Culture of free entry at gigs should stop Sam Mataure
Sam Mataure

Sam Mataure

Fred Zindi Music
I have done almost everything in the music industry over the years. I started off by being a musician in a band, then recording artiste, producer, manager, promoter, a basker, radio DJ, mobile DJ, member of music boards, music teacher, music correspondent and head of a music college.

Despite these experiences, one thing I had never done was being a doorman at a music concert. This changed last weekend.

The doorman on duty at the music venue where Transit Crew was performing did not turn up for duty. Out of curiosity, I volunteered to man the entrance to experience what it is like to be a doorman.

This is what is known as participant observation in research. It was hell on earth as I battled with almost fifty percent of the 233 patrons who came that night who resisted to pay for entry.

First it was the workers at the venue who all claimed they were on duty that night. When the number of “workers on duty” came to 12, I began to question the management what duties these guys had come to perform. Then it turned out that only two out of the 12 were actually on duty.

Next, came a journalist who claimed he had come to cover the show for his “popular” newspaper. I told him that he should have made plans in advance instead of just turning up on the night.

To make matters worse, he had come with two ladies and another gentleman whom he also claimed were entertainment correspondents. They all wanted to get in for free and have fun. I knew this journalist as an agriculture reporter and have never read anything he claims to have written on entertainment.

The worst scenario was that of six journalists who had come from the Quill Club at Ambassador Hotel. They were accompanied by two ladies who identified themselves as employees at the hotel. They flashed their press ID cards and began to demand free entrance.

One of them said: “If you let us in, we will positively cover this gig in our columns.”

To me, that sounded like blackmail. I told them that I was sorry, but I would not let them in until they paid the entrance fee. Professional reporters do not write negative things or unfavourable stories in order to assure continued access to a gig.

I told them if they really support the arts they ought to pay as this was work for the musicians. At that moment all hell broke loose. One of them kicked the table at the entrance and became violent and used abusive language.

Next was this chap with his girlfriend wanting to go in for free. I asked him what criteria he was using to entitle him free entrance. He said he used to work with Oliver Mtukudzi. I told him that Sam Mataure, Oliver’s manager was inside and he had not only paid for himself, but for two others who were with him. Anyway, I said to this gentleman that I would verify his claim with Sam. By the time I had brought Sam to the door, he was gone.

A few minutes later, walked in a Government minister who even refused to be stopped at the door. When challenged by a person I had asked to go and get payment, he remarked, “Fred knows who I am.” End of story.

Then came about a dozen people who claimed they were friends of the band and had been invited by the band to come and show their support. On asking members of the band, who were now on stage, this turned out to be untrue.

Only three people had been invited on that night. The other nine kept hassling me throughout the night demanding free entrance, which they saw as a right because they wore dreadlocks. I asked them a simple question, “Do you see those elderly persons on stage? How do you think they are going to feed their families if you do not want to pay?” No one answered this although they claimed they had come to support the band.

By the end of the night, around a hundred people had tried to gain free entry into this gig. With his experience, what is happening at other artistes’ shows?

There is need to look at this business seriously. Now I understand why most musicians die paupers. These so called supporters are not really supporting their welfare as they do not want to pay for their entertainment. They are quick to bring out their money at the bar to buy drinks.

I am not sure what it is that gives a journalist with a press card the right to violently demand free entrance at a concert.

Professional music journalists do not behave like that. Promoters and band managers already know them. They get invited to events at the discretion of the promoters. This is how it should be. A press card does entitle one to free entry at a concert.

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