🌟 Don’t Just Run a Venue — Build a Cultural Destination

There is no better way to build your brand, grow your audience, and unite your local community than with an annual event.

Think mini music festival.
Think Fiesta.
Think Sunday Sesh meets Street Party.
Not Caloundra Music Festival scale (yet), but something uniquely yours — in the car park, the paddock next door, or across your venue and outdoor areas.

These events become brand-defining moments.
They extend your offering beyond the bar and into the heart of your local community.

And trust me — once you run one, they’ll be begging for the next.

📊 The Stats Are In: Local Events Are Big Business

You don’t need 20,000 people to make an impact. Events with up to 2,000 attendees can deliver massive ROI — for your venue, your partners, and your patrons:

• According to Australia Council for the Arts, 67% of Australians attend live music or cultural events to feel more connected to their community.

• A Live Performance Australia report notes that community-based events under 2,000 capacity contribute over $300 million annually to Australia’s local economies.

• Local festivals and family-friendly events are shown to increase venue brand recall by 44%, and social media engagement spikes by up to 200% on the day.

• 71% of regional and suburban event-goers say they’re more likely to return to a venue they discover through an outdoor or all-ages community event.

In a post-COVID world, where people crave connection more than ever, your venue has the power to become the beating heart of that revival.

🎉 The Secret Sauce: Make It A Local Fiesta

What sets a community event apart from a regular gig is inclusivity and immersion. Here’s how to create your own high-impact, high-reward Mini Festival:

🎶 Live Music Is the Headliner

• Book multiple Pushworth bands, duos, or soloists across the day.

• Feature a variety of genres — cover acts, tribute shows, original artists.

• Use an outdoor stage and sound setup to project energy into the street.

🕺 Entertainment For All Ages

• Kids’ Zone: face painting, balloon animals, jumping castles

• Roaming performers: stilt walkers, jugglers, dancers, fire twirlers

• School showcases: invite local school bands or dance troupes to perform

• Community displays: martial arts, cultural groups, vintage car clubs

🍔 Market-Style Experience

• Food trucks: burgers, bao buns, crepes, wood-fired pizza

• Craft stalls: local makers, artists, wellness vendors

• Local distillery/brewery pop-ups: build sponsor relationships and feature signature drinks

• Offer "Festival-Only" specials to create urgency and exclusivity

📸 Maximise Content Creation

• Set up a branded photo wall or arch

• Create a live event hashtag

• Run live giveaways on social (tag to win, best selfie, etc.)

• Get performers to post behind-the-scenes content and tag your venue

📅 Start With Capacity, End With Culture

After a decade managing the Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival, we learned one fundamental truth: your capacity shapes everything.

Your first step? Know how big you want to go.

• Events over 1,500 capacity in Brisbane require an Entertainment Event Permit

• You’ll need to engage with Council regarding safety, stakeholder notifications, and traffic plans

• Smaller-scale events still require thoughtful planning — toilets, security, staging, insurance

📍 Click here for Brisbane City Council's Event Planning Toolkit

Once you’ve confirmed your capacity, build backward from there:

• Map your budget

• Lock in the date

• Secure artists and vendors

• Engage local schools and businesses

• Start the 10-month planning cycle — yes, it’s worth it

💡 Why It Works

Annual events:

• Boost brand equity — you become a place where people make memories

• Increase local media and influencer attention

• Strengthen community ties — essential for long-term venue sustainability

• Attract sponsors and suppliers eager to tap into your audience

• Provide off-season revenue and content to repurpose all year

They’re not just about one day.
They’re about building a legacy.

📞 Ready to Go Big (Without Going Broke)?

Your Pushworth booker isn’t just your talent curator — we’re your event strategist, too.

We can help you:

• Build your entertainment roster

• Source themed entertainment (like stilt walkers, fire twirlers, circus acts)

• Coordinate with vendors and stallholders

• Advise on marketing, timelines, and council approvals

Let’s turn your venue into the place your community can’t wait to return to — every year.

Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2025

I recently attended an annual sports dinner. 5000 people had flown in from across the country to celebrate the end of year season. The entertainment was a locally known 80s tribute band. They charged the organiser $3000.00 for a four hour call. They brought with them a tiny PA and four light cans. As the evening wore on, it was hard to see them and the tiny PA unfortunately made them sound like a frightened fart in a jar.

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We had quoted the same organiser double that for a band that played pretty much the same repertoire however with more experienced and higher profile players who specialised in producing their shows at a very high standard by bringing in a big show lighting rig and sound equipment that could navigate all volume restrictions and requirements without losing quality. Between the sets, we offered a curated and integrated DJ service. The installation, delivery and production management was streamlined and stress free. The quality of the production and lighting would have given the organiser more options in managing the sound and show quality. However, they chose the cheaper option not understanding the difference it would make to their event.

Guests started walking out in the first set. The band couldn’t turn it up without feeding back. Complaints flowed thick and fast. The vocalist lost his voice trying to overcompensate. They lost their connection to the audience. Applause was thin and the dance floor empty. The event managers were stressed. The band was angry. It was a nightmare for all concerned.

The organiser walked over to me mid show and threw his hands up in the air admitting that he should have booked the more expensive band through us. He didn’t realise the impact that a cheaper band, less experienced and qualified performers plus a cheaper production would have on his event.

Hiring the right entertainment package for your event is key.

Mini Festivals, Corporate Events, Parties, Weddings or even a show at the Local Club and Pub – the success of each will be determined by the good time that your guests have. And that is dependent on them singing and dancing and connecting with the performer creating the magic of entertainment – energy exchange.

Three things to consider are:

1.       WHO

2.       WHAT

3.       VALUE

1. WHO

Before you start contacting agents, have a clear plan for your event. What is the demographic of your audience? What is the theme of your event? How will the songs being played by the band add the magic touch to the theme? In the case of a wedding, what is the personality of your bridal party? Mini Festival – your die hard patrons? Party – your guests? Corporate Event – your Teams?

When you have a profile for the WHO, it will be much easier to match your WHO with the right entertainment product. And don’t book it through an app. If you are investing in your event, work with people who have the network, experience and skill to deliver the best possible entertainment package that will meet your needs.

2. WHAT

So you know who, do your research. Songs, decades of music, styles, genres. Narrow your list down before you begin digging. Check artists out on Facebook, Instagram, You Tube and Tik Tok. Be Aware that reviews are not an authentic source of feedback so you need to work with credible Agents to do the research and offer you the best options available for that date and in your budget. Be open to creative alternatives. 😊

3. VALUE

Value is not about what you spend. It is about what your spend actually costs you. We recommend that you allocate a significant portion of your budget to your entertainment to maximise your value. This has the potential to make or break the event. So make sure you book an act that can deliver to your audience while catering to all your specific event logistic needs. If you allow the budget to dictate your choice, read the first few paragraphs again and let it sink in. Invest in quality to give your guests a night to remember!

Enjoy your event. We are here!

Nichola Burton is the CEO for The Pushworth Group, the Creative Director for A Little Pitchy, Designer UX for BEATbooks™ The Integrated Solution For The Music Industry.

Nichola Burton Copyright 2023

Let’s cut through the noise.

In a market saturated with social platforms and marketing gimmicks, there’s one untapped asset that many Venue Managers overlook — Spotify.

Spotify isn’t just a music streaming service. It’s a powerful social media platform with over 615 million monthly active users globally as of 2024, of which over 236 million are paying subscribers. And in Australia alone, more than 9 million people use Spotify to discover artists, follow curated playlists, and — most importantly for you — scout for their next live music experience.

So here’s the kicker: if your venue isn’t on Spotify, you’re missing a direct channel to music fans who are primed and ready to buy tickets.

🎟 Spotify = More Ticket Sales

Spotify users are not passive listeners. They're music lovers, event goers, and loyal community builders. According to Spotify’s own data:

• 42% of Spotify users have attended a live event in the past 12 months.

• Users who follow an artist on Spotify are 3x more likely to buy a concert ticket.

• Spotify integrates with ticketing platforms like Eventbrite, Ticketmaster, DICE, and AXS — meaning your gigs can show up right inside the app where fans already live.

Let that sink in: Spotify turns casual listeners into ticket buyers. The only question is — are your events visible on their radar?

🎯 Brand Your Bar Like a Headliner

Think of your venue as more than just four walls and a bar. It’s a stage, a brand, and potentially — a cult destination for music lovers.

Here’s how to establish your venue’s Spotify presence:

1. Create a Spotify Profile for Your Venue

• Use your brand name.

• Upload an electrifying image — maybe an epic crowd shot of one of your hottest shows.

• Link your playlists, ticketing partner, and website.

2. Curate Signature Playlists

• Build weekly or monthly playlists featuring the genres you book: whether it’s indie rock, house, R&B, punk, or funk.

• Include music from bands and DJs performing at your venue. Tag them in your socials and cross-promote.

• Use Canva or Adobe Express to design playlist covers that reflect your venue’s vibe.

These playlists are your digital flyers — a taste of what patrons can expect when they walk through your doors.

3. Promote 'What’s On' Through Sound

Align your Spotify playlists with your gig calendar. Got a 90s RnB night? Build a playlist with TLC, Montell Jordan, and local supports. Hosting a deep tech DJ? Fill a playlist with underground bangers to warm up your crowd days before the event.

Use QR codes at the bar, toilets, menus, and posters to link directly to your playlists.

🔗 Integrate Your Ticketing with Spotify

This is non-negotiable.

Work with ticketing providers who automatically distribute your events to Spotify. If you’re using services like Ticketmaster or Eventbrite, you may already be eligible. If not — change your provider or upgrade your plan.

You want your gigs to appear in:

• Spotify’s Concerts for You

• Artist profiles under Upcoming Shows

• Fan notifications from Spotify when acts announce gigs near them

That kind of visibility is priceless.

📈 Real Talk: The ROI

Spotify is free to use. The return? Massive.

• A branded Spotify presence costs $0 in ad spend.

• Playlists and profile links are evergreen — once created, they work 24/7.

• You build organic traffic, SEO ranking, social media cross-promotion, and audience trust.

Better yet, it helps you own your culture. It gives fans a reason to keep coming back, to bring their mates, and to see your bar as the place that knows what’s next in music.

🥂 Final Note to Venue Managers

You already invest in premium sound systems, killer line-ups, top-shelf bartenders, and on-point lighting. So don’t let your marketing be the weak link in your entertainment ecosystem.

Spotify is your backstage pass to your next full house.

Start now. Get your venue heard.
Because if you’re not on Spotify — your competitors are.

Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2025

This guide and supporting templates have been prepared by Events and Engagement, Strategic Engagement and Protocol, within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Queensland). Advice, links, templates and contacts have been drawn from a number of sources in consultation with a broad range of experts and stakeholder groups.

Download here

🍻 From Background Noise to Business Strategy: Why Live Music Matters More Than Ever

At every live music gig in your venue, you have a captive, engaged, emotionally connected audience. They're not just passing through. They’re ordering drinks, eating meals, tagging your venue on socials, and more importantly — they’re staying longer, spending more, and telling their friends.

Live music is no longer just entertainment. It’s strategic marketing in motion. It’s a tool you already have — now it’s time to leverage it smarter.

📊 The Numbers Don’t Lie: Live Music Drives Hospitality Recovery

Australia’s hospitality industry has faced seismic challenges post-COVID, but live music has played a central role in the recovery:

• In 2019, just before lockdowns hit, Australia’s live music industry was worth $2.5 billion annually.

• By 2021, the sector shrunk by nearly 70% due to lockdowns and venue closures.

• In 2024, we’re experiencing a remarkable rebound, with live music attendance now surpassing pre-COVID levels in many metro and regional areas.

• Research by Live Performance Australia shows that post-pandemic, 78% of Australians say they are more likely to attend live events to reconnect with community and culture.

• Venues that program regular live music report up to 33% longer patron dwell times, and 22% higher average spend per head, especially when combined with food and beverage specials.

If your venue isn’t booking live music regularly, you're leaving a huge opportunity — and revenue — on the table.

🔧 Practical Playbook: How to Use Live Acts as Brand Amplifiers

Booking the act is just the start. What you do with the artist when they’re on-site is where the real marketing magic begins.

🎙 Before the Show: Briefing & Brand Alignment

When the artist arrives to set up, take five minutes to:

• Welcome them warmly and show them where they’re playing.

• Share your key promotions or messaging for the night (e.g., new cocktail launch, trivia night announcement, upcoming events).

• Ask them to plug your socials, menu specials, or reviews in between sets.

• Let them know where you want audience energy focused — dance floor? Bar? Gaming lounge?

That microphone is a megaphone for your brand. Use it.

⭐ The 5-Star Game: Turn the Crowd Into Raving Fans (Literally)

On strategic nights — say, once a month — some venues run the “How Much Do We Love This Bar?” game. Here’s how it works:

1. During the artist’s peak second set, they ask the crowd to pull out their phones.

2. Through playful audience banter, they direct patrons to:

   • Open Google

   • Search your venue name

   • Leave a 5-star review if they’re loving the vibe

3. Offer an incentive like a drink voucher, free entry to next week’s event, or a chance to win a bar tab.

It’s fun. It’s effective. It builds digital reputation capital while your bar is full of people smiling, singing, and sipping.

🧠 Live Music Artists = Brand Ambassadors

Remember: When they’re performing in your venue, your music artists are part of your team — and some of your most visible influencers.

Use them:

• 📸 Their Spotlight: Capture photos and videos of live sets for socials.

• 🎙 Their Microphone: Let them speak your brand messages in their own words.

• 🎵 Their Songs: Tie your promotions to the music (“Buy a Fireball during this AC/DC cover!”).

• 💬 Their Show: Add audience interactions that include calls to follow your venue on Instagram, sign up for the newsletter, or tag the artist in stories.

👥 Building Community, One Chorus at a Time

Live music isn’t just about sound — it’s about shared experiences. Each gig is an opportunity to:

• Connect new patrons to your venue brand.

• Deepen loyalty with your regulars.

• Position your venue as a local cultural hub — not just another bar.

With the right music program, you don’t just fill seats. You build a scene.

📞 Ready to Build a Smarter Music Strategy?

Our team at The Pushworth Group books and curates live music experiences that drive revenue, align with your venue goals, and elevate your brand.

💬 Talk to your Pushworth booker today.
We don’t just book artists.
We build music-powered venue marketing strategies — every single day.

Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2025

🍸 Marketing That Sings: Why Live Music is the Most Underrated Promo Tool in Your Venue

Let’s be honest — coming up with bar marketing ideas can feel like trying to reinvent the wheel every single week. But here’s the truth:

You already have the most powerful promotional asset in your bar every Friday and Saturday night.
They’ve got a microphone, a captive audience, and a natural flair for engagement.

Yes — I’m talking about your live music artists.

If you’re not already leveraging their stage presence to promote products, sponsors, local community businesses, or even in-house merch, then you’re leaving visibility, sales, and sponsorship dollars on the table.

🎤 Stage Power: The Artist as Your Brand Emissary

When an artist performs live in your venue, they become:

• A host

• A voice of trust

• An energy conductor

• A walking, talking promotional channel

Their words, energy, and influence matter. Your patrons watch them, listen to them, and — crucially — engage when prompted.

So here’s the golden question:

What are they promoting for you while they’ve got the mic?

🎉 Why Giveaways Work: The Data

Giveaways aren’t just feel-good fluff. They’re proven marketing machines:

• According to a 2023 Eventbrite survey, over 65% of patrons are more likely to attend an event if there’s a chance to win a prize.

• Brands that use live giveaways experience a 20-30% increase in social media engagement during and after the event.

• The Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) reports that 83% of people remember the brand behind a giveaway item, and 79% will look up the brand online after receiving a promo item.

• Sponsored giveaways offer the double win — you create an experience for your patrons and provide valuable marketing ROI to a local brand or sponsor.

🔄 A Simple Formula That Works

1. Identify Products or Services to Promote

   • In-house merch: stubby coolers, hats, shirts, glassware

   • Sponsored products: cocktail brands, local brewers, energy drinks, community businesses

   • Event-related swag: free entry, drinks, food vouchers, VIP passes

2. Engage Local Businesses and Sponsors

   • Offer them live-stage promo in exchange for giveaway items

   • Pitch the idea: “Your product promoted to 300+ patrons on a Friday night with stage presence, social reach, and brand mention by the artist.”

3. Create a Giveaway Activation

   • “First to dance wins!”

   • “Most creative photo of the night wins!”

   • “Scan the QR code and follow us to enter!”

   • “Drop your business card in the fishbowl to win!”

4. Use the Artist to Run the Promo

   • During the set, your artist hypes up the prize, the brand, and your venue

   • They announce winners live on stage, creating buzz and FOMO

   • Bonus: get them to post the giveaway on their socials too

5. Capture the Moment

   • Have staff snap photos or videos of the giveaway in action

   • Tag everyone — artist, sponsor, venue — and encourage re-shares

   • Run a follow-up post with the winner and tag them too

📱 Multiply the Impact with Social Media

Giveaways are the perfect vehicle for user-generated content. Every shared photo, tagged story, or check-in becomes free advertising for your venue and sponsors.

• Encourage the crowd to post during the event

• Display a screen with a live hashtag feed if possible

• Offer a small reward for tagging your venue or artist

This content lives long after the last note of the encore.

🎯 Real-Life Scenario: The Power of Partnership

Let’s say…

• You’ve got a local craft gin company eager for exposure

• They provide 4 branded bottles and 2 hats

• Your Friday night band announces the "G+T Showdown” — best crowd dance gets a bottle

• The band tags the sponsor, the venue, and films it

• Patrons cheer, share, and ask where to buy the gin

Now you’ve:

• Sold more gin at the bar

• Promoted a local business

• Created a memory

• Boosted your venue’s online visibility

All with one mic, one prize, one night.

🤝 Ask Your Pushworth Booker: Let’s Get Strategic

Our team books the talent and helps shape experiences. We’ll help you:

• Coordinate with artists open to on-stage promotions

• Connect you with local sponsors and community partners

• Build themed event campaigns around your products or goals

Live music is the heartbeat. We’ll help you turn it into marketing muscle.

📩 Reach out. Let’s make your next gig unforgettable — for your audience and your brand partners.

Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2025

Tribute Shows are a popular act to book world wide. The challenge is that if you are not compliant with IP and Trademark law, legal action may be taken against you as the venue booking the show.

Below is a check list for you to go through to confirm that every Tribute Show that you book meets legal compliance and all show marketing complies with Trademark Law.

Name

• Does the Tribute Band have a registered Trade Mark?

• Is the Tribute Band named after a song title of the Original Artist?

• Is the name of the Tribute Band similar to the Original Artist?

Logo/Graphics

• Does any branding, logos or graphics refer to or is similar to the Original Artist or Original Artist marketing?

Advertising Material

• Does advertisement clearly articulate that the Tribute Band is a “Tribute Band” or “Cover Band”?

• Is there a disclaimer on the advertising material: This Tribute Show is not affiliated, sponsored or associated with Original Artist?

• Is all material which references the Original Artist such as songs include attribution to the Original Artist?

• Is any advertising similar to the Original Artist or advertising?

Trademark Owned by the Band

• What Trade Marks does the Original Artist own?

Songs

• What songs is the Tribute Band intending to perform?

• Does the Tribute Band intend to modify any of the songs?

Merchandise

• Is the Tribute Band selling any merchandise? Does the Tribute Band have a licence to sell the merchandise from the Original Artist?

Licence

• (VENUE) Does the Venue hold an appropriate licence? See OneMusic or APRA AMCOS.

• Is the performance a musical performance OR a production (re: the band dresses up like the band members)? Productions or dramatizations may require a separate licence from OneMusic or APRA AMCOS.

• How many songs are being performed by the Tribute Band? Has the Tribute Band confirmed no additional performance licenses are required with OneMusic or APRA AMCOS?

• Is the band selling tickets for $40 or more? The band may require an event licence from OneMusic or APRA AMCOS to perform.

• Has the band contacted OneMusic or APRA AMCOS to identify if they require any performance licenses?

Question

• Could a person who has never heard of either the Tribute Band or the Original Artist consider they are similar or from the same origin?

Nichola Burton is the CEO for The Pushworth Group, the Creative Director for A Little Pitchy, Designer UX for BEATbooks™ The Integrated Solution For The Music Industry.

Nichola Burton Copyright 2023

Because live entertainment should bring energy to your venue—not chaos, injury, or insurance claims.

Let’s be honest:
You’ve got bands loading in and out every week, rain one minute, heatwaves the next, a full house of punters, staff running plates, wires underfoot, drinks everywhere—and somehow you’re supposed to keep everyone safe?

Yeah. It’s a lot.
But if you want your venue to thrive (not just survive), safety is your silent headliner.

This guide gives you the essentials—no waffle, no legal jargon, just what you need to know to keep your in-house system humming, your crew protected, and your patrons safe.

🔧 MAINTAIN YOUR SYSTEM LIKE YOUR REP DEPENDS ON IT (Because it does)

Venue managers are legally required to take reasonable steps to protect everyone affected by the entertainment happening under your roof. That includes your staff, your customers, and yes—even the lead guitarist balancing a beer on the foldback wedge.

👉 Not sure if you’re covered? Talk to a licenced Workplace Health and Safety Officer. Don't wing it.

⚠️ HAZARDS vs. RISKS — Know the Difference

Hazard = Something that can cause harm
Risk = The chance that harm actually happens

🎯 Your job?
Reduce or eliminate both.

If something can go wrong, make it harder to go wrong.
If someone could get hurt, make it almost impossible.

🦺 REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE:

Lighting crew working above the stage?

• Tools falling = hazard

• Someone underneath = risk
  ✅ Make it a hard-hat zone
  ✅ Clear the stage during overhead work
  ✅ Put signage in place
  Simple, right? But it can save a life.

📝 RISK ASSESSMENT – ONE PER SHOW

Every act. Every week. No exceptions.
Use the Safe Work Australia Risk Assessment tool and document your checks. If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.

📄 SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENTS (SWMS)

Every professional act should bring their own SWMS. Ask for it.
Review it.
Make sure their plan doesn’t compromise your system or your people.

It’s not about paperwork. It’s about predictability and responsibility.

💪 MANUAL HANDLING – GIGS BREAK BACKS

Loading in isn’t just heavy—it’s dangerous.
Ask:

• Can it be wheeled instead of carried?

• Are there gloves, trolleys, ramps available?

• Are crew in steel-caps, high-vis, hard hats?

⛔ If the lead singer’s dragging an amp through the bar in thongs, it’s a hard no.

⚡ ELECTRICAL SAFETY – DON'T FRY YOUR FRIDAYS

• All power must be earthed, breaker-protected, and RCD-fitted

• Use 30mA RCDs at every outlet

• All gear must be PAT tested every 6 months—No Tag = No Play

• Visually inspect every plug, wire, and case. If it’s dodgy, bin it or get it repaired—no tape, no glue, no “just this once.”

🧾 UNSAFE EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

✅ No cracked plugs
✅ No exposed wires
✅ No loose screws
✅ No bypassed fuses
✅ Earth wires must NEVER be disconnected
If it looks wrong, it is wrong.

🎚️ EQUIPMENT POSITIONING – TRIP HAZARDS KILL VIBES

• NEVER run cables across fire exits

• Use mats, covers, hazard tape, and secure all cables

• Speaker legs? Tape the floor or put a barrier around them

• Trip hazards are preventable. Don’t be lazy.

🔌 STACKED GEAR? STRAPPED GEAR.

• Wind, bumps, or dodgy tables can turn a speaker into a weapon

• Strap everything. Especially outdoors.

• Unstable stacks = lawsuits waiting to happen

🎧 NOISE MANAGEMENT

Soundchecks can be louder than the show.
Protect your tech crew and staff:

• Ears away from speakers when unmuting

• No one near monitors during line check

• Offer hearing protection to all production personnel
  That ringing in your ears? Permanent if you’re not careful.

FINAL WORD:

Live entertainment should elevate your venue—not risk it.
The band brings the music.
You bring the safety culture that protects your crowd, your team, your gear—and your licence.

📥 Want this as a printable checklist or laminated sheet for the greenroom?
We’ve got you.

Welcome to safety—The Pushy Way.
Smart. Sharp. And built for the real world of live gigs in 2025.

#Musoverse #PushworthSafety #VenueManagement #LiveMusicRisk #NicholaSaidItFirst #MusicMeansBusiness #BackstageSafety #InHouseProductionStandards

Nichola Burton is the CEO for The Pushworth Group, the Creative Director for A Little Pitchy, Designer UX for PUSHWORTH LIVE™ The Integrated Solution For The Music Industry.

Nichola Burton Copyright 2025

Under the Entertainment Venues and Events Local Law 1999, certain types of venues require an Entertainment Venue Permit. Find out if a permit is required, and how to apply.

When you need a permit

A permit is required for any entertainment venue which is open to the public for entertainment whether or not a charge for admission is made.  Click here to see if you need a permit

Major tours, shows and events should always be booked with a reputable and seasoned production manager whose first port of call is the event Noise Management plan.

Before you lock that act in, check Brisbane City Council’s noise restrictions and guidelines to find out about acceptable noise levels and when you can make a complaint. There are restrictions on the level of noise from barking dogs, building sites, air conditioners and other devices. Click Here for Information

Once your licence is in place, your event Noise Management plan will consider capacity, positioning and orientation of the stage, frequency and noise prediction to assess every factor and condition that may impact the production of the show sound.

Working with teams like our, with decades of experience modelling and drawing up the right Noise Management plan for a diverse range of event sizes, will equip you with the best data up front.

The ever changing Work Place landscape of the past two and a half years have taught us that staying up to date with Work Safe Queensland is vital.

Health and Safety - the most commonly booked duo on our books :-) - need to be at front of mind in all Event Planning around live music.

Information and services for work health and safety in Queensland for Hospitality business. Click here for Work Safe Queensland 

Clubs Queensland – the voice behind the changing face of community clubs in our great state!

Clubs Queensland provides connections and resources for community clubs across Queensland including the areas of education, government representation, training, and what’s new in hospitality and gaming. Click Here to check out their Resources

The QHA is the peak industry body in Queensland for the hotel & hospitality industries, accommodation providers, resorts, theme parks, convention centres & casinos. The QHA & its members are also important stakeholders in the tourism industry in Qld. Click here to check out their resources

OneMusic Australia is a joint initiative between APRA AMCOS and PPCA, just like a duet. The two Australian music bodies have come together to give you easy legal access to all their works, sound recordings and music videos. Now you’ll pay one licence, in one place. Click Here

APRA represent music creators across Australasia and, by agreement, most music creators around the world. They license the use of their music, collect royalties for that use and distribute royalty payments to the owners of the works that were performed or broadcast. Click here to find out what licence you need for your venue to play music – live or streamed.

Dealing with a diverse cross section of Hospitality clients and Event Managers, we often get asked curly questions about Liquor and Gaming.

This is a super basic guide as a place to start.

Read the suite of guides about liquor licensing and gaming licensing in Queensland. Click Here

Liquor

Find out how to obtain a liquor licence, as well as obligations of liquor licensees in Queensland. Click Here

Gaming

Learn more about gaming licensing, compliance and regulation in Queensland. Click Here

The Experts

We recommend that you contact the real experts in this field:

Queensland Hoteliers Association click here

Clubs Queensland click here

Your venue phone number and email address are hot property for live music artists wanting to pitch to gig at your bar. You will be inundated with many live music artists wanting to work at your venue. Are they right stylistically? Are they experienced enough? Can they satisfy your audience? Do they fit your bar culture?

If you want to take the guess work out of booking live music artists sight unseen, Pushworth is the only agency that runs regular Showcase events for you. Add our details to your website, refer them to us when they call you and we will do the rest.

There have been countless times where artists have convinced venues to give them a shot and many times this has ended in total disaster. 45% of our business is from Venues no longer wanting to lose time and money this way.

As a destination, your bar brand should only host live music acts that can match your value in the market. What do you want your customers to remember about their time in your venue?

We ensure that our Music Workforce Supply Chain meets your high standards.

How?

We sponsor and host The Pub Test showcase events every 4-6 weeks at venues across South East Queensland. By providing the production, lighting and engineer, artists get to road test or rather pub test their show.

Next, we activate them for Administration and most important, Marketing.

When we book these artists into your entertainment program, you can be confident that they have the capacity to deliver the standard that you need to offer your patrons the very best of live music shows.

Anyone can find thousands of music artists online. Only the Pushworth Team are looking for the magic, the nuance, the professionalism and the energy that an experienced music artist brings to a live audience.

On the night of your The Pub Test event, the artists will perform one small set each. Their job is to give you a taste of their top requested bangers, their entertainment skill, their talent and their ability to connect with what an audience wants. 

Our Production Manager, will manage the sound and the changeovers of each artist with a focus on keeping diners comfortable with the sound levels. Artists are to prepare and organise their instruments side of stage prior to and post their sets. Only line checks are allowed. At no stage will there be a sound check by any artist.

The Pushworth team will arrive at 5.30pm, produce the event, organise the logistics, manage the Artists Installation and Dismantle on and off stage and evaluate the artists and their shows. They will be in attendance from 5.30pm until the event concludes. At any time, your staff can communicate directly with us for any of their concerns or needs on the night to ensure that the event runs as smoothly as possible.

To make contact click here

When you book a live show with Pushworth, there is a Show Safety Standard that all our artists observe to make sure that every show is safe for them, for your team and most importantly for your patrons.

Unfortunately there are safety incidents at live shows around Australia every year.  These type of incidents don’t happen often but when they do, all hell breaks loose as Artists try and scramble to prove that they follow safe work practices.  Below is an introductory guide to Safety Considerations for Live Performing Artists to assist in the compilation of the Safe Work Method Statement.

Make sure you read all contracts and Terms and Conditions from Agents and Venues that may include “Hold Harmless”conditions. The Queensland Workplace Health and Safety department advised us that the venue and the artist are jointly responsible to ensure that the performance on stage is safe.

So please don’t be a statistic! Get yourself sorted with your Safety Compliances and ensure you have the following:

1. PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE CERTIFICATE OF CURRENCY $10 MILLION

2. SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENT

3. TAGGED AND TESTED LEADS IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS STATEMENT FROM A CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN

Keep copies of the PUB LIB COC and the SWMS on your phone in case you need it at the venue. Meet the Duty Manager upon arrival and be available for a Site Induction if required.

To produce your SWMS, here is a free web template. 

If you need an Incident Report, click here to download.

Be COVID Safe

Make sure you have your COVID safe plan. Click Here

Safety

Maintenance and Safe Use of Equipment in Live Performances It is a legal requirement to take reasonable steps to ensure your own safety – as well as the safety of anyone else who is likely to be affected by your actions. Live events always involve both production personnel and the general public, and require vigilance from everyone on the production side. Regardless of what anyone else is doing about risk management, your own efforts should be to:

Look out for any actual or potential hazards, and where any are identified, seek ways to Reduce or remove the hazard.

Reduce or eliminate the risk. Removal or elimination is the primary objective: only look at reducing a hazard or risk if it cannot be eliminated. Hazards are anything that may cause harm. Risk is the likelihood of harm being caused. In other words:

Where something might cause harm, look at ways to avoid it or make it less harmful.

Also look at ways to make a harmful event impossible or less likely.

An example might be where lighting crew will need to work above the stage. A hazard is something – tools or equipment – falling onto someone working underneath and the likelihood of it happening is a risk. Designating the stage a hard-hat area reduces the potential harm (reduces the hazard). Keeping the stage clear of all personnel while overhead work is in progress reduces the risk. Both enforcing hard-hat use and restricting access during overhead work are important risk management steps. Most live productions present a variety of potential hazards and risks. Go to this website and using their guide, establish the risks associated you’re your live performances. A Safe Work Method Statement is a description of what you are planning to do, and how and when you will carry it out. If several band members and crew are involved, it should also detail who will be responsible for each task (and, where relevant, to whom they are answerable). A method statement does not have to be long, complicated, or excessively detailed (indeed, its main purpose is as a reference document for all parties, so clarity and brevity are important).

Manual Handling

To get equipment in and out of a venue safely, you may need to think about:

Heavy Items. Can they be moved without being carried? How can they be lifted safely? How many people are needed to lift or carry them?

Personal Protection. Anyone moving heavy equipment should always wear gloves, which should be able to grip securely as well as offering some protection for the hands. Depending on the equipment and the production, they might also need steel-capped boots or shoes (again, grip is important as well as protection), hard hats (if anyone is working overhead, whatever they are doing), or high-visibility clothing (particularly if cherry pickers, fork-lift trucks, or other site traffic will be in the same area).

Resources. Have you got enough people, trolleys, ramps, and other lifting or moving equipment to do the job safely in the time available?

Electrical Safety

The electricity supply itself must be safe (i.e. earthed, breaker-protected, and adequate for the load placed on it). The Venue is responsible to ensure the safety of the electricity supply. It is a legal requirement that all portable electrical equipment should be inspected and checked and tagged for electrical safety every six months, where it is used in a workplace or public area. A live event is both a workplace and a public area. You should always have your eye open for obviously unsafe equipment – whoever owns or is in charge of it – in your own area of work. Common easily visible faults are:

Damaged casing. If screws are missing so that covers are not secure, or the lid is bent inwards (potentially putting it in contact with conductors), or guards or grilles are not in place, don’t use it, and don’t allow anyone else to use it.

Damaged wires or plugs. If the inner insulation (or – worse – a bare wire) is visible, don’t use it. Any other signs of damage to cables or plugs also mean you should put them out of use: a cable that has been crushed or cut or badly twisted or stretched is unsafe. If the plug casing is cracked or damaged, REPLACE IT before using the equipment. DO NOT use insulating tape (or Gaffer, Sellotape, parcel tape or Superglue) to hold it together, even ‘in an emergency’. In fact, do not use any kind of tape, or any other ‘repair’. Other points that are relatively easy to check are:

Connections and cable clamps. Cables in plugs or at entry or exit points in equipment casing should be securely clamped over the outer insulation. Don’t put lives at risk for the sake of a couple of minutes with a screwdriver. All cable conductors should be secure: screws can (and often do) work loose in plugs, and these should be checked fairly often. EARTH WIRES SHOULD NEVER BE DISCONNECTED even if it does make the hum go away. If you have earth loop problems, disconnect signal grounds, not the mains earth.

Fuses and fuse ratings. If the plug has a fuse rating (usually embossed somewhere on it), the fuse should correspond with it. The same applies if there is fuse-point on the appliance (20mm fuse-holders are common in audio equipment). DO NOT REPLACE FUSES WITH OTHER CONDUCTORS like silver paper, kitchen foil, nails, screws, or wire. Do not use equipment in which fuses have been bypassed or replaced with fuses of a different rating.

Tag and Test Certificate

Electricity can kill. Look after your equipment, and get it tested every six months. You are obligated to provide your six month tag and test statement to every venue where you connect to THEIR electricity supply. Another good reason to get your equipment tested – if protecting yourself and other people from electrocution and/or legal action is not enough – is that test certificates are required by most public bodies (schools, colleges, hospitals, local authorities…) for all equipment brought onto their premises. An increasing number of privately-owned venues and businesses apply the same standard, and this trend is set to continue. In many venues, no certificate means you don’t get to plug it in, however safe you think it is. Your Test and Tag certificate will not cover any third-party equipment. Where certificates are required, they will also be required for the band’s electrical equipment (amplifiers, keyboards, extension leads). If you need to plug it in to make it work, you need a certificate for it. If the show must go on, get it tested.

Positioning and Connecting Equipment

At outdoor events, any cable connectors that may be exposed to rain, dew, or other sources of moisture should be at least splash-proof, and preferably even more watertight. Don’t use ordinary plugs and sockets in the rain in the middle of an open field. After electricity the most obvious dangers come from cables or other objects – notably the legs of stands – creating a trip hazard, or from equipment that is insecurely stacked or suspended.

Trip Hazards

Don’t run cables on the floor across thoroughfares (try to avoid running them across any open spaces: use walls and/or other boundaries). If there is absolutely no alternative to running a cable across a thoroughfare then:

Cover it, preferably with a purpose-made cable strip, or matting and/or

Make it visible with hazard tape, or

Bury it if it is on grass (but speak to the owner or person in charge before you dig up their croquet lawn).

NEVER RUN ANYTHING ON THE FLOOR ACROSS A FIRE EXIT. Don’t obstruct (or place any obstruction or trip hazard close to) a fire exit.

Don’t allow the legs of speaker stands to project into thoroughfares. If you really can’t avoid it, put waist-high barriers around them, or – at the very least – use hazard tape to make them clearly visible. You can also use hazard tape to mark the floor around them.

Secure all loose cables (and remember that everyone is at risk from them, even the performers, and even you). Use cable ties overhead, or gaffer tape on the floor. In outdoor events, use matting to cover cables in any thoroughfares, or lift a couple of inches of turf with a spade and cover them that way. If you want an easier life, check you have power where you need it before you tape power cables down, check your speakers are working before you tape speaker cables down, and line-test before you tape signal cables down.

Take care where you place toolboxes and other similar objects. Under the console or on top of the amp rack or on a table is good. On the floor in a public aisle or backstage walkway is not acceptable.

In poorly lit areas take extra care of where you place your feet as well as where you position your equipment.

Suspended Hazards

Speakers are often stacked, raised on stands, or flown. Lighting – with the exception of uplighters – is always raised, and usually flown. Flown systems should only ever be suspended from certified load-bearing mounting-points by qualified personnel. If a speaker or lantern falls 4 metres into a crowded auditorium it will probably kill someone. However, more people are injured (and more equipment is damaged) by stacks or stands collapsing or falling over than by flown equipment falling. Particular hazards in this respect are:

Uneven or sloping surfaces (this is a particular issue at outdoor events). Speaker stands or stacks should be vertical. Unstable or weak supports. If you are putting heavy speakers or amplifier racks on the edge of the stage, make sure the stage can support them safely. Do not stack speakers on trestle tables, damaged tables or stands, or on anything that is not designed to carry their weight. Make sure stands are rated for the weight you are placing on them.

Wind. Do not underestimate wind forces at outdoor events. Stacks may need to be pegged down – or secured in some other way – to be safe.

Loose equipment. Anything placed on top of something else can fall off it (in a speaker stack, the boxes on top can fall – or be pushed, dragged or blown – off the boxes underneath). A wooden box can kill someone if it falls on their head. Just putting a ratchet strap around the stack – preferably threaded through the handles or in some way prevented from slipping off – will make it much safer.

Other stacked equipment – like a mixing console or effects rack – need the same attention.

Loud Noises

An event itself may call for hearing protection so refer to this website for control measures. There are risks to consider during set-up: production crew may be working near loudspeakers, and the full output of a 134dB/1m speaker feeding back when someone un-mutes a channel at the desk can do permanent damage in no time at all. It is quite common during sound-check for technical crew to be needed on stage, where monitor levels (usually determined by the musicians) may be higher than advisable even for short periods of exposure. Generally, therefore, it is good practice for anyone involved where there is a risk of high sound pressure levels to wear some form of hearing protection. In addition, however, setting up should be planned so that:

Nobody’s ear is anywhere near a loudspeaker when anything is un-muted;

Nobody’s finger is anywhere near a unmute button while crew are working immediately in front of loudspeakers.

Other Safety Issues

Where there are a lot of people, you may need to think about crowd-control and First-Aid. Crowd-control may require physical restraints (barriers, fences and gates) and/or personnel (stewards or security staff). First-Aid requires one or more staff with a recognized First-Aid qualification. Typically a venue will be responsible for this. However you must always take these risk control measures into consideration as you are jointly responsible with the Venue to ensure the safety of the audience.

Nichola Burton is the CEO for The Pushworth Group, the Creative Director for A Little Pitchy, Designer UX for BEATbooks™ The Integrated Solution For The Music Industry.

Nichola Burton Copyright 2023

When we curate your Live Music Program, we work closely with your In House Marketing Manager to ensure you leverage every event to maximize your digital metrics and attract a greater reach to your target market.

The Marketing Plan Management System

Some Venues benefit from using the G Business Suite to stay on track, cloud access for the team for dynamic planning so we typically set this suite up for you when we first begin to curate Live Music programs for your venue. Everything is in one place!

• Google Calendar to track every Event

• Google Photos for Digital Asset Management

• Google Docs for all Event Paperwork

• Google Sheets to overview and manage the Event Program

• Google Drive where all digital assets - Artist Photos - will be pre loaded for your use.

• If you don’t use G Business Suite or have access to Google Drive, we can send you Large Photo Files via Drop Box or We Transfer to download all your Publicity Materials. Just let us know your preference.

Show Asset Design

For show marketing, we can provide you with any of the followings art assets:

• Web Banner

• Web Header

• Web Tile

• Facebook Post

• Facebook Event Cover

• Instagram Post

• POS

• EDM

• Nightlife

• A4 Poster

Tell Your Brand Story

• Set up your You Tube Channel, identify the face of your Venue, tell the Venue Story in short videos each week. Get your Bar Staff to video and post something each night you have entertainment. Create your own hashtags, events, seasons and campaigns that will be shareable by the Artists and your Customers.

Tagging on Facebook

• The Artist will post the Gig Poster and tag your venue in Facebook and Instagram. Please share their post on your Facebook and Instagram pages tagging the Artist and Pushworth (@thepushworthgroup) to increase the post reach.

Hash Tags

• Email your Social hashtags to Pushworth – we will share with the Artists

Spruiking

• Weekly Email to Agent for Weekly Promos Announcements for Artist to Announce throughout the night. Duty Manager to advise Artist upon Check In of Comps, and Specials for them to promote during the night.

Social Media Dashboard

• Sign up to a Social Media Dashboard to connect your Social platforms and single post to multiple accounts.

Venue Website

• Digital Poster Feature

• What’s On Feature

• Link to Facebook Event

• Link to Local Business Giveaway Competitions

Venue Internal/External

• Printed Posters in Bar, Restaurant, Pokie Lounge, Drive Through, Bottle Shop

• Digital Posters on Big Screens in all areas

• Venue Show Banner Front Roadside 4 weeks lead in

Local Community Partners

• In Store Posters for Key Local Business Partners

• Local Radio Advertising

• Local Print Media Advertising

• Local Business Giveaway Competitions to promote Ticket Sales via Social Posts and In House Pre Events

Media

• Local Radio Advertising

• Local Print Media Advertising

Socials On Line Reach

• Have one dedicated person to focus on building and expanding your On Line reach – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest

• Monthly review of engagement per Post

• Establish your On Line Metrics

• Plan your Boosted Facebook Posts

• Plan your Paid Social Advertising – Facebook and Instagram

• Work with Strategic Influencers

• Establish a daily strategy to increase your Digital Reach

• Put a mechanism in place to oversee and manage this every month for ROI

Feature Show Check List

• Artist will set up an Event on Facebook – Please make sure you share this in your Digital Networks tag the Artist and Pushworth to ensure you get these additional reach metrics.

• Artist will provide you with a Digital Poster – Please make sure you share this in your Digital Networks tag the Artist and Pushworth to ensure you get these additional reach metrics.

• Artist will provide a Vox Pop to Promote the Show – you will receive the Video File in Drop Box as well as a link to the Video on our You Tube channel – Please make sure you share this on your Website, all your Socials and your In House Screens.

• Link to Facebook Event

• Link to Local Business Giveaway Competitions

• Start Marketing all Feature Shows 6 Weeks Out

• Create a Local Campaign – Local Print Media Ad, On Line Competition, Drink or Food Specials, Staff in Costume

• All Marketing must say THIS IS A TRIBUTE SHOW

• All Marketing must say THIS SHOW IS NOT AFFILIATED, SPONSORED or ASSOCIATED with the ORIGINAL ARTIST.

Digital Marketing Check List

1. Know your Story

2. Know the demographics of your catchment area.

3. Know the target market that YOU are aiming for, and in consideration of the demographics of the catchment area around your venue, tailor all Socials to suit.

4. Match the branding of your Website, Socials, In House Advertising, Bar Décor and Artwork to keep a congruent image.

5. Identify your POINT OF DIFFERENCE in your local market

6. Identify your UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION in your local market

7. Tell your Story

8. Construct your Marketing Plan and set up your daily, weekly, monthly and annual goals.

9. Manage your present Socials:

   1. Ensure you have a SOCIALS training update once a month with your team to ensure everyone is on the same track with SOCIALS posting, campaigns and policies

   2. Go through negative reviews and rectify immediately

   3. Ensure you have a register of Socials Admin and Passwords saved and updated

   4. Ensure there is a hierarchy of ADMINISTRATOR access to ensure you do not get locked out of your Socials at any time

   5. Ensure you have a clause in your team Contracts to manage the Socials policy to ensure an exiting Contractor or Team Member can be removed from all Socials without losing the Social page itself.

   6. Look at using a platform like Sprout Social to manage your campaigns and post across multiple platforms.

10. Organise a VENUE iPAD or iPHONE that is set up to all Socials encouraging your team to post daily

11. Hire a photographer and a videographer to take shots of people in the venue eating, drinking, watching bands, dancing, partying. Make sure the demographic of the people in the shots/footage match the demo in your catchment area and target market.

12. Meet with Us to review and plan

    1. Live Music Marketing Audit

    2. Internal/External Marketing Review

    3. Cycles/Trends/Market Price

    4. Strategies for Live Music Marketing Integration

Nichola Burton is the CEO for The Pushworth Group, the Creative Director for A Little Pitchy, Designer UX for BEATbooks™ The Integrated Solution For The Music Industry.

Nichola Burton Copyright 2023

This is your BIG DAY. Everything needs to be perfect!

Music can make or break your special day. So to stop you stressing, we have produced a guide to help you navigate your way through the most important event you will ever produce.

It is not often in your life that you will have to deal with Performers and Venue Managers. Typically, the majority of good wedding reception venues & corporate event venues are set up for a band or DJ and will have an in house guide to assist all parties in ensuring that the night goes off smoothly.

But sometimes they don’t.

That’s where we come in.

This guide is designed to assist you in booking and planning for the Live Entertainment for your event, covering all the most important aspects such as quality, play lists, experience, references, equipment and costs.  Use it, reclaim your time, and minimise your stress to enjoy your wedding more.

Click on the E Book or this text to download your Wedding Band - a Guide to Live Music for Your Big Day.

Nichola Burton is the CEO for The Pushworth Group, the Creative Director for A Little Pitchy, Designer UX for BEATbooks™ The Integrated Solution For The Music Industry.

Nichola Burton Copyright 2023