Michael Bolton concert sold out

The organisers of the Michael Bolton concert, An Evening with Michael Bolton, which is scheduled for this Saturday at Couples San Souci in Ocho Rios, are ecstatic that all tickets for the event are sold out.

The fundraiser, put on by the Issa Trust Foundation, was marketed as an all-inclusive, VIP-only event with two categories – V-VIP and VIP. With tickets priced at US$350 and US$250, patrons have been promised “an unforgettable experience” on the main lawn of Couples Sans Souci. The package includes “a sumptuous menu by Couples Resorts’ Executive Corporate Chef Stefan Spath and his team and complemented by a premium bar service with top-shelf wines and spirits”.

V-VIP guests will be treated to quite a bit of frills, among them early entry at 5:45 p.m.; preferred parking on property and environs; private pre-concert cocktail reception on an idyllic beach cove beginning at 6:30 p.m.; and premium seating – centre stage section. For VIP guests, there will be reserved, secure parking facilities; return courtesy shuttle service; pre-concert cocktails beginning at 7 p.m.; and cushioned seating on the transformed main lawn during the concert.

Diane Pollard, president of the Issa Trust Foundation, could hardly contain her joy. “We are ecstatic to know that we are sold out for the Michael Bolton concert. We knew [that] the strong line-up with Michael Bolton, Ky-Mani Marley and Tarrus Riley would bring out the support of the community and to support the children. Those who still would like to support can go to our website www.issatrustfoundation.com and check out the outstanding auction items to bid [on] until midnight on May 27,” Pollard told The Gleaner.

Among the items on auction are a slew of luxury hotel packages, including five nights in a beachfront suite at Couples Negril, Couples Swept Away, Couples Sans Souci, or an Ocean View Suite at Couples Tower Isle, which has a current bid of US$2,800; art works; an electric LX01 E-Scooter, with a current bid of US$2,000; and a Fender Acoustic Guitar donated and autographed by Michael Bolton with a minimum bid of US$350.

Sponsor Digicel Business has promised that concertgoers will have access to “ultra-fast Wi-Fi that gives them real-time updates on their bid status” and anticipates that the auction will raise a record-breaking sum.

Chairman of the Issa Trust Foundation, Paul Issa, shared his delight at the event’s status. “We are really pleased that the Michael Bolton concert has been sold out. We are delighted and we thank everyone who bought a ticket and in so doing supported this very worthy cause for the health centre for kids and teenagers,” Issa said.

Marketer Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards, who was responsible for the street promotion, pointed out that this is the third local concert in the Issa Trust Foundation concert series which is titled For the Children, and emphasised that the brand has developed “a very good reputation”.

“This [reputation] definitely assisted them in selling out this show. People know the brand as associated with the Couples Resorts, a five-star all-inclusive hotel and both brands combined have a really good reputation. The earlybird tickets were sold out almost instantly. The V-VIP tickets were sold out before VIP and they had to add more. This shows the quality of the Issa Trust Foundation brand,” Edwards stated.

He shared that the foundation ran an extensive online social media campaign which contributed greatly to the concert being sold out. Edwards said that more than 50 per cent of the tickets were sold online.

“We even had to reclaim tickets from some of the outlets to add them to the online store. That’s how well online sales did. I headed the street team and I hit the streets with posters and fliers from Port Maria to Montego Bay, Kingston and St Andrew. I had a personal interaction with people who were asking me questions about the show, the artistes, where to get tickets … and that also helped.”

Grammy Award winner Michael Bolton, who is known for classics such as When a Man Loves a Woman, Soul Provider, Said Loved You But I Lied, How Am I Supposed to Live Without You, performed in Jamaica at the 2007 and 2013 stagings of the Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay. He is ready to perform “under the stars, beside the Caribbean Sea ... on a beautiful night of music for a great cause”.

Ky-Mani Marley and Tarrus Riley complete the line-up of performers, while power couple, Wayne and Tami Mitchell, both stars of their hit online and television show Meet the Mitchells, will be the evening’s hosts.

The proceeds will directly support the Issa Trust Foundation’s latest project – the construction of the Mary Issa Health Centre in St Ann to provide top-notch paediatric and adolescent primary healthcare to the children of Jamaica on an ongoing basis. Construction will begin this summer.

All guests are to be seated at 7:30 p.m. ahead of showtime at 8 p.m.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com