Booking a gig, event, residency or club night


We're a little different. We don't care about the size of your crowd or how much money we can get at the door. For us, it's all about the community. We're an evolving, messy experiment in building a better creative whānau for Whakatū Nelson.


What we're looking for

We love to host events that:

  • Feel like they couldn't happen anywhere else.
  • Strengthen and inspire our community and yours.
  • Get people mingling between our communities.
  • Come from a progressive place, wanting a better Whakatū Nelson.


Ways to Use Our Space

We offer several pathways tailored to different needs, but they all must align with the WAA! kaupapa.

1. Week Nights: The Heartbeat of WAA!
These regular, informal gatherings are for building our creative community.

  • Cost: Free for Members, koha for non-members. All proceeds go directly to supporting WAA!
  • Ideal for: Jam sessions, skill-shares, social making, anything regular and community-focused.

2. Hosted Events & Gigs
We welcome proposals for one-off events, performances, workshops, or showcases.

  • Cost: We have no set hire fee. You keep the door charge/ticket revenue and donate what's fair and affordable back to WAA! This goes directly into our not-for-profit space.
  • Access: Must include a member discount/perk, and ideally one for teenagers and the unwaged.
  • Ideal for: Gigs, plays, launches, workshops, and inventive events that get people mingling.

3. Short-Term Residencies
We offer free space access for artists, musicians, or creators working towards a specific outcome or show.

  • Cost: Free of charge.
  • Eligibility: You must be a WAA! member. Residencies are limited and must be flexible, as they may be rescheduled around  festivals and special events.
  • Ideal for: Band practice, dance rehearsal, developing a new art project or any creative work with a set deadline.


Space Usage at a Glance


FeatureRegular Club Nights          Events             Residencies
Builds WAA! Community✓✓✗
Donation goes to WAA!✓Welcomed✗
Door sales goes to Performer/Artist/Organiser etc✗✓

-

Host must be a WAA! Member✓✗✓
Requires date flexibility✗✗✓
MembersFreeDiscounted

 -

Non-membersKohaFull Price

-


The Nitty-Gritty

We prefer public, regular, affordable, quirky, and inventive events. Most importantly, we strive to be inclusive of teenagers so host mainly alcohol free all-age events.

Final Thought:
None of this is set in concrete. We're an evolving, messy experiment, but now you know what makes us tick. :-)


Use the form below to apply:

Request a booking

Check out our full calendar for gaps first. We are all volunteers so reply to emails usually at night, but try to get back to you within a few days.