Queensland has emerged as a state to be reckoned with by her southern sisters; with big name DJs and electronica acts finding the sunshine state as worthy a place to perform in. When the ITM50 starts featuring Queensland DJs in its top five – you know that the Sunshine State can no longer be considered an electronic Sahara! Along for this ride emerges Brisbane’s leading events company, Ten Pound Crew. With successful large scale and boutique events as Parklife, BBQ Breaks, SunKissed, We Love Sounds and Koo Koo Kachoo under its belt, the suntanned TPC body has surfaced as a major events company, prepared to provide South East Queensland with its electronica demands.

Out of Ten Pound Crew come Dan Sandaver and Matt ‘Aniki’ Fraser, two gents who forged a relationship thanks to Dan’s love for music and Matt’s love for DJing. “Yeh,” Dan notes, “he was a superstar DJ, I was a chin stroking train spotter.” “He knew too much about music to have a social life,” Matt reminisces. “We both discovered this was something we had in common – as well as a shared ‘like’ of drinking.” It is Dan who takes the initiative in explaining their humble beginnings. “One afternoon we met up at the Caxton Street Hotel for a beer after work. I think it was a Tuesday afternoon – the sun was shining, the birds were chirping. Matt had received an email from an overseas agent inquiring if he would like to book Tipper for a performance. Matt knew I had always been interested in promoting and wanted to put on events – so we thought we would give it a go! Matt had previously run the successful Bottom Heavy club nights in Brisbane, and I figured he knew some of the ropes – so we jumped into the promoting game head first!”

The results? “The show went well, we got drunk, had a laugh, then decided to take it a little more serious,” Dan enthuses. “We then booked the Crystal Method for a show – talk about diving into the deep end!” Dan projects. And their relationship? “Working with each other has always been fun!” Dan asserts. “Like any business partnership you always have your moments, but it really comes down to two personalities understanding each other and supporting the other to get the job done and to the best of your ability.” “Yeh,” Matt agrees, tongue in cheek. “Dan is really good at Excel. Without a skilled understanding of Excel, nothing can ever be achieved in business – or dance music”.

And what inspired the name? “I cook a mean ten pound chilli,” Matt sniggers. “Not sure,” Dan laughs in response. “Maybe we were both fat little babies that were over ten pounds when we were born?” he laughs.”I guess it can mean anything we want it to. I hope one day you look up the dictionary and see Ten Pound Crew: The adjective for ‘Good Times’!” Dan’s explanation seems apt. But one must then question: who does what in the partnership? “Matt has the good looks,” Dan explains his smile firmly planted on his face, “while I have the brains! Though seriously, Matt has a fantastic understanding of music – the nerd – as well as production and logistics,” he adds, his tone becoming serious. “I have a history in project management and marketing and advertising,” he establishes. And why was Ten Pound Crew necessary? “We believed Brisbane needed a breath of fresh air with some of its musical programming with events. There were some fantastic independent promoters at the time – and some dodgy ones at that too – but we believed there was an opportunity in the market for events which had a different slant to them,” Dan reflects. “It was about music that catered for a broader audience with an underground appeal. Ten Pound Crew hasn’t changed [since it started]. I would more say it’s evolved in different directions with its music policy.” “We are very lucky to be able to cater musically as promoters to such a vibrant and expanding city,” Matt affirms. “Ten Pound Crew was never necessary for Brisbane. Brisbane was necessary for Ten Pound Crew.”

And their thoughts on Brisbane? Not surprisingly, Dan has much to say. “I think Brisbane has a very strong place in the national music scene,” he states. “Collectively this city has generated some amazing artists, but also is now truly starting to evolve its own culture. On a whole though, I believe that we are a piece on the national puzzle, and people prefer the outlook on a national event or artist, whether it be because we are patriotic about the country and not just one town. But I think there is a bigger picture that Brisbane fits into into on the music map,” And with regard to Ten Pound Crew helping to highlight it? – “I don’t think so,” Dan is quick to point out. “We are only providing a platform for what the audiences want!” “Yeh,” Matt intones, “we’re still widely considered a bit of a backwater by the two big cities, and hey, we kinda have been forever, but I think Brisbane is really starting to come along in leaps and bounds. As more clubs and bars open, the culture will really start to boom. The Gold Coast is really a sister city too, and you can see that it’s really coming places too. It’s kinda the holiday destination of Australia now .”

While reflecting on TPC’s past, which event has stood out as unforgettable? Every event we’ve produced or been involved with is memorable,” Dan affirms. “Some are definitely highlights! Like Ice-T. [We’re] sitting at dinner with the man and Co-Co his wife on arm, [with him] explaining to us how to launder money – [That] was a pretty surreal experience! I’m more upset that I forgot to get my New Jack City DVD signed! But other highlights would have to be Parklife 2006 in South Bank and 2007 in the Botanic Gardens – only because neither site had been used in that capacity before for a cross over dance music festival. BBQ Breaks are always fun events.” Dan enthuses.” We love seeing all our friends there and everyone drink in hand and putting their best foot forward on the dance floor! Crystal Method, Pendulum, Redman and Method Man have all been great concerts as well,” Dan confirms. “It’s only ever going to be a perfect event for a small number of people,” Matt doesn’t hesitate to point out. “Even at the best event a person’s enjoyment of the day really comes down to what happens to them and their friends on the day. Someone could go to the best ever Bon Jovi concert in the world, and find their girlfriend taking off backstage to be with Richie Sambora – so even though it’s an amazing ‘perfect’ event – they are gonna have a shit time. A good event is always made by the company you keep – so if you make sure you’re going in with good friends then there’s a solid chance that a good time will be had by all.”

And how do they deal with the bad? “Negative responses go part and parcel with any event,” Dan explains. “Some are constructive feedback – which you appreciate. It’s always fantastic to get a true, honest opinion so you can strive to correct that problem in the future. However sometimes you get some really cracked out feedback so you wonder – what is the person thinking? Its kind of confusing – and scary at times. The internet puts you in contact with some weird and wonderful people,” Dan reflects. Matt notes that “Music, people enjoying themselves – and their lives, Australia being the luckiest country on earth, Macguyver and nu rave” are all factors to ensure his idea of a perfect event, though Dan acknowledges that he has never seen a perfect “10 out of 10” flawless event. “Most of them are impeccable,” Dan maintains, “but there is always something that happens which can be outside of an organizers control and takes away from the experience. I don’t think the term ‘perfect event’ exists. But good performers, good production, good sound and lighting, great crowd and ease of access for patrons.” are the factors he offers for a great event. “When most of these things are followed,” Dan notes, “it normally leads to a fun experience for the patron.”

Together, Dan Sandever and Matt ‘Aniki” Fraser have climbed the ranks for TPC to now be a leading lifestyle brand for South East Queensland. With world domination and a clothing range on the cards – “though that’s kind of a secret for the moment,” Dan confides – it would seem Ten Pound Crew holds all the aces. With such experience under them their latest event DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist expectantly lie ahead. In fact, this show has been of such demand in Queensland, that a second show had to be granted! Such success is an indication of the victory and triumph that awaits Ten Pound Crew: the crew of Good Times.