KOMPA! MAGAZINE

[Matekonpa]

Despite the fact that Miami (not Florida) is called the headquarter of the HMI because of many reason, like clubs, two of the top haitian bands " Zenglen and NU LOOK" and so many major activities like KOMPAFEST and INDYFEST, and many more, New York still remain the one place(state) in the haitian community in USA that pulls more people out to party for one major reason. Unlike other states when there's a party, well promoted in New York, people from the whole tri-state area including New Jersey, Connecticut, Philly, Spring Valley, people from upstate New York, etc... show up to these venues in huge number, because that's how it used to be.

Now, we got the winter season that's always a good season for promoters in New York, because there's no outdoor parties for a good six to 8 months, and you know better than me when it's come to party, once it's Friday New York wants and will party no matter how cold it is because after a full week of stress at the job with the pay check in their hands they will make sure they get rid of that pressure. It has and still a New York state of mind; It's the week-end it's Winter time, I can't go to Park nor any outdoor activities, So I'm gonna hit the club. And you will even get people that you wont see in club during summer time, because they don't have a choice. Imagine having that for a whole 8 months. We understand there's a club situation in New York, but when our promoters needs to throw a party they find clubs...And on top of it we just got DJOUMBALA night club in Brooklyn. So New York promoters what's the problem.
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invisible

Last edited by Matekonpa on Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:54 pm; edited 1 time in total

[Matekonpa]

Another major issue that catches my attention. Why can't we have two different parties in two different places in New York? I noticed many times when there's a party on Friday at SOB's, Brooklyn, Queens, L.I. stay quiet, nothing is happening. Let me say this for people that doesn't know... New York is the state that used to carry over four different parties in one night and barely with two bands, all mostly packed, while New Jersey is having their thing going on, as well as Philly and Spring Valley that same night. And believe it or not more people go out nowadays, but you won't be able to realize that because, when you have for example T-Vice and Carimi at AMAZURA, people already know it's gonna be packed, the rest will stay home. You think only one big party is enough for New York?! jeez.

I could go on and on with issues we have in New York but I wanted to hit that particular one, since I heard many times there are debates, and meetings among New York promoters, I just hope you guys can see and analyze facts and try to put them in order, because while a lot them are complaining on how hard is the business, there's still more money at large that none of them could think of getting except for the ZOUK NITE "dj parties"...

Come on, it's a simple logic: New York, a state with a lot of working people that needs to party on WINTER TIME, because they have to get rid of that stress, pressure, and the subway noise on Monday where do they have to go? Jamaican clubs, any other american club, because they only have one option for haitian party. And it's time that promoters let the bands perform some parties by themselves, instead of having both Kreyol La and Djakout playing together all the time for example, why don't you have them performing seperately that same night, one in Djoumbala and the other in a different club in Queens or Long Island?because both these bands can pull a lot of people by themsleves. This way fans will have more time to enjoy their bands, instead of complaining that they only heard two songs from their bands after paying their money So wassup New York promoters? Back in the 90's our New York promoters used to make things happen man...
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invisible

[Redji-Vice]

Gen anpil facteur ki ka explike problem ke New York pa #1 nan market Konpa jodi-a. Mwen pa konn tout problem yo men gen anpil bagay ki chanje nan Market NY la ...

- Lontan plus band kap mennen yo (Old & New generation) sete NY yo te ye: Tabou Combo, Zin, System Band, Phantoms, Skah-Shah etc ... Yes, group sa yo still existe, men yo pa fè menm poids nan balance la jodi-a.
- Group kap mennen yo jodi-a, yo baze en Haiti et Miami. En plus, Festival ki fèt Miami yo bay zone sa yon gro push nan ascension li.
- Jodi-a li pi fasil pou promoter yo fè 2 djazz fè 2 bals separately nan Miami ke nan NY, paske terin Miami exije mwens tcho-tcho ke NY in term of paye djazz yo et fè promotion bal yo.

Gen lòt facteur toujou wi ki ka explike situasyon NY ak Miami nan koze bal yo, men comme mwen pa promoter mwen pa konnen tout!

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"LET THE BAD IN OTHERS BRING OUT THE GOOD IN YOU"!

[kompamagazine]

MATEKONPA

YOUR STYLE OF WRITTING has CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. Map suiv....toujou.

KM!
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phpbb:echo dicks;

[Jay Brooklyn]

Matekonpa, se yon tres bel sujet ki mande anpil debat...
mod de post sa yo pa janm gen anpil replies paske yo mande pou moun reflechi..
entouka, ou soulve kek bon pwen...
mwen pense ke nou pa gen assez bel club ki pou atire moun lan New York la...
pifo club yo pa kapab reelmen kinbe assez moun pou yon bal ka bay benefis....
epi pi fo club yo se warehouse settings ke genyen...
until nou gen de bel club, kote leu yon moun ale ou senti ke'w yon kote ki prop, ki gen securite e ki gen lod, nap toujou konfronte menm problem sa yo...
mwen gen anpil zanmi etrange e mwen renemn mennen yo al tande konpa...
men gen de kote mwen wont mennen yo...
mesi pou ti rale sa'a...
mwen swete lot moun ap vinn bay imput yo tou, paske nou tout konserne...
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BAT CHIEN AN, TANN MET LI!

[Zanmi]

nice topic. I don't live in NY, therefore I can't really write on what is going on down there. One thing I know for sure, the Haitian market as far as event is concerned is not the same as it used to be. Miami may be enjoying its best moment in term of events happening, but I am not sure the bands get a lot of money from the miami gigs. NY gigs are probably the best paid in the industry.

The main problem associated with a lack of events nowadays have a lot to do with the economic landscape, and bad management. For one, it is a lot more expensive now to take a band from miami or Haiti to bring them to NY, Boston, or Montreal. Second, believe it or not the market in those cities are not growing, from my observation, they are declining. Many people don't want to attend the events over and over. It is usually the same bands palying month after month. How many times, does one person want to attend a Djakout or TVice or Kreyol or Nu-look bal a two month intervals.

The promotors, most of the time, band managers want to throw the events themselves, and that create a lack of creativity in the events. What do I mean. For example, the person who has exclusivity for let' say Nu-look in NY or Boston, would want to do a party on all the "good" dates available. With that kind of approach, it excludes some other promotors at taking a risk with the bands on a non "good" dates.

We are in January, and I can gove you the Boston calendar for the rest of the year wthout contacting any of the bands. For example, we rest assured that either Carimi, Nu-look, Djakout or TVice will be in Boston for Valentine's week-end. At least two of Those same bands will most likely be in town for Easter week-end. Sometimes in April, they will come back. For Memorial Week-end, men'm tin yen -an. In the summer, things slow down a bit, so you can expect to see a visit by Djakout, T-Vice again. In August, most bands are in Haiti. Then comes labor day week-end, when they all will be in NY. And then get ready for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and end of the year.

It is a repetitive industry, with the same 4 or 5 major bands palying over and over. So, if one is not a fanatic, why should they want to attend the same parties over and over and over. I know that I am being redundant in here, but this is the story of the HMI.

Solutions, promotors are risk takers. They invest money to organize an event without knowing how many people will actually pay to get in, what the wheather will be on the day of the event, and so many other tangibles. In these pat years, promotors have become less incline to promote an event where risk is involved, hence their preference to do the same bands over and over. The big losers, of course, are the fans.

This approach does not help the industry in moving forward. People don't get new exposure, and they don't get to listen to the true variety that exists in the HMI. The racine bands almost don't perform anywhere, except for festivals and carnivals. What ever happen to the true soloist. (Nickenson seems to be the only soloist in the industry nowadays).

The New York market believe it or not is a microcosm of the state of the industry. Just because you see a party is pack does not necessarily mean the promotors are making money. Often they barely break even, or just make a little benefit. Organizing any events is stresful, time consuming, and expensive. If the NY promotors were bathing into profit for each event they prganize, i could guarantee you that there would be more events organized.

Another added notes, the product is so mediocre that even though cost are going up, promotors know they can't afford to raise the price of their events. How long have we been doing bal for $25-30 in advance? The basic economic principle of supply and demand seems to suggest to me that the demand for bal is indeed not going up, while the supply is low. If that was the case, each event would have to be more expensive. On the contrary, often we remark that the events are advertised at a cheaper price in advance, only to be raised exponentially at the door. The Reasoning: promotors are not sure if people will actually make it to the event. So they resigned themselves to wait until the last minute to apply the supply and demand theory, which often left a bad taste in the mouth of the consumer.

We need to break away from believing that only the four major bands can bring people out. We need to put an emphasis on quality. If System, Magnum, Zenglen, and other bands can play good music, and give the fans a good show, why then, are we not having more variety with those bands, Why then can't those bands get more gigs? This is where the risk should come in the promotion. We may lose at first, but over time, if your product, and event is always super, eventually people will start appreciate it.

Sispann fe fet pou'n fe we. It's not enough to say "I can bring in TVice or Djakout or so on so" just to show people that you know people. This is not good business. And sooner than later, those promotors, managers will find themselves with bands that can not attract people at any venue, and the result will be further decline of events in NY, Boston, Montreal, and surely Miami.
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