Hopefully, in PWMF 2013, these issues will be sorted out by its organiser, Penang State Tourism Development and Culture Office, and event manager, UCSI Communications, whose staff include experienced people who have helped to build up Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) to where it is today.
Among the two main issues faced in PWMF 2012 were:
1) Shutter Bus Service
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The shuttle buses were given an attractive body wrapped featuring the PWMF 2012
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There was a shuttle bus service by Rapid Penang that ran from Bayview Beach Hotel in Batu Ferringhi and stopped in front of all the major hotels along this route and also from the Penang ferry terminal to the venue on an hourly basis.
However, due to lack of publicity of this service the buses were running almost empty on every trip.
This was a good idea to help visitors to get the PWMF venue and return to their hotels. However, this was not well executed by the organiser.
On the first night, the bus was allowed to drop visitors near the venue’s entrance at the designated spot with a big board stating the drop off point.
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The designated shuttle bus pick-up point was taken over by private cars parking, which should not be allowed by the organiser in the first place. To reduce congestion and lack of parking space, the public was encouraged to use public transport but this was not well publicised and co-ordinated. Recommendation: A higher parking fee should be imposed for those who want to park nearest to the venue entrance.
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A few hours later, one of the officials decided to redesignate the bus drop off/pick up point to about one and half kilometre away in front of the Hindu temple along the main road.
This change in the arrangements to the public was not announced during the festival. I waited like a fool for about 45 minutes at the original designated pick up point before realising something was amiss.
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One of the senior citizen visitors had to
borrow a chair from the Waterfall Cafe
to sit after waitng for half an hour
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Like me, many of the public were unaware that they have to walk to the new pick-up point after the concert to catch the free shuttle bus service, which left quite empty.
The Rapid Penang bus supervisor was very unhappy by the way things were rearranged. They were given a dark spot by the road side with a table and chairs to wait for their passengers.
I was told Rapid Penang was one of the sponsors for PWMF 2012. I wonder will Rapid Penang want to be a sponsor again this year after last year’s experience?
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A group of us had to walk all the way to the Hindu temple to catch the shuttle bus, which we had to pay a token of RM1 for the ride back to our official Hard Rock Hotel Penang at Batu Ferrinhi for the media.
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Can you believe this? The shuttle bus was not only relocated to a dark spot by the roadside, the ground was also soggy and muddy. We also donated blood to the mosquitoes!
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2) Lack of marketing and promotions
It is sad to see the Penang state government spending RM1 million without taking into serious consideration the sponsorship received in cash and kind to develop the PWMF into a major tourism product.
Compare this to the RWMF, which attracts an average packed audience of 6,000 people each night with 20% to 30% of the visitors from overseas.
The Penang state does not seem to have the right people to do job internally. Domestic promotion of PWMF 2013 within the country is lacking and needless to say its promotion to foreign countries.
There are not many music festivals and concerts followers in Kuala Lumpur or other big towns in Malaysia talking much about this event.
I visited the hotels along Batu Feringghi beach and was shocked to find that there was not much publicity done to promote PWMF. The organiser must find a solution to work together with the hotels as there may be hotel guests who may have the free time in the evening to attend PWMF.
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| (#1) 1/4/2012 At 5pm, people started to reserve the best spots by laying their mats, folding chairs on the ground |
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| (#2) At 6.08pm The crowd started to build-up |
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| (#3) As at 8.04pm the space infront of the stage was almost filled up |
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| (#4) At 9.30pm The space in front of the stage is getting tight but this the best spot as layout of the viewing area is limited |
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| (#5) At 10pm the music is getting hot for many and they got up to boggie with the tempo |
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| (#6) At 10.45pm - All bands joined in the grand finale jamming session |
The organiser needs to strategise how to make the PWMF successful in terms of visitors in order to justify its return on investment.
Overall, we have a good event on hand with the PWMF. The organiser and event manager will just have to work much harder, get better organised and communicate with each other without expecting self glorification.
Last year’s performing bands selected by the event manager were great and for those who had attended PWMF 2012, it was worth their money spent.
PWMF 2013 will take place from 30-31 March at the same venue, Quarry Park at the Penang Botanic Gardens.A total of 12 bands will be featured at this year.
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| MU from Portugal |
Among them are Mu from Portugal, Kimi Djabate (Guinea-Bissau), Nasout (Iran), Alp Bora Quartet (Turkey), Saharadja (Indonesia), Inka Marka (South America), Kalayo (Philippines) and several Malaysian bands.
Each band, showcasing their unique music and instruments, is set to rock the Pearl of the Orient under the tropical starry nights.
Mu will present the upbeat Portuguese folk tune using the bazouki and hurdy gurdy, cello and percussion while Kimi and his talented musicians will serenade the audience with the sound of Africa on the balafon.
Inka Marka will make their second appearance at the festival, having performed in 2007.This South American band will showcase the tunes of the Andes.
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| File picture of Inka Marka taken in 2007 |
Kalayo, which means fire, is expected to put the heat on at the festival with their melodic traditional folk music infused with pop rock beat.
All bands will have a finale jammed session on the final night. Besides the night performance, the musicians will conduct daily workshop sessions in the afternoon prior to the concert.
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| At one of last year's worshop sessions, the above picture shows the public learning to do the Salsa dance routine |
These workshop sessions allow the public to participate and learn the unique music making processes from the international artists.
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| The tents are set up with the picturesque backdrop of the former rock quarry |
Tickets to PWMF 2013 are priced at RM80 per day for an adult and RM30 per day for a child between five and 12 years old.
This is one event the Penangites should not missed and should also encourage their friends living outside of Penang to come and enjoy the music from around the world.
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