By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
A venue can pose serious logistical nightmares for any discerning show organiser especially those that thrive on huge numbers.
A great venue is one that is safe, secure and acoustically treated. The worst is we are still under Covid-19 pandemic where physical distancing counts.
And considering these key issues, there is a serious problem for show promoters when choosing a venue which best suits all these factors.
In fact, Harare is now plagued by a shortage of venues that match international standards especially for holding concerts.
For long, Harare Gardens has been the go-to venue for most show promoters whether gospel or secular shows including the Harare International Festival of the Arts.
Of course, with HIFA, it is not about numbers per se because most of the performances have limited tickets or are sponsored so there is no need for huge crowds since there will be many other shows lined up almost at the same time.
However, with show promoters wanting huge crows to attend their gigs, Harare Gardens has now become small to handle such crowds.
This has prompted Partson Chimbodza of Chipaz Promotions to scout for other venues that are safe and secure to public and shower organisers.
“The problem with most venues now is that one they don’t accommodate as many people as we would want considering we are still under Covid-19 pandemic.
“Secondly, most venues are porous something which poses serious security nightmares and other logistical issues. So the first thing is the venue has to be able to provide tight security at the gates and around the venue,” Chipaz said.
It is for this reason Chipaz is now scouting for new venues to hold the upcoming Seh Calaz album launch.
This comes after Chipaz Promotions successfully hosted the Kinnah Birthday Bash where huge crowds attended.
According to Chipaz they anticipate a huge turnout at Calaz album launch which could easily double that at Kinnah’s birthday bash where physical distancing became an issue.
Another United Kingdom based promoter Boni Negos Negombwe of Negos Events observed that Harare was in need of concert venues.
Negos Evens recently hosted South African star Makhadzi and Mr Brown at Alex Sports Club.
“What we have are not concert venues. The Harare International Conference Centre is equally not equipped to handle concerts that you see in overseas.
“So there is really a crisis as to which venue to hold a concert for a big crowds,” Negos said.
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