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PRODUCING A CALYPSO TENT for the Crop-Over Festival has increased by almost 60 per cent over the last ten years, shooting from $18 000 to $30 000 in some instances. With the repercussion of the global recession hitting every sector of the local economy, declining private sector sponsorship for the cultural industries comes as no surprise to tent managers as they prepare for Crop-Over 2K9. Businessman Peter Boyce, who will be staging his own tent solo for the first time this year, admitted his tent was on the higher end of production costs, averaging between $25 000 and $30 000 per night. This figure covers venue rentals, VAT, insurance, artiste and band fees as well as complementary elements of the overall production, including dancers and special effects. "We really want to do a show that's beyond just any show in the average tent, and the kind of show that Peter Boyce wants to be associated with," he said, indicating that he was eager to push the limits of traditional expectations and establish his own brand while hoping to maintain the cover charge at the door. Having formerly been associated with Bacchanal Time Calypso Tent, Boyce has seen the sheer incline of production costs over the years. "Years ago we would have seen that operating a tent was around $18 000 to $20 000 per night," he said, stressing that even back then productions with MADD Entertainment were also more costly than other tents. Sponsorship In March calypso tent managers across the island spoke to the issue of securing sponsorship and expressed concern about the private sector's reticence in committing their usual financial support. John King, speaking as tent manager for De Big Show, also spoke of declining support this year. While qualifying for the $16 000 subvention from the National Cultural Foundation the tent was still going to require additional support if they're to meet the standards they're targeting. "Last year our production costs were way out of whack, perhaps more than all the tents combined. We spent over $200 000 for the entire season, with eight nights at about $25 000 per night," he said, adding that with ticket prices at $30 they would need to exceed patronage of 1 000 people to even start considering profits. "On average we had about 450 people per night," he said, indicating they didn't break even. Last year saw a 20 per cent increase on production cost in 2007. "When we were at Plantations [Restaurant] all the infrastructure was already there so we didn't have those costs to contend with. At Ocean Park we had to put up tents and flooring. We actually had to make a venue on a vacant lot," he said, lauding Ocean Park's rent waiver as part of their sponsorship package for last year. This year De Big Show was fortunate enough to have C.O. Williams provids the flooring, eliminating about 20 per cent from the bill. Other companies have been offering reductions for services, for example the sound technicians, but more in the King: Much cheaper back then area of generators and lighting are being targeted. "If we have to pay full price for everything we're not even going to be able to start," King said, citing infrastructure as their highest cost. King, recalled when he first came into the calypso arena as Johnny Ma Boy in 1982, artistes were being paid in some instances $125 per night and even that was not widespread. "People used to do it for the community aspect, now it's big business," he said, adding issues of technical support and physical infrastructure were not as emphasised as they are today. Back then, he remembered, it cost between $1 500 and $2 000 a night to produce as most venues were also free or cost very little, as in secondary school halls. He also said that "back in the day" the better known tents were all run by shareholders who were also performers and waited until the end of the season to be a paid a percentage from the overall profits. Even the smaller operations like Super Gladiators which have been in the tent business for 21 years have been affected. Manager Roy Byer told the SUNDAY SUN he had never been fortunate enough to rely on sponsorship to stage his shows. "I've noticed the increase over the years. We've survived not because of money, but purely because of my wits and my love for calypso," Byer said. His production costs run between $6 000 and $10 000 per night. Previously, Byer produced booklets with advertising which defrayed a significant portion of production costs. Another of the stalwart tents, House of Soca, has also noticed the increase. Manager Sharon Carew-White, who has been with the tent for the past six years, has seen a steady increase since she joined. "Back in 2003 it was about $5 000, now it's even double that. It costs us at least $12 000 per night," she said. This figure included all her overhead from advertising to band and artistes' fees. She said that venue rental was the most costly element of her budget. Errol Griffith from the Experience Tent indicated they had also incurred an increase in production costs in their short six-year existence, albeit a minimum ten per cent. Like Gladiators on the lower end of the scale between $8 500 and $10 000, they rely heavily on non-cash support services. |
| Last Updated ( Friday, 19 June 2009 17:28 ) |