Bite Size #150: Greg Page - The Early Days Of The Wiggles
Dec 1, 2024
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Greg Page shares the fascinating origins of The Wiggles and how crucial it was for them to self-organize their shows for financial success. He emphasizes prioritizing educational content over everything else, including music and business. The transformation from educators to entertainers showcases their passion and dedication to engaging children. Additionally, the conversation touches on the importance of financial fitness in sustaining creativity and performance in workplace settings.
The Wiggles transitioned from performing under promoters to self-managing their shows, significantly increasing their financial success and autonomy.
Prioritizing educational content over music and business considerations, The Wiggles created engaging material that enriched children's learning experiences.
Deep dives
The Wiggles' Journey to Self-Promotion
The early days of The Wiggles illustrate the band's transformation from performing under established promoters to becoming self-sufficient in organizing their own shows. Initially, they received a flat fee for performances, which led them to realize that by managing their own events, they could capture a much larger share of the revenue. A pivotal moment occurred during a series of shows where they saw the significant profits made by the promoters, prompting them to take control of their bookings and promotion. This shift not only fortified their financial success but also laid the groundwork for their future growth as a self-managed entity in the music industry.
Educators First, Musicians Second
The foundation of The Wiggles is rooted in their commitment to educational content, placing it above their musical ambitions and business pursuits. Greg Page emphasized the importance of being childhood educators first, which guided their approach to creating engaging and relevant material for children. This unique perspective allowed them to develop a curriculum that intertwined music with educational goals, ensuring that their content was both entertaining and beneficial. The band's ethos was reflected in the creative process, where good quality content for children was prioritized and emerged as a driving force behind their artistic and entrepreneurial decisions.
The Role of Management and Strategic Growth
As The Wiggles transitioned into a self-promoted model, the role of management became crucial in strategizing their success. Initially managed by Jeremy Fabini, the band later sourced a new manager, John Spence, who helped them navigate the logistics of self-promotion for live shows. This mentorship was invaluable, especially as they developed their identity and brand without relying heavily on third-party promoters, which was unusual in the industry. The combination of passion, shared belief in their mission, and strategic management allowed the group to grow and solidify their status as leaders in children's entertainment.
In this bite size from episode #96 original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page talks about the early days of The Wiggles and how they realised that until they were able to organise and produce their own shows they wouldn't be able to make much money.
Greg also talks about how important it was for the band to always think about the educational aspect of their content first, then the music and then the entrepreneurial or business side of the band in that order.
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