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I am addressing an issue that has bothered me and many other promoters in our organization, The Southern Gospel Promoters Association. I am referring to the recent National Quartet Convention. It was a great week and I commend the Board of Directors of NQC for a job well done. There were many honored, many recognized for their contribution to our industry and, many were honored for making the NQC possible.

Let’s see - song writers were honored, recording personnel, Gospel DJs, and trade magazines, as well as Group of the year, Female Vocalist, Male Vocalist, Bass, Tenor, Lead, and Baritone singers, and Pianist. And a prestigious award to the “Super Fan” of year, which I also thought was great. I could go on and on; and I am proud that all these people were honored as they were very deserving. But, who was totally left out of the picture and totally ignored, someone that does more for gospel music than anyone else? Yes, the Promoter. The promoters were not a part of the big event. To my knowledge, no promoter was honored. The word “promoter” was never mentioned from the main stage.

There were many meetings during the week - no promoters involved. There is an Advisory Board set up to discuss all facets of our industry - no promoters are invited to sit on any of these Boards and, up until two years ago, promoters were not given passes and had to purchase tickets to nightly concerts. Artists and recording companies were given passes, but not promoters. Again, thanks to Clarke Beasley that has changed.

Could it be that promoters are just not important enough to be a part of the “Big Event”? Read on and then decide if they contribute enough to be recognized.

NQC is a big week indeed. All the artists converge on Louisville for six big days. Everyone has a good time, makes money, and leaves happy. That’s for one week, but a year has 52 weeks. What do the artists do the other 51 weeks of the year? They go out and sing for all the promoters who received no recognition during the big week. But for 51 weeks of the year, the promoter books artists all over the country and, more times than not, the promoter loses money. In fact, statistics show that 62% of all concerts result in financial losses for promoters.

But Artists have to sing somewhere to make payroll and make payment on expensive modes of travel. So, they count on promoters 51 weeks of the year. So, I ask you what would artists do if promoters did not promote for those 51 weeks? Could they stay in business or would they be compelled to quit? And, if there were no artists, would there be a convention?

I have just stated the facts. I personally believe that promoters are responsible for keeping the buses rolling and the artists’ payrolls coming. Would an airline have a convention and ignore the pilots? I think not. So, why do we have a Gospel Convention and ignore the promoter?

Having held the title of President of the SGPA for the past three years, many members have asked that I address this issue. We have well over 100 members and they would also like to know why they are left out. My answer - I have no answer. No doubt some will read this and not agree, but many were upset before this was written.

I trust that most will agree that we ask for nothing more than a little respect. Promoters give so much and receive so little.

I invite you to visit our website at http://www.sgpromoters.com .

UNITED WE STAND!

Jim Heffner
Southern Gosepel Promoters Association
http://www.sgpromoters.com

Reader Comments

"Why not? You bring rival Quartets on the stage."

A single promoter bringing multiple quartets to the same stage makes sense. The groups may be "rivals" in a business sense, but if the same promoter is willing to pay both of them, that's his option.

A promoter expecting to be recognized at another promoter's event does not make sense, though. It's fine if he is, but if he isn't, he really has no room to complain about it.

"In fact, I just worked with a Major gtoup that is not invited back to the convention because of "Can you say the J word???"

I have absolutely no idea what a group being uninvited to NQC has to do with this. I thought we were discussing NQC honoring other concert promoters.

With regard to promoting Christ, the point I raised has nothing to do with that. This article was written by a guy who feels slighted by NQC because NQC doesn't provide a forum for him to be recognized for his achievements as a concert promoter. How is Christ promoted more or less if NQC "honors" people like Mr. Heffner or other members of the SGPA who currently feel NQC slights promoters?

This article seems to be more about personal ego issues than anything else.

--Making hay while the sun shines--
sgnforum@musicscribe.com - BLOG - SGHistory.com

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