Oxana Bendall
Behind every unforgettable live music experience, there’s someone orchestrating the magic behind the scenes. Enter Oxana Bendall, the driving force behind The AllStars Collective, a group of world-class session musicians gracing the most exclusive events. With a background in Record Industry and Competition Law, she found her way into the world of live music, mastering the art of bringing together top-tier talent and creating exceptional performances. In this interview, she shares her insights into curating premium live music experiences, the challenges of high-profile events, and what truly makes a performance stand out.
Hello Oxana, who are you and what do you do?
Hello! Thank you for having me and running this special feature on The AllStars Collective. I’ve been working with the band for 13 years now. I was in London reading for my PhD degree in Record Industry and Competition Law, and then I was introduced to the Founder of The AllStars, Paul Pacifico. When I joined The AllStars, I didn’t know much about live events so I had to learn fast and what a learning curve that was! For the past 8 years, I’ve been the General Manager looking after the minutiae of our events.
You manage The AllStars Collective, a group of world-class session musicians. What are the key factors when selecting artists for high-profile events?
I’d say that there are three key factors. Number one is talent. Nothing can beat that. Then, of course, it is the stage presence, and also importantly, a great vibe on and off the stage. For the vocalists, I’d also add great interaction skills with the audience, and by great I mean classy yet engaging.
«The only way to stand out is to do your own thing.»
What role does live music play at premium events today? Have you noticed any shifts in demand for certain music styles or formats?
I am definitely biased but the right live music can really make an event very special. My vision is a bit unorthodox in that I don’t want to copy what other bands are doing. The only way to stand out is to do your own thing. If the client wants the party a la Great Gatsby, sure we can do that, but it got to a point when every other event request was for Great Gatsby.
When we work with event planners and clients, we sit down and listen to what they want. It is very individual as some clients have a clear vision as to exactly the sort of event they have in mind, whilst others are not so sure. Our expertise is to chisel out the best concept for that particular client and event. For example, we really enjoyed that party on a yacht with the theme of Miami Vice which we did together with Bright. I also remember a Halloween-style wedding for which we performed in New York. That’s something you don’t get to see every day.
Just a few years ago we had clients in London who couldn’t decide on a theme. Some of the family were into SKA music, whilst others were into Twin Peaks. How do you combine those two? Well, we did exactly that! For the reception, we had a Nashville-born vocalist with a trio performing tracks whilst the scenes from Twin Peaks were projected onto the wall, and for the after party show the guests were invited to another room where they danced to a top SKA band. One can be sure that the guests at that party have not experienced anything like that before nor after.
What makes a truly exceptional event with live music stand out from an ordinary performance? What details make the difference?
For me personally, the only thing that makes an event stand out is the talent. You can use lots of gimmicks but they won’t help if the musicians are not of the right calibre.
You work with some of the world’s best session musicians. What are the biggest challenges when bringing such talents together for exclusive events?
Thank you and that’s true. The AllStars Collective does feature some absolute legends, and guess what, there are no challenges working with them because they are all nice and gentle people.
Oxana & Tito Jackson (Jackson 5)
You travel a lot—how does that connect with your work? Do you find inspiration from different cultures or music scenes?
Travelling is definitely one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job! Even though sometimes we only have a couple of hours to explore the location, trust me, I will be out and about.
Oxana & Philip Bailey (Earth Wind & Fire)
What are the biggest challenges when planning and executing live music performances for large corporate events or private gatherings?
I think that the challenges are the same, be it a large corporate event or a small function, i.e. to preempt anything that you could foresee happening on the gig. For example, if the event is outdoors, there is always a chance of rain (especially in the UK!). If the event is planned a year in advance, one needs to emphasise the importance of plan B if it does indeed rain on the day.
Also for me personally, when working on shows abroad, the biggest fear is always the state of the locally hired musical instruments and equipment. I spend a great deal of time making sure that all the logistics lock in to make a cohesive whole.
What specific requirements do premium artists have for event organizers and agencies? How can those expectations be met?
Well, I realised that having events abroad is very expensive for the client. Therefore, we do not add anything unreasonable to our rider. It is a pretty standard rider which includes individual hotel rooms, ground transportation, meals, sometimes we specify the backline hire requirements when we are not in charge of that. We always try to work as one team with the event planner / agency and client.
Are there particular event formats or concepts that work especially well with live music?
I really love just having a great band on stage doing their thing. On our last couple of gigs in St Moritz, for example, the audience was on the dance floor filming the show on their phones! To me this is the best result.
Budget permitting, one of my other favourite concepts is delivering unique experiences which the guests will not see anywhere else. For example, some of our past events featured special collaborations between Nile Rodgers and Maceo Parker, as well as for example with Ronnie Wood. This is a niche area but I love it!
Oxana & Nile Rodgers
«The right song, the right moment - that’s where the magic happens.»
How important is technology – from sound design to stage setup – in creating an unforgettable musical experience?
I think that having great lighting, staging and fantastic sound is always of crucial importance. The AllStars Collective are very exciting visually, and if they are paired up with the right stage concept, that does make an unforgettable experience.
What trends do you see shaping the future of live music at events? Are there any emerging concepts or technologies that excite you?
The only thing that excites me is talent.
Fun Questions
If you could create the ultimate dream band with any musicians (dead or alive), who would be in it?
It would have to feature Michael Jackson on vocals. Then we could add Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Diana Ross and Tina Turner. Now you get my taste in music.
What’s the funniest or most unexpected thing that has ever happened at an event you managed?
Actually, I really struggled to remember the funniest moments; of course, there were some but very few and all involved big name artists so I’d rather not disclose those. Some people think that my job is very glamorous, and my answer is always: ‘Yes, for about 5 minutes. The rest of it is hard and lonely work.’ The upside of what I do is that I spent some amazing time with the artists some people can only dream of meeting, and I’ll cherish those memories forever.
Speaking of the unexpected things at our events…well, where do I start? Big laughter here! Unexpected doesn’t always mean funny. We put on live events involving real people and anything can go not according to plan at any moment. No matter how well you plan something and try to envisage everything, quite often there are things that one simply cannot predict. For example, once we performed at a high profile wedding in a top venue. As the evening progressed, the bride had asked the production team to dim the lights a bit which was a perfectly reasonable request. However, one by one our musicians suddenly couldn’t play their instruments (that is whilst the party is ripe so to speak and everyone is on the dance floor). Initially, we thought it was the fuse, then our production manager figured out that the power supply was connected with the lights switches; in essence, when the lights were dimmed, it also dimmed the power supply on the stage. It is in those very moments when you are immensely thankful for having the right and experienced people in your team. Problem solved within minutes, most importantly, none of the guests or the clients noticed anything. The show must go on no matter what.
If you had to describe your job as a song title, what would it be?
I’m Still Standing by Elton John.
What’s the one song you never get tired of, no matter how many times you hear it?
Oh, I don’t think I could answer that question. I am a human being and I can go through so many emotions in one day. Too many songs to mention!
You’re on tour with a band for a month – what’s the one meal you could eat every day without getting tired of it?
Any of those meals we had on our last event with Bright!
Thank you Oxana for the interesting conversation and the exciting insights!
Shine with us!✨
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