It’s long been thought that leisure and entertainment, along with food, were recession-proof. But of late, it seems that the industry has been effectively squeezed from both sides – a decrease in spending power and sponsor commitments locally, and adverse conditions internationally cramping the earning power of artistes and promoters alike, and all are trying to stay afloat through tough times.

Welcome to JAMROCK, the once successful show featuring the talents of the Marley family among others

Over the past few years in fact, several high-profile shows have either scaled back or disappeared altogether.  These include, Reggae Ram Jam and Welcome to JAMROCK, the once successful show featuring the talents of the Marley family among others.

Sound systems, the bedrock of modern Jamaican music culture, have also taken a beating as fewer events means reduced need for recorded music. Coupled with the advancing technology which results in people picking and choosing where they went, persons didn’t want to risk going to the new parties. They went to the established names. A lot of people didn’t go out to try and save for events like ATI as well.

This convergence of factors is also seen in the ongoing decline in CD sales, a development which has seen contraction in the record retail business – among the last holdouts, Paul Shoucair shuttered his Mobile Music store earlier this year, choosing to venture into the restaurant business – with a vegetarian eatery.

However, it’s not all discord and flat tones. Flying in the face of the downturn trend, is a mushrooming of smaller scale live events at more intimate venues – particularly in Kingston.

However, it’s not all discord and flat tones. Flying in the face of the downturn trend, is a mushrooming of smaller scale live events at more intimate venues – particularly in Kingston. From a virtual wasteland even three years ago, there are presently at least five venues that have regular live entertainment sessions, and these have been building dedicated followings. Some of the events operate on a no-cover charge basis, working with established bars and food joints to encourage consumption on the part of patrons, from which pool they derive a cut.

Rough times have made some entertainment practitioners think outside of the box, and the Internet is increasingly coming into play – even more so since many Internet channels and websites are free to set up and the burgeoning social network space offers further avenues for promotion.

Further, even with the recessionary climate, the overall number of events sanctioned by Parish Councils actually doubled in 2009 over the previous year, quite a boon for the local authorities. According to the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica 2009 which also quantified the relationship between entertainment and the state, indicated that parish councils earned $61 million in revenue or 23 per cent more than in 2008 from these permit fees. Westmoreland, St Elizabeth and the Corporate Area each registered big increases in earnings from permit fees.

Parish councils earn from permits for shows, as well as from the rights to advertise, particularly to stick bills or erect signs and banners for those events.

Permits granted in 2009 include:

* Kingston and St Andrew at 4,499;

* Clarendon at 1,734;

* St Catherine at 1,706;

* St Elizabeth at 1,606;

* Westmoreland at 1,310;

* Manchester at 1,260;

* St Thomas at 1,139;

* St James at 1,036;

* Portmore at 900;

* Trelawny at 710;

* St Ann at 655;

* St Mary at 472;

* Hanover at 337; and

* Portland at 249

December brings the renewal of the traditional Pantomime by the Little Theatre Movement (LTM), which recently took on several new players in an attempt to keep “fresh blood” in the system,

Producers of theatrical productions and other fine arts performances are quietly optimistic. December brings the renewal of the traditional Pantomime by the Little Theatre Movement (LTM), which recently took on several new players in an attempt to keep “fresh blood” in the system, and the younger, but firmly established JamBiz productions, which has enjoyed a good run in recent times.

Heading into the traditionally busy year-end period, entertainment interest are undoubtedly hopeful that show goers will want to come out and enjoy themselves. But with Government continuing under the relative austerity of the IMF programme, it’s unlikely that the multiple event heyday will return this season.