Local concert promoters are calling on Government to let them take over the reins of big entertainment events which are currently produced by overseas companies.

Promoters claim they are more than capable of booking top international artists and hosting shows of the highest quality while retaining some of the money usually paid out to overseas companies.

According to local promoters, hosting an event of that magnitude locally would keep money on the Island, create temporary jobs and cater more to the local flavour.

Among many interested in the venture, Yhosi production's David Durham said he intends to write to Government as soon as possible to seek the rights to next year's annual Jazz Festival which is produced by Lee Heiman of New York based Track Entertainment.

"This year is done but next year's is in the planning stages and I would really love for Government to allow promoters to work with Lee Heiman," he said.

And Mr. Durham stressed that the practice of the Bermuda Government in this regard would never be allowed in the US.

"You cannot go and promote a concert in the US without a local promoter," he said. "That doesn't mean lifting a box. It has to be working with the promoter."

He noted that concert producers did have to prove themselves first by booking big acts but should then be able to bid on an event such as the Jazz Festival considering the amount of money involved.

While Mr. Durham is looking at a joint effort with the overseas producer, other promoters advocate an entirely independent launch of the event and others like it.

Although he was unsure of the exact figures, veteran jazz concert promoter David Frost from Treble Clef Productions said that the Department of Tourism allocates between $600,000 and $800,000 for the event and claimed the funds are not being used effectively.

"With that type of money we can bring in better artists but when you've got a company coming in that is basically trying to make as much as they can, keep costs down as much as they can, and take away as much as they can, it's not helping us any," Mr. Frost said.

"My whole concern is that when you are bringing in the Jazz Festival - it's been here for five years - it's nothing to talk about compared to what is in St. Lucia. We have people religiously going to St. Lucia for Mother's Day.

"I think far too much money is going out of the Island to put on this festival."

Promoters told The Royal Gazette that the production companies import their equipment and bring with them their own assembly crew when locals could be provided with jobs.

In addition, they said local artists are not given the same treatment as international artists and are not given the opportunity to grow through workshops.

Mr. Frost also said:"The other thing is that we don't have control over it. The name belongs to an American because they have a franchise for Bermuda. Bermudians can't even say they are a part of the Jazz Festival."

Mr. Frost agreed that local promoters have the connections to book large acts and the know-how to launch mega-productions but said that local promoters do not readily have the funds or the equipment for a large event.

"Things will continue the way they are because you don't have people who want to be laying out a lot of their own money," he noted. "Our problem is getting funding."

And he added that stages rented from overseas for large events can cost around $100,000.

He added: "Government should invest in a stage. They invested in a portable stage that was used in the parks and things but now that's obsolete."

He also charged that Government is uncharitable to struggling promoters by charging them duty on equipment while foreign companies don't pay duty for theirs.

Entertainment promoter Choy Aming, who was responsible for bringing superstar Luther Vandross to Bermuda in 1991, also believed that local promoters were capable of pulling off a big event if they put their heads together.

However, he noted that they do not have the equipment nor the overseas marketing capabilities.

But, Mr. Frost said that with the right marketing organised by the Department of Tourism, local promoters were capable of booking and organising a high quality show which would still draw many visitors.

The next step is for Government to allow promoters such an opportunity, but Mr. Frost said that the change is unlikely.

"I don't think we would get the same sort of treatment as the Track Entertainment Company. The budget would be way under. I just don't think we will (get good treatment). Bermuda and Government tends to think that if something goes wrong we find someone outside to fix it."