The financial crunch has forced local entertainment promoters to downsize their operations in order to survive.

“The people who depend on the local patronage are taking a hard hit,” said Jason McIntosh, promoter of two of Montego Bay’s popular dancehall parties, Walkout Wednesdays and Slip and Slide Sundaze. “I don’t know how much longer we can survive,” he added.

McIntosh said he is now seeking to downscale his parties as entry fees for both his shows are barely able to cover expenses as he is seeing less and less patrons these days.

“Entertainment is not a must so you find when people cutting back, entertainment is the first thing they cut back on,” said McIntosh.

He says he is concentrating on areas such as eliminating the number of sound systems he employs and cutting out expensive selectors.

Promoter Sonny Ranking said he has had to resort to cutting shows altogether.

“Just this week, I called Caribbean Showplace and cancelled two of my shows,” said Ranking, whose events StarJam the New Year’s Eve Ball, Black and White Affair and Total Togetherness are favourites among dancehall fans.

“With a lot a shows getting flopped nowadays I have to cool off and analyse the situation,” said Ranking. “I don’t know if it is because of bad promotion or the economy but it is not looking too good.”

The constant flare-up of violence in many inner-city areas, where most of his patrons come from, has not helped matters either. “When you have the violence people don’t want to come out,” said Ranking.

He said he would no doubt cease his promotions until the summer.

Entertainment venues are also reporting a decrease in numbers and say they have had to cut some events and keep their prices constant to keep revenue up.

“We have cut back,” admitted Brian Brown of Coral Cliff. “One of the first things we have done is cut our live band from Wednesday to Sundays to Friday to Sundays only,” said Brown, the popular entertainment spot’s sales and marketing manager.

He said the venue’s no cover charge concept helps, and they have partnered with entertainment product companies to offer specials and giveaways.

“Less people are coming out but people are still coming to their favourite events,” said Brown. Drink specials such as their happy hour two for one option he said are ways they try to help their patrons’ pockets.

A similar situation obtains at the Brewery where according to sales and marketing manager Simon Campbell people who uses to come for the popular Wednesday and Friday sessions now come for only one. “The people who would normally come twice a week have cut down to one although they spend on average the same,” said Campbell.

At Pier One Sales and Marketing Manager Sandra Martin said they have tried to stay competitive by not increasing their prices. “Nothing has changed in terms of our main events but we are seeing less people from the hotels,” said Martin. She said the number of locals has not dropped but that the spending has reduced somewhat

Margaritaville, Blue Beat and Groovy Grupper, which form the Island Entertainment brand, said they have kept revenue up with a generous helping of tourists from the hotels and the cruise ship. “They spend,” said Assistant Marketing and Promotions Manager Britt Mitchell.

It helps, she said, that they have kept their prices constant despite the increases in major inputs and usually have a one price cover charge for major events. At the same time she said they are seeing less local people “The numbers are not as great,” she said.