“It ended up costing $70,000 to $80,000 to set up, like all the money I had,” he said.
The project came with unique issues.
“I had to carve out my own market because there was no competition, there’s no one else doing this,” Dobson said.
Undergrand’s baby grand has since been taken throughout the North Island and played at numerous events by a range of artists.
They include renowned jazz pianist Kevin Field at Brick Bay, Flavio Villani at Cornwall Park and NZTrio’s Somi Kim for Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery reopening.
“What I really love about this business is that it’s all about collaboration,” Dobson said.
He attended the weekly poetry night at Whanganui bar Porridge Watson with Rosi Merz where event organiser, and Dobson’s flatmate, Joe Blogs, read the poem Thelonious Tree by Wellington poet Asha Lovegrove.
“It was really, really beautiful and then Rosi actually had the idea of turning it into a kids' show,” he said.
“She was the motivation behind this.”
At January’s event, Merz, who is the Tarapuruhi Bushy Park sanctuary manager, will read Thelonious Tree while Dobson plays the piano.
“The interplay between words, music and setting is all part of the experience,” he said.
Thelonious Tree is a fantasy story with messages about caring for the environment.
The event is interactive, including a botanical scavenger hunt, and families are encouraged to bring snacks, drinks and picnic blankets.
“It’s been a beautiful journey to create a story so touching and wonderful,” Dobson said.
The performance is at Bason Botanic Gardens on January 10, starting at 2pm; it is recommended guests arrive at 1.40pm.
In case of bad weather, the event will be rescheduled to January 17. Updates can be found on the Undergrand Facebook page.
There is a koha entry with all proceeds donated to the Bason Botanic Gardens.
Olivia Reid is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
