Adrie Subono on terrorism, showbiz

A. Junaidi and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Thanks to his macho look, strong physical appearance, earring, should-length hair, music promoter Adrie Subono should be afraid of nothing. In fact, he is very much afraid of something: terrorism.

Terrorism has not only disrupted his plans to stage concerts but also almost killed him, when a huge bomb destroyed the lobby of the JW Marriott Hotel as well as his adjacent office at Plasa Mutiara in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, two years ago.

Even after the death of notorious Malaysian bombmaker Azahari, who was shot dead in a police raid in Malang, East Java recently, the 52-year-old promoter is still in fear.

"Honestly, I'm afraid. You see, police found many bombs after the raid. It meant that Azahari has prepared other people to continue the terror," the father of three children said during an interview with The Jakarta Post in his comfortable and spacious residence in the Pondok Indah area, South Jakarta.

Many experts have claimed that political, economic factors and other complex problems are behind terrorism.

But Adrie, who through his firm JAVA Musikindo, has staged a number of concerts for international artists such as Mr. Big, Alanis Morissette, The Corrs, Boyzone, the Cranberries and Suede, believes that lack of tolerance has also contributed to the violence.

As far as tolerance is concerned, Adrie's family could be regarded as a model of tolerance. His wife, former top model Chrisye Franz, is a devout Christian who loves to arrange prayer meeting every Sunday at their house. His two daughters, Melanie and Christie, are Christians while he and his son, Adrian, are Muslims.

Before he started his business 11 years ago, Indonesians rarely saw international musicians play here. Some did manage to bring international musicians to perform here, but such concerts were rare. Then came Adrie, who saw bright prospects in the music organizing business. Thanks to his hard work, he has now become the only music promoter known outside the country and many Indonesians can get to see international musicians perform here.

Adrie recalled his experience in the business in a book titled Wow, with a foreword from noted management pundit Rhenald Kasali.

He is now a popular speaker about showbiz management and dozens of universities have invited him to talk about his success.

A high-school dropout, Adrie lived for eight years since age 16 with the family of former president B.J. Habibie, his uncle. (His mother is Habibie's elder sister). Adrie was sent to Germany by his father, the late Brig. Gen. Subono Mantovani, to learn from his uncle the importance of family and other life principles.

"I'm a family man. I always have dinner with my family despite my tight schedules and many invitations," he says.

The following are excerpts from an interview with him:

Question: Would you like to tell us about your activities in the music organizing business?

Answer: When I entered it 11 years ago, there was nobody who seriously worked in the business. That is why in the past, there were only one or two concerts a year.

For me, a (music) promoter, as a profession, gives potential income. It is a promising business. And, now it has become a new profession.

This is an entertainment business. People need entertainment. The artists may come and go. It never stops.

The income of an artist comes from singing and releasing albums. The biggest income, however, comes from the concert. An artist may make albums once a year, but he or she could stage concerts a hundred times a year.

Anytime there is concert, the artist will require a promoter because the artists never set up their own committees for concerts.

Foreign artists will not bring their promoter abroad for the concert. If they do that, it is a stupid decision. Because the local promoter has better information. Therefore, foreign artists will need a local preemptor.

I am not an expert in concerts. I am a successful promoter in Jakarta, but I don't think I could organize similar concerts in Surabaya or Medan.

If I want to organize concerts in other cities, I need a local partner because I have no information about the local conditions. I must have a local partner to work with to ensure the concert will run smoothly.

It is easy for me to organize concerts in Jakarta because I already have partners here.

You have organized numerous concerts, brought in many foreign artists to entertain the Jakarta public. What is your key success in doing all this?

I use a professional approach. It is fortunate for us (JAVA Musikindo) that we have a good image. We have organized 60 concerts. Now, it is easier to bring foreign artists here than in the past.

We also have a website. Any time foreign agents ask me about my track record, I just refer them to the JAVA Musikindo website.

If a foreign artist comes to Indonesia, the first question raised by him or her will be: Who will be in charge of everything while I am in Indonesia?

They come to a foreign country so they want to know about the security and service while they are in Indonesia.

It is like the question raised by parents who want to send their child to study in another city: "Will our child get a proper boarding house, and so on".

Do you propose holding concerts, or do foreign agents ask you to organize a concert?

Now, I am in a position of being asked to organize concerts for foreign artists, because I have had a track record. Foreign agents usually offer me the artists.

Some artists have canceled their concerts here because of security concerns and terrorist threats. What's your comment?

We must stand up again. I almost became a victim of the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel (in 2003). I was traumatized. I was so scared to travel by plane. I made a flight six months after the bombing. I then told myself that I had to stand up again.

Had I not gone to toilet at that time (of the bombing), I would not be here now. The bomb blast was only 15 meters from my desk (his office is at Plaza Mutiara next to JW Marriott Hotel).

The whole nation must stand up together. Frankly speaking, I am afraid. Azahari has trained his followers in how to detonate bombs. I am afraid. It is normal because we have family and friends.

How does the issue of terrorism affect the concerts?

Many artists are concerned about security. They are too afraid to come here. Since the establishment of JAVA Musikindo, 11 concerts have been canceled.

I said to the media in August that I would not organize concerts in August, September, October and November because data showed that terrorists blew up bombs in those months. Terrorist attacks over the past four years took place in those months.

Every year, I have had to cancel two concerts and I suffered financial losses. As a businessman, I have to think about that.

I did not expect the second bomb blast in Bali. But, it happened.

As a businessman, I have to minimize losses. It is not only a financial loss, but also damaging to the image.

How do you keep security during concerts?

We usually get help from the National Police. The police come with their bomb squad and K-9 team. During the concert, the police also deploys squads. We also have our own security team. It is for the sake of audience safety.

The type of security also depends on the type of the music. If we stage classical music, we have to deploy massive security forces. But if we stage rock music, it needs more security to keep the situation peaceful.

National Police give assistance because they have the access and anti-bomb devices. We always stay alert to control the situation inside the stadium.

How do you handle artists who have many requests? Who are they?

Mariah Carey is among artists who have many requests or riders. I had to make a special stairway for her stage. The design for the stairs was made by her. It had to be made from aluminum and iron. The light in her hotel room also could not be too bright, and so on.

As a promoter, I have to be professional. Since it's already mentioned in the contract, I have to fulfill it. Professionalism and patience are important in the business.

Maria Carey is the biggest star I have handled so far. She is a diva.

You are known to be related to (former president) BJ Habibie. What was his contribution to your success?

Yes, he is my uncle. I lived with his family in Germany for eight years. I learned a lot from him. For me, he is my idol, from they way he thinks. He also treats me as if I was his own son. The most important thing that he taught me was to be independent.

I would not say that I did not get help from him. I am his nephew and people know this. Thank God, I have never received direct help from him or misused his assistance.

For me, the assistance is access to information. As a business, we need information.

How do you regard Habibie as a man?

He is a man who speaks openly and he always shows positive thinking. He is an engineer.

I think whoever rules this country, he or she should be given a period of time to work.

For example, if we go to the kitchen and we see everything is in a mess, we will need time to put it in order. It will take time. So, the government must be given time, whoever is in charge.

How do you see the present government?

It is more or less the same. I see SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) sympathetically. He is straight to the point. But, again, he needs time to work. Process needs time.

It took years, dozens of years, for the United States to build a democracy. Same with Germany.

But SBY makes unpopular policy, increasing fuel prices. This could make the price of your tickets rise higher ...

We should not talk about ticket prices, because ticket prices are not part of basic needs. Fuel prices affects the small people.

Tickets are about entertainment. It concerns only small number of people.

Well, I think the government has thought about the consequences (of the fuel price hike). Yes, it is not a popular decision.

Yes, this is a difficult situation. That is why I do not want to become a president. Ha ha ha ...

If we continue the fuel subsidy, the whole country will collapse. But, if we cut the subsidy, the people will suffer.

I choose to sell tickets. Bring foreign artists here and sell tickets. Ha ha ha. It is simple.

What do you do during your spare time?

I divide my life into three periods: The first 20 years, I spent learning; in the second 20 years, I worked to make a life; and in the third 20-year period, I live to work.

Now, I am in the third period. I live to work. My children have grown up.

Today, I share my knowledge with other people through seminars. Yes, it is the secret of my success, but I believe it will be useful. I like that.

I also like sports. I usually do sport three hours a day. During the fasting month, I make it two hours a day. My colleagues say that I am crazy. But, I know my body best.

While many people fight due to difference in religion, you, your wife and children can apparently live together peacefully, despite having different faiths. How does this happen?

In three days, my wife and I will celebrate the 27th anniversary of our marriage. During that time, we have lived with different religions. We respect each other.

My wife often invites colleagues to have prayers in our home once a week. She also accompanies me to pre-dawn meals during the fasting month. She also practices fasting.

Although her religion allows the consumption of pork, she never cooks pork. That is it.

We create peace without saying anything. The differences create no problems.

I started to practice the (Islamic) five prayers a day a few years ago, while my wife is a devoted Christian.

I allow my children to choose their own religion. My son is a Muslim and my daughters are Christian.

What are your plans for 2006?

I still don't know, because artists are reluctant to come here for security reasons. I want to bring Eric Clapton here, but it is difficult. I have tried many times.

Today, however, what my wife and I want is just one thing: grandchildren.

I want them very much, because my father did not see his grandchildren. He died shortly after my sister got married.

I like being at home that is why we want to see our grandchildren.