Larger audience, more interaction at Earth Hour 2018

Even as the final tally is being settled, Alex Morrissey is confident that Saturday's Earth Hour Concert at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Old Hope Road, St Andrew, enjoyed the largest turnout the Jamaican leg of the global environmental care initiative has enjoyed.

The previous high headcount was a bit short of 5,000.

Whatever that eventual figure is, it could have been higher, as Morrissey told The Gleaner people were coming in when the performances ended at 10:30 p.m., expecting that the event would have run on 'Jamaican time', starting late and performers going over their slot. That was not the case, as Morrissey said the Earth Hour 2018 concert in Jamaica started at 6:30 p.m., and Fantan Mojah asked to bring on General B, the extra time allowed being the sole extension for a performer on the night.

He is especially pleased with what took place in the Earth Hour Market.

"I am definitely very, very satisfied. Each booth had an engaging event. Wisynco had a recovery bin, where people threw in bottles to win prizes. Supligen had dance, Toby Grant (an artist who was selected for funding from the Earth Hour Concert's proceeds) was allowing people to participate by putting the vine on the statues," Morrissey said.

This interaction was especially important as there were many children in attendance, many of whom needed to be kept engaged apart from the music.

Blvk H3ro performed during the hour when the lights were turned off, starting at 8:30 p.m., that time also used to do a band change and light lanterns, the latter being a part of Earth Hour's tradition. Looking towards next year, Morrissey is looking at reducing paper use - and cutting costs. "A lot of people were asking if they could get back the ticket, so they could keep it," Morrissey said.

At the gate, the ticket is exchanged for an armband, but for next year he is thinking of making the ticket like a band, so a step - and costs - are cut.

Also, Morrissey would like to see more sponsors come on board - not to set up a booth and hand out flyers, a no-no for Earth Hour, but to add to the engaging interaction.