By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
A massive flop at the Harare International Conference Centre over the weekend has brought Gateway Stream Music into focus.
Critics have wholly blamed Gateway Stream Music, the organisers of Sungura Blast, for the massive flop that occurred despite comprising all the heavy hitters.
The gig had the likes Alick Macheso, Mark Ngwazi, Nicholas Zakaria, Baba Harare, Suluman Chimbetu, Audinance Kuimba and Shantel Sithole on the line-up.
The gig attracted a small crowd which was not only embarrassing that exposed Gateway Stream Music for not doing their homework.
Sadder still, elsewhere in greater Harare there were successful gigs including Cook Out at Alex Sports, Interbanks gala at Prince Edward School as well as Madirirano.
Given the magnitude of the Sungura Blast held at the prime venue, the HICC surely they should have recorded huge crowds.
But the perfect line-up led by superstar Alick Macheso, could not draw the crowds and the poor turnout exposed the promoters’ short-comings.
Firstly, Gateway Stream Music is an online platform and not music promoters.
Theirs should be to simply stream local music on the platform which they then sell, like other online stores.
Secondly, Gateway Stream Music has pseudo promoters who in their own belief do not want to engage renowned promoters for advice.
A show like Sungura Blast should been strategically timed when people have money to spend.
Thirdly, Gateway Stream Music failed to consult widely.
They should have engaged renowned online newspapers to push their concert but unfortunately they want to eat and have their own cake.
It is one thing to have good stage set-up, perfect sound and superb lighting, and marketing is the other.
A show needs to be publicized and ask Chipaz Promotions, they know how to get the word out there.
Fourthly, Gateway Stream Music should come up with ticket prices that are reasonable or at least that cater for all the crowds.
This means there should be clear on how much they charge standard ticket, VIP ticket and the VVIP ticket.
Despite the poor attendance, artists on the line-up delivered to their best.
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