Big loans for Chris Brown concert

A microfinance firm that gained widespread attention for providing loans for the Burna Boy concert last December is once again capitalizing on the excitement by extending its services to include loans for Reggae Sumfest, Dream Weekend, and the upcoming Chris Brown concert.

The entity, E-Loan Microfinancing, is again seeking to ride the party wave.

"It's weighing down our pockets. I can't wait to start granting these loans," Denisher Forbes, the company's managing director, told THE STAR.

Chris Brown, the R&B superstar, is set to light up Kingston when he performs at the National Stadium in Kingston on August 27. The event is dubbed 'Chris Brown and Friends'. Sean Kingston, Teejay, Ding Dong, Byron Messia, Davo and special surprise guests are also set to perform.

Ticket prices for the Chris Brown and Friends event, which go on sale tomorrow, range from US$45 for bleachers to US$10,000. E-Loan is offering loans of $100,000 with 12 months to repay, and $1.5 million with four years to repay.

Forbes shared that the Burna Boy loan offer was a game changer for her 13-year-old company, which offers loans to persons for back-to-school, funeral expenses and a host of other personal needs. She said her loan portfolio and social media following grew tremendously after her company rolled out the Burna Boy offer.

"You have to follow the money ... you have to be proactive. One of the best decisions I could have made was to ride the party wave of whoever is coming to Jamaica," Forbes said.

"I know Chris Brown is going to be big. Bigger than Burna Boy ... and that was huge," added Forbes.

She expects that there will be "no less than 300 messages" from people enquiring about the loan facilities on her four business phones when the office opens today.

Her company has advertised loan as high as $1.5 milllion, which would be enough to purchase a Sky View suite ticket to see Chris Brown perform. Forbes noted that the $1.5 million price tag for some tickets has left some people angry.

"It is getting all the focus, but tickets start at US$45. Why are they not looking at that? Plus, the more expensive tickets come with cabanas for 25 or 12 persons. The truth is that this concert will be an investment for some and a divestment for others. Just choose your lane. Only broke people complain," Forbes stated.