Prodigal Son
Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
"For there is no respect of persons with God." - Romans 2 verse 11
GOD IS no respecter of persons. True. But, a few artistes believe that local Gospel promoters are partial when it comes to choosing a line-up for their shows.
In a recent interview Prodigal Son, one of the most prominent Gospel deejays, told The Gleaner that gospel show organisers need to abstain from bias. "The promoters need to spread the work and not be partial. If a person is competent and is biblically inclined, give them work and not because you know them," said Prodigal.
Glory Music's Tommy Cowan stood in the gap for his fellow promoters. He begged to differ with the perception that promoters are being lopsided. "I don't believe that. Not at all; (it is) far from being true. The point is a promoter having an event chooses who he wants. He is not given work by government; it is not road work," emphasised Cowan.
According to Cowan, in choosing an act for a show, unlike secular promoters who go for artistes with mass appeal, a gospel promoter should scrutinise the ministry of the artiste. "He (the promoter) looks at the ministry that he believes in, the one that can speak into the soul of somebody and not necessarily who can pull a crowd," argued Cowan.
NO QUALMS
Former member of the Grace Thrillers, Leroy Smith, who said he has no qualms with the number of shows he is booked for, concurred with Prodigal. "It boils down to the persons putting on the shows and who they think will be a good draw for their show. Notwithstanding, I don't think the younger artistes have gotten the opportunity they truly deserve to display their ministry," Smith stated.
In continued advocacy for the 'babes of the alleged ministry', Smith said that promoters, especially those who stage the sizeable events need to realise that the name brand acts once stood where the fresh acts now stand. Therefore they should be afforded the opportunity to earn their daily bread just like the established acts.
Again, Cowan begged to differ. He reasoned that some fresh acts that have approached him do not possess the accurate mindset. He says that they proclaim that they want to be booked on the show because they want to 'bus'.
"A lot of them just want to go on-stage just to be there or get a wheel up. But they need to be rooted in the Word, you have to study to show thyself approved," stressed Cowan.
EQUILIBRIUM
Upcoming gospel deejay, DJ Nicholas, disagreed with those who were championing the cause for him and other fresh acts and agreed with Cowan when he told The Gleaner that he believes that the promoters are operating at equilibrium.
"Once they can get in contact with you and your ministry is of substance they will call you," reasoned Nicholas. However, the young deejay pointed out that he has been on the scene for a while and he is just beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. "I have been a gospel deejay for almost three years and ah now me a get a couple shows because people just start hear about me."
Nicholas added: "... Nobody nah go call you if dem no know you and know that you have something to offer." Is that partiality? Perhaps. But Nicholas believes otherwise. In his eyes, it is more down the street of applying wisdom.
Still, the youngster remains unperturbed, as he clings to the concept of what is due unto Caesar will be rendered unto Caesar. "Once you heart in the right place, God is the one who will really open the doors for you and give you the promotion," he said.
