Promoter pays more than R80, 000 for SA singers
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer
Local music promoter Thatayaone Mattapan has revealed he splashed out more than R80, 000 in cash to pay South African singers Benjamin Dube and gospel group Sechaba, who performed before some 5,000 revellers at the Blue Tree, Broadhurst, on Saturday.
Matlapeng says, he paid R50 000 to Dube but the amount was a negotiated fee as the gospel star usually charges R65, 000 for appearance alone. " We paid a negotiated fee, and were able to put him in an executive room, because he also came here to do an album launch. Dube personally contributed something towards the publicity of the show," Matlapeng said.
"So we had a flexible arrangement with Dube, but we also took care of his transportation, lodging and food," Matlapeng went on. He revealed that he paid R30, 000 for Sechaba, another South African group that featured at the Blue Tree, while a further R45, 000 was used to hire what he said was "a quality sound system" from South Africa. The exquisite looking stage, and the huge tent fitted with top-notch lighting system, heating system and bonfires, was rented for P15, 000, according to the promoter. The tent also had two giant screens, which beamed the show to thousands of gospel music thirsty crowd.
" It was a spectacular and expensive show. Even the security was tip-top. We are very happy with the way things went," he said. The show is estimated to have raked in some P750, 000, assuming that 5,000 people paid the P150 entrance fee.
Matlapeng had targeted some 7,000 spectators, but he says he is not complaining. " We are busy reconciling ticket sales, but we are confident the turnout was not far behind our target," he told Showbiz.
