Last Friday night’s staging of the Rihanna LOUD show at Kensington Oval has produced a moment that our policymakers and the planners must not fail to seize. That the event was a resounding success is now openly conceded by the doubters among us who were sceptical about the benefits of holding such a show in the first place.
Necessity is indeed the mother of invention, and the current economic situation may have ignited the idea that our very own internationally famous singing star might be embraced within a marketing strategy to help drive our tourism product, but then it is an ill wind that does nobody any good.
A show of the order of Friday night exposed our local impresarios and promoters to how such an upscale international event must be staged, so the artiste can concentrate on putting on a top-class performance that can receive the approval of informed critics.
We have spoken at length in recent times about the promotion of the cultural industries, and a bill has surfaced which is under discussion before being laid in Parliament; but there is nothing which may galvanize public perception about the importance of show business and entertainment as an economic activity and serious business like this show.
The planning and production of such shows is as serious a profession as is law or medicine or accountancy, and our local promoters who may not have been exposed to the latest techniques could benefit from the transfer of knowledge.
It is this transfer of know-how that is important to us, because we may now consider Kensington to be a first-class venue for the staging of international shows – once its unique features are taken into account.
We venture to suggest that now we have done one concert, other shows may be staged with other international artistes who may be persuaded to include Barbados as part of their international round of tours.
Hitherto we have not been considered, probably because of our small size, but there has to be a paradigm shift, since the sale of the television rights worldwide can help us to earn needed foreign exchange. Every effort must be made to get us on the concert production circuit.
Even the most cursory observation will show us that additional economic activity has been generated by preparations for the show. The beauty salons have done a rip-roaring trade, and the hotels and other ancillary services catering to visitors have benefited. Such activity helps the national economy.
Then there was the after-party show at Limegrove. This initiative shows how the island’s tourism and related facilities can integrate their efforts to the overall national benefit, since that recently opened mall will secure for itself much useful publicity that will help to drive sales and foreign exchange earnings.
We must therefore seize the moment, and just as we have had the Brazilians exposing us to some aspects of their cultural expertise, we must use this occasion to build meaningful links with international concert producers so that Kensington Oval may be more frequently used for large concerts.
The award of National Development Scholarships and the requisite exposure to formal training where necessary should enable us to produce a cadre of people capable of handling all aspects of client management and production of concerts, and other related aspects of show business.
What this Rihanna show should reinforce in our minds is that entertainment is a major aspect of the service economy, and that the related spin-offs complement our tourism.
