Metro Concert Sponsorships a Recipe for Disaster
www.MyPE.co.za: The
disturbing report I received that fewer than ten tickets had been
sold for the much vaunted metro “International Music
Festival” by Friday morning is testimony to this metro’s
continued practice of awarding inexperienced organizers with
significant sponsorships from the ratepayer’s pocket. This ongoing
practice of awarding sponsorships to patently unqualified
“events organizers” who have inauspicious track records has severely
embarrassed our city and its people.
In addition, the advertising and promotion of this event has been
non-existent locally and I can quite frankly say that I have not yet
seen or heard an advert for the festival which is to take place in less
than a week’s time. One can only hope that the “aggressive” marketing
campaign as claimed pays off and that the organisers are able to sell
the other 119 994 tickets in the next few days.
All that we have achieved at this point is to undermine and further
tarnish the metro’s image and desirability as an events destination. We
have now also begun to stigmatize our magnificent new stadium as a poor
venue for events.
When the proposal for the “International Music Festival” was presented
to the portfolio committee on which I serve, I was frowned upon for
having the gall to ask the promoter what his credentials were as an
events organizer and to give the committee some indication of his track
record by mentioning some of his previous successes. If memory serve me
correctly the answers were on the underwhelming side.
My suggestion at this point would be to cancel the event and cut our
losses. If this is not possible, we should consider seriously reducing
the ticket prices which are far beyond the reach of the average person
in the metro (prices start at R200 per ticket), or even make entry to
the concert free to try and fill the stadium. The event falls within
the period of our 2009 Summer Season and the city cannot afford another
embarrassment. Busta Rhymes was bad enough, this is potentially Busta
Rhymes times seven.
The Mandela Bay Metro is the only metro in the country that does not
have an official Events office and in the new year, I will be calling
for the establishment of a dedicated events office, staffed by
experienced professionals who would be responsible for co-coordinating
all events on our annual calendar. Anyone who has plans for an event
should first approach this office which would also be responsible for
determining the credentials and track record of any events organizer.
Perhaps as an additional rider, we should consider only paying out
sponsorship monies after a successful event has been staged.
If we are ever to have any hope of filling our beautiful new stadium as
a concert venue, truly international, global stars with broad public
appeal would be required to headline such events. The events need to be
planned by professionals with experience in events planning and the
ticket prices need to be within the reach of ordinary citizens.
I will be sending a series of questions in the new year to both our
representatives at provincial and parliamentary level to bring more
focus to bear on this continued wasteful expenditure.
In the meantime I truly hope that someone is able to pull a rabbit our
of the hat and prove me wrong on this one because we cannot afford to
continue being embarrassed like this.
Dean Biddulph
DA Councillor
Ward 2.
Related Links:
Nelson Mandela Bay International Music
Festival | Only ONE Ticket left
for Nelson Mandela Bay International Music Festival | Images.
Port Elizabeth Budget Accommodation
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