DOT to assist Cayman musicians

The Department of Tourism is assisting the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association in developing a website to feature local artists and their work. 

Meant to be a place where the music coming out of the Cayman Islands can be heard and bands may be booked, with links to artists’ websites, the undertaking is the first of its kind and timely, say those instrumental in its development. 

“We have always advocated for a central location for musical acts and their material to be sourced and this is a one-stop location that makes sure that vendors and entertainment managers have access to all the necessary information pertaining to bands and musicians in the Cayman Islands,” said CMEA President Jean Eric Smith, who lauded the new website as a great stride in the unity first needed to formulate a cohesive and efficiently functioning music industry in the Cayman Islands. 

The site will feature 16 to 20 unique pages. Part of the offerings included will be standard contracts for local performers, an interactive calendar of dates and events and a Google map detailing directions to venues and performances.  

Artists will have to develop their own sites to be linked to in addition to their pages on the website to sell their music, as the CMEA does not have an accounting department and legal issues regarding cover music will not be the responsibility of the CMEA. However, “Entertainers will benefit from thousands of dollars worth of exposure online for only $25 per year,” Mr. Smith said. “We need to get members to understand what the Association is doing for them. This means that eventually fees may even have to go up at some point to accommodate the level of expansion in the services that are offered on their behalf.” 

Mr. Smith also said there would be a lengthy exercise to compile pictures, music and information about all the bands in Cayman. 

He outlined that members will also be responsible for attending a quota of CMEA meetings going forward in order to not risk forfeiting their membership. He said the $8,000 the association receives from the government per year does not cover the expenses incurred by the organisation and in order for it to move forward on much of its agenda membership fees and input will be necessary to make the endeavour viable. 

Mr. Smith said the CMEA had recently tabled its first budget to the Cayman Islands government, requesting an “unprecedented CI$250,000,” which he said would be used to launch programmes such as publishing and copyright workshops. He said the organisation also wishes to get an office location and assist the executive with their clerical responsibilities and stage performances throughout the Cayman Islands. Mr. Smith this would be more in line with what other organisations involved in arts in the Cayman Islands were getting on a yearly basis. 

DOT Public Relations Manager Gina Matthews said, “The Department of Tourism is excited to be working with the CMEA to provide local musicians and entertainers with a new avenue through which to promote themselves and their music. We expect that the provision of the website will act as a conduit that stimulates additional business opportunities for the featured artists and therefore we’re pleased to re-divert existing budget to fund the websites development.” 

Ms Matthews did not say what the cost would be. 

She added, “What is also important is that through this medium Caymanian culture will be overtly showcased through the expression of music and will make this hidden gem more accessible to our visitors. The DOT has, from time to time, heard that there is a perceived lack of entertainment on Island and the website will help not only to educate, but to display the many performances that happen during the week, thereby increasing our visitors positive experiences.” 

The process of developing the final elements of the site are now contingent upon feedback and consent to proceed from the CMEA, Ms Matthews said. 

“The DOT views entertainment and culture as important elements of Cayman’s tourism product,” she said. “While the decision rests with private businesses to determine the type of entertainment it wants to offer its customers, and whilst the actual on island performances remain outside the sphere of DOT’s objectives, we remain open to working with performing artists and willing to explore avenues whereby local talent can make a greater contribution to the overall visitor experience.”