The rigours of touring would certainly take their toll.  Imagine… having to get up on stage, day after day, and put on a lively, happy performance no matter what sort of mood you're in. For the next six months!

Hi-5 are facing this, and when they performed in Rockhampton on 12th July, they were but two and a half weeks into their national "It's a Party on Tour". Their new CD, It's A Party, is being released on the 17th July - so those who picked it up at the concert have themselves a bit of a scoop!

The new video, Animal Adventures, was released on the 10th July and has also proved quite popular. The tour itself is even taking them to New Zealand in October… so I suppose it's nearly a world tour!

The show itself exceeded all expectations - fans of the TV series weren't disappointed. Jup Jup confused Kathleen; Chatterbox made an appearance with Kellie; and the whole team really enjoyed performing the show. Hard not to enjoy it really, with a sea of toddlers bopping and grooving along! (Definitely grooving!)

So how do you maintain so much energy and enthusiasm on the road? Especially given that the performance I attended was their third of the day!

I caught up with the guys after the show and asked them how they prepared for a show.

The immediate response was "Make Up!" - although Tim and Nathan suggested stretching and warming their voices was more their scene.

I asked whether they preferred live shows or TV.

Tim: They're just so different.
Kathleen: One, you get immediate reaction - like… you get interaction straight away - where normally we're just with the camera.

[There was a bit of a group discussion, but their preference appeared to be stage]

Charli: But that comes from our background [in performing], I think.

There's a saying in show biz: 'Never work with animals or children.'  Animals aren't an issue, but surely working with kids must provide some strange experiences!?

Charli: A few kids have hopped up on stage with me, started doing my routine with me. They just grab your leg.

[Apparently it happens quite a lot.]

Kathleen: In Brisbane the other day a mum just put her kid on the stage. Must have been two years old. She just pushed her up.
Nathan: I think my strangest moment was when I was hit.
Me: Hit?
Nathan: In the…
Everyone else: Oh yeah…
Nathan: That was my strangest moment. [Fair enough - that one's hard to argue with!]
Me: How'd that happen?
Nathan: It was quite simple actually. This boy wandered out, went smack, and walked back.

Tim's strangest wasn't with kids, but with props:  In Perth… it was our last show, so we were mucking around a bit. I had a boat, which was on wheels - I used it as a prop - it started rolling away on me. So here I am following it along…

[One way to make an early exit, I suppose.]

Kellie: I don't have strange moments… I just get into situations and just laugh!
Kathleen: Someone can wave their finger in front of me and I'll burst out laughing, but we have really funny moments…
Nathan: Every show's different…
Charli: There's always something in every show.

Of course, no interview would be complete without some in-depth probing questions…

Q. What would you spend your last $20 on?

Charli: A big pause [to others] Can you believe I got asked that question?

[Another bigger pause. It must have been a tricky question!]

Kathleen: I know! Blistex, which is about $4; a bottle of cordial, which is about $3…
Kellie: Is this like 'The Price Is Right'?
Kathleen: I don't need that much stuff… some lollies…
Kellie: I would fill my car with fuel! I'm always low on fuel and if my car was full of fuel I could go anywhere I wanted!
Charli: I would spend $5 on an STD call to my parents asking for more money, the next $10 on scratchies or something, and the last few dollars on chocolate, just to keep me happy!
Kathleen: I'd have a bit of that too…
Nathan: I'd get the three large pizza deal, you know, for $19.95 [Good answer!]
Tim: I think I'd probably buy… a bus ticket to the beach… and then get some Maccas on the way…
Me: Which beach?
Tim: Oh, I've got lots of favourite beaches, but lately I've been spending most of my time around Bronte [in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs] but I like Cronulla too...

Charli: Ahh… go the Sharks! [Follows the right footy team, too - wodda gal!]

Q. What 3 things would you want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?

Charli: My mobile phone... and my battery charger - that counts as one thing!

[Followed by a big argument over whether it's one thing or two. Eventually we decided it counted as one thing, since they come together when you get the phone in the first place.]

…umm, that's one…

Kellie: I'd take a generator, and a big container of fuel, and tinned food.
Kathleen: She's always so sensible… I'd be thinking of my sunglasses…
Kellie: And thinking 'I'm a bit hungry right now…'
Kathleen: I'd take my phone, and a notebook with a pen attached, and… either swimmers, chocolate or a snorkel.
Me: That's more than 3 things!
Kathleen: You'd fit them all in your pockets!
Tim: My guitar, a surfboard, and a big packet of matches.

[General ribbing from everyone else in the room about the matches… not just matches, but a big packet of matches!]

I can probably manage just about anything except trying to make a fire with those two sticks.

Nathan: Well, first of all I'd take those pizzas…[good call!] and I'd take a plane to get off the island. [That's cheating!]

When I asked who their favourite performer was, everyone seemed to squirm in their seat a little. All seemed to agree that was a tough question.

Kellie: Madonna
Nathan: Stevie Wonder & Sammy Davis Jnr
Tim: Most of my favourites are dead… Jeff Buckley and someone else - [but my tape recorder was playing up and it didn't record the end of his sentence. Sorry Tim! Sorry readers!]
Charli: Gene Kelly would be up there, and my sister Casandra, [who recently performed in a production of 'Sweet Charity' in Melbourne.]
Kathleen: [when really pressed] Caroline O'Connor.

Why are they so successful? The members themselves tell me it's because of all the different ways of learning within the show - for the lowdown on the different segments check out Janelle Connolly's talk with Kellie.

I have a different theory: it's because they have fun performing, and they don't hide that fact either. It's infectious. It's contagious. I found myself clapping and laughing during the show, and then suddenly checking over my shoulder to make sure no one I knew could see me. Which was a complete waste of time, because everybody else was clapping and laughing, too!

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