Author(s): Viola Sonibare

Why should anyone organise a concert for children and price tickets at N10,000?

Again and again, people reinforce that divide between the rich and the poor by little actions like this. Fine, the class divide is one of life’s harsh realities that dawns on one as one grows up in life; but to hurl this fact so early and brazenly at children is despicable.

Who got me on this lane? Flytime.

The Cecil Hammond-led entertainment company are major show promoters and responsible for nearly every music show held at the Eko Convention Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. They brought us Wizkid, Davido and Iyanya’s album launch parties apart from other comedy and music concerts.

And that’s the delusion. Right now, the show organisers, who are accustomed to charging between N 250,000 and N1,000,000 for round tables of 5 and 10 seats respectively (don’t ask me who pays that much for VIP treatment) depending on the show in question, have put together a ‘premium’ concert for primary and secondary school students.

The flyer reads:
Want to reward your child after a gruelling school year? (Whoever said school was gruelling).

‘School’s Out’ concert is a premium concert for Primary and Secondary school students only (Please note ‘premium’ and ‘only’).

Artists Performing: Banky W, Dr SID, Ajebutter, Seyi Shay, Burna Boy, bla bla bla… and Kate Henshaw (Aunty Kate will be performing live for the children).

The students will get a chance to win fabulous prizes from PEPSI and SAMSUNG, and also take pictures with their favourite artists (Yawn).

Knowing Flytime are permanent partners with Silverbird Television (Cecil Hammond is Ben Bruce’s in-law), the advert(s) for this concert is(are) likely to flood the airwaves for the next weeks till it holds. Who else announces a ‘premium’ concert campaign two weeks before D-day?

By the way, the organizers have their target market

Mustay:
http://telegraphng.com/2013/06/who-charges-n10000-for-a-kids-concert/

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Well, the writer has done a bit to promote the event lol but seriously, if we keep on to this "every man for himself" mentality, it's only a matter of time before it hunts us.

By the way, the organizers have their target market, a visit to Silverbird Cinemas is where you can get the hub of ASOBO (Association of Omo Baba Olowos) in Lasgidi.

We are already talking about the lack of contentment amongst University students who could do anything to get the Samsung Galaxy S4 just to 'feel among' and here you have some people bringing 'levels' at this stage of children's lives. :O

Yeah, I can anticipate them, "is't your money?", "mind your business", "shey because you can't afford the money for your children", "bad belle", "how does it affect you" etc but I know that for every STANDARD business, the ethical impact of your business decisions are factors to determine a "go ahead" or not.

This is ethically wrong IMO and I follow the writer's stance that at this stage, such discrimination should not be brought early in children's lives. I 'StumbledUpon' comments who chided Wizkid and his managers for not lowering his fees or giving free shows for students considering their 'condition'. If this could be considered for students, why not children?

Even serving corps members get prices lowered for them. Perhaps the organizers could have organized a STRICTLY BY INVITATION show so we know the cliché is not for every Tomiwa, Dickson & Haruna.

Then again, I can hear that, "na so e pain you reach?"

Ayaf talk my own, talk ya own make Naigeriya beta

adaobi123: But the likes of one direction, Beyoncé, ,Rihanna etc can still charge high but people don't complain about them.

biolabee:

i believe those prices are adjusted for kids...

ITbomb: It is not a question of what the parent or the children will benefit.
By the time Chief Emeka hears that Chief Adeyemi's children are attending the party, it will be a question of 'do they think they are richer than me?'

delors: That half caste mugu called cecil hammond is all about money. Obviously he only wants kids from VI and Ikoyi on board...Ajegunle and Mushin students are called 'pikins' and they are not welcome. Na so he go dey talk like say he really means well for Naija...