The Northern Territory Outback Center

Have you ever been to a Jordan’s Furniture to see their Mardi Gras show? They give you free beads, hoping to entice you to buy loveseats and dinette sets. No? Well this is sort of the same idea. But more educational.

The Outback Center is a store, entertaining you into breaking out your credit card. It has Aboriginal art, camping gear, a travel center that can book you on an Outback tour, and most importantly, didjeridos.

The great thing about the Center is that even if you’re broke and have no intention of buying even a bar of authentic wallaby soap, you can go in and see the free show. Shows take place three or four times a day and last half an hour. That’s a full half-hour that you can sit comfortably in a nice theater, and be highly entertained, at no cost to you. It’s a traveler’s dream come true.

Cynicism aside, the show is absolutely worth your while, and would probably even be worth paying a few dollars for, if they decided to charge. There’s a short introduction where the performer, in my case a white guy named Michael Jackson, talks about the history of the didjerido, and gives some pointers on how to get a sound out of it.

Then, set to background music and a video of scenes from the Outback, you’re treated to a concert, with explanations of what you’re hearing and the meaning behind the songs and sounds. It’s amazing to learn that the full, round sounds that come out of the instrument are made by blowing a raspberry and making pigeon noises.

If you feel inclined to spend a little money after the show, then by all means, pick up a few souvenirs. At least here you get the feeling that the items sold are going to benefit, rather than exploit, the natives who produce them.