The Coca-Cola dome, venue of choice for many international artists, will no longer work with unreliable promoters who harm South Africa’s image with both national and international performers.

  Carol Weaving, Managing Director of Thebe Exhibitions and Events that manages the Coca-Cola dome says the entertainment industry needs to wean out these bad promoters as their unprofessional conduct negatively affects the entire industry.  

 "When artists’ tours are badly organised, not only will the patrons think twice about attending future shows, the agents will also think twice about bringing world class artists to South Africa.

“The postponement of Josh Groban's tour, due to the failure of the tour promoter, Duncan Heafield of Kusasa, is reflecting badly on the entire industry. Groban told a local radio station that ‘South Africa has really touched me deeply and we were very much looking forward to this tour. I promise that when we do come back, it will be better than you could ever believe.’

“Testimonials like these will not be forthcoming if promoters keep on mismanaging opportunities, particularly with the world’s biggest event – the 2010 Soccer World Cup – a mere 815 days away. South Africa has a wealth of professional promoters and it is now the time to stand together to ensure that local and international artists make use of these professionals.”

The dome’s problems with Kusasa go back to the recent Celine Dion banquet and the Julio Iglesias concert.

People from as far as Cape Town booked flights and accommodation to see Dion at the dome on Valentine’s Day – only to learn via e-mail that some bookings were changed to a different venue and on another date. Contrary to information given by the promoter that    8 000 tickets were sold for the Iglesias concert, on the day of the concert the promoter requested that the seating plan be downsized due to fewer tickets being sold. Seats were relocated and on arrival people did not know where to sit.

Weaving says the dome’s main objective is to host world class events and make sure that patrons who pay good money to have a good time – have a great experience.

 “We will not allow unprofessional promoters to jeopardise this objective – hence the decision to no longer work with such people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"Now is the time to regulate South African promoters. We need to join forces to protect a market that not only administers large sums of money, but also has a huge influence on the image of the country. At the same time it presents a big opportunity for budding promoters to enter the market. However, they should do so via the expertise of professionals,” says Weaving.