New World Wine & Food Festival
Events are great things to work on, and Deflux have been lucky to work alongside some great people on some amazing experiences over the years (Southern Amp and Beervana spring to mind).
Post-quake Christchurch is of course an odd affair, so when we were approached by the newly established Team Event to work with them on a couple of festivals then we naturally jumped at the chance - it's just what Christchurch needs.
The difference between creating a brand, building a website and an event is the duration of the project - it encompasses these things, but so much more. So after pretty much a year's worth of build up we were as happy as Callam and Team Event when we woke up to glorious sunshine on December 3 and made our way to Hagely Park.
Having generated a brand, produced a website, designed untold ads, signage, a programme, vouchers and even created a small sub brand for Jonny Schwass' Southern Hospitality area, walking into the event was a relief!
I think people don't quite understand how:
(a) Weather on the day can make or break a year's worth of planning, and
(b) Christchurch has a reputation for being very tardy when it comes to buying tickets for events
So being a promoter is definitely not for the faint of heart. However people were plentiful, the wine was flowing, and music from the likes of Flip Grater, The Phoenix Foundation, Hollie Smith, The Eastern, Paul Ubana Jones and Tahuna Breaks get the punters happy. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and around 7000 people enjoyed the day.
It felt nice to be amongst such a great vibe, and be a part of something that made Christchurch feel normal for a day... But not too much time to rest as we're on to preparations for the Great Kiwi Beer Festival in Feb 2012!
