The Tivoli offers private catered concerts under COVID-19
One of Brisbane’s most historic live music venues can now be hired by small groups for intimate dinners, while true aficionados can go one step further by booking their own private concert.
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A LANDMARK live music venue is offering itself up for exclusive, fully-catered private concerts showcasing the talents of local artists and DJs.
The Tivoli normally seats 690 for theatre, 350 for a seated function and 1500 standing but from now a group of ten can have exclusive access to the century-old building.
It held its last gig on March 15, but has been operating a bottle shop for the past four weeks under COVID-19 restrictions.
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The gathering, which must be of ten, receives a glass of champagne on arrival, a seated four-course shared meal with matched wines, and can play their own songs through the The Tivoli’s sound system, and prices start at $165 per person.
The pièce de résistance of the offering, called Commune, is the opportunity to upgrade the dinner with a private concert, with the venue matching the client with a local DJ or artist based on their tastes.
Creative director and co-owner Dave Sleswick said it was “no secret that the entire (live music) industry has been heavily, heavily hit”.
“The purpose of our work and our life is to bring people together to gather,” he said.
“When that’s taken away from you — we’re all just looking at ways to keep doing what we love to do but also what can financially support us and keep our business and careers moving forward,” he said.
He said such small gatherings had “never been done before” at The Tivoli.
“Our venue is always booked with our large events, and now we can’t do that, so we’re turning our attention to what we can do, which is intimate and exclusive.
“One of the main purposes of this is to continue to offer opportunities for artists.
“Bringing a live band into that is not only going to make the evening more memorable, it’s really giving back to a community of people that feels like they’re already in a bit of a vulnerable social spot.”
He said since announcing the new initiative this morning The Tivoli had already been “overwhelmed” with inquiries.
“We’re overwhelmed with the appetite that people have for coming back to The Tivoli and also for live music,” he said.
“Ones that are coming in are for people’s personal events, such as birthdays, but there’s also a number of people who look like they’re interested in just having a night out.”
Mr Sleswick entreated Brisbane residents to support the initiatives that artists, venues and arts organisations launch in the coming months and years.
“For us to survive, it does require the people of Brisbane to get behind these things and get amongst it.”
Other add-ons, include a historical tour of the venue “for the history buffs”, full venue and table theming, a professional photography package, a murder mystery or poker night and caviar and oysters.
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