TOM OLIVER TALKS ENTERTAINMENT
February 01, 2023
Tom Oliver sat down with Greg Moseley, Founder and Director of Mise en Music, who asked Tom a little about what he's been up to, and his thoughts on the industry in general.
Mise en Music are a music consultancy and DJ agency, specialising in high end restaurants and bars. Greg and Tom bonded over the shared mission to help their clients achieve their vision. To find out more about their capabilities, visit www.miseenmusic.com.
To discuss how Tom Oliver can turn your vision into reality, click below.
G: Who is Tom Oliver and what role do they play in the entertainment industry?
T: I am Tom Oliver [laughs]. Well, Tom Oliver is first and foremost a musician in the industry of entertainment, rather than the industry of music. What I mean is, I always try to create a lasting experience, by bridging the gap between the music and listener. This is one of the brilliant things about the saxophone; you can really feel it when it’s present.
G: What is your favourite genre of music to play?
T: I’m a big lover of ambient and tribal house. They’re the kind of genres that completely transcend a space into something euphoric and dream-like. I think the saxophone really elevates that sensation.
G: What is your favourite type of event to play?
T: Well, even though I have a lot of people ask me to perform at their wedding, it’s still one of my favourite events to play. It’s an immensely joyous occasion, but also, it’s personal and sensitive, so I feel like I really know everyone by the end of the night. For the majority of people, it’s the most special day of their life, I feel grateful that I’m able to be a part of that.
G: In your opinion, what makes a great wedding?
T: Entertainment! It’s tremendously flattering how many people come up to me to say I was the highlight of the day. One of the biggest mistakes a client can make is choosing a venue that has strict volume restrictions, it can have a considerable impact on the energy, and the DJ will have a stream of guests asking to “turn it up” all night.
G: What do you look for in a venue?
T: There are a lot more factors to consider than people probably imagine, each venue brings its own set of challenges. When I sit down with a client, we often have to discuss weather, time of day, clientele, musical preferences, capacity, dimensions of the room and lighting. It’s not always viable for the venue to have certain features due to technical or business reasons, or it comes down to certain government restrictions. If I’m playing in a historic building, for example, there will be challenges based on the architectural design. At the end of the day, it’s my job to see the [clients] vision and work with them to create the best possible event for that particular day. I know these are all things you’re very familiar with.
G: Is the entertainment industry on the decline?
T: As it seems to wither in some places, it flourishes in others. That’s the beauty of being able to travel with my work. There’s always somewhere in need of entertainment, and fortunately for me, the industry isn’t going to be replaced with AI any time soon.
G: Is there a moment from 2022 that really stands out for you?
T: The Grand Prix was amazing. The likes of Steven Spielberg, Conor McGregor and myself, all moored up together for the weekend. The night I bumped into Conor, I played at La Rascasse at the end of the Formula 1 strip, it must have been [a performance] to over 5,000 people. There’s certainly no feeling like it.
G: What’s 2023 looking like for Tom Oliver?
T: In a word - travelling. I have a busy summer in Spain coming up and plans to perform in the Swiss Alps during the Après-Ski season. My calendar is booked up most weekends already, so it looks to be a busy year!
