Multicultural Food and Dance Spectacular

OMG Ori check your facts,,,,there were more food stalls and record crowds….so yeah it’s getting really “tired”. I guess there’s always going to be the odd whinger.

This year’s food spectacular Saturday had noticably less food stalls. The organisers need to pick up their game in terms of the stage performances and timing, with several of the acts unable to perform due to running overtime. These people worked, rehearsed, and had family and friends waiting to see them, so that was sad. I think the same thing year in year out is also getting a bit tired…

The place was PACKED – bemused tourists walking at a snail’s pace, and stroller families causing blockages pretty much everywhere, but I didn’t complain.

I’m surprised there were no problems – I think the trouble makers saw the family contingent and found themselves to be the minority and left.

Everyone was saying “they should put this on every month or so” and I totally agree with them.

It was a great day out with the family. We saw a kungfu guy break a stack of concrete blocks, some dancing (both good & bad). Ate some African curry, an Asian curry puff, a German kransky with sourkraut, washed down with a German Lager, and some Spanish paella. It was bigger than previous year’s events – heaps and heaps of people out. Some extra seating and garbage/recycling bins wouldn’t go astray.

hmmmm, proven to be crap food. Agreed. : )

Howdy, I would suggest that the fast food business is a more proven avenue

Was mortified to see the food court still packed out with people eating maccas etc when there was so much real and wonderful food outside.
I should go into the weight loss industry and make some real money …

Saturday was a great event. We stayed for a good 11
hrs or so as we do every year. The highlight would be the hungarian garlic bread, simply amazing!

The ABC has an NMF subsite set up… looks like they are asking for user generated content

I attended the “Gospel Spectacular” last night at the Canberra theatre and left very disappointed. The ticketing website promised an African-American choir and a ‘showcase’ so I expected some good gospel singing.

Unfortunately, once we finally got to hear the choir who’d travelled from New Jersey, it was after interval and they only sang 3 or 4 songs!!! I can’t remember as it went so quickly. I could have listened to them all night as they were awesome but we unfortunately never saw them again.

Instead we watched several ‘dance’ routines to a CD track – lovely to look at but running around the 6 minute mark. There were sound issues, pitch issues (on behalf of some of the singers) and lighting issues. Sometimes the curtain would come down, sometimes not, leaving a stage full of dancers frozen, wondering whether they should walk off now.

All the performers were enthusiastic but I sat there feeling sorry for some of them as it was a tough crowd (probably because they were not the advertised African-American gospel choir!) and many of them could have done with more rehearsal.

The MC for the night was the Multicultural Minister. His cringe-worthy presentation was painful to listen to but he had a tough job spruiking an underdone show. I had the impression the organisers may have had some pull-outs and quickly filled the blank spots with talent that was perhaps a little unprepared. The vibe in the crowd was fairly tense towards the end of the night, which wouldn’t have helped the performers.

Next year it would be great to have a proper gospel spectacular – no circus performers, a lively MC, and a real full-size gospel choir. I don’t care where they come from as long as they’re not miming, dancing like an African Zulu warrior or placed at the far rear of the stage, miles from the audience.

A more intimate venue might improve the concert next year – which in turn will help the performers’ confidence and performance.