Emerging artists or not, they are very much an artist like your A- or B-list artist, and they deserve to be treated with the same respect and courtesy. For far too long, we have allowed event organisers to treat emerging artists like they are less when in fact they are important to the ecosystem.
There is always a running order of performances at any event. This running order involves show openers, or people who keep the crowd active until the main act(s) come on stage. While DJs and hypemen often do this now, curtain raisers or show openers have always been reserved for emerging acts of that particular creative field. In boxing, the undercards kick off the series; in a comedy show, newer comics start the show. The same is done in the music space, where emerging acts are given room to perform as openers or given a smaller stage to perform on, as seen during major festivals.
As such, this highlights how important emerging acts are to the creative ecosystem. It is no news that these acts are often paid in exposure, and that is where sometimes the disrespect starts. Exposure is a currency in the creative industry, and everyone gets paid with it at one point or another in their career; however, paying someone in exposure does not mean you treat them any how you want to. I have been at several events and have seen firsthand how emerging acts are treated like nothing at some of these events. This is after these artists have committed to promoting the event and driven consumers to come for the said show only to exit at the very end. With December events on the horizon, event organisers will look to these same artists to help them not only draw attendants but also open the show and fill slots in exchange for some exposure.
For anyone reading this who feels these emerging artists do not draw attendants to these events, you are wrong. For any one person that buys a ticket because of an emerging artist, that is the artist drawing attendants to the events. These emerging acts often have a cult following that shows up for them during shows, and it’s some of these people that event organisers and bigger acts factor into their plans, hence platforming the emerging artist.
As stated earlier, this piece is in no way discouraging the platforming of emerging acts to open shows but rather demanding that they be treated well. On several occasions, there have been tweets and posts by emerging acts who have called out event organisers for leaving them dry during concert days with little to no explanation as to why their performances were cancelled. While some are bold enough to call out the organisers, others prefer to remain so they don’t get cancelled or blacklisted. It is for this very reason that this piece is being written. It is high time emerging artists are treated with respect and dignity. They are very much an artist, like every other artist, and should be treated as such.
As you reach out to them this December to perform at your shows for the grand price of exposure, make sure you do right by them and their fans by ensuring you hold your end of the bargain. Not only should they be given room to perform, but they should be given extra perks aside from a stage to perform on. The artist you treat well is the superstar of tomorrow who will also give back to the institutions that built them up.
Written By Nana Kojo Mula.
Follow @theimullar on Instagram and X(Twitter) for more.
