The injection of more capital into the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) by the government has helped paved the way for what is expected to be one of the biggest events of the Independence season.
The WCMF is expected to kick off tonight and founding member and Public Relations Officer, Leroy Charles stated at a press conference at the Fort Young Hotel today, Friday October 28th 2016, “the government decided to inject more capital as the festival had to re-brand, re-endorse and reorganize itself.”
“The government has injected one million dollars into the World Creole Music Festival,” he said. “The financial aid helped in getting bands that the festival has been eyeing, but have not been able to access due to financial limitations which may occur if the artiste is too expensive to book or if the artiste is too far to bring down.”
Charles told Dominica News Online that the financial injection helped to get two mega stars such as Akon and Wyclef on the stage of the WCMF, which he said brings some more scope to the stage and er promotion of the festival in countries like Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Marteen and Antigua.
Charles noted that in promoting the festival, the committee went to Martinique and Guadeloupe three times, where they put up a hundred billboards in each country.
He said he felt that the campaign needed to be more aggressive in order to give the festival the required boost, adding, “with this year it took a strong line up and an aggressive marketing campaign to come back as strong as possible.”
“In preparation for the festival, the festival’s committee meets after each edition of the festival to evaluate the festival, then we allow for public intervention through surveys and polls and after we immediately start to prepare for the next edition,” he explained.
When asked about the sales of the tickets and the response of the public to the festival, Charles stated, “so far the target for sales has been reached for tickets. For the first time boats traveling to Dominica, particularly from the French Antilles, Guadeloupe and Martinique, were filled three weeks before the festival.”
He countered suggestions that there are not enough local artistes performing at the World Creole Music Festival by pointing out that this year there are about “nine to ten local acts in the line-up.”
Charles stressed that the public needs to understand that this is an international event and while the event is hosted in Dominica and according to him, Dominica is the Creole Capital, “we invite artists who have excelled in the other creole genres such as the group “Gwoka” from Guadeloupe.”
He warned that while we may be the creators of two of the creole genres, cadence lypso and boyoun music, if we aim to make the festival a world class festival, then we have to incorporate the other genres such as zouk, salsa, shouval bwa and compa etc.
And another thing, all the main radio staions Q, DBS, Kairi broadcasting that event live simultaneously. Nothing else on the radio like some intelligent discussions- & or debates, or even other music for instance? That is competing with WCMF in the stadium itself and senseless to me. Let those who enjoy their WCMF pay for their ticket and go to the stadium and don’t let the radio stations be like parasites and take the easy way out.
Wadix, stop acting like a politician and press be a little more probing in the public interest. When asked about sales of tickets…… “so far the target for sales have been reached for tickets…..it’s the first time boats were filled three weeks before the festival…. Wadix, target ticket sales, 3K, 4K, 10K. I suggest for 2017a band or artist from St Lucia form part of the line up
Wadix, don’t try to be like a politician. You were asked about ticket sales. Don’t dodge. Give an approximate answer. Tickets were sold on line and in advance. For 2017, I suggest we have a band or an artist from St Lucia, even at the expense of a Dominican.
Very good job marketing it..but sadly on night 1 their were some issues…
when dealing with a (World Event)———–
1.Multiple entrances, as jammed 1 entry isn’t good for security and creates chaos…it’s world event..not a local village jam!
2.The stage for a World Event the roofing is too low..it needed to be much taller, creating that interior world like vibe.
3. Proper Line arrays must be on display it’s a World Events those boxes aren’t impressive at all…plus the sound carries way too much low end, apparently their is lack of EQ, so the audience is receiving a loud Hi-Fi output which comes too distorted…it’s a World Event best modules Globally must be adhered.
4.The service at the food stalls are insufficient as it runs out too quickly at the end of Night 1, the basic chicken and chips were in most bars ZEROED, a bit more training needs to be done with vendors in terms of how the attend to patrons in a timely manner, so stalls were understaffed or…
damn homie, you on track!
They need to run it as a business an not a charity organization its time we get real in this country
And STOP bringing NON CREOLE speaking artist to this festival!!! Organizers ate acting like they are embarrassed to contact an all Francophone lineup. A litany of poor excuses. Jamaican patois don’t count.
Wadix talks too much, too full of himself, he gives me headache. I’m switching off Q95 now every time Matt gives him airtime, honestly that man too much
you know i really cant understand how this WCMF thing is operating this thing has been in exsistance for 19 years i think by now WCMF should be able to sustenance its slef by now
THANK GODFOR WORKERS PARTY THAT STARTED THIS PROGRAMME .DOMINICA WOULD BE MORE PROGREAASBLE IF THE JEALOUS DOMINICAN DID NOT THROW THEM OU TOF OFFICE AFTER FOUR YEAR.
one million dollar more.. ok thats nice..but dfc not using the money properly
Well, it helps to pay Wadix’s and them expenses.
helped paved the way?