Features
Pollstar Live! Going Global
Sometimes the best way to see how something has evolved is to give examples of how it used to be. This panel had plenty, such as far-flung local crews building stages and speaker boxes from scratch days before a show, even though the boxes lacked actual speakers.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen
Panel moderator, pop quiz tester and story teller.
“The show eventually went on, but the production manager really did almost kill me,” Entourage Talent’s Wayne Forte said between fun “pop quiz” questions to the panelists like naming your dream job. For the record, The Agency Group’s Geoff Meall says he still has time to realize his dream of becoming a pro footballer. And let’s just say it’s probably a good thing Michael Chugg hasn’t made it down to South America yet. While hugely diverse markets like Asia and Latin America are not “take the money and run” last tour stops anymore, there is still much to be learned.
“There are times when I’m on the phone with agents in Los Angeles that will not understand what I’m talking about with exchange rate fluctuation,” Live Nation’s Bruce Moran responded after being put on the spot about whether UK or U.S. agents are just trying to make a money grab out of developing markets.
“Generally the UK agents have a greater comfort level with the idiosyncrasies [of international touring]. As far as in terms of going for the money, certainly some of that is management driven.” Moran handles Latin America and, while being as diplomatic as possible and again being put on the spot, said Paraguay is as “close to hell” as he can imagine as far as touring goes. He told of staying in a death trap with Luis Miguel’s crew in a hotel where the elevators had been inoperable “since the fire.”
AEG Live’s Adam Wilkes was detained in China after the Cirque Du Soleil Michael Jackson show forgot to edit out some sensitive Tiananmen Square footage from one of its Chinese shows.
TheiInternet really has changed everything. Longtime Australian promoter Michael Chugg told of success with bringing the hip, tastemaking Laneway festival to Singapore. “They told me you’re fucking crazy, there’s no indie kids in Singapore.” This year the festival had 12,000 people.
And while the internet makes fans aware of things they never would have had access to before, it still always depends on the market and act, as Chugg demonstrated with two very different shows: Radiohead (sold out without any mainstream advertising), and a country act like Alan Jackson. “Particularly with country acts you still really need to get it out to the mainstream audiences,” Chugg said.
The internet’s impact on the developing world can be seen quite easily when it comes to veteran acts playing China, Wilkes said. Fans might know Elton John because of “The Lion King,” but are completely unfamiliar with many of the Western arena mainstays of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Come 20 years, China’s version of The Rolling Stones could be Taylor Swift or Katy Perry, whom they see in droves thanks to social and global media.
To that end, Stuart Galbraith, head of UK-based promoter Kilimanjaro Live, is working on whole festivals featuring YouTube stars such as teen fashion video bloggers. “It’s a global marketplace. It doesn’t matter if they’re from London or Paris or wherever.”
Galbraith stood in for UK promoter Rob Hallett, which appeared to be much to Chugg’s dismay when an audience member asked panelists if they would be willing to work with Hallett’s new Robomagic promotion company. Chugg suggested he’d have preferred to physically greet the former AEG Live president of global touring in person (we’ll leave you to email someone in the room to get the unvarnished response).
Galbraith said Hallett is a good promoter who you “either love or hate,” and that he has good relationships that will surely lead to some good tours.