinborough Food & Wine Festival for the past few years
· Entertainment for the Sports Illustrated parties at the Sydney Olympics - where the band entertained elite athletes
from Evander Holyfield to Ian Thorpe, and celebrities and supermodels, etc.
Website www.beatgirls.com
ENDS