Shocked at apparent lack of charity !!

[brendak]

I have been moved to registering for the forum for the first time ever after having just read Kibkom Times and the breakdown of the expenses for the recent Bon Jovi tribute show. I am shocked that the local acts and artists have charged for their services/time, and in one case it seems even for the hire of their own equipment to perform (1800 TL to Barry Snakes for 'Equipment Hire' !!) The Almond are stated as having provided the main act with free accommodation and meals etc, as well as the transfer company providing the airport transfers for free - highly commendable. But I am aware of other local artists who give up their time and talents regularly to support worthy causes in TRNC, and so I think it's a disgrace that these local artists decided for whatever reason to charge for their time and their equipment !! Even the compare charged 250 TL and he can be seen any night of the week down the Lapta strip !!

No wonder people were asking questions about where the money had been spent. IMHO - hand the money back guys !! I don't expect anyone who bought a ticket knew that their money was going to go to fund the local acts !!

[elizabeth]

I have been moved to registering for the forum for the first time ever after having just read Kibkom Times and the breakdown of the expenses for the recent Bon Jovi tribute show. I am shocked that the local acts and artists have charged for their services/time, and in one case it seems even for the hire of their own equipment to perform (1800 TL to Barry Snakes for 'Equipment Hire' !!) The Almond are stated as having provided the main act with free accommodation and meals etc, as well as the transfer company providing the airport transfers for free - highly commendable. But I am aware of other local artists who give up their time and talents regularly to support worthy causes in TRNC, and so I think it's a disgrace that these local artists decided for whatever reason to charge for their time and their equipment !! Even the compare charged 250 TL and he can be seen any night of the week down the Lapta strip !!

No wonder people were asking questions about where the money had been spent. IMHO - hand the money back guys !! I don't expect anyone who bought a ticket knew that their money was going to go to fund the local acts !!

These entertainers are working legally and as such have to pay taxes like anyone else with a work permit, along with the rest of us they have living costs as well, what do you propose they live on if they work for free. Incidentally most, if not all of these people do more than their fair share for charity, perhaps you ought to check out the facts before you condemn people.

[brendak]

Elizabeth, there are several other local legal acts who do charity work for free. Charity is charity and not a way for local people to make money - if they weren't prepared to do it for free then they should not have given up their 'earning' time (as you say they have tax to pay, and work permits to pay for !) Other people I know give up their time for free regularly !!

[barrysnakes]

Dear Brenda ! How dare you question my, or other peoples earning ability in any shape or form for any event ! I was approached by the organisers in October last year to prepare and provide 2 supporting acts and choose a suitable tribute act that would be suitable for such an occasion. I was also asked to liaise with many sound and lighting companies from last October and design the systems with what would be available ! As you can imagine this took many hours/days and months to perfect. I cannot calculate how many hours and how many meetings and e mails were sent and received with regards to this ! At the same time our house studio was used free of charge for extensive rehearsals by all bands concerned ! Due to the lack of equipment available we arranged for special shipping and obtained parts from the UK at my own expense.
I worked solidly from October until Sunday July 13th after each piece of equipment was returned and the amphitheatre was cleared ! This fee was offered although a much smaller amount than would have been paid for what I actually achieved which has received very positive comments throughout the area.
Whilst on the subject of Charities I would like to point out that for the last 5 years I have been actively involved in raising funds for Ismail a young boy who tragically lost an arm in an accident and contracted diseases which included countless one man concerts and much work including writing a song dedicated to the young man which is still available for your purchase. Last year we constructed a youth band The Foreign Nationals, who played a charity concert at the Jasmine Court Hotel for Tulips where a considerable amount was donated and i received a gift made by the local patients in recognition which I treasure.
All this I provided free of charge with a passion to help others less fortunate but felt with the shear size of the project ahead if and only if the concert were a success would I accept a minimal payment to cover our expenses and any subsequent equipment failures !
I will add that I know you have joined the forum purposely to cause trouble which I find pathetic and will never need to justify my actions here or anywhere to people like yourself !
May I ask you to publicly disclose all the things you are known for in North Cyprus and how much work (proven) you do for the local charities ! I think I know the answer and enough said !
I feel I have made a sufficient explanation to you and any other clear trouble maker and will not comment on this subject again and wish you good health in the future. Kind regards Barry

[barrysnakes]

PS Brenda please also note that these amounts have not been "covered up" unlike some charity events in the past ! regards Barry

[frontalman]

I believe there are many iffy events on this Island that hide behind the smokescreen of 'charity'. This venture was not one of them because all the money has been accounted for. Why should professional people perform for free? Did you work for nothing in your career, if so how did you pay your bills? I think an apology should be forthcoming, Brenda. This event was a great success, and I hope many more follow from the same team.

[mishmash]

Brenda local acts and artists have charged for their services, yes and so they should, do you have any idea how much work and time these artists put into their performance, let alone the financial expenses. Clearly not otherwise you would not be questioning. They have a right to be paid. There have been many charity events here some of which involve acts coming in from the UK etc who are paid and no one questions their payment, yet they come get paid (from a charity event) and leave the island taking with them their payments. These local artists live here they got paid and their payment will be going back into the local economy and benefit someone else's business! I would like to point out that you referred to 'the hire of own equipment' so just to clarify this that equipment was hired not for ONE artist's performance but all acts on the night. It was actually more cost effective to hire equipment from two sources which reduced costs making additional funds available for the charities. You appear to very quick to point fingers at people who have worked extremely hard for over 6 months and deserve to be paid for their services. This was not an event when giving up free time meant giving up one night or one day we are talking of months of behind the scenes work, as Barry has already identified (not that he needs to justify this to you or anyone else). But yet there are no fingers pointed at the fact that printers etc charge to print tickets/flyers for charity event all seems to be a bit personal at where you are pointing the finger!!!! You have mentioned that many artists give up their time for charities free, well yes but there is only so much free time on anyone's hands both Barry and Pete have done a significant amount of work for charities without payment here (along with others accepted) and as for others giving up their time accepted that they do although the majority of the free time givers do appear to be those who do not work here for a living, pay for work permits, pay taxes and sigorta. On the note of how shocked you are at the lack of charity a question for you........did you give up your free time for this event when adverts were issued seeking volunteers to keep down costs?? Curious! And before you ask if I did the answer is yes!!!! It is a wonder with comments like this that charity events actually occur and the only loss that will be incurred with be the loss to charities in the future, when no one will be willing to support in any way at all.

[mishmash]

Brenda - I'm assuming that you paid for a ticket and were at the concert? Please advise.

Elizabeth and Frontalman well said!!!

[Art]

Firstly,congratulations to everyone involved with the event and the money raised for charity.

Secondly.Its so refreshing to see a "Statement of Accounts" produced and published within a few days-well done to the organisers.

Finally....I do understand the views of some people who can't quite understand why performers are paid to appear at some charity events-it's not one that I share so perhaps the way forward is to make it clear at the time of advertising the event that the performers are being paid together with appropriate expenses -the public then have choices.My choice would be to attend as I'm sure the organisers are desperate to keep costs down to a minimum.

We must not also forget that the organisers arranged the event in aid of two worthy charities -they had no need to have done this as I think the acts would have drawn the same number of people without the profits going to charity .

[tinker]

With the published "Statement of Accounts" all my questions have been answered. Breakdown better than I expected.
When the word "Charity" is used for any event it is surely in the public's interest to show how the proceeds were split.
Nobody in their right mind would think these artists would do it for free. But 1800TL for hire & 250TL for compere. Well !!!!
These events should not be advertised as in aid of a charity. Any profit could then be given to any charity.
If this was the case, no questions would be raised. As barrysnakes previously stated it would be none of our business.
When the word "charity" is used to advertise then it is.

[barrysnakes]

Post removed.

[Olly]

Congratulations Barry Snakes and all the other organisers who put on a great show at the Amphitheatre, which was much enjoyed by the audience on the night, and has benefited two worthwhile charities. Please Barry do not be put off by some of the negative comments on this forum in helping worthwhile causes in the future. We have followed your music career in Northern Cyprus, at many venues from Shayna beach onwards, over four years ago, and hope to see you playing again in the future. As a solo artist, with your band Snakebite, or to see your apprentices The Foreign Nationals. Please don't stop the music.

[PoshinDevon]

Post now locked.

Accounts have been published. Explanations given as to charges by those that were involved and gave of their time and effort.

The event made money for local charities and that can only be a good thing.

Time now to move on everyone.