Producers of the remaining major events for the 2022 Crop Over Festival are reporting favourable ticket sales while promising to deliver enjoyable experiences for patrons.
Several promoters joined Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Carol Roberts-Reifer on Tuesday at the NCF’s West Terrace, St James headquarters, where they reported that their planning processes were in full swing.
Mikey Mercer, Director and CEO of Team Mikey Charity and Grass Skirt Entertainment, which is producing The Reunion scheduled for Tuesday night, said sales had been going well.
“Generally, from what we have been hearing throughout the season, coming on to the last two to three days there is usually a serious spike in the sales. So we are seeing it as well and I am sure the others will see it,” he said.
The entertainer said his objective was not to sell out the venue at Kensington Mall Car Park, as he wanted patrons to have adequate room to enjoy the show at which only local artistes will be performing.
“I am not trying to sell out to capacity because we are still in a COVID environment. I just want people to be safe, to feel safe, to have that space,” he said.
Mercer added that the proceeds of the event will fund his charity’s programmes.
De Carla Applewhaite of PR Marketing Nouvelle Vie shared that over the past week, ticket sales have picked up for RISE, to be held at the Soca Arena, Kensington Mall Car Park, on Wednesday, featuring Jamaican dancehall artiste Spice.
“Honestly, the response has been phenomenal. I think one thing that we should note is that even during the pandemic which has no bounds in terms of how long it has been, a lot of people have reached the going out age.
“We are speaking to persons who are now able to experience the festival in an adult way and it’s quite exciting to be, perhaps, that person’s first event. So we are definitely excited about the response,” Applewhaite added.
Jamarr Brown of Pyramid Entertainment, the company responsible for the production of Dis Is Rick which will take place at Kensington Oval on Saturday, reported that sales were also picking up for that event which will feature host Lil Rick and an all-Barbadian cast.
“In 2019, when we were at Kensington Oval, nearly 40 per cent of people who were there were from overseas. I think what has happened this year is that a lot of the promoters are, I don’t want to say lost, but nobody knows how many people from overseas are going to be coming, what they are going to be coming for.
“So, in terms of the ticket sales for Dis Is Rick, you will find people coming at the box office there to buy a ticket because they want to be there,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, Rudy Maloney, Director of 4 D Entertainment, said ticket sales for the Soca on the Hill, which will come off the day after Grand Kadooment, have been great.
He said the show promises to be a memorable one with an exciting lineup of local and regional soca artistes.
“We are trending and we hope to continue that way until August 2,” Maloney said.
Roberts-Reifer also reminded that the highly anticipated Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop Finals would be held at Kensington Oval on Friday, and the Foreday Morning Jam is set for Saturday morning, immediately after the finals.
The Courtesy Garage 98.1 The One Soca Rukshun will be held on Sunday.
