In keeping with current economic trends Crop-Over costs are set to rise also. The cost of costumes are up; perhaps that of calypso tents; and even the production costs of studio music have risen.
Already the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) has said that a $5 increase was likely for its events and while a number of stakeholders are trying to keep costs down, price hikes seem inevitable as new sponsors have not been lining up to get on board.
Crop-Over band Berger Boyz has had to raise the price of its costumes now to between $380 and $450. Last year they started from $275.
Other bands are starting packages at $400 for locals and $600 for visitors.
Meanwhile, Anderson Blood Armstrong, who produced the compilation Blood Ties CD, (Reddhead Records), the first to be released for Crop-Over, on May 1, said owning a studio meant he could bypass the cost of producing the recording, which could have run to at least $42 000. The mixing and mastering was a further additional expense, he added, along with the labels and pressing of the CD.
Blood said a few corporate partners did assist them with weekly radio programmes, and sales had also been going well so far.
Calypso tents have also been feeling the pinch, stating that sponsors were crying out that they either couldn't give more, had less to give or sometimes nothing at all.
Behind-the-scenes production for Bacchanal Time, for example, had gone up.
He said the sponsorship profiles had not increased as sponsors were complaining about the market. The tent would cut back in some areas and the entrance fee might change, he indicated. Hinds added there was nothing to suggest that people would not come to the tents, as the public was already expressing an interest in the satellite shows and the tent dates. The tent opens on June 28.
David Kid Site Piggott, of the United Artistes of Barbados, said there were likely to be 15 tents this year with two new ones coming, one of which was gospel. This was in addition to Experience tent.
