It takes a lot to keep artists happy before they go on stage
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.