Carifesta XIV has been going so well in both Trinidad and Tobago that most of its events are oversubscribed, with estimates as high as 10,000 per night.
This is according Carifesta project manager, John Arnold, who told CNC3’s The Morning Brew host Hema Ramkissoon that events on both islands since the festival opened on August 16 have had crowds beyond all expectations.
“When you look at the Grand Market, Fire Services have been clicking how many persons have been coming here, and we are clicking somewhere on a daily (basis), an attendees number somewhere between 7,500 and 10,000,” Arnold said.
He said those figures are just for the Grand Market, suggesting that when the attendees for other events are added, the figure is much higher.
Arnold attributed this overwhelming success to more inclusive content in the festival.
“One of the things I really want to make the point, we have been extremely inclusive and embraced all the elements in a real bigger way. We have been able to raise the standard of the shows, the quality of the content and we have given it an “oomph” if you look at the opening night ceremony, that is clearly a notch up. As a matter of fact people have been asking why we are not charging to go to some of the shows,” Arnold told Ramkissoon on Thursday morning.
Asked about complaints about the Carifesta ticketing system for its free shows, Arnold said organisers had to make impromptu changes when for several events and they tried to accommodate those who could not get tickets.
“There were some teething problems, there was one show where rain came down and the system had to be thwarted, there was another where people came earlier so they started it earlier and we adjusted by saying we would give out the tickets at three hours before.”
He said that initiative was adopted on Monday because organisers realised the ticketing system was not working properly.
He apologised to anyone who may have affected by the change in the system. Speaking specifically about the “All that Jazz” show, Arnold said a big screen was placed outside the building where the show was held because the venue had been filled and there was still a large crowd outside.
Asked by Ramkissoon about complaints that patrons with tickets could not get in, Arnold said it was the first time he had heard that complaint.
“I’m sorry that happened to anyone but seating availability and building capacity were the two principal things we operated, so if per chance the venue was full and people couldn’t get in even if they had their tickets, I can think of several ways that could happen maybe if guests were able to bring in extra person, I’m not saying this happened…But beyond that, because we had a measure by putting the screen outside.”
Carifesta will wrap up on Sunday August 25 at the Queen’s Park Savannah.