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Tanzanian singer Diamond |
When Mariah Carey’s tour rider requests include lashing of Cristal champagne, an attendant to dispose of her used chewing gun, a bottle of vitamin water to bathe her dogs in…eer 200 white kittens and 100 white doves, we all go alas!
But when a local celeb goes asking for his concert dressing room to be painted white, that his toilet bowel be filled with rose petals or even a request of mannequin puffy pink pubic hair like Lady Gaga did or even a white carpet spreading from the airport entry to his pick up spot, then brother, you are just pushing the envelope too far. Dude, first, get yourself a fine meal. When did you get yourself a good one last?
Well, forget the ordinary diva demands associated with celebrities, Tanzanian star Diamond Platnumz has just taken the game to a new level.
In his new performance rate card that was mailed to Pulse recently, one will need approximately Sh4 million to host the Number One singer for a concert in Kenya.
You are expected to fly him in — after paying two First Class and seven Economy Class air tickets — with a team of his nine staff members.
Upon arrival, you must attach them to private cars, and that, through out their stay, before getting Diamond accommodated in a presidential suit besides getting his team four extra double rooms and one single one.
His new technical rider demands that you provide him with two wireless Sure Brand microphones, pioneer DJ mix machines with two decks and another microphone, a glass stage with trussing and decorated with LED lights with moving heads. The backstage should be well equipped with air condition and six personnel; four being security, one waitress, and one representative from the organisers side, water, juices, and snacks.
“Please avoid bacon or any form of pork oriented meals,” the card warns.
The performance fee alone stands at Sh2.3 million and as at this week, the rates were to go up by Sh440,000 for anyone who had not done bookings; that for a two hour performance during which no video shooting should be allowed unless there is a special arrangement.
The announcement came only days after Nigeria’s Davido — whose career is on a high with his new Mafikizolo Tchelete (Goodlife) and his last year’s Aye release — announced a Sh4.4 million figure for his East Africa performances.
Even though the two figures sounded exaggerated compared to what other artistes across Africa do charge for continental concerts, the entire buzz has thrown in a fresh debate on what performing artistes are worth and how much compensation they should take for a show.
Days are gone when artistes were regarded as desperate individuals with no reasonable career. Back then, local musicians used to operate from hand to mouth. They had no bank accounts as they had no cash at all; and when they got some, they used to blow it in clubs and in purchasing flashy dress wear.
“Forget diva demands. Back then, no one was talking about technical riders or other demands as there was no money in the industry. I used to earn Sh5,000 for a show,” Maustapha told Pulse.
“Guys used to be paid chips and sausages for an all-night performance at Carnivore. This industry had no money. That is how far we come from,” Big Ted, one of the pioneer events promoter and artistes’ manager concurs.
It’s hardly three years when secular star turned gospel ace Size 8 — who is now in her millions — could fly to the Coast to hussle for a performance of Sh30,000. Top deejays who are now charging upto Sh200,000 per show used to be paid Sh20,000 or nothing and event emcees were just an additional labour, joyriders who could just emcee an event just for the fun of it. Comedians were the unheard lot!
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But now, here now, we have celebrities laughing all the way to the bank as they task corporates and events organisers with hefty performance fees.
For many artistes, the old days when promoters used to call the shots, paying them peanuts for their performances, are gone. Most local celebs now have well defined rates for their performances, each well broken down for any willing client to weight out.
Top singers like Jaguar cannot take less than Sh300,000 for a local show. He charges Sh3 million for regional concerts and upto Sh5 million for international shows.
Comedian Jalang’o clocks Sh100,000 for an ordinary show while emcee DNG will always ask Sh200,000 for night emceeing. The amounts do match those of other regional top dogs such as Chameleone who charges about Sh200,000 per show.
But it is the new artistes’ demands similar to those issued by international stars that seems to be changing the game.
Aspects like an artiste asking for specific water brand, particular ingredients in a meal, microphone, specific beddings and bed position and the likes are now normal in the industry.
One of those artistes who demand their own microphone is emcee DNG.
For DNG to perform at your gig you have to pay him in cash 50 percent down-payment at least one week before the event.
DNGs’ basic technical rider requires that the event organiser provides him with a Shure Beta 58A Cordless Microphone with brand new energizer batteries and four bottles of lukewarm water; specifically from top brands Dasani, Keringet or Kilimanjaro.
Other DNG demands include a neat, warm and private backstage area with no view by the audience and a personal portable loo next to the backstage that no public can get view of.
Shaffie Weru rate stands at an average of Sh80,000, his demands being all access passes for him and his entourage as well as bottles of Jack Daniels drink.
Singer Avril demands between Sh60,000 to 80,000 for a show with her rider being 50 percent pay on contracting and the rest before the show. Avril will show up for the event with her own means of transport and work with the equipment that you have.
The celebrated emcee too has a full meal (balanced diet) for his entire crew and if the event is out of town DNG demands transport by air strictly Kenya Airways unless where routes do not apply and if the mode of transport is by road he demands to ride in 4WD vehicle and a 5-star approved accommodation for his entire crew.
“Failure by client or event manager to adhere to this rider will see DNG’s non-performance and retention of any pre-paid monies. DNG will also be paid in full any remaining balance and indemnified of any loss, damages or subsequent legal action,” reads one of his quotations which Pulse has seen.
Jaguar says he does his research about the gig he is invited to perform at if out of the country, that informing his decision.
“I never go out of the country to do a gig at a club. My events are strictly concerts and for any after party event in a club, I have to be paid,” he adds. He adds, “Half of my pay has to be paid while I am in the country. I don’t have many demands. I prefer apartments, not hotels. The sound system has to be quality with good stage and microphones.” And when Jaguar lands at the airport in a foreign country he demands for a posh car preferably Jaguar, Cadillac, and Mercedes-Benz among other classy cars.
He also must have at least two bodyguards at any given time.
“Artistes should focus in establishing their brands first before they make any demands,” he adds.
About three weeks ago, Jaguar rejected an offer to perform in Tanzania saying he had been booked in a downtown hotel.
It was just the other day when STL’s management reportedly rejected a deal proposed to them by a leading corporate organisation that did not meet her demands, now harmonised with her international performance rates.
Event organisers who spoke to Pulse argue that today the entertainment scene has become more lucrative and many of the artistes have become more business conscious thus explaining the high figures and the fresh demands.
Other organisers also argue that many celebrities are aping what is happening in international showbiz circles where celebrities make outrageous demands out of their wide popularity.
“The problem is most of the diva tendencies and exorbitant fees demanded by the local artistes are unpractical. That is why most of the good artistes no longer feature in concerts,” Big Kev claims.
Sometimes, some celebrity demands are un-realist. Like someone might say, most celebs use their talents to impose their own selfish life styles. They are puffed up with pride that they are deceived about their own importance in the society.