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Dance, Pop, Top 40, Jazz, Funk & Covers bands for your function | Throughout New Zealand

What we offer

A hand-picked selection of world-class live musical acts

We have bands in a broad range of styles and sizes. Our artists are hand-picked; we stand by the quality of every band member on this site. Book a Bands-by-design ensemble and you are guaranteed a top-line group.

Musical acts we offer include:

  • Jazz solo artists, duos, trios and large ensembles

  • Pop covers duos, trios, quartets and more

  • Additional instrumentalists from a pool of the best quality musicians in New Zealand

  • Arranging and Musical Directorship for boutique events

  • Event management for larger functions including outsourcing for technical / stage / lighting / sound

  • Musical programming for shows / T.V. / stage / theatre

Specially designed Themes and Unique Entertainment

Along with our existing bands, we can put together the best session musicians in the business to create a band from scratch. We offer a wealth of experience in musical direction services and arranging for large functions requiring extra detail, themed parties and corporate awards ceremonies with live band ‘stings’.

Whatever you dream, we can design the perfect entertainment solution to match.

 Client Satisfaction

 You can rely on our total professionalism to guarantee an event that will wow your guests. Here’s our promise to you:

  • Ensuring the right act is perfectly matched to your event

  • Maintaining the highest standard of musicianship, repertoire and musical equipment across our stable of performers

  • Maintaining clear communication throughout the organisation and performance of the event.

HONESTY, TRUST, TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY 

We have a strong ethical business model that delivers. We supply clients with stylish, great sounding, memorable entertainment in as direct and professional manner as possible by cutting down agency percentages and having transparent payment systems so both clients and performers know how much is being paid and to whom. This creates a ‘win-win’ scenario for everyone; less agency expenses to clients means more performance fees going straight to the high-calibre, hard-working performers.

Who We Are

Dixon Nacey - Director

My name is Dixon Nacey - I am the director here at Bands By Design.

I have 23 years’ experience in performance, musical direction, arranging, composition and management of musical acts of all shapes and sizes. I have worked with over 90 different bands in a vast range of styles throughout New Zealand and abroad. I have performed at over 400 corporate functions, from the NZ Embassy Ball in Bangkok to large company events in Fiji and Bali as a featured solo artist and in the ultimate party bands. I have performed jazz for the Prime Minister of NZ and played in Toronto as an ambassador for New Zealand music.

More recently, I have arranged and directed music for the NZ film awards (2014), the TVNZ hit show ‘Happy Hour’ with Temuera Morrison and the Modern Maori Quartet (2014), The Anzac Special on Maori TV (2015), the fundraiser Waiata also on Maori TV (2015), the sold out stage show ‘Lady Sings The blues’ (2015) and 'Alchemy' (2016).

Personal Information

I live in West Auckland, New Zealand. I have three beautiful children and a fantastic and loving wife. In addition to performing music I lecture at the University of Auckland, Canterbury University, Massey University (Albany) and as a guest at many other schools throughout the country. I also run a successful jazz guitar academy online.

 I run this website under my LTD Liability Company - 'Nacey Productions LTD' (Business number # 5716176).

To see a video testimonial for Dixon Nacey from some of NZ’s top musicians and teachers, click here.

 
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Richie Pickard - Associate Director

My name is Richie Pickard and I am the associate director for Bands By Design.

With over twenty years experience in the New Zealand and international music industry, I have performed extensively in a variety of contexts from pop, jazz, folk and funk through to theatre and orchestral music. Alongside my professional music career I have also established myself as a progressive and dynamic music educator, teaching at some of New Zealand’s leading institutions including the University of Canterbury, CPIT and the University of Auckland.

I have played extensively throughout New Zealand and globally in a range of styles, touring with international stars such as Josh Groban, Elaine Paige and Mary Coughlan as well as New Zealand artists including Dave Dobbyn, Julia Deans, Breaks Co-op and Annie Crummer. A wide range of experiences within the performing arts has developed my versatility as a musician and enabled me to establish strong relationships throughout the wider creative arts sector.

This has led to my professional development as I have taken on roles in arts administration, music directing, music production and tour management.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

I also reside in West Auckland, New Zealand and currently perform and teach music across the country in a range of ensembles and teaching platforms.

Richie is a tutor at the Auckland Philharmonia's Sistema Aotearoa Programme based in Otara, South Auckland.

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