It takes a lot to keep artists happy before they go on stage
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Many musicians are extremely fussy when it comes to their concerts. But it is not only the stage and sound system which must be to their satisfaction.
Often it is the personal requests of the artists that leave concert promoters scratching their heads.
Teen pop star Christina Aguilera reportedly asks that a certain type of mineral water, fresh vegetables and Reese's Pieces be prepared for her.
And Latin sensation Jennifer Lopez apparently sends a three- page list of demands ahead of time, which includes the temperature her dressing room is to be kept at and an order for fresh meat, complete with instructions on how thick to slice it.
While Madonna demands a selection of young men (OK, I made that one up).
And local promoters have to deal with the demands of the talent when foreign musicians come to Indonesia for a concert.
The most recent example is the Irish siblings The Corrs, who performed in Jakarta on Wednesday night.
Promoter Adrie Subono from Java Musikindo admitted that keeping the group happy proved to be a real headache at times.
First, the group decided at the last-minute to extend their visit in the Philippines, which meant a press conference scheduled for Jakarta on Tuesday had to be delayed by a day.
"Then we had to find another place to hold (the press conference). And the only place available was this place, which is not very comfortable for a media conference," he said on Wednesday at CJ's Bar, on the first floor of the Hotel Mulia.
Moments before the conference, the foursome asked that the photo shoot be held downstairs in the lobby.
"We told them that is a public area, but they insisted," Adrie said.
And then the group said they would leave the press conference if there were any cameras present.
Besides The Corrs demands on how the press conference would be conducted, they also asked promoters to provide them with three doctors, a pool table and a number of other games.
"Maybe they want to relax because they get stressed out before the show or after it.
"It's OK though, if they use it. Once there was a band that asked for a basketball court, but in the end they never even touched it," he said.
And of the 100 photographers who gathered at the venue on Wednesday night and received passes to get into the concert, only 25 of them were allowed inside.
"I'm sorry, the management (of The Corrs) demanded it," said an employee of Java Musikindo who handed out the new passes to the photographers.
"They had agreed when we proposed 150 photographers, but then they lowered the number down and down until only 25 photographers were allowed," he added, promising the rest of the photographers to send them concert photos the next day.
According to Adrie, most of the demanding foreign artists were the "pretty" stars.
"Rock groups are usually fine. Ash, for example. They might look indifferent, but they didn't trouble us," Adrie said about the Irish group who performed here last week.
"Yeah, well, it's a matter of professionalism, so we fulfill (the demands)," Adrie said, adding that performances by foreign musicians were a form of promotion for the country, showing people that it is safe to hold concerts here.
It may be safe for the musicians, but the question is how safe is it for the promoters who have to deal with their demands.