- Promoters Corner -
**GETTING TO KNOW THE HARD WORKING PROMOTERS IN THE BUSINESS**
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MELLOVIBES
Who are you and where do you come from??
My name is Skully ( MELLO vibes ) from Toronto
What kind of events do you promote?
I promote all kinds of parties from jiggy to vintage and of course, soundclash
Where do you promote in the world?
Mainly Toronto but also Jamaica and Grenada
How long have you been promoting for?
Well I’ve been in the biz for about 20years , we had a club running called ” Cool C ” for years but for the last 16 years I’ve been taking it more seriously.
What got you started in promoting sound clashes?
Well listening to clash cassette back in the day it gave me a vibe but after watching the Jaro vs Addies clash in JA I made up my mind to try one myself.
Whats involved in planning a clash?
At first I thought It was money , but its patience to deal with all these Soundman that think they are the best thing since slice bread, and Contacts cuz it who you know or what you can offer, that a sound even works with you ” hint hint ” lol lol
What factors do you use to put your line ups together? Compadability? History?
Well I use both , but it never works out for me at the end someone has to f%#* it up lol
Does planning a clash tend to get easier or harder for you each time you do one?
Well it gets easier cuz with experience brings wisdom . I know what to do and who not to call lol
Do you have a team or staff that assists you?
Yes, I have my friend Master Lee and a few friends that give me advice
Big up Suzie And Chemist.
What would you say is the biggest obstacle in promoting ?
Money
What would you say is most enjoyable part?
When the people leave the event and they don’t stop talking about it , everyone enjoys themselves
Have you ever be criticised for your work?
What !!! as chic ching ching seh ” EVERY DAY ”
But I don’t mind , I need it to help me grow in the bizz
How did you respond to the criticism?
To be honest I like it even if it is negative….everyone is entitled to their opinion
If money wasn’t a factor, what would your ideal clash be?
Wow first I would love to see bounty Killa vs MADD Cobra …I really don’t know theres too many options.
In Toronto:
Torpedo vs digital vs black supreme and or hi tek
Jamaica:
Jaro with trooper vs silver hawk
Do you think you’ll ever stop promoting?
Yes that day will come and I know that the family is going to love that lol.
Are you happy with how the business is today?
Yes, in new York I think it’s doing well
But here in Toronto not too well for there is only a three of us that’s trying to hold up the ting Roper, Jill and myself.
What has been your greatest acomplishment?
Keeping this clash thing alive in T.Dot
What has been your biggest mistake or regret?
Working with and putting my trust in an individual that turns around and makes a mockery of you. It happened to me twice once with Mystic and the other Polly Famous and I know that It will not happen again. But I have no bad feelings towards them I just know that I cant do Any kind of business with them again .
Some people say the clash scene is dying or dead. How do you feel about that?
Well In Toronto it is dying a slow death, sake of some of these so called big sounds and us promoters
And also the fans in Toronto are really hard to please.
What clashes do you have coming up?
Recently in October 2011 I had the 4th annual GTA cup Clash.
And also in April / march of 2012 I have “WANTED”
Is there anyone you look to for advice or ideas?
Yes there are a few people suzie
And my homeboy chemist…even if he dont care how much his opinion bothers me lol
Do you have any advice you’d like to give someone just starting out in this business?
Make sure you do this for the love of it, not for the fame or the fortune… that will come in due time
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SULTAN HERBALIZE
Who are you and where do you come from??
Im Sultan representing for Herb-A-Lize It Sound from the Netherlands
What kind of events do you promote?
Dances and clashes
Where do you promote in the world?
The Netherlands
How long have you been promoting for?
Ever since the start of the sound 13 years ago dances were promoted and the first soundclash took place 8 years ago
What got you started in promoting sound clashes?
Humbly trying to put the art of soundclash back on the map in the Netherlands
Whats involved in planning a clash?
Stamina, money and the mental attitude to cope with disappointments
What factors do you use to put your line ups together? Compadability? History?
The people’s vote, history (bigger and better), personal preferences
Does planning a clash tend to get easier or harder for you each time you do one?
Harder, as you always strive to be bigger and better than the last clash
Do you have a team or staff that assists you?
Yes
What would you say is the biggest obstacle in promotion?
Monetary crisis
What would you say is most enjoyable part?
Crowd capacity going crazy on the night
Have you ever be criticised for your work?
Of course
How did you respond to the criticism?
By staging an even bigger and better soundclash
If money wasn’t a factor, what would your ideal clash be?
Watch our upcoming edition of War Ina East
Do you think you’ll ever stop promoting?
No
Are you happy with how the business is today?
Nothing would change if I weren’t… so why not (though it could have been even better)
What has been your greatest acomplishment?
Staging one of the best and most talked about tag-team clashes ever at War Ina East 2009 (Sentinel & Supersonic vs. Tek 9 & Poison Dart Florida) and getting Mighty Crown at War Ina East 2010 to clash Supersonic despite flight-traffic being hampered by the Icelandic ashcloud
What has been your biggest mistake or regret?
Trusting a con-man
Some people say the clash scene is dying or dead. How do you feel about that?
Some people say the earth is flat. I don’t pay attention to them either
What clashes do you have coming up?
War Ina East 2012, 2013, 2014 etc.
Is there anyone you look to for advice or ideas?
Yes
Do you have any advice you’d like to give someone just starting out in this business?
If you learn from your mistakes you can call them: experience!!
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SUPA NOTCH
Who are you and where do you come from??
I was born and raised in London, England and later on migrated to Brooklyn, New York by way of Jamaican parentage.
The name Notch is the self proclaimed DJ title, I acquired because the respect for Super Cat one of my favorite DJs.
The “super” in super notch was given to me by the Musical Messiah “Glamour Wayne” while working for the Libra Love Machine.
What kind of events do you promote?
I promote Sound Clash mainly & occasionally regular parties.
Where do you promote in the world?
The internet connects you to the world but the boroughs of NY are targeted.
How long have you been promoting for & What got you started in promoting sound clashes?
I’ve been promoting Sound Clash Tournaments successfully for about 2 years.
It took a loss in another clash circuit for us orchestrated our own wars.
Whats involved in planning a clash?
The main things required are Solid Promotions, skilled Sounds/DJs who can maintain a level of excitement, Venues that are reasonable for your targeted turn-out.
What factors do you use to put your line ups together? Compatibility? History?
I plead the fifth nah lol for me it’s just common sense & keeping within the scope of “knowing wha gwaan” & all these tingz.
Every Clash is different & every sound has it’s own strategy, problems will arise so negotiations vary with all these different variables.
Do you have a team or staff that assists you?
The Clash Tournaments that were held are between me & another team member but currently Rahtid Ink consist of myself, Donavon, Mikey Spectrum & Wall Street Dread.
Communication is key amongst the team and all individual responsibilities.
What would you say is most enjoyable part?
My joy is when all the little pieces involved join to together revealing the bigger picture that most don’t see until the train pulls out the track.
The aftermath of calls, textin, sidewalk arguments & general buzz created when a new face emerges to the top you just can’t put it into word sometimes.
The slew of criticism has to fuel the machine forward cause the public will always have an opinion “fire bun pon a weak heart”
If money wasn’t a factor, what would your ideal clash be?
Any and all clash that are not happing that should occur would be on my list!
Do you think you’ll ever stop promoting?
Everything has a place and time so for now it’s sound clash liveth for me.
What would you say is the biggest obstacle in promotion?
In everything there’s good and bad so to dwell on the negative is not giving more light to the positive, as it should the bad seeds will be rooted out.
Rahtid Ink has just begun it’s journey so our greatest has yet to be seen.
What has been your biggest mistake or regret?
Many mistakes have been made along the way which I chalk up as experience for future endeavors.
Some people say the clash scene is dying or dead. How do you feel about that?
Yes we all know it’s not what it was but again I’m not gonna cry over spill milk, just contribute what I can to help bring it back.
What clashes do you have coming up?
Well if all goes according to plan the sound clash tournament series should start back as well as some more 45 shoot outs.
Is there anyone you look to for advice or ideas?
Andrew “Global Clash” Digital, Tek9, Star Crew are some NY promoters I would bounce ideas off to gage some validity.
As much as I see and hear alot of people criticize Irish n Chin they have substantially contributed & influenced the sound clash culture,
I’m not saying that’s my template but real recognize real regardless of personal preferences.
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SMOKA GUNS E NUM
Who are you and where do you come from??
Hi, my name is Smoka and I’m a Soundclash Promoter from Germany.
What kind of events do you promote?
Just focusing on Soundclashes
Where do you promote in the world?
Mainly germany but have already been promoting events in different European countries as well.
How long have you been promoting for?
Well, Ive been a member of a Sound from 2002 till early 2007 and started “GUNS-E-NUM SOUNDCLASH PROMOTION” in 2007..so nearly 10 years.
What got you started in promoting sound clashes?
It was a reasoning I had with a good breddrin of mine, during a dance in Frankfurt. We realized that nobody in germany really puts total focus on promoting soundclashes and were wondering why this is so. A short time after that , the concept for GUNS-E-NUM was born.
Whats involved in planning a clash?
There are a few points I do consider when I plan a Clash. Next to the booking of Sounds and Location I also think about how the event has to be promoted and also how the people will respond to it. Of course the choice of the right. Host can also be important too.
What factors do you use to put your line ups together? Compadability? History?
There are two sides I see as Factors when I plan a Line up. First the interest in it as a Soundclash Fan, which means “if I would be a normal audience, would I like that line up??”
Secondly, “crowed pull factor”. If nobody is intersted in the Sounds, you wount have any audience at your Clash..It`s like “Heart vs Mind” all the time.
Does planning a clash tend to get easier or harder for you each time you do one?
Depends who you work with.
Do you have a team or staff that assists you?
No, I dont have a staff that works for me, but I know that without the support of the people who love Soundclash like I do I could have never done what I do.
What would you say is the biggest obstacle in promotion?
Money
What would you say is most enjoyable part?
To see that with your event you can make people happy and have a good time.
Have you ever be criticised for your work?
Of course
How did you respond to the criticism?
If the criticism was right, I took it and thought about it. Nobody is perfect and as long people give you constructive criticism, it just can help you.
Those who talk because they like to hear there voice, I dont even mention them.
If money wasn’t a factor, what would your ideal clash be?
Supersonic vs Sentinel (lol)
Do you think you’ll ever stop promoting?
Hopefully not, I love it..but you never know what the future may bring
Are you happy with how the business is today?
Yeah, actually I am…even if there is a lot of fukry going on. I know there are still some people that keep the balance, so it’s all good.
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
I would say bringing Soundclash to people who neva did go to a Soundlcash before.
What has been your biggest mistake or regret?
To put trust in the wrong people and to let my temper control my actions…sometimes you just need to stay cool (lol)
Some people say the clash scene is dying or dead. How do you feel about that?
Those people spend to much time behind their computers, laptops and Iphones..Soundclash is getting bigger and bigger..we just have to fight the obstacles.
What clashes do you have coming up?
“SOUNDKILLERS: Time2Shine Europe Semifinal” in Amsterdam on September 23rd / “Time to Die Soundclash – Poison Dart vs Heavy Hammer” in Uclub on October 22nd /
A “Hardcore jugglin session pt2″ in december and the next years looks good too…
Is there anyone you look to for advice or ideas?
There a some people I do talk about and also take advices from ,yeah. I think its important to have people around you that give you their honest opinion, no matter if “good” or “bad”.
Do you have any advice you’d like to give someone just starting out in this business?
Make sure you do it cuz you love doing it and before you start you should study the ting cuz its way more than just music..IT`S ART!!!!
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ANNETTE CRYSTAL
Who are you and where do you come from??
WELL MY NAME IS ANNETTE. CRYSTAL WAS JUST A NAME GIVEN TO ME BY A SOUND MAN BY THE NAME OF “TALL MAN” FROM DIAMOND MOVEMENT. AFTER THAT MY FRIENDS AND I WERE CALLED CRYSTAL LADIES…
I WAS BORN IN JAMAICA NOW I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY
What kind of events do you promote?
I PROMOTE PARTIES AND SOUND CLASHES.
Where do you promote in the world?
I ALWAYS DO MY PROMOTION IN NEW JERSEY,BUT I WAS ASKED
BEFORE TO DO PARTY ELSE WHERE BUT NEVER DID.
I JUST LOVE TO PROMOTE SO I WILL PROMOTE ANYONES
PARTIES EVEN IF I AM NOT GOING…
How long have you been promoting for?
I BEEN DOING MY PROMOTION SINCE 2000 MY FIRST PARTY WAS MY B-DAY BASH,WHICH WAS A GOOD TURN OUT BUT I NEVER HAD THE BAR SO I NEVER REALLY MADE ALOT OF MONEY, I WAS JUST KEEPING A B-DAY BASH..
THEN THIS PROMOTER IN NJ HAD SAID TO ME WHY NOT BOOK A SPOT WHERE I CAN HAVE THE BAR AND THE DOOR AND THEN I REALLY KEEP MY FIRST DANCE IT WAS A RED CARPET AFFAIR WITH ALL THE CRYSTAL LADIES ON THE FLYER…DANCE WAS NICE
What got you started in promoting sound clashes?
WELL WITH MY FIRST CLASH I WAS DATING THIS GUY WE WAS JUST TALKING ON THE PHONE ABOUT HOW I KNOW ALOT OF SOUND MAN, SO I ASK HIM LET DO A WAR DANCE SO HE AGREE. SO HE LINK HIS SOUNDS AND I CALL MY SOUNDS AND WE PUT IT TOGETHER THAT WAS CALL” TRI-STATE KING”
IT WAS NOT EASY CAUSE THAT WAS THE SAME GUY WHO TOLD ME “WOMAN DON’T GO CLASH” SO THE NEXT YEAR HE DID HIS OWN CLASH AND I DID NOT GO..CAUSE I FEEL IF IT WASN’T FOR ME HE WOULDN’T KEEP ANY CLASH…
SO I BOOK A DATE FOR A WAR DANCE BUT I NEVER KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT,BUT SUPER SEAN GIVE ME THE NAME “WARR ZONE”
AND I LIKE IT…CLASH WAS NICE…
AND THERE WHERE IT ALL STARTED…
Whats involved in planning a clash?
PLANNING A CLASH IS EASY FOR ME
ONCE YOU BOOK THE DATE,
CALL THE SOUND’S TELLING DEM WHAT THE DEAL
AND WHO YOU WANT TO HOST IT…NOT HARD
What factors do you use to put your line ups together? Compadability? History?
WHEN I AM PLANNING A CLASH I CALL SOME SOUND MAN
THEY ALWAYS ASK WHO ELSE IN IT,IF THEY TAKE TO LONG TO GET BACK TO ME, I ASK OTHER SOUND,
Does planning a clash tend to get easier or harder for you each time you do one?
SOMETIME’S IT CAN GET HARD IF IT’S TIME FOR SOUND MAN DEM TO SEND THERE DUBB TO DO THE COMMERCIAL AND THEY DON’T SEND IT…I HATE THAT…
LIKE LAST YR TOP SECRET DROP OUT THEY DID NOT WANT SEND THERE DUBB…THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FLYER…I WAS REALLY PISS OFF WITH DEM,CAUSE I BOOK THEM ALSO FLY DEM FROM JAMAICA FOR OTHER PARTIES I HAD ALSO TELL OTHER PROMOTER ABOUT DEM, SO I FELT LIKE DEM DISS ME BIG TIME SO WE NOT FRIENDS…DIS YR OUTLAW INT FROM DC DERICK HE AGREE TO BE IN THE CLASH AND I EVEN BOOK HIM FOR MY YELLOW AND WHITE PARTY AND HE NEVER COME, I CALL HIM NO ANSWER, I TEXT NO ANSWER, LEAVE MESSAGE ON HIS FACE BOOK PAGE NO REPLY,ONE DAY HE CALLED BACK AND SAID EVERYTHING GOOD ON HIS ENDS AND HE WAS OUT OF TOWN, SO I ASK HIM TO EMAIL HIS DUBB THEN HE DIDN’T, I TOLD HIM THIS THE LAST TIME I AM GOING TO ASK YOU, SO I DROP HIM OUT THE CLASH,AND PUT ANOTHER SOUND WHO WANTED TO GO IN IT….SUPER GOLD WAS ANOTHER SOUND TO BE IN IT AND I NEVER PUT DEM HIM IT, LAST YR GOLD TEETH WAS MADD HIS SOUND LOOSE… HE NEVER REALLY TALK TO BE UNTILL HE SEE WAR ZONE RETURN….THIS YR…
SO AT TIMES IT DO GET HARD…IF THE SOUND MAN IS NOT WORKING WHAT THE PROMOTER ASK…
LIKE MADD SQUAD FROGGY HE IS MY GOOD FRIEND AND HE IS BOOK FOR MY B-DAY EVERY YR AND I ASK TO DO MY COMMERCIAL HE WANT TO DO IT ON HIS TIME,I NEVER BOOK HIM FOR MY B-DAY THAT YR AGAIN…BUT WE STILL COOL
WELL I CAN TELL YOU ALOT MORE STORY…
Do you have a team or staff that assists you?
I DON’T HAVE A TEAM I AM WORKING WITH
I DO THIS ALL BY MYSELF,WHICH IS HARD
What would you say is the biggest obstacle in promotion?
I WOULD THINK BIGGEST OBSTACLE IN PROMOTION
IS WHEN EVERY BODY TALKING ABOUT THE EVENT
BEFORE AND AFTER EVENT..IT HAS TO BE ON WEBSITE’S
RADIO,TWITTER,FACE BOOK.
ALSO WHEN YOU ARE A FEMALE PROMOTER,SOME SOUND MAN THINK THEY CAN OUT SMART YOU,THIS GUY WAS NOT BOOKED ON THE FLYER BUT HE COMING TO MY DANCE TO RECORD MY CLASH WITHOUT EVEN ASKING ME, I TOLD HIM NO…OH BOY WAS HE MADD WITH ME…HE WAS THE SAME GUY WHO TELL ME WOMAN DON’T KEEP CLASH, SO WHY HE WANTED TO RECORD MY DANCE?? WE NEVER TALK AGAIN SINCE THEN,I DON’T CARE…
What would you say is most enjoyable part?
I DO ENJOY WHEN I SEE OTHER PPL PROMOTING MY EVENT,
THAT A GOOD LOOK, ALSO WHEN PPL BE TALKING ABOUT THE EVENT
WOW
Have you ever be criticized for your work?
HAVE I EVER BE CRITICIZED OH YES BUT BEING A PROMOTER
IS NOT EVER BODY GOING TO LIKE YOU, YOU LOOSE FRIENDS
AND YOU MEET NEW FRIENDS
How did you respond to the criticism?
AT MY FIRST CLASH I WAS TOLD WOMAN DON’T KEEP CLASH AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHY BUT I NEVER LISTEN AS YOU CAN SEE. I USE TO GET UPSET IF PPL TALK BADD ABOUT ME BACK THEN NOW I JUST LAUGH IT OFF AND SAY WHAT EVER…
If money wasn’t a factor, what would your ideal clash be?
MY IDEAL CLASH IF I HAD THE MONEY WOULD PICK SOUND’S FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND BRING THEM TO WAR ZONE
Do you think you’ll ever stop promoting?
I THINK A DAY WILL COME WHEN I WILL STOP YES, BUT I LOVE IT SO MUCH RIGHT NOW, I AM NOT READY TO STOP, I ALSO HAVE BIGGER PROMOTER ASKING ME TO PROMOTE THEIR EVENTS.
Are you happy with how the business is today?
NOOOOO I AM NOT HAPPY WITH BUSINESS TODAY BECAUSEEVERY BODY IS A PROMOTER AND SOUND MAN NOT ONLY THAT BUT IF YOU NOT SUPPORT PPL EVENT THEY NOT COMING TO UR PARTY, BACK IN THE DAYS,PPL JUST GO TO A PARTY, NOW PPL ASKING WHO KEEPING THE PARTY..
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
I THINK I STILL HAVE MORE TO ACCOMPLISH BUT AS A PROMOTER I’VE HAD SOME GREAT PARTIES BACK IN THE DAYS…@ ST.JOHN DAYS
What has been your biggest mistake or regret?
THIS ONE QUESTION…HURTS..MY BIGGEST MISTAKE AND REGRETS…IS WHEN YOU TRUST PPL…PPL YOU THINK ARE YOUR FRIENDS AND WE COULD WORK AS A TEAM…SO YOU ASK THEM TO BE APART OF AN EVENT, AND THEN THEY ACT LIKE YOU DON’T HAVE SHIT TO DO WITH IT, AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, I FEEL LIKE THEY WAS NOT FAIR…PUTTING NICELY…
Some people say the clash scene is dying or dead. How do you feel about that?
OKKKKKKK CLASH WAS DYING OUT YES SOUND MAN DEM ASK FOR ALOT MONEY BUT NOW IT’S BACK I SEE ALOT A FLIER THESE DAYS..WELL I THINK CLASH IS A GOOD EVENT, MAKES PEOPLE DISCUSS WHO’S GOING TO WIN AND WHY.
What clashes do you have coming up?
“WARRRRR ZONE” IS MY NEXT EVENT COMING UP ALSO PPL BEEN ASKING ME TO PUT ON A 45 SHOOT OUT SO I MIGHT.
ALSO RIGHT NOW I’M KEEPING MY B-DAY CALL CRYSTAL BALL & MY YELLOW AND WHITE.
Is there anyone you look to for advice or ideas?
I ASK MY GOOD FRIEND SIMONE AT TIMES WHEN I AM STRESS WHAT SHE THINK…YOU KNOW I WAS GOING TO CANCEL WAR ZONE THIS YR BUT SIMONE INSISTED I SHOULD STILL KEEP IT AND THAT’S WHY I’M STILL DOING IT.
Do you have any advice you’d like to give someone just starting out in this business?
FOR ANY ONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT BEING A PROMOTER,YOU HAVE TO LOVE DOING IT, GOING OUT THERE AND PROMOTE ,SHOW YOUR FACE AT PARTIES, PPL WANT TO KNOW YOU WAS THERE, IF YOU NOT THERE IS LIKE THEY KNOW…PPL WILL GET MADD WITH YOU, IF THEY COME TO YOUR EVENT AND YOU DID NOT COME BACK..I KNOW…IT HARD IF YOU DON’T HAVE A CAR,OR A RIDE TO GET THERE…PPL DON’T EVEN WANT HEAR THAT….TAKE PICTURES WITH THE PROMOTER AS WELL…I GO ALL OVER TO SUPPORT PPL EVENT……BOAT RIDE’S…ECT. YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT 100%.
