Wiggles worth
As the world's most successful children's entertainers, the Wiggles have turned small people into big business. Sarah Norris caught up with Sam Moran to talk about life in big red cars and yellow skivvys.
How many skivvies' do you own?
Countless. I don't even know. They seem to be everywhere.
Do you have skivvy colour envy?
When choosing the colours, the story goes that Jeff and Murray both had purple and red shirts respectively, because they were their favourite colours while Anthony and Greg had a race to find a blue shirt. Anthony won. As much as I may have also raced for the blue, I now can't imagine the colours being any other way.
Although you're called the new Wiggle, that's not entirely true. What have you been doing?
I've been friends with the guys for over 10 years and was working with the Wiggles full-time for five years as Greg's understudy [blue skivvy] before permanently donning the yellow skivvy a year ago. Before that I was a sales account manager at an IT distribution company for about three years. This has been quite a different world.
What's it like to perform to so many children?
It's the best. It doesn't matter how lousy your day is off-stage; when you step on that stage and see all those smiling faces, you forget it all and have a great time. It is something special to witness, not only the children smiling but the parents too at watching their children have a great time. It reminds me everyday that I have the best job in the world.
A lot gets written about how much The Wiggles earn and the increased merchandise range, do you think the publicity is fair?
Merchandise has never been the focus of The Wiggles. Our main focus has and always will be on creating quality entertainment for children. We are very fortunate with the success of The Wiggles and with that we try to focus all success back into creating an even higher quality DVD or TV series the next time around.
Why do you think The Wiggles resonate with so many children?
I think there are a lot of reasons. First and foremost it's because of Anthony and Murray's early childhood background. Everything we do is very child-centred and very focused at how to communicate effectively with children. Secondly, we are all musicians and pride ourselves on being able to write catchy tunes that children also love to move and dance to. Then I think there's also a little bit of an 'X factor' coming from the chemistry of us all being great mates and from the fun we have together.
You're back in Sydney to play a Christmas show, what can children expect?
This is our brand new show with a massive new set and great new costumes. It's themed around our Pop Go The Wiggles DVD. So there'll be all your favourite nursery rhymes mixed in with all the old Wiggle classics and some of our Christmas songs too. You may even see a certain jolly fellow dressed in red and white.
You travel all around the world entertaining children, is there anything unique to Sydney children?
I think Sydney is a place that has a lot of outdoor activities which means Sydney children are exposed to some great daytime fun. Whether it be playing in a park or at one of the countless beaches. Even swimming at one of the local pools. So I really think Sydney children get to enjoy a lot of physical activity and fun.
What do you think is Sydney's best-kept secret?
I would have to say the Domain Travelator. For children it may as well be a ride at Disneyland. You could spend an entire afternoon with a child riding the Domain Travelator!
kids@timeoutsydney.com.au