A TUG-OF-WAR is being played in the music business, and it is not between artistes.
Starting in mid to late 2003, Kingston, and eventually the rest of Jamaica, experienced a major surge in street dances. Beginning the week with 'Early' and 'Hot Mondays', there were and still are sessions which are held from Monday to Friday.
While party fanatics jump and rave at the chance of going to multiple free street dances, some dancehall purists fear that these sessions may cut into the pie of other promoters who used to plan events during the week, or that they will steal away the patronage of the city's nightclubs.
Based on feedback from some of Kingston's nightclubs, it seems that the patronage of nightclubs and regular sessions is not yet under threat, but rather, a friendly tussle is going on between them. The big cake of party goers it seems is just beginning to be shared up into more pieces.
Manager of the Peppers Nightclub Nandu Kurup, says that the sessions have made an impact on his patronage, but nothing that was significant. He indicates that presently what has been slightly impacting on them is the number of carnival events being held.
"Sessions like 'Passa Passa' may take away a little of my crowd, but they usually come here first then leave to go there afterwards," he notes.
Why people have not stopped coming there he adds is because of what the club offers. "People who go to the street sessions just want to dance all the time. Here it is a mix. They can dance, play pool, chill out, or do anything else."
The same reason is put forward by Marsha Rose, Manager of both the Voodoo and Oxygen nightclubs of The Quad. "We have so many things going on at one time inside these clubs, that people stay interested. What you find is that people actually come here first, then leave and go to these events."
The promoters of the street dances say that they have captured the attention and patronage of some regular clubbers, but only because the product that they offer is much more than music.
No adverse effect
Promoter of Early Mondays, 'Snoop' feels that the weeknight dances have tugged at the patronge of regular events and nightclubs, but not in a way to hurt them.
"Yes, it has started to affect them in a small way but nothing too seriously," he explains. "I don't think it will kill dancehall as some believe, because people will still go out on Saturday to spend. If you don't pay to go to a dance Monday to Friday, on Saturday you will actually be quicker to spend."
Stress Free Thursdays has been around for one month now. Its promoter, Marc Johnson says that these events have boomed because more than music takes place at the events. "I think what has happened is that they have allowed average people to come out in whatever they feel comfortable in wearing, and enjoy themselves. It allows them to feel a part of the community in which they are."
"Our events have done what politics, NGO's (Non Governmental Organizations) and others have failed to do. They have mobilised people to move across political lines and come together to enjoy themselves," Johnson said.
