'Smiley and Scarce' 2019 'persona' for entertainer Dave Simpkins.

On my 60th birthday I received a beautiful Ovation guitar from my daughter and sister.

My previous guitars having been destroyed by an ex, with bright green eyes.

My goal then was to be "cruise ship" ready by 65. This March 2019 I turn 63.

Over the last decade and a bit I have had over 25 shifts and have little to show for my very full life. Just songs... scars and heaps of songs. My own and decades of favourites.

Luckily just over a year ago I found my dream, secure accomodation near where I grew up in the Waitakere ranges but I am battling, living on $62 per week and cannot achieve my desired outcomes. I'm in a kind of poverty trap. But I can work with the musical equipment I'm after.

I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder late in life ( and another problem which rendered me unemployable it seems, age ).

So I'm doing something about it.

The BP answered many questions for me ( my old manager said I was the only guy he knew who could throw a frisbee and catch it at the other end and that was in tight red stretch corduroy's). It actually happened.

It's late but not too late. I am determined to carry the message of hope and resilience to my audiences via performance and stories, stories that probably would never have happened but for my condition - a true double edged sword with a twist.

Last year at Rotorua's 'Rogue Stage' I stole the show with my material and banter. I received a glowing review. This was part of 2018 Music week. I think you can access that review in the gallery.

I am no novice to entertaining having been a lead singer in the 80's Maori show-band 'Cairo' a backing vocalist for Rick Bryant's Jive bombers. Hosted a TV show, appeared as an artist/actor on TVNZ, numerous ads both TV and Film here and Australia. A driver of celebrities - Sir Anthony Hopkins - Sir Michael Caine - Harvey Kietel -John Legazamu - Ving Rhames. A senior manager at CBS Records and BMG records Australia and CBS/FOX video NZ and Australia.

I've met hero's like:

Ringo, Ray Davies, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Neil Young, had dinner with Joni Mitchell and Nicole Kidman - Kate Winslet in my face.

Settle Smiley, back to earth.

Last year I went after funding via 'WINZ' 'Be your own boss course' I went under the moniker 'Flatliner' tales of the Journeyman ( contact me I can send you a link - as it wont work on this site - it contains some original recordings ).

I was cruelly denied the funds, officially it was due to a lack of signed contracts for entertaining work. They wanted me to be the chicken and the egg. That was six months. So I am trying this.

I have a need that wont let me go, it would be easy to sit out here in paradise. But thats not me I can entertain and it's a gift I don't want to waste it.

So here I am asking you to help.

Murray Thom 'entrepreneur extraordinaire' mentor and friend, remarked once "give me a tax problem it means your'e making money"... I agree.

I'd like to pay NZ back with interest.

They can prize my guitar from my cold dead hands.

I'm sure you have questions please fire away.

Thank you.

Smiley and Scarce.