Landing of the Conchords tickets

TANYA KATTERNS/The Dominion Post

WORTH THE WAIT: Lawyer Jock Blathwayt catches up with some legal reading in the Flight of the Conchords ticket queue in Masteron.

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He had already started booking a flight to the Conchords but this gig is for locals only.

A Florida man desperate to see Kiwi comedy duo Flight of the Conchords planned to fly to New Zealand for their one-off Masterton show.

He was one of several people from around the world begging for tickets to the March 31 concert, which will raise money for Jemaine Clement's old school, Makoura College.

But it was first come, first served at Masterton's Information Centre, with locals snapping up all 1400 tickets in just 91 minutes.

The Florida fan missed out, despite the lengths he was prepared to go to see the Kiwi funny men.

"He was gutted when told no. It was one-day counter sales only," organiser and Makoura College teacher Rae McKenzie said.

Clement has "gifted" his old school with the concert during a whirlwind holiday back in New Zealand before a US tour in April.

The school was threatened by closure last year but has won a fight for survival. The scramble for tickets drew people from near and far, including Auckland. Dozens, carrying chairs, deck chairs and mattresses, began arriving in Masterton's arts precinct at 5pm on Wednesday. Just 1400 of the 2000 tickets were on sale.

Steph Kusel was so determined to get tickets as a surprise for her teenage daughters that she drove from her home in Lower Hutt to camp out.

"It is all a bit crazy. I have never done anything like this before and it has been quite exciting. What a fantastic opportunity for Masterton and it will really put it on the map.

"That's what the Flight of the Conchords wanted and I think they've succeeded."

Fifteen-year-olds Courtney Osborne and Gabrielle Harnden had their parents' permission to camp out and were third through the door when sales opened at 9am yesterday. "How often does something like this come to Masterton? It is something we will remember for the rest of our lives. We are late for school now and I just hope we don't get a detention. That would be pretty mean."

The concert is expected to raise more than $60,000 toward a performing arts programme for the school.

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Louise B, Christchurch   #1   08:16 am Mar 20 2009

Nice.

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