The Sunday News
Raisedon Baya, Arts Focus
There is so much happening on social media. Good things as well as bad ones. One of the things social media has been able to effectively do has been to give almost everyone a voice and an opinion. If something rubs you on the wrong side just pick up your smartphone and go on Facebook, WhatsApp or Twitter and vent. You are sure to find a lot of sympathisers and supporters. Or if you see something you like, something that excites you, do the same and watch the ripple effects. Technology is slowly changing the way we do things, even the way we now live our lives.
Last week the top story on social media was about Stunner and Olinda. It had everyone talking. The story even made headlines in a couple of newspapers. If this was a publicity stunt I must say it was well orchestrated. I just hope that the publicity — negative or otherwise — helped Stunner sell his music to more people. After all, that is the whole idea behind any publicity stunt — which is what many people think the Olinda stunt was all about — to push sales. And remember many of these stunts do help prop up some people for life. Look at Pokello.
Anyway, the reason for this article is another opinion article I came across on social media by one Kudakwashe Takundwa.
The article was on what Takundwa hopes to see happening in the arts this year. The young man had a list of wishes. A good list if you ask me. One or two of the issues he raised were very valid and beyond any doubt that the young man has his heart in the right place. He truly wishes things were all good and properly done in the arts. That is what many of us wish to see.
Progress and growth means more employment for artistes.
His first issue was on musicians being made to sell tickets by event organisers or promoters. This happened several times in the past year. The Bayethe Bulawayo Concert at Intwasa, celebrating our legends show and most events at Ibumba festival had artistes selling their own tickets. According to Takundwa this demeans artistes. It makes them vendors. (In a country where almost everyone is now a vendor, does it matter if any artistes start vending his own wares/services?) While it is every promoter or event organiser’s wish to pay his/her artistes and service providers their dues I think it’s no longer a secret now that things are getting tough every year. Promoters and event organisers have been losing money for years paying artistes who have no audiences. I honestly believe giving artistes tickets to sell is a way of sharing responsibilities and also making artistes realise that their money comes from tickets sales — loosely translated, arts money is in audiences. The sooner we realise this, the better. Let me also point out that most festivals all over the world have artistes actually not only selling tickets for their shows but being responsible for marketing and even booking their own venues. In other festivals, artistes actually cover their own transport, accommodation and food to and during their events.
I know Intwasa as a festival has done much more than it has been given credit for. For years the festival has covered transport, accommodation, per diem and even paid token performance fees to most artistes that featured at the festival. Also, asking artistes to sell their own tickets should not be a force matter. Artistes who feel it demeans them or that it’s a raw deal can just opt out. It’s that simple. Sustainability in the arts will only come from good ticket sales. Not from any other avenue.
Kudakwashe Takundwa also expressed his desire to see Bulawayo’s two festivals, Intwasa and Ibumba, up their game — so to speak. His desire is to see good programming, good and meaningful collaborations. He also wants to see events starting on time and proper marketing of the festivals. Like I said before it is every organiser’s dream to have the best event, Intwasa and Ibumba included. But sometimes things are not as easy as they seem. Things are collapsing everywhere and the arts can’t be an exception. While I applaud Takundwa’s bravery and honesty, I believe sometimes criticism should be put into context. The arts sector can’t be viewed in complete isolation of the country’s economics. Only in countries where the economy is in good shape will you find the arts flourishing.
In conclusion I say it is very good that people are making use of the opportunities given to them by social media. Many have found their voices and are using them effectively, for the good of society. And Kudakwashe Takundwa is among these.
