Soca artistes not happy about prize money

The call being made by leading soca artistes Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper and Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle for the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) to increase the prize money and appearance fees paid to participants in the 2012 soca monarch show,{{more}} appears to be receiving the support of other soca artistes.

Yesterday morning, Hooper and Doyle were joined at an emergency meeting at Grenadine House by other artistes, including Lornette “Fya Empress” Nedd, Raeon “Maddzart” Primus and Hance John.

Doyle told SEARCHLIGHT that none of the artistes is contemplating boycotting the soca monarch show, scheduled for July 7, but they are prepared to take a unified stand on issues related to prize money and appearance fees.

The artistes are calling for the prize money paid for the first five places in the competition to be increased. At present, the winner of the competition takes home $22,000, with the second and third place performers taking home $11,000 and $5,000 respectively.

The soca bards also want each performer to be allotted more passes to the show and for the CDC to do better in relation to the appearance fee of $1,800, which the CDC announced on Wednesday would be increased from $1,000.

“That still can’t do nothing,” Fireman told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday.

According to Fireman, the seven-time winner of the event, his preparation costs for the event average between $8,000 and $11,000 each year.

He explained that artistes taking part in the show are paid half of the $1,000 appearance fee before the show and the other $500 after.

“That money can’t buy my suit to perform in. You know how much it cost me for one of my animal suits last year? US $450.

“You think that money paid could buy those and Skinny jetpack he used last year?

“The show is now streaming worldwide now and the standard has to be of high quality, so we have to ensure we have a good presentation when we go on stage. Again, I am not saying I am not competing, but people don’t know how it is preparing for Soca Monarch,” he added.

Doyle, in a release said that both he and Fireman recognize the efforts of the CDC to manage and improve carnival and all its components, and “I am in no way trying to undermine anybody’s work or rally a movement against any organization.

“I see and acknowledge the challenges they face, especially with reduced funding,” Doyle, who has won the competition on three occasions said.

“However, we are asking that the same level of acknowledgement be given to the soca acts who spend their time, effort and money to pull off the greatest show on earth. This show called Soca Monarch, for the last 7 years, has seen bigger and bigger numbers in attendance and has increased the admission cost several times in 7 years from $25 to $45.

“For the last 7 years, the artistes have been putting in more and more, giving more sophisticated and costly productions in an effort to improve their own presence on stage, and by extension, the overall glamour of the event. The cost of a dancer, a costume, a driver, a backstage help, pyro effects, the passes that have to be bought for the extra dancers or stage hands are just some of the expenses that have gone up on the part of the artiste.”

The CDC, in a release, said it is unfortunate that this issue has arisen at this point in time, as discussions about appearance fees and prize monies had been addressed earlier this year.

“It was understood and agreed that it is not feasible to increase prize monies at this time. It would be irresponsible and unfair for the CDC to now undertake to increase prize monies to a single component only. It was also agreed that this particular matter can be carried over into discussions for 2013,” the release said.

“The income base for the CDC has not increased for the last three years; therefore it would be unrealistic to make offers of increments in prize monies under the circumstances.

“While we understand the expenditure which is undertaken by some artistes in the production for their performances, practical financial planning must be undertaken by all, so that we function within the limitations which exist in general.

“The CDC has a responsibility to manage and develop carnival as a whole, and though it is quite obvious that the Soca Monarch Show is much better patronized than a number of our other shows, we must always consider the VINCY MAS Festival in its entirety – including the development of the infrastructure and innovations. The marketing and promotion of VINCY MAS which helps to build the momentum to all Shows including Soca Monarch is handled by the CDC in collaboration with the Tourism Authority. This has costs.

“The CDC applauds the efforts of all Soca artistes as well as the other Components. We seek to continue to work harmoniously and constructively with each of them to bring VINCY MAS to the level to which it has risen and aspires to further the growth of the Festival.”

The soca artistes however said that while they understand the points made by the CDC, they are holding their ground as the dialogue about prize money and appearance fees “has been taking place for years and it seems that there is never a good time”.