Author: Vociferous Resident
Response To Cawley & Fitzgerald Bond Letters on Jazz Festival
Thursday, 14th August, 2008 at 7:00 am, Isle of Wight
The author of this letter which has been sent to us in response to the two letters (by Mrs Cawley and Cllr Fitzgerald-Bond) printed in the SW Chronicle last week, has chosen to go under the name “vociferous resident” to mock the insulting moniker attached to those owed money from the organisers of the Jazz Festival by Councillor Jonathan Fitzgerald Bond. Ed
Confusion seems to reign in the Ventnor Town Council! According to the letters published in this week’s chronicle, Mrs Cawley is aware of outstanding debts relating to the most recent Jazz festival while Mr Fitzgerald-Bond knows of no outstanding debts for this year.
Mrs Cawley further states that all 2008 debts must be paid before a 2009 festival can be agreed, and later in the same letter she states that all Jazz festival debts have to be cleared, which presumably – hopefully? – includes 2007 too.
Mr. Bond is of the opinion that the council should continue to let the Jazz festival operate as long as the Winter Gardens/Council are paid in advance.
He further – rather smugly I felt – assures us that the Winter Gardens always insists on full payment up front, which makes those of us with longer memories wonder why there was such a big outcry in the Town Council after the 2007 Folk & Blues festival when Councillor Bartlett was heard to say “sue the buggers” over the outstanding £800 debt to – wait for it – the Winter Gardens. Maybe this, as well as the other £25,000-odd that is still outstanding from the Folk & Blues festival, is to be “glossed over” – for the good of the town, of course!
Call me cynical if you will, but it seems to me that the Town Council and the WGC are busy shifting the blame for this unholy mess to the “vociferous residents”, the VentnorBlog, The County Press and the BBC for keeping the non-payment issues in the public domain.
Is this in preparation for the time when they finally have no option but to see sense and acknowledge that the Jazz festival – in its current format – is not sustainable? Yes we should have a Jazz festival in Ventnor, but not one that leaves a trail of debts in its wake.
Mrs Cawley has already admitted that the Winter Gardens have had trouble booking bands because musicians are wary of playing in Ventnor. When it becomes known in the music world that there are further debts for 2008 – including to some well-known, headline names – how many musicians do they think will sign up for a 2009 Jazz festival under the current management?
Come on Ventnor Town Council – you got it wrong. Musicians, local and island businesses, the Musicians Union, the Chamber of Commerce, the Blog, the CP, the BBC and more than a handful of residents have tried to tell you so – stop sticking your head in the sand!
Yours, A “vociferous resident”
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I agree entirely.
If another Festival is to go ahead it needs a change in organisers. It may not help those owed money but it would help to rebuild the “IW Jazz Festival” Brand which has suffered so much.
The TC and WGMC MUST withdraw their support from the current organisers.
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Dear Jazzfan
And, just supposing the TC and the WGMC did withdraw their support from the current jazz festival promoters, do you know of an alternative. I have asked this question to many people. Is there a promoter out there who could mount a Jazz Festival of international standing with the same high musical and marketing profile as the recent festivals? If so, make your self known to Maureen Cawley of the Town Council. She is doing her best for the 5000 residents of the town and needs to be aware of all options.
Brian Lucas
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The problem with the existing festival, surely, is that it’s ‘International standing’ and ‘high musical and marketing profile’ have been propped up by substantial debt to those who offered their services and talents in good faith and with a reasonable expectation of getting paid. In some quarters, that makes it less than deserving of such accolades.
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The only International reputation the festival will have is one of fraud (bouncing cheques) and non-payment. The old military adage of never reinforcing a failure comes to mind
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So are they bouncing cheques for this year too? Every time I read one of these comments it seems to pop up that cheques are bouncing? I couldn’t make the festival this year – was it busy, a success? If so where is the money? If the council & WGC are serious about helping all concerned why don’t they impose a condition that ALL debts past and present are paid, and possibly see if some sort of bond could be lodged – I am sure that sponsors would be happy to put their money into some sort of escrow account so neither can get at it without agreement to cover next year’s event -if they are allowed to be involved that is. Id you want an alternative organisation to run it, why not the IOW Festival people? Just a thought!!
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“Greenboy” – There is no point in having a Festival that can’t pay it’s way.
Booking bands and other services and not paying for them is not the sign of good Promoters.
Where has the money gone? Why have these
Festivals – which have been “so good for Ventnor” left a trail of debt and deceit ?
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@Terry J – Glad you brought up the Escrow account idea again. It’s one I was thinking about at the last jazz festival and mentioned to Maureen Cawley again last week.
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