Big Dawg throws weight behind compatriots

JERRY KAI-LEWIS
Correspondent | Tuesday April 8, 2008 00:00

 

Already an established South African entertainment management and branding solutions company, the name Big Dawg Promotions is synonymous with A Grade management solutions and has worked its magic for companies and artists such as Vodacom, MTN, CELL C, FNB, Standard Bank, ABSA, Smirnoff, Peroni, HHP, DJ Cleo, Louis Vega (US), Quinton Harris (US) and too many more to mention. But after seven to eight years of planning, the man, amicably known as Big Dawg, is now throwing his weight behind his compatriots to give them the extra boost they need to not only make a bigger artistic and financial impact here at home, but also across our borders. 

Flanked by his younger brother Rox, who moved back to Gaborone to oversee Big Dawg Productions' affairs here in Botswana, and DJ Sid, DJ Fresh spoke passionately about expanding his business to Botswana. It is a well known fact that there is more than ample musical talent here in Botswana, the recent Channel O Awards won by Scar and Acid notwithstanding, but the hindrance to them reaping the financial rewards of their hard work is the lack of a professional management company to effectively handle their affairs. This is where, said Rox Sikwane, Big Dawg Productions comes in. From a 50 percent advance for performances and doing bookings and contracts to making sure that sound, stage, lights and all other logistics are already in place for the artists under Big Dawg, all the artist has to do is perform. 'In all the years I've been a deejay in this country, I've never been given a 50 percent advance,' added DJ Sid. Adding to Sid's comment, Yarona FM's Owen Rampa said that while he enjoys being a deejay and would play absolutely anywhere, he nonetheless wants local promoters to understand that he expects to be paid for his 'hobby'.

   Like any other industry, the recording industry is a stratified one. For the artist to enjoy optimal creativity, he or she needs a dynamic, creative, experienced and aggressive management team to look after his or her interests. According to the Sikwane brothers, Big Dawg Productions hopes to fill this gap in the local industry, a gap that has seen many an artist fall by the wayside. Asked about his assistance in helping local artists break the ice that has thawed their ambitions to successfully break into the South African market, Fresh said that it is not an easy task but with enough pressure, Batswana artists will eventually make headway.

'It works based on who you know. Marketing the DJ Ski vs. Big Dawg project was based on people I knew, not that they owed me favors but I kept pushing or else they would have let the album pile up with the other CDs they receive. Now the project is nominated for a SAMA Award. The South African media supports local over foreign products, the secret is to keep pushing. But generally speaking Africa is supporting Africa and the interest is growing,' said DJ Fresh. He said that in the mean time the roster of DJ Ski, Zeus, DJ Sid, Mr. O, and DJ O'Neal stands. Fresh also said that the only criteria for an individual he'd work with is that he/she must have 'immense potential.'

With regards to payment of royalties, Fresh said that artists will get paid for the contributions they make to a particular project, adding that so far his album with DJ Skizo and Zeus' Freshly Baked are the only two projects that are in stores and that the rest, except O'Neal, are simultaneously working on upcoming projects.

Commenting on the release of his first album under Skizo's Forensic Records label, Zeus said that he hopes that the album will someday be released, as that was his best work to date.  Asked about piracy protection, Fresh said that there are no guarantees against piracy.

'The only defence is a product with added value, like a CD with a video attached to it. Generally Batswana like original products, hopefully that hasn't changed,' he said.  For his part, DJ Ski said if local artists want to grow they can only do so by coming together. Ski said that by coming together they are setting a trend and sending a message to artists in Botswana to set aside their egos for the common good.

'I am keen on passing the baton to the youngsters and hope that they are resilient enough to keep it going. On the whole I am happy we are putting our heads together and people won't be cheated anymore,' said Skizo. He further stated that local media houses should sponsor local journalists to attend this year's SAMA Awards on May 3. In closing Mr. O said Batswana should expect 'great music' from Big Dawg Productions.