Anzac Day is an important event in the New Zealand calendar, and many pubs, clubs, and hotels will open their doors following morning services. From understanding liquor licensing laws for the day, to knowing how to play Two-up, and ensuring your guests enjoy the day respectfully, there’s a lot to consider.
Here is our guide to hosting a seamless Anzac Day event with your music, commemorative tracks and visuals scheduled ahead of time so you can focus on your guests on the day, raising a glass to remember those who’ve served.
If you would prefer we schedule your Anzac Day content for you, then contact us here.
Here are our Anzac Day tips for pubs, clubs and hotels:
1. Learn how to play The Ode on Anzac Day
Laurence Binyon’s Ode of Remembrance is a poem commonly recited at Anzac Day services to commemorate wartime sacrifice.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Playing The Ode in your venue on Anzac Day is easy and we have several audio and visual options for you to choose from in Manage My Nightlife. These options include the Last Post bugle call and a one minute silence that you can also schedule to play.
NZ The Last Post + The Ode – New Zealand version – Featuring the Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, this 2-minute track plays the Last Post in full, followed by a reading of The Ode.
The Last Post + The Ode – The Last Post bugle call in full, followed by a reading of The Ode. It also has accompanying Anzac Day visuals that will show on screens as it plays. Ensure your Video Output is set to Current Song (Playing).
The Last Post + The Ode (Short Version) – This 1-minute track plays a shortened version of The Last Post, followed by a reading of The Ode. It also has accompanying Anzac Day visuals that will show on screen as it plays.
The Last Post + The Ode + 1 Min Silence – The Last Post in full, followed by a reading of The Ode and then a minute’s silence. It also has accompanying Anzac Day visuals that will show on screens as it plays if your Video Output is set to Current Song (Playing).
The Last Post + 1 Min Silence + Rouse – The Last Post bugle call in full, followed by a minute’s silence. It ends with a Rouse bugle call (this plays at Anzac Day services as flags are raised from half-mast to the masthead).
2. Continue the spirit throughout the day with music that makes us proud
Our ANZAC DAY music list is a carefully curated selection of appropriate music you can schedule to play following services or one of the versions above of The Ode. It’s a fitting commemorative soundtrack featuring artists like Eric Bogle, John Williamson and Redgum. Find it in the speciality category.
If you want to feature more New Zealand artists in your venue on this important day, you can queue some of our other local lists, like NZ BAR TUNES.
Display Scan to Play signage around your venue so guests can enjoy picking songs on crowdDJ®, without disrupting the vibe of your event.
Click here to read our guide on how to activate any of these lists in your venue.
TIP: The above link also includes instructions on how you can press pause on your existing music programming, while you switch to your commemorative music and visuals.
3. Display relevant visuals to mark the occasion
AMS Nightlife enables venues to program informative and commemorative slides to display on screen at any time.
Whether you’d like to set one slide to stay up for the duration of Anzac Day or intersperse slides with special messages about your planned services, there are lots of options.
Themed digital signage provided by AMS Nightlife can be found and programmed to display in the Digital Signage Library via the Manage My Nightlife web app.
Click here for more tips and instructions on how to display Anzac Day visuals on your screens.
Example of Anzac Day slides available via the Manage My Nightlife web app.
Getting Anzac Day Ready
Whether there are a few games of two-up planned or an epic gunfire breakfast, we’ve got something to complement your Anzac Day activities and help your promote it ahead of time.
Check out our support website for more tips or contact us here.
