In an interview with Joy FM, Ghanaian media executive and culture curator Ruddy Kwakye rattled some feathers.
e claimed that half of the December shows by your favourite artistes were all free.
He indicated that most organizers give out tickets to fill up the venues even at the rate of GHS 100,000 per show.
“You are selling at 100,000 cedis but the thing is you cannot sell 100,000 dollars worth of tickets. One half of your December shows … were all free.”
” They simply sold tickets to people to fill it up. It is an ego trip” he said, claiming that good marketing not freebies is the way to make a profit.
Ruddy responded that free distribution of tickets inflates the ego and the looks of the venue but not money.
He stressed that the sale of tickets should be paid and freebies will not cover the cost of production.
Playwright Latif Abubakar added his voice saying that merely selling of tickets does not matter.
He emphasizes on revenue diversification by use of sponsorships, exhibitions and investor partnership.
Abubakar observed, ” I have always said that tickets do not matter to the cost of a production … you cannot rely on tickets to run your events.
Other aspects of fund raising include sponsorships, partners, investors …”
Moreover, event organizers are faced with increased financial pressure due to high taxes levied by Ghana Revenue Authority.
Ruddy has given a wakeup call: artists and organizers need to reconsider their ticketing strategies and diversify income in order to prosper in the long run.
