"You are supposed to get your full payment, whether or not the show works out for the promoter. Every promoter knows they are running a risk, a gamble, when they promote a show. It is never a guarantee. But they can't make it look like is them and the artiste keep the show, meaning if it don't work out for the promoter it don't work out for the artiste. When contracts have been signed it makes it look like the contract was a useless piece of paper," Julian Jones-Griffith said.

If he is correct and some promoters still view a performance contract as a 'useless piece of paper', they should know they have at least one million reasons to be worried. The Fair Trading Commission (FTC), the body responsible for defending the rights of consumers, has started clamping down on promoters who fail to deliver what they promised to patrons. Under section 37 of the Fair Competition Act (FCA), misleading advertising is an offence and while an individual promoter can be fined up to $1 million dollars, an organisation can be fined up to $5 million.

Secure themselves

Therefore, it seems the only way for promoters to secure themselves is to deliver what they promise and sign a contract. Jones-Griffith said he always ensured his artistes sign one.

"We never take a show without a written contract. Personally we use written everywhere in the world, yard and abroad, and I believe everybody in the business should do it. Promoters here usually insist on it anyway, so they never object. The rare cases artistes do shows without contracts is when they perform at shows for their friends and it's usually free of charge," he said.

KC