There’s a week to go and here at VentnorBlog we’re in a real dilemma about the Jazz Festival running in Ventnor next weekend 11-13 April.
While we know that bringing visitors to town should be good for the economy, we’re more than a little concerned that many people who have dealt with the organisers in the past, are saying that they still haven’t been paid for their efforts.
We’ve decided that we should put it to you, dear readers, to decide if we should cover it. Whatever you decide will be enacted – we are at your command.
Before you decide, we’ve gathered together some of the issues that we’ve grappled with, that although long, should give you some background if you haven’t already made up your minds.
Poll closed, here’s the results …
While some people like Maureen Cawley and the Winter Gardens Committee appear to support the event, apparently deciding to choose to ignore the businesses — Island-based and from the mainland — that claim to have yet to be paid from last years Jazz festival and more recently the Folk & Blues festival, there are others – obviously including the out-of-pocket businesses, as well as many others from around the Island the event, who feel very uncomfortable about it going ahead.
Who is owed what?
The Jazz office tell us that only two business have not been paid. However, other companies, beyond those two, claim to be owed money as well. Indeed those who are saying that they are out of pocket, claim that £55,000 still is outstanding.
We’ve heard that it’s not like the businesses haven’t tried to get their money back. For example, the folk group, The Hamsters, who played at the Folk & Blues event and say that they are owed £2,350 for their performance, have told us that they have taken the Jazzers to court and have obtained a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against the festival organisers.
Bailiffs have been dispatched to the Jazzer’s office twice, both times being told that the entity which they gained the CCJ against, the IW Folk and Blue Festival, did not have any assets, so left empty handed.
At the time of the event, the Jazz office said that their sponsor fell ill, unable to sign the cheque promised, although despite being requested, we understand that no medical certificate has ever been produced for this.
Where did the money go?
As many people have pointed out to us, some of the bands that played, did so to sell out audiences, eg Fairport Convention, selling a reported 400 tickets at £20 a head, which would bring in £8,000. After subtracting the expense of the hire of the Winter Gardens (£250), and the fee for Fairport Convention £5,875 (£5,000 + VAT), there’s still nearly £2,000 left available there. Fairport Convention is also one of the bands that say they haven’t been paid.
The Jazz Festival can be good for Ventnor
As we and others have said previously, the Jazz Festival can be good for Ventnor — look at the event two years ago — if the organisers end up not paying the individuals who help make it happen — marquee companies, security companies, and not least, the musical performers — it’s a bad thing for the town.
As we’ve been told, when trying to book acts for the Winter Gardens at other times of the year, it’s not infrequent to get the reaction, “we won’t play in Ventnor, as you don’t get paid when you play there.”
Paying people who are owed money
The focus around town currently appears very much to be, how can we make this years festival happen, so the town isn’t damaged. On the surface, that seems logical.
Confusingly no one appears to have asked how will the people who are owed money from past events be paid.
Wouldn’t it have made sense for Maureen Cawley and the Winter Gardens Committee to have gained assurances from the festival organisers (knowing they needed to hire the WG) — insisting this years festival’s monies be paid into an escrow account — with those who are owned money from previous years are paid before profits are taken?
If everyone’s paid what they’re owed, there’d be no reason for anyone to be unhappy would there?
Up to you
There’s probably bits that we didn’t cover, but frankly there so many different angles to this, many of them previously covered in the County Press, we don’t know how long it would take to write the piece.
So here it ends. Now it’s up to you to decide via a voting – let us know what you think.
