FOR Negril promoter Sean Greenfield, staging events was a way of making ends meet while attending the University of Technology.

After completing his studies in engineering and with no job prospects in sight, he became a full-fledged event promoter.

He says he has no regrets.

“I may eventually take up engineering. But, for right now, the challenge of always being creative, thinking up events that are different and appealing, is keeping me quite busy,” he told the Jamaica Observer during an interview at his novelty store in Negril.

Greenfield produces popular events in the tourist town such as Mas Vida, Soakin Wett, Girls Time and Different Strokes.

“Negril is not a big town so you always have to be thinking outside of the box to come up with something that will grab patrons’ interests,” he said.

His ‘baby’ is Different Strokes, held twice annually. According to Greenfield, it is his personal love of ‘oldies’ music that influenced his decision to stage this retro event.

“At first it was really hard and a lot of people told me that it wouldn’t work, but the oldies vibe has really taken off down here,” he said.

Now in his early-40s, Greenfield was born in Savanna-la-Mar. In his youth, nearby Negril was a sleepy seaside town popular with the bohemian crowd.

Looking ahead, Greenfield says he will continue planning “new and exciting events that will just keep the entertainment vibes flowing”.

  — Cecelia Campbell-Livingston