Heavy rock gear for Town Hall

Press, 21 June 1984, Page 7

Heavy rock gear for Town Hall

The Christchurch Town Hall will tempt international stars to the South Island by setting up a reputable sound and lighting system.

The Town Hall manager, Mr Ray Sleeman, told members of the hall’s board of management yesterday that lighting equipment would be stored permanently in the hall, and local sound equipment would be borrowed when necessary to supplement the hall’s equipment.

This should encourage those who did not cross Cook Strait, because of the cost of transporting sound and lighting equipment, to perform in Christchurch, he said.

The heavy rock music groups would be those most affected, said Mr Sleeman. Cr Noala Massey said that there had been problems in the past with temperamental artists who refused to use any but their own gear. ■■ ufr Sleeman said > that

with the use of the hall’s and local sound equipment it could offer artists just as good a system for much less cost. It cost about $lO,OOO to transport sound and lightning gear across Cook Strait, he said. Promoters would be told of the updated facilities, said Mr Sleeman. Storage space Storage space continues to be a problem in the Town Hall. Although the hall has the temporary use of off-site storage space in Durham Street, there are inadequate storage facilities on-site. The secretary of the board, Mr J. H. Gray, told board members that the storage building in Durham Street would be demolished in about 11 months. There would be no problem, however, finding a suitable replacement. The main problem was on-site storage, he said. The board’s chairmanAsir

Hamish Hay, said that permanent storage space had not been incorporated in the original plans of the Town Hall, probably because the need for it had not been anticipated.

Mr Sleeman said that at present, tables, chairs, moveable equipment and even administrative records had to be stored in rooms not in use, and in various nooks and crannies. They were continually being moved for use or storage from room to room, he said — a time-consuming and labour-intensive activity.

In addition to limited storage space, office accommodation was inadequate for the present running of the hall, said Mr Sleeman. One member of staff had to work in a cloakroom and another senior member had an office which was no more than a cupboard, said Mr Sleeman. It was virtually impossible for him to discuss customer requirements for the hire of the

James Hay Theatre and the Auditorium — his main job — because of the position and size of the office available, he said. Preliminary sketches for storage space at first-floor level between the James Hay Theatre and Cambridge Room had been considered in 1982, said Sir Hamish. The estimated cost then was $150,000.

Sir Hamish suggested that the board reconsider those sketches. At this stage he would not want to make any commitment such as drawing up new plans, he said.

Cr Rex Lester suggested that the proposals for a new complex adjacent to the Town Hall could include provision for storage space. The board will investigate on-site storage and office facilities and ask the Christchurch City Council property department to consider alternative off-site storage space.

Tts’ Town Hall will pro-

mote its restaurant over the next few months to encourage more people to dine in it. The first is a “free bottle of wine” offer for a la carte and family dining. It had already shown some measure of success, said Mr Sleeman, with numerous evening diners presenting their free-bottle vouchers. Teetotallers could pick up a free bottle of grape juice instead of wine.

The second promotion is a discount voucher for smorgasbord lunches from now until September and is aimed specifically at the business community. The vouchers will be offered direct to about 1500 companies in Christchurch and will entitle the bearer to $1.50 off the $lO smorgasbord menu.

According to figures tabled at the meeting, more people are dining at the restaurant at lunchtime and pre-theatre than last year, but the numbers of evening diners has dropped.