Suppliers
“Music is a universal language. Physicality, age or gender isn’t an issue, it’s like a mutual playing field for everyone and it’s not work related.” – Andy Sharpe
SongDivision has found success with virtual programs
46 Spice Autumn 2021
While the studio work softened the blow, Sydney Prop Specialists had to look for additional revenue streams to keep its full-time staff in work. They focussed efforts on a recently acquired business, Chair Covers Candelabra, which mostly operates in the wedding and special events space, and even opened The Virus Shop, selling face masks, hand sanitiser, thermometers, signage and more.
Finding new opportunities Operating across Australia, Asia, US, UK and Europe, musical team building provider SongDivision has found the move to virtual and hybrid events a beneficial one. A few weeks after COVID-19 hit Australia in March 2020, SongDivision was running free virtual ‘happy hour’ shows to keep the community, and its musicians, engaged. Since then, the virtual side of the business has continued to grow and in less than 12 months the company has performed more than 1,000 virtual and hybrid events. Founder Andy Sharpe says it’s also opened the business up to a broader range of clients. “We’re working with companies that we hadn’t worked with before because we were previously too expensive for their event, where we would have been bringing in a five-piece band and all the AV that goes with it,” he explains. “Now we’re doing a lot more state-wide and national teambuilding programs for teams spread out across the country that can’t get together and meet, but they’re still working with each other every day and need some sort of human connection.” Based in Adelaide, training and team building supplier Venture Corporate Recharge also saw new opportunities arise last year. “As an organisation that floats between the conference, training and development, recreation, education and tourism sectors, we felt the initial hit as much as any other service provider,” says general manager Luke Duncan.