Concert Celebrities For New Zealand

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 183, 24 October 1927, Page 9

Concert Celebrities For New Zealand

MR. GRAVESTOCK S PLANS

ENTREPRENEUR’S DIFFICULTIES I EAVING Auckland to-morrow for America and Europe, Mr. E. J. Gravestock. the well-known entrepeneur, hopes to return in a few months time with contracts for several concert celebrities to appear in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Gravestock is going to make an effort to secure the best artists available, in spite of the gamble that the entrepreneur lias to make in providing concerts in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Gravestock. m detailing the difficulties encountered. said that it was necessary t«» guarantee a big sum often up to C 20,000. to lure -m artist south. This meant ; returns had to be made uuickly. else the tour was a financial failure. In Europe the concert managei could enter into a three years’ contract. building up the reputation of the artist each year, thus having a much greater chance of getting adequate financial return for bis enterprise. ”1 am satisfied that the Australian and New Zealand audiences app good music,” said Mr. Gravestoc k, **ami the failure of a tour is not always du ■» to public apathy alone.” Mr. Gravestock, who has m*oug«u many celebrities south during the last seven years, has had 25 years’ experience in the concert managing business. For 10 years he was associated with the biggest firms in England, and there had ample oppportunity of hearing the greatest artists of the day. and learning to gauge the public taste. I have always found the greatest artists simple, natural people.” he said, "and it is a pleasure to bo associated with them. The day of the eccentric, temperamental artist is done,” he said.