EIT and The Cabana play a duet

Media Release

IT STARTED WITH A KISS

EIT’s ideaschool and The Cabana have committed to making sweet music together.

Recently formalised, the relationship between the two blossomed when EIT launched its one-year Certificate in Contemporary Music Performance early in 2012. As the Napier venue’s owner Roy Brown so colourfully puts it: “We had our first kiss, and we’ve got to know each other over time.”

Lecturer Tom Pierard, who runs the one-year certificate programme, says the synergy has built on regular contact between The Cabana and ideaschool’s academic staff and students. Highly popular, the certificate programme recently started a second year with yet another full intake of students.

Last month, a memorandum of understanding was signed by ideaschool head Dr Suzette Major and The Cabana’s “Gov’nor” – as Roy styles himself on his business card. In practice, that will see students fulfilling some course requirements with at least two of their monthly live performances staged at The Cabana – blues/funk on 10 April and hip hop on 19 June.

Learning facilitator Ron Kessels introduces students to the venue early on in their study programme, showing them how it’s run. Roy, meanwhile, draws on his experience in the music industry, both in New Zealand and overseas, as one in a series of guest speakers talking to the class about performing at and promoting events.

It’s important, he points out, that musicians know how to present themselves.

“It’s good knowledge to pass on what not to do as much as anything,” he says. “I’m bombarded by bands wanting to play at The Cabana but it’s not that unusual to find someone’s name simply slipped under the door. Or I’ll get an email in which the sender doesn’t bother to greet me by name –and it isn’t hard to find something like that out.”

Roy proudly promotes The Cabana as New Zealand’s longest-established live music venue. Opened in 1958, it is older than The Gluepot in Auckland, which closed in 1993, and Wellington’s Bodega.

“The city fathers view the venue as an important part of the community, promoting live music when doing so has become less common. Last year, we lost four bars in the immediate area and 25 in central Auckland.”

The Cabana can’t exist on rock ‘n’ roll aIone, Roy says, and he is increasing turnover with innovative and flexible arrangements such as the association with EIT.

“Anything like this reeks of positivity,” Roy says, “and it’s a real honour to be involved.”

Tom – a well-known and highly respected musician who, along with other programme staff is a sometime performer at The Cabana – agrees.

“It’s good to have the support of the venue,” he says. “It makes good sense really to introduce students to The Cabana early on in their studies.”

ENDS

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