I am a graphic designer by profession, but I also have a side hustle as a DJ/music selector. I play music at all types of functions, from birthdays and wedding receptions, to jam sessions at music festivals. I have all my own music equipment.
About two years ago, I came up with a brilliant idea of starting a series of sessions in Downtown Kingston at a specific stop in Water Lane near the Kingston Harbour waterfront. The aim is to get people out of their homes on a Sunday afternoon to come by and listen to GOOD music. By this I mean the very best of Reggae, Soul, Calypso, Pop, Disco, Rhythm & Blues, and Soca
, along with other rare musical art forms.
These will be mostly from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. Of course, there will be times when more recent hits might be played AS LONG AS THEY ARE GOOD MUSIC – no fillers.
I had written to eleven liquor and beverage companies in Jamaica seeking sponsorship in holding these events, but so far has received only one response, and it was negative.
However, due to the type of music that I will be playing and the types of foods that will be available, I am sure that these events will be a hit, not only for our local patrons but also for our many visitors to the island.
For me to put on such an event, I will need to pay fees to the city’s municipal council for each flag, banner, signage, sign boards etc. that will be used to promote the shows. As for the event itself, I’ll also need to pay fees for tents, stage, floodlights, and any other fixtures that will be used.
I would love for these shows to become a reality because it will boost the local economy and breathe more life into the downtown area of the city. And most importantly, a positive spinoff is that it will provide employment for some residents in the area.
Notably, the area I have chosen to hold the shows is at the epicentre of the Kingston Art Walk project where murals are painted along all the corridors of this older part of the city. My events, “BAY NICENISS” could then be “incorporated” (loosely speaking) into the art walk. That way, people who are on the art walk, touring along the corridors with the murals, can stop at BAY NICENISS; while people who come to “BAY NICENISS” can tour the art walk corridors.
The section where the music will be played is shown in the first five pictures, while there are some views of the art walk surrounding the venue.