Quality concert venues still lacking

Events organising is one of the businesses in Kenya whose popularity has been arching upwards in the recent years. While virtually a dormant venture slightly over a decade ago, events are one of the most lucrative businesses in Kenya today, worth billions of shillings in revenue annually.

This has seen events of international proportions and festivals staged here, as world renowned artistes’ preference for Kenya to other African countries for performances grows.

Concerts by Tinie Tempah, Rick Ross and Ty Dolla $ign are just some of the top dollar performances that have been staged in Nairobi, thanks to the fast-growing local events scene.

Entrepreneurs have moved in to tap into this attractive venture, by pulling out all the stops to invest in state-of-the-art equipment, including audio gear, daylight screens, lighting system and production equipment, for an immersive and memorable experience for the rapidly growing number of Kenyan events enthusiasts.

But even as the events landscape blooms, this growth has been checked by snags of all kinds, including lack of enough venues, limited capacity and poor infrastructure to hold world-class events. All which turn a would-be memorable experience into a bland affair with little value for money.

CONCERTS

Centrestage spoke with event planners and concert goers who shared some of the dismal experiences they have gone through during major events and concerts.

Khui Karanja, an events enthusiast in Nairobi, dreads some of her past experiences where the night was drenched in sudden rain before the main performance. 

“Staying out all night in the cold is ridiculous. The main act traditionally performs towards the end of the night, meaning that attendees have to brave extreme temperatures. This is something event organisers have to take into account in their plans,” Khui argues.

Another concert goer David Manyasa argues that while the iconic Carnivore Grounds is the most ideal venue for entertainment events, its location is only convenient for people who drive.

“For those of us who have to commute, your troubles begin as the curtains fall on the concert. You must cab home as there are usually no matatus at that hour, which is expensive,” he says.

“It would be best if there were more conveniently accessible venues, preferably in the city centre, to serve both those who drive and those who don’t,” he adds.

Hellen Muoki, the commercial assistant for MoSounds Events, says that the issue of capacity is the common bee in the bonnet of most event organisers.

“It is not easy to find a venue that suits all the clients’ needs. In most instances, the client will have more guests than the available venue can hold, which causes a strain on the amenities at the venue,” Hellen says.

LOGISTICS

According to her, lack of enough venues forces organisers to hold outdoor events, consequently attracting council fees for permits which in turn stretches the client’s budget.

“There are also logistical challenges if the client wants an out-of-town event where we have to ferry equipment and personnel. This is more expensive than when events are held at a more central position,” she says.

“Delays caused by traffic jams are unavoidable and occasionally interfere with the programme,” she adds.

Kasarani Indoor Arena at Kasarani Safaricom Stadium, for instance, has a seating capacity of 5,000 people. While this would be ideal for mega concerts, its location far from the city centre is an instant deterrent for organisers who prefer a more centralised location for convenience. Neither does the legendary traffic jam along Thika Road help Kasarani’s bid.

Adjacent to the stadium is Baba Dogo slum from which most muggers roaming the area come, making safety for concert goers a thorny issue for the venue, especially for nightly concerts.

“Bad weather conditions and rain delay and disrupt events because of interference with cabling and sound testing,” Hellen says.

When comedian Churchill organised the Churchill@40 event at the KICC in November last year, to celebrate his 40th birthday and his career, a heavy downpour that night soaked the VIP section, disrupting the event for the best part of the evening.

As recent as last month, a downpour put a damper on the historic occasion when American hip-hop rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross performed at Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi.

FANS

Often on the receiving end of flopped events are fans who sometimes break the bank to pay for the tickets.

The Rick Ross concert, for instance, cost Sh3,000 for regular tickets. VIP tickets left ballers a tidy Sh10,000 out of pocket.

“A memorable experience has to be one where fans also get to be comfortable. Isn’t that why we pay through the nose to attend such events?” Khui poses.

Attendees blame organisers for not paying attention to the weather.

Leanne Peris of Aster Eden planners & Diner en Blanc in Nairobi, agrees.

“Event organisers just need to think outside the box and research about all these new spaces that are coming up in the country,” she says.

According to her, distance and location do not affect the attendance in social events and personal events such as wedding gatherings and parties.

“Distance and location matter only when corporate and stand-alone events are involved. Event organisers should, therefore, be mindful of accessibility and organise events close to major bus termini or areas that are easily accessible by a cab,” she argues.

“Venue owners must also register their spaces on Google Maps for easy accessibility,” she advises.

To deal with the unpredictable tropical weather, Leanne advises that checking weather forecasts on websites such as accuweather.com helps to avoid disruptions caused by extreme weather such as rain and boiling sun.

“Event managers and their clients should always have a contingency plan, especially when the setup is in the open air,” she advises.

Collectively, event organisers agree that there is a serious gap in availability of venues in Kenya, especially for outdoor concerts. For concert goers, industry players have no choice but to improve the infrastructure.

“When fans constantly get a raw deal, their enthusiasm for concerts is diminished,” Khui observes.