A lack of evening entertainment in Bermuda, is hurting tourism, according to one local event promoter.

Declan Harris, organiser of this month’s Collie Buddz show at Snorkel Park in Dockyard said: “Bermuda is rapidly becoming somewhere to enjoy a good book and a warm breeze, but some visitors want more. Some people want vibrant, varied nightlife.”

He proposed a mentorship programme for young entertainers to help revive island entertainment.

“For long-term sustainability, Bermuda needs to harness its own home-grown talent,” said Mr Harris who runs promotions business, Veterans in Action. “If local talent does not see the opportunity to make a living then they are not encouraged to continue perfecting their art.”

“A mentorship programme would walk them through the business side of things. It could be a Cultural Affairs and Business Development cross-ministry initiative,” he said.

Collie Buddz Take it Easy concert on July 31, will include performances by locals Pier, Mox, Ponaflex and Ras Solomon, and promises to draw hundreds of music-lovers.

“Creating larger platforms is crucial to the local arts,” Mr Harris said. “It is one thing to strum the guitar for 25 people at a birthday party, and another thing to do it in front of thousands.”

He blamed the dearth of evening activities in Bermuda on a lack of infrastructure.

“Few places have what is needed for a big event,” he said. “Typically, promoters have to build the event from the stage to the lights to the bathroom and bars. A weather resistant civic centre catering for 500 to 3,500 people would be ideal, but it is not on the forefront of any initiative or budget.”

However, charter-boat operator Keerome Maybury thought there is not so much a lack of nightlife, as a need for more variety.

“Bermuda has actually made progress over recent years generating interest and attracting visitors from overseas through things like the BHW Ltd (original organisers of Carnival Bermuda) events where the emphasis is soca music,” said Mr Maybury, who runs charter boat Traveller.

He thought evening entertainment in Hamilton was saturated with similar experiences.

“For locals and well-travelled visitors, there is no real range, draw or appeal,” he said.

He said one of the challenges for local event promoters is skyrocketing talent fees for foreign acts, particularly A-list celebrities. Bermuda’s small population makes it impossible for event organisers to bring in top talent without breaking the bank or charging high ticket prices.

“These artists usually sell out stadiums and arenas,” Mr Maybury said.

He thought it would be good to expand post-10pm offerings beyond Front Street, Hamilton, through regular collaborations with Bermuda’s luxury hotel properties.

Dana Rawlins, known as DJ Iceman, said Bermuda’s nightlife is slowly starting to build again since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The DJs are now being spread out to a lot of different clubs,” Mr Rawlins said.

He said the scene is not as busy as it could be for the height of the summer season, but is slowly getting back to where it should be.

“A lot of the clubs now are hiring DJs, and doing multiple nights a week,” he said.

However, he thought more could be done on the weekends in certain areas.