Playgroup Collaboration: Peter Coombe’s Concert event
We chatted to Steph from Mt Hawthorn Playgroup who shared how she and her playgroup collaborated with Highgate and Yokine playgroups to put on a concert featuring children’s entertainer Peter Coombe for their members and the wider community.
- Start With a Simple Idea
The spark for the event came from a personal moment making Yoto cards for my child and being reminded of Peter Combe, whose music was a staple of many 90s childhoods. When social media revealed he was already in Perth for the Fringe Festival and looking to visit schools, I simply emailed to ask whether he’d consider performing at a playgroup, along with his requirements and pricing.
Key takeaway for other groups:
If an artist is already touring locally, reach out. The worst they can say is no — and you might be surprised how open they are to community events.When the quote came back, it was more expensive than we could manage alone. Peter himself suggested partnering with another group to split costs.How we solved this:Committee members already had relationships with nearby playgroups, which made collaboration easy. We partnered with Highgate and Yokine playgroups, each contributing a set amount and receiving a corresponding allocation of tickets. If you don’t have existing relationships with other playgroups an event is the perfect excuse to reach out.
Key takeaway:
If costs feel high, collaboration can turn an unrealistic idea into a very achievable one especially when you leverage existing relationships.
- Ticketing
With three playgroups involved, ticketing required the most thought. We chose Eventbrite because it allowed us to:• Track total attendance numbers
• Allocate ticket quotas via voucher codes for each playgroup
• Communicate easily with all attendees (e.g. automated reminder emails)
• Open remaining tickets to the public if capacity allowedEach playgroup set its own ticket pricing. Mt Hawthorn Playgroup chose to make the event free for existing and renewing members.There were a few downsides:• To create voucher codes, tickets had to technically have a price, which caused minor confusion.
• One person accidentally paid for tickets they didn’t need to.That said, we even made a small surplus from public ticket sales — an unexpected bonus.
Outcome:
Capacity was 200 people, and 191 tickets were gone by the morning of the event.
Key takeaway:
A centralised ticketing system saves time and stress, especially when multiple groups are involved.
- Pick the Most Practical Venue
We hired the hall directly above our playgroup, which simplified everything:
• Easy access for members
• No need to transport cleaning equipment
• Chairs, tables, and facilities already onsite
• Convenient key pickup from a recreation centre with long opening hours
Key takeaway:
Prioritise accessibility, parking, capacity, and amenities. A practical venue sets the event up for success.
- Learnings That Made a Big Difference
A few practical lessons stood out:
• It’s easier than you think. Once momentum builds, things fall into place.
• Set up a shared WhatsApp group early. Do this as soon as multiple organisers are involved — it simplifies decisions and avoids missed messages.
• Pad your booking times generously. At least 1 hour before and 1.5 hours after the event. This alone can determine whether the day feels smooth or exhausting.
• Be honest about capacity and limitations. When illness impacted my ability to promote and organise after the new year, I asked for help. Others stepped in and carried the event.
• Arrange childcare support if you’re organising. Having someone dedicated to watching your child lets you focus on logistics.
• People want to help — let them. Confirm setup and pack-up help ahead of time and reconfirm the night before.
• Read the venue requirements carefully. Small things (like needing photo ID for key collection) can trip you up on the day.
• Look after the artist and their team. Check in, offer water or coffee, help them navigate the venue, and support merch sales where appropriate
Final Encouragement
This event showed that with a bit of initiative, openness to collaboration, and clear communication, playgroups can deliver high quality, memorable experiences.
