Our customers deserve better
For whatever reason, the Hangout Music Festival seems to be refusing to grow, if the reactions to this year’s event are anything to go by.
Just like has been the case in the previous years, the feedback the event has met has been less inspiring. And other aspects of the organisation have left a lot to be desired. These little details can be attributed to lack of seriousness on the part of the organisers.
When the organisers announced the list of performers for the 2022 edition, it made a good reading and an appetising feeling of what was in stole for this year’s event. Even the reaction on social media gave an impression that fun-seekers were ready and eager to sample the sumptuous Hangout Music Festival dish.
Prior to the event, it faced natural and unforeseen challenges of its own in form of the cholera outbreak in Salima. That was understandable. The subsequent shifting of the dates did not seem to bother many, as the reasoning behind it made all sense.
Even on the part of the organisers, they seemed at ease. In an interview, after the postponement was announced, director of the event assured that everything was in order as all the headline acts had been aligned with the change in dates of the event.
Fast-forward to the day of the event, things started going awry. Withdrawals by a number of local headliners and the absence of the announced international headliners were the order of the day.
The South African duo of Blaq Diamond, Musa Keys and Zambian B1, who were to be part of the international headliners did not turn up for the festival. This was done without any pre-notice to their fans too.
On the local front, music ace Lulu and rapper Mwanache both announced last minute withdrawals citing lack of proper procedures by the event organisers. Trending artist Gibo Pearson of the Idzathera Ma Penalty fame was also a no show during the event for unexplainable reasons.
For one to attend events of this nature, it requires long-term planning and budgeting considering the costs incurred. And decisions for one to commit oneself to attend such events are informed by what is being offered on the table.
One may not be a fan of each and every artist that is flighted on the performers schedule. Some go there just to sample one or two of their favourite artists. In the event that for some reason, some artists have withdrawn or a deal has not been agreed, such communication needs to be made public in good time.
With all the absentees that marred this event one can be sure that they got there and did not see the artists they were looking for. The turn-out of events does not impact of the festival-goers only.
The artists that were flighted on the posters contributed in promoting and advertising the event. For months their names and faces were being associated with an event that eventually they were not party to.
That is exploiting their brands. If legal fairness was to be followed, these artists have a legal basis to seek damages for the same. The tendency of putting someone’s name and face on a poster before an agreement is reached, as was in the case with Lulu, does not deserve a place in this time and age.
The organisers of the event should know better next time and avoid playing hide and seek games with the people. The country is already going through hard financial times and every penny that one gets deserve to be used prudently and satisfactorily as possible.
To fetch someone to Salima on the pretext that you will sale him gold only to give him bronze, is stealing. If things have not gone according to your initial bidding, it is better still to make it known so that people can act from profound knowledge.
The creative space needs a lot of platforms such as Hangout Music Festival. The Malawian artists need the festival. But the Hangout Festival will only serve its purpose if it lives true to their ideals. Let Hangout Festival come back better next year.
