And The 2013 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Goes To....

Sitting here into the wee hours of the morning watching the 2013 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), forces me to ponder what is holding Ghana back from the same level of success with the Annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs).

The VGMAs too many seemed to go off with only minor hitches but this is the silver lining that unfortunately blinds those responsible for the production of the show from realizing that there are some serious opportunities that are hindering the success of this annual award show.

In effort to not make this a bashing session, I will focus on some key areas and be as objective as I can - Punctuality, Presentation, Customer Service, Social Media, and Event Management.

Punctuality:
You know what time the BBMAs were scheduled to start? 8pm, you know what time they started? 8pm. Let's pose that question to the VGMAs, scheduled start time: 8pm actual start time: after 10pm (if you are counting the red carpet than they started at 9:10pm). Is it really that difficult to start a show on time in Ghana? This show has been in the planning for over a year. Just once I would like to attend an event that starts on time!

Presentation:
The VGMAs normally held in the Accra Dome was switched to the Accra International Conference Center (AICC) main theater due to infrastructural concerns. That's the good news. The bad news, walking up the cramp steps towards the main entrance you were greeted by the bright lights and the mass confusion of artists, fans, TV cameras and Journalists that made the red carpet a complete debacle.

Watch your step because throughout the entire venue was horribly and cheaply laid carpet that caused many of the stunningly dressed women to get up close and personal with the red carpet - but not in the way they would have liked.

The area that most people didn't see was backstage. At best it was an array of cubicles thrown together with only a minor semblance of order, at worst theses were safety traps that barely provided comfort or functionality for the presenters, artists, and support crews. VGMAs think about why you do this show and remember it's not only the outside (what the audience sees) that

should look good but the inside (the areas that the public does not see) should be held to a certain standard as well.

Customer Service:
With tickets selling from 100Ghc to 200 GHc for the ground floor, fans are paying hard earned money to come and celebrate with their stars and icons, isn't that one of the main reasons we are able to even have awards shows like these - the fans? Setups like fan-row, a dedicated area for fans up front, yes even in front of the VIPS, is a great way to show appreciation to the fans and create a party atmosphere versus the highs and lows that were experienced during this year's show.

Don't get me wrong The Fan Park, a live feed of the auditorium being broadcast to the Trade fair Center by Vodafone was definitely an amazing tool used for the fans who couldn't shell out the high cost of tickets. Kudos to Vodafone!

But this kudos is quickly overshadowed by the overly aggressive and taking their jobs way to seriously bouncers. I get it there are famous people in the building but does that mean pushing people around and degrading people. I mean seriously VGMAs, your VIP area was barely full, maybe spend a little less effort on burly security and more effort assuring that people are enjoying your event.

Social Media:
Social media was ever present at this year's event. Bloggers such as Edward Tagoe, Kwabena Oppong Boateng, Nehemiah Attigah, Ameyaw Debrah and Mac-Jordan Degadjor were all hands on deck getting information to the twitterverse and beyond. At any moment anyone with a wifi enabled device were uploading pics, videos and the jaw-dropping moments to the outside world. Hastags galore kept the #VGMA13 trending with information about who had won awards, the fabulous ensembles that were being shown on the red carpet and the amazingly unexpected performance by Fuse ODG of "Antenna" fame and a very special dance guest, Tracy Selasi!

Event Management:
Congrats to Vodafone Ghana - the title sponsor for hiring local bar/lounge company The Lexington who kept the drinks free-flowing in the RedRoom! The RedRoom for those not lucky enough to receive the super-exclusive-access was where one could rub elbows with some of Ghana's and Africa's largest music stars such as Wizkid, Banky W, Fuse ODG, R2Bees and the awesome Efya.

However, I still don't understand why there was no audio feed of the actual show in the RedRoom, but I'm sure the food and drinks kept every one lulled enough not to be too concerned.

Charterhouse - the event management firm responsible for putting on the VGMAs and most recently the moderately successful Hope City Launch Concert by RLG needs two things - (Efficient) Operations and Competition. Operationally, they were able to complete the show - I guess that's the win.

Some people are okay with mediocrity, I just didn't think showcasing the continent's talents was the place for it. The mere fact that the only available company to put on an event likes this is Charterhouse allows them to monopolize and often strong arm artists into performances and contracts.

Don't believe me? Research some of the below tweets by Ghanaian-UK artist Fuse ODG, Pioneer of Azonto & Antenna Dance Below The Article:

Luckily for the fans Charterhouse straightened out the concerns to ensure Fuse ODG's performance to the excitement of his fans. Competition ensures companies like Charterhouse have to go above and beyond and cannot rest on their past subpar standards.

Here's a question for Vodafone Ghana: Are you unaware of the happenings of an event you are footing the bill for or just not interested in the messy interactions that are happening between musical talent and Charterhouse Management Team?

These observations are not to take away from the hard-work that I know has gone into putting on a show of this scale. This is more to shed light on the glaring challenges of dealing with CharterHouse Management; if an organization is seriously stating that their sole purpose of an event is trying to

showcase the amazing artists that are coming out of Africa the bar needs to be raised.

After reviewing the VGMAs website, I see the progress that has been made over the past 13 years from conception to where they are today. With that said, however, it's time for fans, artists, and the management/support teams of artists to require more from event management companies.

After all the purpose of the VGMAs, in their own words is "To appreciate those working in the music industry, who have released work(s) that have generated the most public excitement within a definite period of contention.

Provide an international platform through which the Ghanaian music industry can be accessed. To reward veteran musicians who have blazed the trail in the music industry." (sourced from Ghana music awards website)

The VGMAs were not a complete let down, my team, my friends, and myself enjoyed ourselves and were excited to see many great stars being appreciated for their talents, but if you want to be bigger and better you have to be better and then do better.

In my honest opinion, Charterhouse covers the outside in glittery lights to not let you see the dark mess that resides within.

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