Rock at Town Hall to cost more

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 6

Rock at Town Hall to cost more

Rock concert promoters will be charged more for hiring the Christchurch Town Hall than promoters of other forms of entertainment.

The Town Hall Board of management decided yesterday to change its fees policy to cover the extra costs incurred by rock concerts. These include sign-posting, cleaning, and the hiring of extra security staff.

The Town Hall manager, Mr B. P. Connell, said that a different kind of usher was needed to control rock concert audiences. He described such ushers as “big muscle boys” and said that they were “a little more expensive to hire."

Venue costs for rock concerts anounted to more than $3OOO a performance, Mr Connell told the board.

It was emphasised that the extra charge would : be limited to rock concerts and wold not affect “light entertainment” like the scheduled Joan Armatrading concert.

Increased fees Booking fees for the Town Hall will be increased about 18 per cent from May 1 to cover increased electricity and labour costs.

The rise would bring the Town Hall into line with competing venues, Mr Connell said. The new rates will not apply to already confirmed bookings, and local non-profit groups will still be able to apply to the board for discounts above the 40 per cent automatically available.

The rental' review was one of Mr Connell’s last duties as manager of the Town Hall. He will retire on March 26 and leave for Australia to become deputy general manager of the Adelaide Festival Centre.

The board will bid him farewell at a function at the Town Hall on March 24.

The Mayor of Christchurch and chairman of the board Mr Hamish Hay, said that advertisements for Mr Connell’s post had attracted considerable interest.