Jasmin Kemp Nicholson

Company Founder and Director

BACKGROUND

Jasmin is the founder and owner of Entertainment Group. Jasmin is one of seven children. She grew up on a farm, north-west of Auckland, enjoying the outdoors and the ebb and flow of a rural lifestyle. She rode horses and farm bikes and had to take her turn raising calves. This involved bringing the cows in, and leg-roping them, so the calves could be fed, every day before and after school, come rain hail or shine! Farm kids were afforded more liberty than the average city kid - Jasmin can recall driving the huge hay truck around the paddock at around age 8 while the older siblings threw bales of hay on the back. There was no television in the household, needless to say, eveyone made their own fun and read a lot. The whole family was very musical - everyone played something - Jasmin learned to play the piano and violin while at school and picked up guitar along the way. She performed regularly with her two sisters and father, who also sang and played guitar. She attended the local primary and secondary schools, participating in the drama productions as well as representing the school and region in hockey and athletics.

THE BIG SMOKE

Feeling the need for a change for her last year of high school Jasmin headed to ‘the big smoke’ to attend Epsom Girls Grammar School where she focused on practical art and was subsequently accepted into both Elam and Ilam University Art Schools.

TO STUDY OR TO SING…

Jasmin decided instead to study Parks and Recreational Management and Tourism at Lincoln University, followed by some Event Management papers through Aoraki Polytechnic. Throughout this time Jasmin was singing in a few bands as a way of supporting her studies but eventually she was lured by the bright lights and decided to pursue a career in the music industry.

TO SING!

1990s - To begin with Jasmin sang with various bands, and was a regular keyboard player and backing vocalist for an all-female hard rock band (true story!). Then she was asked to sing with a touring covers band, a ‘fill-in’ role which lasted several years, and saw the band travel all around New Zealand and perform in Australia, Fiji and Bali. In the years that followed Jasmin continued to perform with other bands, performing for many companies, venues and private clients, and getting to perform at special events in Tonga, France and the USA. Jasmin’s musical acts were always very popular - under her guidance they were able to choose the right songs at the right time, knowing that as entertainers, they had to create the right energy at the right time and invite their audience along for the ride.

Clients enjoyed working with Jasmin as she always ‘delivered the goods’ on stage and was easy to deal with off-stage. In fact, it was the perfect foundation for what was to come.

THE AGENCY

Early on in her career Jasmin discovered that there was a need for entertainment agents who understood the needs of both clients and artists, and could also fulfill those requirements in a very thoughtful and practical way. Jasmin’s personal experience as an entertainer proved to be invaluable as she set up her first agency in Auckland, developing systems and processes which enabled her to book creative talent into events more effectively. She became a spreadsheet queen and continued to refine her booking and management systems to ensure the processes were logical and the contracts and documentation was easy to understand and implement. Word spread quickly and it didn’t take long before other artists came knocking, looking for help finding work. By the mid-late 90’s Jasmin represented a distinguished stable of musical talent and was placing them into corporate events, private functions, festivals and public outdoor/sporting events throughout New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific.

Weddings and private parties have always held a special place in Jasmin’s heart. Throughout this time she performed at many high-end parties, at a wide range of spectacular sites and venues from cliff-tops to roof-tops to super-yachts, aircraft hangars and beaches, to name a few of the highlights. When not peforming herself, Jasmin secured the best artists to suit each celebration, often curating the musical entertainment from guest arrival to lights-out, to ensure the perfect flow throughout the event.

THE COUNTRY LIFE

After many years of traveling, touring around NZ and overseas and at various times living in Nelson, Wellington and Auckland, Jasmin eventually moved back to the rural north-west and set up offices in the nearby ‘village’, where the business continued to flourish.

CIRQUE AND OTHER FUN

In 2005 Jasmin purchased GLE Entertainment (established by Greg Lay in 1988). This was an opportunity to grow the non-musical entertainment side of the business. Jasmin enjoyed learning about the incredible cirque, ground, street and strolling characters, cultural acts, comedians and speakers who quickly became an integral part of the bigger-better agency.

JAZ ON STAGE

As well as running the business, Jasmin (AKA Jaz) continued to perform regularly with her dance covers band (Freeway) and lounge band (Loungerie), up until the birth of her first child in 2008. Her last jazz residency was at the Grand Hotel Auckland.

KEY ENTERTAINMENT SUPPLIER

2009 - Juggling the business, two babies and completing a house build seemed like enough to take on all at once so Jasmin took a step back from performing regularly herself, and focused on delivering event and entertainment services to existing clients as well as developing new business relationships. She continued to provide specialist entertainment services to a select range of high-end hotels, venues, catering companies and event agencies. For a number of years Entertainment Group was the key entertainment supplier for SKYCITY Auckland and SKYCITY Hamilton and it continues to supply weekly entertainment for the Sheraton/Langham/Cordis hotel lobby - a relationship which began actual decades ago!

COVID WHO?

2020/21/22 was by no means ‘business as usual’ as the events industry was slammed by the Covid pandemic. Events were postponed, re-booked multiple times or cancelled outright, causing many people to lose their jobs and others to lose their businesses. As a nimble company, Entertainment Group was able to pivot and adapt to ‘the new normal’. Not everyone made it… it really was trial by fire for many and only the most dedicated and versatile artists, techs and crew made it through to the other side. The fallout has continued for many - Jasmin considers herself fortunate that most of her key suppliers and favourite artists are still in business and together, they can continue to provide the very best entertaiment experience.

2022-23 - During this period Jasmin took on a new contract role as game-day Event Manager for the MG Mystics. 2022 was a rollercoaster ride with shifting ‘lockdown’ rules throughout the season but overall it was a fun challenge and the 2023 season was much more straightforward. Of course the highlight was taking home the ANZ Premiership trophy for the second time - Go MG Mystics! Jasmin thoroughly enjoyed diving into the professional sports arena and plans to join the team again for the 2024 ANZ Premiership season.

EXPERT INSIGHTS

Jasmin’s expert insights into how to successfully deliver live performances definitely came about through her many years of personal experience. Her skill at selecting the best act or talent required for each job and then effectively managing each step of the process through to a successful conclusion, has helped cement her position as the ‘go-to’ entertainment solution for many clients. Her personal core values of honesty and integrity translate into her work in a very real way, enabling clients, artists and suppliers to ‘lean in’ to the service and support offered to them by Jasmin and her team. Jasmin has maintained long-term relationships with many clients and artists throughout her long and successful career and deeply values these partnerships.

2018 - One such long-term partnership is with Westbrook Winery in Waimauku, where Jasmin has enjoyed learning more about the wine industry while being able to create wonderful visitor experiences for Cellar Door visitors. Jasmin also coordinates and manages weddings and special events at the winery. It’s a beautiful blend of all of the things Jasmin loves and she very much enjoys helping to create a warm and welcoming experience for all Westbrook guests.

Under Jasmin’s careful guidance, Entertainment Group provides all of her clients with a short-cut to a short-list of pre-qualified acts to best suit an event brief and value…and then THEY DELIVER!

THE GOOD LIFE

Jasmin enjoys a good work/life balance. The family enjoys living on their lifestyle block, which is shared with the dog and a handful of friendly sheep. Her children attend the local school and run around barefoot like all good Kiwi kids should. As a family they can be found riding MX bikes or skiing together at Mt Ruapehu or in the South Island. Come summer, you’ll find the family at the Coromandel bach (holiday home) or the family home in Rarotonga, fishing, diving and swimming off the back of the boat or simply enjoying the surf or sunshine on the beach, or gathering kaimoana (seafood) to create a feast for family and friends.

Jasmin is a keen baker and cook and has strong ‘hospo’ leanings. She is well-known in her private circles for throwing a party ‘at the drop of a hat’, believing in the value of regular get-togethers with her favourite people. It is one of her favourite things to do.

Her next most favourite thing is arranging parties for other people… if you’re planning one, she’s your woman!

What other people say…

Jasmin understands the many details that go into making a successful performance from all sides of the equation; the artiste, the audience, the venue, the production and the occasion.    

I can't speak highly enough of the fantastic team at EG. 

 These guys know their stuff, so it is always a pleasure.  I thoroughly enjoy working for Jasmin - she is so professional, easy to work with and communication is on point.

The latest show has proven their attention to detail, with daily conversations around song lists, dress code, rehearsals and co-ordination between dancers and musicians, as well as post-show follow up to help improve the performances.

If for any reason I am unsure of something, they are quick to respond and resolve any issues we may have. Thanks for the opportunity to work with you, it is a pleasure.

I love working with the team at EG.  Hope this business relationship last for a long time.  

We have had brilliant dealings with EG.  They are professional and communicate clearly.  We are more than happy with the level of service they provide and would recommend them to others.

Without the artistic management of EG many local artistes (most with international experience) would not have had the chance to showcase their talents and pursue full time careers in music. More than that, they have opened doors and music relationships through their artistic pairings and management

They never fail to supply me with all the relevant material such as run-sheets & time-lines well in advance of the gig.  They also ensure that I have all the relevant client information which then enables me to do the very best job I possibly can. 

They are transparent in all their dealings with us as artistes and always make sure we have what we need.

Their attention to detail and fantastic communication has always made them ideal agents, and given me the utmost confidence that I will always be provided with the information, logistics, and personnel I require to perform at my best and ensure that the client receives the best possible outcome for their event.

Should the universe throw us obstacles like it does, you magically fix them.

Their standards are high and their commitment to proficiency is second to none. My experience and relationship with ENZ Ltd has always been a superb one! Thank you guys!