PWMF Final: Part 4. Our Impressions
A music festival is only as good as the quality of the bands and in this respect PWMF does itself proud. It far exceeded last year’s rain drenched inaugural turn out of approximately 5000 people by three times.
Despite her self-effacing ways, the credit for this sits squarely on Ms Yeoh Jun-Lin’s shoulders for the band selection and spurring her team to do an excellent job.
What worries us is the future of the festival. When politics interferes with the arts it can only lead to disaster. Keep an eye on the upcoming RWMF for an example of this. It is now less than 45 days to ground zero and their website does not have complete information on the performers.
Magazine editors are already complaining as they need 3 weeks lead time to go into print.
As for PWMF, there is a distinct lack of cooperation between the Penang Tourism Action Council and Penang Tourism Development Committee (the state government) as evidenced by this article.
During the Press Conference on the second day, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of
When Johan asked for the attendance, we were told that it was at 6000 people for the second day and there were embarrassed faces when questioned how they arrived at this figure. PTAC Events Manager Ashwin G was hastily sent for and poked his head through the door to announce 3000 people for the first day and approximately 4000 for the second, based on ticket sales. Of course we already had this information earlier.
Johan then pointed out that although the PTAC had done a good job of creating awareness for the festival by the sheer number of buntings and signages placed at strategic points all around the island, our interviews revealed that Penangites had become blasé with such monthly promotions and did not pay them any attention anymore, thereby missing an opportunity to attend a world class festival in their own backyard.
“Penangites are not our target market. Now that’s sure one thumbs up for domestic and international tourism,” said Dr. Wee, “Just goes to show how successful and beneficial such an event can become, benefiting the local populace with very real and tangible economic spin-offs.”.
While it was a “nice” answer, it did not answer our question. Johan tried again by asking how Penang intended to brand their festival as different from RWMF and where they saw the festival heading in two year’s time.
“When the Festival began last year, people were asking what it was all about,” answered Dr. Wee “This year, they’re asking us for next year’s festival dates already,” revealing that PWMF2009 would be held May 1-3, 2009 at the same venue.
YBhg. Dato’ Kee Phaik Cheen added that the council was committed to further capitalize on enhancing the event’s popularity by ensuring that the bands for PWMF were different from RWMF.
“The Festival’s definitely a bigger success compared to last year’s,” she said, “That’s why we’ll need not just to maintain the good work that’s started, but we’ll also have to heighten it to ensure that it becomes even more successful.”
Again, it was a “nice” answer, but it certainly did not answer our question. A subsequent question by the Nanyang reporter on future events had them scrambling all over the place looking for a schedule of events
Ah, politics. Share the love, guys. Give credit where credit is due. There’s enough to go around.
image credit: Johan Nasir
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