Booking an artiste takes a lot - Music insiders advise promoters to factor in all costs before approaching entertainers

Following an announcement from Spice, music industry insiders are reminding promoters that booking an artiste comes with certain commitments that must be honoured if that artiste is to make an appearance at their event.

Spice, in apologising to her fans in Columbus, the United States, last weekend, disclosed that her no-show at an event was beyond her control.

She explained that after she agreed to do the event, promoters failed to organise travel arrangements or accommodation.

She also said that come 2020, the good will have to suffer for the bad as she will not be advertising any events until after promoters have made all necessary arrangements.

Having gone through similar experiences when booking her artistes, publicist Janice Young told THE WEEKEND STAR that there are many fees that come with booking an entertainer that promoters do not readily factor into their budgets.

"Booking an artiste is not something that is very simple. Outside of the artiste engagement fee, there are all these other costs that you have to think about as a promoter. That includes transportation, accommodation, airfare, the artiste's entourage, the artiste's rider (criteria set for a performance), and per diem. Promoters like to say they want to do this, and a lot of time, they don't look into all the factors," she said.

Should be conscientious

Young said that what usually happens is that promoters want to advertise the artiste so that patrons come out to the event.

"But they don't really want to pay them the money that is due to them. If an artiste charges US$5,000 or $10,000, that is not your total cost. You're looking at spending another US$8,000 just on rider information," she said. "I think going into 2020, promoters should be conscientious of all the factors surrounding booking an artiste before going ahead. Don't go ahead and pay the deposit and think all is well then wait until crunch time and then beg the artiste if they can fly economy when promotion and everything else is already out."

Macka Diamond recalled horror stories of being left stranded in strange countries by negligent promoters.

She said that she had already begun to take the extreme route that Spice has now decided to venture down.

"What I've done for myself is make sure the tickets are together before me do anything else. If a promoter books me, I make sure to check that all those arrangements have been made, including return tickets, because I've been to places where I've been left stranded and have to use my own money to buy tickets," she said. "Trust me, it nuh easy. Dat's why me nuh post flyers or nothing until everything confirmed and sorted, and as I land, I want my per diem up front, the rest of my balance, and anything else before I do any radio promotion or anything in your country."

She suggested that promoters do not care about the business or the artistes and are just looking to "make a money".

"Our music has never been professional in most aspects. We try to be professional with people, but it always just never works. They don't want to do the business as the business. A lot of these promoters, dem a try to keep show without money, and is a 'make a money' thing for them. It's not about the fans or the artistes. Everything nuh put together at the end of the day, and there is no discipline," she said. "Dat affi change first before anything else, and unfortunately, I don't think it's going to change any time soon."